Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

[Guest guest]

Gwen,

I actually sent you an email yesterday. First of all, one of the best

Asherman surgeons is in Chicago. We just moved from Chicago to San Fran last

year. His name is Dr. Valle and he is at Northwestern.

I wish I could say that my story is a complete success story. ( I am hoping

some day). I had severe adhesions like you described. I had two surgeries

with Dr. Valle and my periods have resumed. However, my cavity is still

small, so that is an issue.

I know of two people I have met with severe adhesions that just delivered

healthy babies. This disease requires patience (maybe more than one

procedure) and trust (find an excellent doc, not just a good one).

Our stories are so similar. My daughter is 3 this month and was born in July

of 1997.

I am sorry to hear of your pain. I know it all too well.

Sincerely,

Ann on

ps We are also actively pursuing adoption.

[Guest guest]

Gwen,

I am also 33 (34 in September).

Ann

[Guest guest]

Dear Gwen:

Your story (as horrible as it is) is very similar to many of our stories.

Basically that some doctors ARE not practicing good medicine and it looks

like you had a few of those! I am sure your RE will advise a diagnostic

hysteroscopy that will probably need to also be operative once he views the

inside of your uterus.

I had it done three times but it was worth it to be finally free of

adhesions. There is no reason for another HSG. You are definitely at the

next step. We have ALL had hysteroscopies at one time or another. You have

every right to be angry, sad, scared and confused. Welcome to our group. I

hope we can provide you with good medical advice and even better emotional

support.

Celeste

Celeste

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann! - I tried to send you a message yesterday and today as well but my

email server was down for a while and is having some kind of connectivity

problem with AOL. Sorry! Funny, I used to live in San Fran and moved to

Chicago! My doctor (OB) is at Northwestern too so maybe I can get a referral

to Dr. Valle. The RE I'm seeing is part of the Northwestern practice so

there's a pretty good chance of that - thank you for the information!

Also glad to hear that you know of 2 women that actually got pregnant after

severe Asherman's. I'll hope and pray I'm one of those....Good luck with

the adoption efforts. I'm not ready to consider that yet...but if/when I'll

know where to turn!

So glad to have found all of you...

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

>Gwen,

>I actually sent you an email yesterday. First of all, one of the best

>Asherman surgeons is in Chicago. We just moved from Chicago to San Fran

last

>year. His name is Dr. Valle and he is at Northwestern.

>

>I wish I could say that my story is a complete success story. ( I am hoping

>some day). I had severe adhesions like you described. I had two surgeries

>with Dr. Valle and my periods have resumed. However, my cavity is still

>small, so that is an issue.

>I know of two people I have met with severe adhesions that just delivered

>healthy babies. This disease requires patience (maybe more than one

>procedure) and trust (find an excellent doc, not just a good one).

>

>Our stories are so similar. My daughter is 3 this month and was born in

July

>of 1997.

>

>I am sorry to hear of your pain. I know it all too well.

>Sincerely,

>Ann on

>

>ps We are also actively pursuing adoption.

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Millions of women around the world make less than $1 a day. For that

>amount, you can help them provide a future for their children. Click to

>learn how.

>http://click./1/6702/5/_/673741/_/963350266/

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ann - When in September? This is getting weird! I'll be 34 on Sept. 24th!

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

>Gwen,

>I am also 33 (34 in September).

>Ann

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

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>3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR

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[Guest guest]

Thank you for the warm welcome Celeste - I'll let you all know what my RE

says when he calls back....(If he ever does! I hate waiting!!) Have a good

evening...

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

>Dear Gwen:

>

>Your story (as horrible as it is) is very similar to many of our stories.

>Basically that some doctors ARE not practicing good medicine and it looks

>like you had a few of those! I am sure your RE will advise a diagnostic

>hysteroscopy that will probably need to also be operative once he views the

>inside of your uterus.

>

>I had it done three times but it was worth it to be finally free of

>adhesions. There is no reason for another HSG. You are definitely at the

>next step. We have ALL had hysteroscopies at one time or another. You

have

>every right to be angry, sad, scared and confused. Welcome to our group.

I

>hope we can provide you with good medical advice and even better emotional

>support.

>

>Celeste

>

>Celeste

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Millions of women around the world make less than $1 a day. For that

>amount, you can help them provide a future for their children. Click to

>learn how.

>http://click./1/6702/5/_/673741/_/963351952/

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Gwen,

Welcome! We could do with an attorney on this list, maybe you should get some experience on malpractice and give some advice to us all!!

I tried to see your attached photo in word but it was all writing. I'll have to play around with it and see if I can view it.

