The blood deli

Went into hospital today for the last in my current round of tests.

A quick summary of tests so far:

2007
blood tests - 2 X day 3 for FSH and 1 X day 21 for Progesterone.
STD tests for clamidia etc.
My DH had a sperm test which said things were 'normal'

All good except that the first blood test for FSH showed 14 'a little high' and the doctor mentioned something about it being potentially a poor ovarian reserve. Nice! I had accupuncture 3 x a month from Feb to Dec and another day 3 blood test mid year which showed my FSH as 9. So it had lowered but I don't know if that was because of the accupuncture or not.

2008
blood test - 1 X day 3 for FSH
Internal vaginal ultrasound 'TV' - about day 8
Hysterosalpingogram and more pictures taken with the 'TV' - about day 15
blood test - 1 X day 20 (they don't take blood on the weekend!) for Progresterone
DH did another sperm test

All the 2008 tests are being done at Queen Mary's Roehampton, near Richmond Park. The blood tests/work is done with a system much like a supermarket deli counter. You go in, no appointments necessary, take a ticket with a number on it from a machine on the wall then wait your turn. There were 35 people in front of me today. They have two nurses taking blood in a side room. They leave the door open and there is a constant flow of people going in and out. Not quite as satisfying as buying a nice piece of Jamon Iberico and Manchego cheese I must say!

I don't have the formal results for these 2008 tests yet. We have an appointment on Feb 13. At the 'TV' the lady said she saw something which looked like a fibroid but it wasn't in a 'bad' place. Off to the side, not where near the cervix or ovaries and not 'hanging' around in the uterus itself.

I have to say although I know that fibroids are quite common it did make me feel odd knowing I had something inside me. My Mum had very bad fibroids. I can remember my sister and I as teenages having to call an ambulence for her in the middle of the night. She ended up having to have a hysterectamy.

The hysterosalpingogram - the one where they put a speculum inside and squirt dye in through your cervix to full your uterus and fallopian tubes - was not as painful as I thought it was going to be. I had read a number of posts which said it hurt a great deal. I felt cramps like mild period pain. I took two panadol (like advil) first. No pain afterwards.

One interesting thing, the speculum part hurt a lot, like it always does for me when I have a smear / pap done. The doctor noticed me wince and said 'I will try a longer speculum that will help', she did and I swear I didn't feel a thing. She told me to ask for a long speculum at future smear/pap tests. That will make a world of difference to me. I always hate those things.

So, we enter yet another two week wait. This time not from ovulation to possible period/possibly pregnant. This time it is a wait to see if the tests revealed anything.

I am quite looking forward to the appointment. One step along and at least we are in the system and being seen.