I couldn't sleep properly last night. I was so full of nervous energy. Heart trying desperately to escape the confines of my chest, sorry to quote Eminen but my palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms were heavy.
Upon getting to the hospital, after a short wait, they called my name.
I asked if my husband can join me and got the reply "of course"...
We walked through a set of double doors, and there were a line of chairs. I was asked to use the cubicle marked 'Female changing room' to remove "everything below the waist" (that old chestnut again!) and change into 2 gowns - one as a coat and one the opposite way!
My husband was asked to wait on the chairs near the changing rooms (which he pointed out were only about 1.5 metres away from the original waiting room so there wasn't much difference haha!)
I was then ushered into a room and met such a lovely lady. She introduced me to her assistant (sorry I'm not familiar with the correct terminology) and I had to fill out a short form confirming my pregnancy status (forever negative ~ in case anyone was wondering ;-)) and then sign on the dotted line!
I was informed that it would feel uncomfortable, and like period pain.
There was a crescent-shaped set-up that at first glance I found overwhelming! It looked like something out of the TV programmes Flash or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D! I was showed the bed, then the screens above, to the left. One of those screens was to show my uterus. The contraption above the bed was actually only just the camera (it was the largest camera I'd ever seen!)
I will save the details, but the procedure for me personally was uncomfortable but quite short-lived. I was asked to pull my gowns up whilst she placed a large paper towel with a slot over me. I got into position (with a pillow elevating my pelvis ~ I could joke here but I'll save it!!) and then the procedure began. She had to change my catheter mid-way as she said "everyone is different and you need a slightly different one". She kept apologising and saying "it's not very nice but you're doing so well"
I was chatting away whilst watching the screen. All of a sudden, on top of the dis-comfort I felt at the beginning; I felt a sharp then dull aching pain shooting through my abdomen. I winced and stopped talking. Most of the way through, the assistant was rubbing my arm reassuringly with such warm hands - I liked that, I felt it was kind.
They both said "well done, well done" as I winced and I got my breath back and said "cor, you weren't wrong about it feeling like period pains - I've had them once or twice in my life and that was along the same lines of how they felt!" She then said "all done! It's over!" It feels like all of a sudden - everything was removed and I was back to normal! She pointed at the screen - you could clearly see the dye all through the thin strands of spaghetti then a larger display of the dye at both ends (hard to describe but I'll mentally keep that picture forever) and I was told, for the first time on this horrendous journey, some excellent news... "They're all clear; look at the dye distending out both sides to resemble splashes on the screen!" She then explained if they were blocked, the uninterrupted squiggles of black on the screen would appear only up to where the blockage was - not up & out as mine was!
I was so overjoyed, I got tearful.
For, I think the first time on this journey, I felt grateful to be on this path. To not have found it 'easy' or possible to conceive. That I've been given the opportunity to explore my own body in this much detail and know the most I've ever known about my own make-up... Call me strange but I feel glad of that!
I was then told I was "the perfect patient" which made me feel proud (lack of sticker & lolly though hehehe!)
I then was reunited with my husband outside - who was delighted by our good news!
I got changed, was wished luck on the rest of our journey and off we went!
I had taken a 200mg ibropofen around an hour before, but other than the odd 'pull' and 'twist' for several hours after - I was back to myself by the time I was in the car park!
I hope this post helps anyone who was as worried as I was...
En route to the hospital! My worried face!