We do have some success stories to share with you. One of those is that of Ute Bayen who delivered her first son after severe ashermans on 3rd July. She is not a member but we keep in touch. Also we have a pregnant member Tammy who is due 21 of next month!! Two other members, Darlene and Amy also had given birth afer ashermans. So there is hope if you hang on to your dream!

Love

Poly

[Guest guest]

Gwen,

Just managed to see the photo of your daughter. I had to scroll at the bottom of your email to be able to see her and not actually go to the attachement. Yes, she is a darling!!!

Poly

[Guest guest]

September 21st!!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hello Gwen,

I would like to welcome you to the group,but am sad it is under such circumstances. I know what you mean about feeling cheated and angry. I also understand the bitter feeling when you hear of someone being pregnant. It is very hard and unfortuneately theses ladies in this group know that all to well. I hope you find the support and comfort you need from this group.

((((HUGS))))

Tina

-----------------------------------------------------Click here for Free Video!!http://www.gohip.com/free_video/

New Member of Asherman's Group

Hello all:

My name is Gwen. I'm 33 and just diagnosed with Asherman's last Friday. I'm so happy to have found a support group of others with the same diagnosis and I look forward to getting to know all of you. (Thank you again Poly for sending me the information!)

Here's my story:

I work full-time on a flex-time schedule as an attorney in downtown Chicago. (And before anyone asks...I have no experience in malpractice or personal injury law...but I'm thinking maybe I should get some given how betrayed and angry I feel right now...) I am married to Farooq, a wonderful but annoyingly optimistic man whom I adore.

I gave birth to our first (and now maybe only?) child Hannah in September of 1997. She is (if I do say so myself) the world's most adorable child....I'm going to try to attach a photo of her to this email if I can....) Her placenta didn't detach and my OB had to manually remove it which caused a good amount of bleeding (not to mention a great deal of pain.) Immediately after the delivery I changed to a different OB because the OB (who I LOVED!) that delivered Hannah was no longer accepting HMO insurance at all. So, I saw a new OB in October for my follow-up visit and I was still bleeding. He said don't worry....many women still bleed at 6 weeks. Call me if you're still bleeding at 8 weeks. I called at 8 weeks and he agreed to have me in for an ultrasound. Ultrasound showed I had retained placenta.

So, D & C done the same day as the ultrasound and more bleeding for 2 or 3 weeks after D & C but eventually stopped. My milk had never really come in due to the retained placenta, but I was able to get about an ounce of milk out of each breast a few times a day so I continued to nurse Hannah until I had to have my gallbladder out at 8 months post-partum. I didn't have periods at all while nursing which the OB said was to be expected. Was on Micronor for a few months even after stopping nursing and again, no periods, and again OB said not to worry. Switched to a low estrogen pill when Hannah was a year old....I wait a few months, no periods....again, OB said not to worry, could be that my body didn't have enough " time " to build up an endometrium after a full year of nursing and Micronor.

So, December of 1999, Hannah is 2-1/4 we stop all birth control pills with the intent of having our second child and I wait for a period. Keep in mind that I was on birth control pills for almost 10 years before we got pregnant with Hannah and we stopped those pills in October, had a period 28 days later and were pregnant by December.

This time, I stop the pills and nothing. No period at all. I'm having premenstrual kinds of symptoms each month but no period at all. I see my General Practitioner and she says...most likely due to being on birth control pills, can take a while for your body to return to normal. I ask why that would be when it didn't happen last time and she argues that the different pill type could be the reason. I wait some more, continue to have premenstrual symptoms but no periods. I see her 2 months later and she says, wait another month and if you still haven't had a period then see an OB. I find a new OB (as I have lost all faith in the one I was seeing post-partum by now) and see him in June. He says no periods for 6 months NOT due to any pill, maybe I have hypothalamic amenorrhea. Puts me on Provera for 5 days, and tells me I should have a period within 7 days.

You guessed it, no period. So, he refers me to a reproductive endocrinologist who listens to my medical history for 5 minutes and says....I think you have either Sheehan's Syndrome or Asherman's Syndrome and let's hope for your sake that it's Sheehan's. I asked why and all he offered was that Sheehan's was much easier to treat. He orders a hysterosalpingogram which took place last Friday. The RE I'm seeing, Dr. Gleicher is out of the office that day so another RE from his office performs the test. Everyone tells me that I might have some mild cramping but that's it and that it should only take 5 minutes maximum.

