lap and dye test

[justtheonethen]

I'm a bit of a lurker on this board, been trying for two years now and am soon to have a lap and dye. We have had all the other tests and so far nothing wrong with either of us. Unexplained infertility seems a bit of a poisoned chalice, nothing wrong but no pregnancy.

Anyway, I'm having the lap in August to check/flush my tubes and check for endometriosis (of which I have no symptoms). I have done lots of googling but still not totally sure what to expect.

Will I be off work for long after? Job involves lots of standing, walking, chances of being bumped into and being active. I assume it will depend on what they find/treat?

Am I going to be in hideous pain? Gas seems to feature heavily.

Is my consultant right in his 'anecdotal' evidence that after flushing tubes there is a greater chance of pregnancy?

I'll be going on the ivf waiting list after the surgery, this is a last ditch attempt to see if anything is wrong that can be fixed.

Thanks in advance, I thought I would feel more excited about the progress but I'm actually feeling more and more miserable. I don't want to have surgery to have a baby, why is it so bloody hard?

Whine over. Any advice gratefully received.

I had a lap in November 2013 where they found I had a damaged tube which they managed to unblock and endometrioma. The recovery wasn't too painful, more uncomfortable really. Just wear loose clothing which doesn't touch your tummy button for the first couple of days. I fell pregnant a few months later after 4 years of trying. The pregnancy didn't end happily but I am so thankful that I had it. It meant a lot that I finally got an explanation. I didn't manage to fall pregnant naturally again but I am now 33 weeks pregnant following ivf. Good luck to you and don't lose hope x

sweetheart that's lovely that you have finally had a positive outcome. Wish you all the best!

I've just got my period again and am becoming beside myself waiting for a date for my lap and dye. How long does it take?! I was told my pre-assessment will expire in October, so if it doesn't come soon I'll have to do that all over again. It feels like no one gives a crap that my life is on hold, that I'm just sitting around feeling utterly helpless, trying to get pregnant every month but knowing it's not doing anything. It's so frustrating that you're told more investigations are needed, but nothing is done about it for ages. I'm going to be 35 next year and I feel like time is just ticking away.

I know this is the NHS, and I know there are people who need operations more urgently, but it's the not knowing that I can't stand. Can't they give people a date, even if it is ages away??

Sorry for the rant, I'm just sitting here on my own feeling really sad :(

It is the worst, it took 9 months to get mine and that was only after I complained. Fingers crossed yours is quicker.

So sorry to hear you're still in limbo Meow. I think I was quite lucky as I only had to wait 3 mths or so and that was painful enough. I swear the whole ttc is just one long line for a bus where once a month a packed bus stops to let one person on, but there's no bloody queuing system so the line just gets longer and you never seem to get to shuffle forwards! I'm forever waiting - waiting for my period, waiting to DTD in fertile week, waiting to test, waiting for my blood tests, waiting for a smear, waiting for the lap and dye, waiting for results, appointments, ARGHHHHHHHH.

Thanks peeps.

Wow justtheonethen, that's a long time, damn right to complain.

That's a good analogy geeup - add to that an incompetent bus driver who keeps changing the timetable and losing your... bus pass! Or something. Grr.

Oh well. I'm currently researching acupuncture and might try that in the meantime. Happy to try any old thing at the moment - just want to feel like I'm doing something about it.

But I'm grateful for having somewhere like this to come, where other people understand.

I totally get it! Defo not alone.

Just thought I'd check in here to get some thoughts.

I'm still waiting for my lap and dye (since June), and no one will tell me anything. The latest is that someone is going to email the consultant to try and find out when and where I'll be having it. I've chased that twice now, from two angles. I'm thinking of going back to GP to nag from that side too.

We've been trying unsuccessfully for 16 months now, so I'm pretty sure something's wrong. Do you think there are any other tests they could do while we wait for the op? (we've had a scan and all the relevant blood/hormone tests)

Just wondered what other people's experiences have been in terms of other things they can check.

Thanks everyone!

Hi meow, I'm also in the unexplained category. Had all the usual blood tests etc before going for lap and dye- I went privately for it so no waiting. They found nothing, said my tubes looked fine, no blackage or scarring. So firmly stuck in the unexplained camp!
This was May 2016, we've continued trying naturally since then. Coming up to the 2 year mark with nothing at all "wrong" with us apparently. Looking at starting with IUI in February (also privately which costs a fortune..)
I don't think there's any other tests they can do in the mean time. They can repeat the bloods if they were done a good few months back but chances are they'll show the same results. Unexplained is really, really frustrating.

Thanks Whereland. Sorry you've not found any answers with yours - crossing my fingers for you with the IUI.

I'm wishing I went privately given how long it's taking! I think they will have to repeat the pre-assessment at least. They also found an endo cyst back when I had a scan so that's probably got bigger in the meantime, sigh.

So much of TTC involve waiting, be it for aunt flo, tests, results, next steps... Argh!

The waiting is PAINFUL isn't it! In ways I can not believe we've been ttc for 2 years. We could have had two babies at this stage!!

Is it still an option for you to go privately?

I'm pretty much in the same boat whereland. Lap and dye showed nothing in July and been trying naturally since. Waiting for IVF now but will have been nearly 2 years trying but our problem maybe low morphology in husband's sperm.

@Whereland Yeah, it's crazy isn't it. I might ask my GP about going privately, I just wasn't sure if there's any point now.

@geeup sorry that you've not got any further. Can they do anything about low morphology? Good luck with the IVF, hope you don't wait long.

Thanks meow but not much they can do for morphology so just hoping ivf doesn't take too long...

Geeup can I ask how you ended up deciding to go straight to ivf without trying iui? Does the morphology indicate that iui might not be useful? I'm worried that iui will be a waste of our money but reluctant to go straight to ivf, can't get my head around needing it when technically nothing is wrong..

Yes I'm afraid the NHS only recommend IUI to same sex couples using donor sperm or couples that struggle to have penetrative sex. No evidence to show it's any better than timed intercourse (especially as I'm in clomid). I wanted to consider it as seemed more natural than IVF but didn't want to risk losing money we may need for IVF. But if it feels right for you you should give it a shot. You never know.

It's hard to know what to do isn't it. My consultant wouldn't preacribe clomid as I'm ovulating naturally anyway. She felt that iui would give us a slightly increased chance. Slightly doesn't inspire much though when it costs almost €1000 per cycle. Might have the conversation again. Best of luck with your treatment, and you too Meow

I'm finally booked in for my lap and dye. I nearly keeled over when they called! They're sending me to a private hospital (presumably because their list is so long), so that's a plus at least. I'm now off to scour the threads for tips on recovery...

I hope things are progressing for you guys xx

Good luck meow. It's not bad honest!

Thanks geeup :)

Can i ask how long the wait is for a laparscopy ?

My ivf is booked in May but I have a hysteroscopy (camera in womb) to see whats wrong. If there is, ill have to have a laparscopy to clear it out, and I don't want it hold up my ivf but at the same time, want whatevers wrong solved (hopefully) before the IVF starts

I think I only waited 2 months but depends on your area, waiting lists etc. Good luck!

Does anyone know how long we should try for after lap and dye before going back to the docs? And who exactly to go back to?

It's only been three months so far but I want to be planning ahead! They didn't really tell us anything about follow-up, and the consultant was so positive about the results that I didn't to think to ask...

Thanks x