Ashermans Support Thread - for those seeking diagnosis, getting treatment or TTCing again after. All welcome.

Good point! (about getting BFP with not much period)

I have just started doing counselling (the stress of this is all too much) and realised how negative about everything I tend to be (result of too much bad news in too short a space of time, I have just come to expect it now!) I am going to make a bigger effort to think postively.

Please dont worry about bleating on, I dont mind at all. I totally agree with you about the anxiety not being good for you or the bean, I would push for that scan/self refer asap so that you can get a bit of piece of mind.

By the way, there is a thread full of ladies who just got BFP's after mc here. They have been with me on a TTC thread for a long time and are all very lovely. Do come back and let me know how you get on though xxxx

Hi Margaret

Thanks for saying that, I too am trying to convince myself that everything is OK, but its so hard for the doubts not to creep in. I guess it could be that there is less lining in there than there used to be before, so therefore less blood and hopefully it might build back up, now that the scar tissue has been removed, but equally diminishing periods (that get less each month) is a sign that scar tissue has returned.. so I will always be a bit anxious about exactly how much blood comes out each month..gah!!!

I dont much like the sound of your GP! If YOU feel that an early scan will help give you peace of mind then I would push for it or go private (about £70). Most of the ladies on MN who have one one mc manage to get an early scan, why wont she refer you? And what tosh, that it wont make a difference, of course it will! (Sorry to talk about possible negative outcome, but if you had an undetected mmc it could put your future fertility at even more risk (infection)

It is well known at recurrent miscarriage clinics that many studies have shown that just with extra doctor care (scans etc) womens chances of successful pregnancy improve. It might well be a placebo affect but its standard practice with recurrent mc because it does improve the numbers. Can you bypass the GP and go straight to an EPU. Can you get seen by a midwife? (they can refer you for scans)

and now for some positive stories for you:
There is a fantastic message on the yahoo board today (Thurs, 2nd Feb) about a lady who had untreated AS and had 2 successful pregnancies. The title is "Ashermans Group Member" and her initials are K.P. You should read it, its v. positive

take care

xxx

so I am not pregnant!

I got AF and it is disappointingly light. Definitely less than pre AS, but at least it is something. I am trying not to panic that scar tissue is growing back, but the worry is there.

In my desperation to find a bright side I am focusing on the fact that at least I am saving money on tampons!

How did you get on with the GP Margaret?

Hello marge

Oh wow! what big news! Congratulations! Try not to panic too much about the scar tissue, now that you know its there you can look for the right care. Lots of women on the AS board have made it through with untreated AS. The fact that your lining was quite thick and that you did get pregnant seems to suggest that your case is not severe. When the uterus fills with amniotic fluid, scar tissue will be visible on a scan (its a bit like a natural HSG/sHG) so you should be able to get a clear idea of what the situation is. You can even see if the embryo/placenta has implanted near scar tissue or on a patch of healthy endometrium.

Bleeding in pregnancy is quite common with untreated AS and it doesnt always affect the outcome, so be prepared and try not to get scared.

If you get scanned anywhere try and get the images burned on CD so that you can send the images off to Dr Lower/Dr March.

Print off some of those files from the yahoo group and take them to your GP to educate them a bit. The biggest risk you face is at delivery when you might have problems with retained placenta. Scans nearer the time will give more info, but you may be better off having a cesarian than a natural birth.

As far as my results, I am just thrilled with the clear HSG. For me that means green light, but as you know, we have started TTC already. If there is nothing this month (I'm, 9 DPO) then I will get a midcycle scan next month. I know Dr March is always keen to see a healthy lining before giving the green light, but there are so many women on the AS board who had successful pregnancies with thin linings and other doctors who give the go ahead despite thin lining, that for me its not the most crucial thing. (Last month it was 6mm, so I was only 1mm off target anyway)

Hope you are feeling Ok. Let me know how you get on with the GP.

xxxxxxxxx

OH MY GOD!!!!! I AM IN FLOODS OF TEARS (OF JOY!)