Well, I'm there for almost 40 minutes and it caused me serious pain despite having taken Darvocet and an anti-inflammatory beforehand in preparation so I know there is something seriously wrong. They tried 4 different catheters and couldn't get one to stay in place despite the balloon thingy that is designed to hold the catheter in. When I ask why the doctor explains that the pressure building up " behind " the balloon from the dye is just too much for it to hold. As I wonder what could be creating this pressure, the doctor asks me whether I have ever had an intrauterine surgery before and I tell him about the D & C and retained placenta and he says.....Ahh-ha....as if that explains everything. He moves the screen around so I can see it and demonstrates that the dye flows up through the catheter but then stops about a 1/4 of an inch inside my cervix and won't flow any further because something is blocking it....that something being my uterus. He couldn't visualize any uterine cavity at all and of course neither of my fallopian tubes either I am so blocked.

He says that I have a very severe case of Asherman's and I start to cry quietly right there on the examining table and he asks me why I'm crying....JERK! As if I don't understand what that diagnosis means....As soon as my regular RE had mentioned Asherman's I did a bunch of research on it so I was well-informed as to what having Asherman's would likely mean to our hopes of having a second child.

So, after the doctor leaves the room I sit on the floor of the examining room (did I mention I'm bleeding and already passing big clots while I sit there - but it's only the hospital gown...what do I care...) and I just broke down sobbing for about 5 minutes. Managed to pull myself together enough to call my husband to pick me up and then broke down in the car as soon as I saw him...and then basically cried on and off the entire weekend.

Got a call from my regular RE (Dr. Gleicher's) nurse at home on Sunday. (Nothing can freak you out more than getting a call from a medical professional at home on a weekend!) and she informed me that Dr. Gleicher had seen the results of my HSPG and asked that I come in for ANOTHER one because he wants to perform one personally. WHY? Does he have no confidence in this other doctor? Is my case SO BAD that he wants to see it personally? Could it be something else? Something malignant?

I am very hesitant to agree to going through that again especially considering that at the time I spoke with her on Sunday afternoon I was still bleeding from the procedure on Friday morning! So I ask her what possible purpose going through that again could serve and she says....Well, sometimes the doctor can remove the blockage just by doing another HSPG...he can use this little guide wire and punch through the mucus that is blocking your tubes! Ummmm - HELLO! They couldn't even get into my uterus let alone my tubes babe.......I'm thinking that's not the reason. So I relay this to her and she ummms and ahhhs and fumbles around for a while and then agrees to leave a message for the doctor asking him to call me to discuss this.

So, I'm awaiting his call and I have an appointment scheduled for the 28th which will either be to discuss and plan a hysteroscopy OR will be for another HSPG (but he'd better have a damn good and very convincing reason for wanting me to go through that again) or possible for both I don't know.

So, that's my very long story. I'm feeling basically numb and in shock and sad and angry and hopeless at this point. My little daughter asks me every day when she will have a baby sister or brother. She even prays for one at night when we say our prayers. Every baby we see she asks if we can have one too. And to top it all off (and I'm not exaggerating here....) I currently know 10....yes I did say 10....women that are pregnant including my 2 best friends here in Chicago (both of which are also neighbors) and my sister. I know I should be a " bigger " person and be unconditionally happy for them but I am so bitter and sad that I find it hard to be happy. I feel as if the Universe is playing some cruel, cruel joke on me to allow this to happen.....

That's about it I guess. I look forward to getting to know each of you. Anyone know of any success stories? I could use one today....

Gwen

[Guest guest]

Hi Gwen,

Your story is my story, except mine was from an undiagnosed post-partum infection. I'm really sorry for what you're currently going through. I've been there.

With regards to your daughter asking for a sibling, please remember that if every kid on the block was getting a purple poodle, she'd want one too, or at least ask you why you didn't have one. Fair question for a smart kid to ask. But really, truly, she'll be OK if she's an only child. Please check the research. "Lonely only" is a myth. She'll be OK, it's you that is suffering and will suffer. I'm so, so sorry for that.

It is possible that the scarring is closing the end of your cervix but your uterus could possibly be open. It is too early for you to assume the worst.

Good luck to you and take care,

Jane

New Member of Asherman's Group

Hello all:

My name is Gwen. I'm 33 and just diagnosed with Asherman's last Friday. I'm so happy to have found a support group of others with the same diagnosis and I look forward to getting to know all of you. (Thank you again Poly for sending me the information!)

Here's my story:

I work full-time on a flex-time schedule as an attorney in downtown Chicago. (And before anyone asks...I have no experience in malpractice or personal injury law...but I'm thinking maybe I should get some given how betrayed and angry I feel right now...) I am married to Farooq, a wonderful but annoyingly optimistic man whom I adore.

