So I met with my doctor today. I have a septum that is measuring 8mm (less than 1cm). This is not large at all but is still making me stress out. My doctor again went over the risks and chances of another loss and he says they are slim. He says that 80% of my uterus is fine. Well, what about the other 20%? That is my main problem right now. Because the septum is not larger and because I have still had "only" two losses, the choice is up to me.
1. I can just try again and hope that if I do get pregnant that both the implantation and placenta connection are not along the 20% of shitty tissue. This would make me just hope that everything worked out and that by chance, all attached along the good 80%. He was pretty convincing that this was the better choice but in my mind, all I heard was that I may have another miscarriage or a late term problem.
2. I can have surgery to cut the septum. The main problem with this option are the risks to any surgery. Plus, the amount of tissue I have is typically the amount left over in an resection anyways. They do not remove the entire septum to decrease chances of a punctured uterus. Also this would involve 6-8 weeks of pre-surgery Lupron so my lining was depleted and the bloodflow to the septum was minimalized and then 8 weeks of post op recovery.
I have no clue what to do. I want more black and white please.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Torn
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
12 comments:
thinking of you. Sending you prayers and good vibes about your decision to make
Where's the easy button when you need it??? I'm sorry that you are confronted with such a difficult decision. I will be thinking about you and hoping that the right answer is just around the corner.
Oh, Meg, this is such a difficult decision you have to make. As an outsider reading your two options, it seems like the surgery may not be worth while if you end up with the same amount of tissue, so I would lean towards just trying again and hoping for the best. But I can't speak to your losses as I haven't been there.
Did the doc think that surgery would help at all? Can you get a second opinion?
Oh my goodness... Both of them sound like they have enough room for doubting your choice in them. I can only pray you, your doctor, and your doctor all have wisdom. I'm so very sorry it's so unclear. You don't deserve that.
Eeek. I'm sorry it's not clear cut, good luck with the decision.
I haven't a clue what choice I would make. Whatever the choice, I am sure it will be the right one. But, seriously, having to make a choice sucks. I wish you the best!
I have a bicornuate uterus... was offered surgery (after several cycles of clomid & three medicated IUIs, they finally decide to offer me surgery?!!), but by then, I was too old & tired & worn out by the whole thing & decided to hell with it all. I have a great resource for you, though -- there is a Yahoo group called Mullerian Anomalies that is a treasure trove of information on this subject.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MullerianAnomalies/?yguid=171821490
I'm sure you will find some great advice there. Good luck!!
I had my septum removed in November. I don't know the length of my septum, but it was only partial. It was an easy outpatient surgery with a short recovery. I am just starting to TTC again.
Has your doctor been able to find any other factors in the miscarriages? If not, I would suspect the septum and consider surgery. The septum, no matter how small probably has low blood flow and is not a suitable site for implantation.
Post-resection cases have close to normal obstetrical outcomes. If I were you, I would consider the surgery but make sure you are working with an experienced surgeon.
TBH I have never heard of a resection being preceded by 6 weeks of Lupron.
I 2nd the recommendation to head on over to the MA Yahoo group.
Hi Meg, I just read about your question on Lost and Found. I am so sorry about the tough decision you have to make -- things are never as cut and dried as we want them to be, are they?
I had a septum removed in February 2006, and did not have to take Lupron before. Is that an absolute requirement in your case? In addition to seconding the recommendations to visit the Yahoo MA group, I would also advocate getting a second opinion. That would give you more information on the advisability of the operation and on possible alternative approaches to preparation and recovery time. Again, the MA group would be able to point you to experts in your area.
The state of knowledge on septums used to be that small ones and residual ones (pieces left over after resections) were not worth removing, as the chance of the embryos implanting on them was thought to be small. But apparently studies have found that septums present such an attractive landing site that embryos make a beeline for them. Researchers have found embryos implanted on the smallest septums, when the chance of that happening purely by chance is minute. Of course the cause of your miscarriages cannot be ascertained, but if there is a septum present, and septums present such a high miscarriage risk, I would say there is a good case to be made for removing it.
I am so sorry about your losses, and hope you find a good way forward. If you have any questions, please contact me. My e-mail is on my blog: inhospitable.typepad.com
Hey there... found your post on this through lost and found.
I just went through operative hysteroscopy to remove scar tissue and some other iffy spots from my uterus, plus a procedure called lateral metroplasty where they cut lines in the uterus to enhance it's size (mine was too small). My RE was concerned I might have a small septum before surgery, but if he found one he didn't tell me.
For what it's worth, I will say that the surgery was almost painless and so much less stressful than I was afraid it would be. The worst part was the fear of the unknown. Recovery has been effortless and I experienced almost such little physical pain throughout the entire process, it's almost shocking. I know making the decision to do it was hard for me, but I couldn't be more thankful that I did it.
I hope you the very best in your decision and wish peace for you to do what's right in your situation.
Meg- I had my septum removed in Nov. after 4 miscarriages that all occurred around the same length of gestation. The sugery was out patient and recovery was easy. I think you have created a great list of questions and a good start. The yahoo group is very useful too. good luck.
Post a Comment