Dear MummyAbroad
Your HSG demonstrates a normal uterine cavity. Next step is an ultrasound of you uterine lining at midcycle to assess endometrial growth and development. The lining should be more than 7 mm thick and have a trilaminar pattern. In order to verify that the timing is correct, the ultrasonographer should see a preovulatory follicle on one of your ovaries. Some of the above is ?technical stuff? but the ultrasound folk will know what all that means.

Charles March MD

"Techincal stuff"! isnt he sweet!

how did it go threelittlepebbles? Feel free to PM me if you want.

I had my scan done, I am disappointed because my lining is only 6mm (8-13 is "normal") and is not trilaminar (showing triple stripe, indicating it is consistently thick) I was all confident that I would be getting the all clear from the other doctor with my HSG results, but now not so much. Will have to wait a few more days until I hear back.

Back to worrying and waiting!

GOOD LUCK!!!

will be thinking of you (and logging in frequently to see how you got on)

I really hope if there is anything there, its tiny and very treatable. xxx

yes I am charting, and checking CM and checking cervix and using OPK's. After all this time, I am not nearly relaxed enough to "see what happens",its more Mission Impossible style all out dedication.

Having said that, I have a cold at the moment though, so temps are up the spout... doh!

I am getting another scan on Thurs to check the lining, should get some good info about how follicles are doing too, so that will help

When is your scan? xxx

Hi there pebbles!

Nice to have some company (was getting bored of talking to myself) but I am very sorry its because you are worried you have AS.

I am really glad you are getting checked out, I do know exactly how you feel though about desperately wishing for it all not to be true. At least you will be able to trust the diagnosis 100% this way, Doctor Lower has a vast amount of experience in looking at scar tissue so he will know it if he sees it. If there is any, dont forget to ask "how easy is it to treat?" In fact, before you go to your appointment, have a look in the FILES section of the yahoo group and find one called "Asherman's Syndrome Questions.doc" in the "Getting Started" section. There are about a million questions on it, but if you read it and highlight some that are relevant to you its a good way to get prepared and make the most of your appointment. Good luck xxxx

I have had my HSG done. The local doctors here said it looked clear - and Doctor Lower has said I can go ahead an TTC (without HSG) so I have started already , but I am still sending my HSG results off for a second opinion anyway (I am so used to being worried and paranoid, its just second nature now!) I feel good that I did the HSG, hopefully if there was any scar tissue reforming it has been jet washed away and my uterus will be all squeaky clean ready for the egg and swimmers!

Please let me know how you get on

xxx

...and down again!

Having failed to hear back from Dr Lower in London about whether its safe to TTC, I have written to Dr March in the USA who is recommending I have an HSG first.

So TTC is on hold again and I am getting scanned tomorrow and then in for an HSG the day after.

I just had my coil taken out! spirits back up!

update from me:

I got my period/withdrawal bleed today and it is not as heavy as the last one. Spirits have fallen as dramatically as the hormones.

Hi glimmer,

Thanks for sharing your story, its nice to hear such a brilliant outcome - two!

I have never heard of cervical stenosis - just googled it. Its sounds very much like another name for AS that is regionalised to the cervix area? Or is it really something different? I read a really interesting article on the yahoo group about different type of scar tissue and different names for AS. It does seem to be an umbrella term, and there are certainly varying degrees of the condition.

My doctor told me that the cervix is the easiest area to remove scar tissue from. I also had my cervix completely scarred shut (no periods, and impossible to perform an sHG) but also a 1cm patch of scar tissue in the upper part of the uterus, so I am still a bit worried about possible regrowth.

I have finished HRT now and have an appointment to get my coil removed on Wednesday. I am really nervous as it is with a new gynecologist (again!) but also getting exited that I can TTC again very soon!

Anyone else out there with success stories??