I gave birth to our first (and now maybe only?) child Hannah in September of 1997. She is (if I do say so myself) the world's most adorable child....I'm going to try to attach a photo of her to this email if I can....) Her placenta didn't detach and my OB had to manually remove it which caused a good amount of bleeding (not to mention a great deal of pain.) Immediately after the delivery I changed to a different OB because the OB (who I LOVED!) that delivered Hannah was no longer accepting HMO insurance at all. So, I saw a new OB in October for my follow-up visit and I was still bleeding. He said don't worry....many women still bleed at 6 weeks. Call me if you're still bleeding at 8 weeks. I called at 8 weeks and he agreed to have me in for an ultrasound. Ultrasound showed I had retained placenta.

So, D & C done the same day as the ultrasound and more bleeding for 2 or 3 weeks after D & C but eventually stopped. My milk had never really come in due to the retained placenta, but I was able to get about an ounce of milk out of each breast a few times a day so I continued to nurse Hannah until I had to have my gallbladder out at 8 months post-partum. I didn't have periods at all while nursing which the OB said was to be expected. Was on Micronor for a few months even after stopping nursing and again, no periods, and again OB said not to worry. Switched to a low estrogen pill when Hannah was a year old....I wait a few months, no periods....again, OB said not to worry, could be that my body didn't have enough "time" to build up an endometrium after a full year of nursing and Micronor.

So, December of 1999, Hannah is 2-1/4 we stop all birth control pills with the intent of having our second child and I wait for a period. Keep in mind that I was on birth control pills for almost 10 years before we got pregnant with Hannah and we stopped those pills in October, had a period 28 days later and were pregnant by December.

This time, I stop the pills and nothing. No period at all. I'm having premenstrual kinds of symptoms each month but no period at all. I see my General Practitioner and she says...most likely due to being on birth control pills, can take a while for your body to return to normal. I ask why that would be when it didn't happen last time and she argues that the different pill type could be the reason. I wait some more, continue to have premenstrual symptoms but no periods. I see her 2 months later and she says, wait another month and if you still haven't had a period then see an OB. I find a new OB (as I have lost all faith in the one I was seeing post-partum by now) and see him in June. He says no periods for 6 months NOT due to any pill, maybe I have hypothalamic amenorrhea. Puts me on Provera for 5 days, and tells me I should have a period within 7 days.

You guessed it, no period. So, he refers me to a reproductive endocrinologist who listens to my medical history for 5 minutes and says....I think you have either Sheehan's Syndrome or Asherman's Syndrome and let's hope for your sake that it's Sheehan's. I asked why and all he offered was that Sheehan's was much easier to treat. He orders a hysterosalpingogram which took place last Friday. The RE I'm seeing, Dr. Gleicher is out of the office that day so another RE from his office performs the test. Everyone tells me that I might have some mild cramping but that's it and that it should only take 5 minutes maximum.

Well, I'm there for almost 40 minutes and it caused me serious pain despite having taken Darvocet and an anti-inflammatory beforehand in preparation so I know there is something seriously wrong. They tried 4 different catheters and couldn't get one to stay in place despite the balloon thingy that is designed to hold the catheter in. When I ask why the doctor explains that the pressure building up "behind" the balloon from the dye is just too much for it to hold. As I wonder what could be creating this pressure, the doctor asks me whether I have ever had an intrauterine surgery before and I tell him about the D & C and retained placenta and he says.....Ahh-ha....as if that explains everything. He moves the screen around so I can see it and demonstrates that the dye flows up through the catheter but then stops about a 1/4 of an inch inside my cervix and won't flow any further because something is blocking it....that something being my uterus. He couldn't visualize any uterine cavity at all and of course neither of my fallopian tubes either I am so blocked.

He says that I have a very severe case of Asherman's and I start to cry quietly right there on the examining table and he asks me why I'm crying....JERK! As if I don't understand what that diagnosis means....As soon as my regular RE had mentioned Asherman's I did a bunch of research on it so I was well-informed as to what having Asherman's would likely mean to our hopes of having a second child.

So, after the doctor leaves the room I sit on the floor of the examining room (did I mention I'm bleeding and already passing big clots while I sit there - but it's only the hospital gown...what do I care...) and I just broke down sobbing for about 5 minutes. Managed to pull myself together enough to call my husband to pick me up and then broke down in the car as soon as I saw him...and then basically cried on and off the entire weekend.

Got a call from my regular RE (Dr. Gleicher's) nurse at home on Sunday. (Nothing can freak you out more than getting a call from a medical professional at home on a weekend!) and she informed me that Dr. Gleicher had seen the results of my HSPG and asked that I come in for ANOTHER one because he wants to perform one personally. WHY? Does he have no confidence in this other doctor? Is my case SO BAD that he wants to see it personally? Could it be something else? Something malignant?

I am very hesitant to agree to going through that again especially considering that at the time I spoke with her on Sunday afternoon I was still bleeding from the procedure on Friday morning! So I ask her what possible purpose going through that again could serve and she says....Well, sometimes the doctor can remove the blockage just by doing another HSPG...he can use this little guide wire and punch through the mucus that is blocking your tubes! Ummmm - HELLO! They couldn't even get into my uterus let alone my tubes babe.......I'm thinking that's not the reason. So I relay this to her and she ummms and ahhhs and fumbles around for a while and then agrees to leave a message for the doctor asking him to call me to discuss this.

So, I'm awaiting his call and I have an appointment scheduled for the 28th which will either be to discuss and plan a hysteroscopy OR will be for another HSPG (but he'd better have a damn good and very convincing reason for wanting me to go through that again) or possible for both I don't know.

So, that's my very long story. I'm feeling basically numb and in shock and sad and angry and hopeless at this point. My little daughter asks me every day when she will have a baby sister or brother. She even prays for one at night when we say our prayers. Every baby we see she asks if we can have one too. And to top it all off (and I'm not exaggerating here....) I currently know 10....yes I did say 10....women that are pregnant including my 2 best friends here in Chicago (both of which are also neighbors) and my sister. I know I should be a "bigger" person and be unconditionally happy for them but I am so bitter and sad that I find it hard to be happy. I feel as if the Universe is playing some cruel, cruel joke on me to allow this to happen.....

That's about it I guess. I look forward to getting to know each of you. Anyone know of any success stories? I could use one today....

Gwen

[Guest guest]

Gwen,

I took your email to work today (boss was away), and had another good read of it.

I am so sorry that it has taken you (and others) so long to be diagnosed with this syndrome. Unfortunately we find ourselves in a position where we have to train ourselves tobe our own physisian. This shouldn't be the case. I knew bugger all about gynaecology as our infertility problem was male related. But now I find myself searching every medical item on the net to learn about the role of our female reproductive organs. I have totally lost all faith in doctors and no one can ever make me believe otherwise again!!

Reference to your HSG and the pain you had. Others in the group have mentioned taking some other medication before to help with the pain. I have tried to find the email with the name of the drug but can't find it (can anyone assist)? An attempt was made to do a HSG before my last surgery but my cervix was closed and they couldn't get the probe through. No one mentioned any medication to me so am lucky that they couldn't get in. Next time I will know to ask. Also I have never heard of anyone bleeding after a HSG, sounds like they scratched you while trying to get in and thus the pain and the blood. Did they not say anything about the blood? Anyone else experienced blood after HSG?

I am interested to learn of all the different types of catheters that can be inserted in the uterus. I had the balloon inserted in UK, and when I came back home (Cyprus), my doctor who removed it said "so this is what a balloon is!! All it is, is a foley catheter! Now I know what balloon everyone is talking about is" Can you imagine? Our lives in their hands!!

Also I am a bit concerned where you say that they might do another HSG and try to remove the blockage with a guide wire!! Be careful, I've heard of puncturing the uterus too often on this group and am a bit worried for you.

Just some points to consider!!

Poly

[Guest guest]

I had blood after HSG very similar to Gwen. I think I was scratched as he was trying to find an area without scarring to get the dye in.

To those persuing adoption, that is very exciting!! Debbie, my reasoning for adoption was the same as yours. After spending $12,000, there was a definite child, not the possibility of more heartache.

Take Care all,

Jane

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

Gwen,

I took your email to work today (boss was away), and had another good read of it.

I am so sorry that it has taken you (and others) so long to be diagnosed with this syndrome. Unfortunately we find ourselves in a position where we have to train ourselves tobe our own physisian. This shouldn't be the case. I knew bugger all about gynaecology as our infertility problem was male related. But now I find myself searching every medical item on the net to learn about the role of our female reproductive organs. I have totally lost all faith in doctors and no one can ever make me believe otherwise again!!

Reference to your HSG and the pain you had. Others in the group have mentioned taking some other medication before to help with the pain. I have tried to find the email with the name of the drug but can't find it (can anyone assist)? An attempt was made to do a HSG before my last surgery but my cervix was closed and they couldn't get the probe through. No one mentioned any medication to me so am lucky that they couldn't get in. Next time I will know to ask. Also I have never heard of anyone bleeding after a HSG, sounds like they scratched you while trying to get in and thus the pain and the blood. Did they not say anything about the blood? Anyone else experienced blood after HSG?

I am interested to learn of all the different types of catheters that can be inserted in the uterus. I had the balloon inserted in UK, and when I came back home (Cyprus), my doctor who removed it said "so this is what a balloon is!! All it is, is a foley catheter! Now I know what balloon everyone is talking about is" Can you imagine? Our lives in their hands!!

Also I am a bit concerned where you say that they might do another HSG and try to remove the blockage with a guide wire!! Be careful, I've heard of puncturing the uterus too often on this group and am a bit worried for you.

Just some points to consider!!

Poly

[Guest guest]

Gwen,

One comment that may ease your mind in a small way. I believe that the

amount of time that passed before being diagnosed doesn't really matter. You

probably didn't get worse as time went on because the adhesions from quickly

after surgery or infection and don't get worse as time goes on. In fact, Dr.

Berger told me that they usually form within two weeks of the trauma (D & C,

surgery, infection etc.)

Not a great comfort but hope it helps anyway.

Celeste

[Guest guest]

Hi Tina - Thank you for the welcome. I feel like I've found kindred spirits here and it really means so much to me. I don't feel so alone any longer thanks to all of you. I look forward to getting to know you all.

Gwen

New Member of Asherman's Group

Hello all:

My name is Gwen. I'm 33 and just diagnosed with Asherman's last Friday. I'm so happy to have found a support group of others with the same diagnosis and I look forward to getting to know all of you. (Thank you again Poly for sending me the information!)

Here's my story:

I work full-time on a flex-time schedule as an attorney in downtown Chicago. (And before anyone asks...I have no experience in malpractice or personal injury law...but I'm thinking maybe I should get some given how betrayed and angry I feel right now...) I am married to Farooq, a wonderful but annoyingly optimistic man whom I adore.

I gave birth to our first (and now maybe only?) child Hannah in September of 1997. She is (if I do say so myself) the world's most adorable child....I'm going to try to attach a photo of her to this email if I can....) Her placenta didn't detach and my OB had to manually remove it which caused a good amount of bleeding (not to mention a great deal of pain.) Immediately after the delivery I changed to a different OB because the OB (who I LOVED!) that delivered Hannah was no longer accepting HMO insurance at all. So, I saw a new OB in October for my follow-up visit and I was still bleeding. He said don't worry....many women still bleed at 6 weeks. Call me if you're still bleeding at 8 weeks. I called at 8 weeks and he agreed to have me in for an ultrasound. Ultrasound showed I had retained placenta.

So, D & C done the same day as the ultrasound and more bleeding for 2 or 3 weeks after D & C but eventually stopped. My milk had never really come in due to the retained placenta, but I was able to get about an ounce of milk out of each breast a few times a day so I continued to nurse Hannah until I had to have my gallbladder out at 8 months post-partum. I didn't have periods at all while nursing which the OB said was to be expected. Was on Micronor for a few months even after stopping nursing and again, no periods, and again OB said not to worry. Switched to a low estrogen pill when Hannah was a year old....I wait a few months, no periods....again, OB said not to worry, could be that my body didn't have enough " time " to build up an endometrium after a full year of nursing and Micronor.

So, December of 1999, Hannah is 2-1/4 we stop all birth control pills with the intent of having our second child and I wait for a period. Keep in mind that I was on birth control pills for almost 10 years before we got pregnant with Hannah and we stopped those pills in October, had a period 28 days later and were pregnant by December.

This time, I stop the pills and nothing. No period at all. I'm having premenstrual kinds of symptoms each month but no period at all. I see my General Practitioner and she says...most likely due to being on birth control pills, can take a while for your body to return to normal. I ask why that would be when it didn't happen last time and she argues that the different pill type could be the reason. I wait some more, continue to have premenstrual symptoms but no periods. I see her 2 months later and she says, wait another month and if you still haven't had a period then see an OB. I find a new OB (as I have lost all faith in the one I was seeing post-partum by now) and see him in June. He says no periods for 6 months NOT due to any pill, maybe I have hypothalamic amenorrhea. Puts me on Provera for 5 days, and tells me I should have a period within 7 days.

You guessed it, no period. So, he refers me to a reproductive endocrinologist who listens to my medical history for 5 minutes and says....I think you have either Sheehan's Syndrome or Asherman's Syndrome and let's hope for your sake that it's Sheehan's. I asked why and all he offered was that Sheehan's was much easier to treat. He orders a hysterosalpingogram which took place last Friday. The RE I'm seeing, Dr. Gleicher is out of the office that day so another RE from his office performs the test. Everyone tells me that I might have some mild cramping but that's it and that it should only take 5 minutes maximum.

Well, I'm there for almost 40 minutes and it caused me serious pain despite having taken Darvocet and an anti-inflammatory beforehand in preparation so I know there is something seriously wrong. They tried 4 different catheters and couldn't get one to stay in place despite the balloon thingy that is designed to hold the catheter in. When I ask why the doctor explains that the pressure building up " behind " the balloon from the dye is just too much for it to hold. As I wonder what could be creating this pressure, the doctor asks me whether I have ever had an intrauterine surgery before and I tell him about the D & C and retained placenta and he says.....Ahh-ha....as if that explains everything. He moves the screen around so I can see it and demonstrates that the dye flows up through the catheter but then stops about a 1/4 of an inch inside my cervix and won't flow any further because something is blocking it....that something being my uterus. He couldn't visualize any uterine cavity at all and of course neither of my fallopian tubes either I am so blocked.

He says that I have a very severe case of Asherman's and I start to cry quietly right there on the examining table and he asks me why I'm crying....JERK! As if I don't understand what that diagnosis means....As soon as my regular RE had mentioned Asherman's I did a bunch of research on it so I was well-informed as to what having Asherman's would likely mean to our hopes of having a second child.

So, after the doctor leaves the room I sit on the floor of the examining room (did I mention I'm bleeding and already passing big clots while I sit there - but it's only the hospital gown...what do I care...) and I just broke down sobbing for about 5 minutes. Managed to pull myself together enough to call my husband to pick me up and then broke down in the car as soon as I saw him...and then basically cried on and off the entire weekend.

Got a call from my regular RE (Dr. Gleicher's) nurse at home on Sunday. (Nothing can freak you out more than getting a call from a medical professional at home on a weekend!) and she informed me that Dr. Gleicher had seen the results of my HSPG and asked that I come in for ANOTHER one because he wants to perform one personally. WHY? Does he have no confidence in this other doctor? Is my case SO BAD that he wants to see it personally? Could it be something else? Something malignant?

I am very hesitant to agree to going through that again especially considering that at the time I spoke with her on Sunday afternoon I was still bleeding from the procedure on Friday morning! So I ask her what possible purpose going through that again could serve and she says....Well, sometimes the doctor can remove the blockage just by doing another HSPG...he can use this little guide wire and punch through the mucus that is blocking your tubes! Ummmm - HELLO! They couldn't even get into my uterus let alone my tubes babe.......I'm thinking that's not the reason. So I relay this to her and she ummms and ahhhs and fumbles around for a while and then agrees to leave a message for the doctor asking him to call me to discuss this.

So, I'm awaiting his call and I have an appointment scheduled for the 28th which will either be to discuss and plan a hysteroscopy OR will be for another HSPG (but he'd better have a damn good and very convincing reason for wanting me to go through that again) or possible for both I don't know.

So, that's my very long story. I'm feeling basically numb and in shock and sad and angry and hopeless at this point. My little daughter asks me every day when she will have a baby sister or brother. She even prays for one at night when we say our prayers. Every baby we see she asks if we can have one too. And to top it all off (and I'm not exaggerating here....) I currently know 10....yes I did say 10....women that are pregnant including my 2 best friends here in Chicago (both of which are also neighbors) and my sister. I know I should be a " bigger " person and be unconditionally happy for them but I am so bitter and sad that I find it hard to be happy. I feel as if the Universe is playing some cruel, cruel joke on me to allow this to happen.....

That's about it I guess. I look forward to getting to know each of you. Anyone know of any success stories? I could use one today....

Gwen

[Guest guest]

Oh thank you Poly! I'm so happy to hear that there really are women who give birth after Asherman's....now I have some hope to cling to. I kept reading all these studies about women with severe Asherman's having to have hysterectomies and I never saw any information about women actually having children. Thank you, I really needed that.

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

Gwen,

Welcome! We could do with an attorney on this list, maybe you should get some experience on malpractice and give some advice to us all!!

I tried to see your attached photo in word but it was all writing. I'll have to play around with it and see if I can view it.

We do have some success stories to share with you. One of those is that of Ute Bayen who delivered her first son after severe ashermans on 3rd July. She is not a member but we keep in touch. Also we have a pregnant member Tammy who is due 21 of next month!! Two other members, Darlene and Amy also had given birth afer ashermans. So there is hope if you hang on to your dream!

Love

Poly

[Guest guest]

Thank you - she is so sweet and so loving I just ache at the thought of her not having any brothers or sisters.....I know that's a feeing we all experience but it's nice to know I'm not the only one. I know I should focus on how lucky I am to have her when there are so many women who can't ever have even one child of their own. I often feel selfish for being so devastated over the possibility of not being able to have another. But I can't deny that our desire to have another child is only made more intense by the love we have for our first...and by her desire for siblings. Anyway....thank you.

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

Gwen,

Just managed to see the photo of your daughter. I had to scroll at the bottom of your email to be able to see her and not actually go to the attachement. Yes, she is a darling!!!

Poly

[Guest guest]

Hi Poly:

Yes, I am furious that it has taken so long for a diagnosis. I saw 3 doctors before this one finally knew what was going on. Isn't that deplorable!? And my RE was disgusted when he heard that I had discussed my lack of periods with 3 different doctors and not one of them had considered Asherman's. I am so worried that because it took so long to discover the damage will be too severe to repair. I am also trying to get over being angry with myself for trusting these doctors when they told me nothing was wrong. I kept asking and kept getting the same answer and I believed them and I just want to bang my head against a wall now knowing that had I pushed harder and done some more research I might have discovered this on my own....I have completely lost faith in the medical community now....

I had done some research before my HSG and knew about the pain medication and I actually took 2 different kinds beforehand! I took Darvocet which is a narcotic pain medication AND I took Anaprox which is a strong anti-inflammatory but neither helped! And believe me I am not someone with a low pain tolerance, I've been through kidney stones and child birth and made it through both almost completely unmedicated so I'm not one to scream in pain when I get a splinter or anything. The amount of pain I had and the bleeding did make me nervous. And I wonder whether my " regular " doctor is concerned that this other doctor did something wrong....I did " speak " with a few women who had had HSG's on the INCIID Secondary Infertility board before my procedure and a couple of them commented on bleeding so I don't think it's completely unusual...but do let me know what other people's experiences have been....I'd like to know before I talk to my RE (assuming he ever calls me back!)

My cervix appeared to be relatively open as they didn't seem to have any trouble getting the catheter or the balloon in place but when they inflated the balloon I did feel quite a bit of pressure - maybe I have adhesions very " low " in the uterus near the cervix? Could that be the reason for the bleeding? When they tried to push the dye through the catheter the balloon kept popping out of my uterus the pressure was so great. And none of the dye would flow...he couldn't see any uterine cavity at all. So he kept trying with smaller and smaller catheters but nothing would stay in place....

As for repeating the HSG....I don't kno why he wants to do that, that's why I am waiting to talk to him before I agree to schedule one. When I spoke with my RE's nurse and asked why in the world he would possibly want to repeat it only a week after this first one and before a hysteroscopy, SHE (and not my doctor) is the one who said... " Well, sometimes he can break up the blockage using a guidewire. " I think this nurse was just speaking in general terms trying to offer me an explanation when she didn't have one. She obviously hadn't seen my HSG or she would have known that mine wasn't a matter of a little mucus blocking my fallopian tubes....from my HSG you wouldn't even know I HAD any fallopian tubes! So, I don't think that the guidewire suggestion was my doctor's just a nurse's guess which was obviously wrong. I told her that I would not agree to another HSG unless and until I had a chance to talk to my RE and find out why and what possible purpose doing another one would serve and also told her that I much preferred scheduling my hysteroscopy instead. She left my chart on his desk with a note to call me please to discuss before he leaves on vacation (tomorrow is his last day in the office for 2 weeks!)

Thank you for the information though....a punctured uterus is definitely something I don't need. When I finally speak to him I'll let you know what he says....and ask for everyone's feedback again! I trust all of you more than I do him!!

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

Gwen,

I took your email to work today (boss was away), and had another good read of it.

I am so sorry that it has taken you (and others) so long to be diagnosed with this syndrome. Unfortunately we find ourselves in a position where we have to train ourselves tobe our own physisian. This shouldn't be the case. I knew bugger all about gynaecology as our infertility problem was male related. But now I find myself searching every medical item on the net to learn about the role of our female reproductive organs. I have totally lost all faith in doctors and no one can ever make me believe otherwise again!!

Reference to your HSG and the pain you had. Others in the group have mentioned taking some other medication before to help with the pain. I have tried to find the email with the name of the drug but can't find it (can anyone assist)? An attempt was made to do a HSG before my last surgery but my cervix was closed and they couldn't get the probe through. No one mentioned any medication to me so am lucky that they couldn't get in. Next time I will know to ask. Also I have never heard of anyone bleeding after a HSG, sounds like they scratched you while trying to get in and thus the pain and the blood. Did they not say anything about the blood? Anyone else experienced blood after HSG?

I am interested to learn of all the different types of catheters that can be inserted in the uterus. I had the balloon inserted in UK, and when I came back home (Cyprus), my doctor who removed it said " so this is what a balloon is!! All it is, is a foley catheter! Now I know what balloon everyone is talking about is " Can you imagine? Our lives in their hands!!

Also I am a bit concerned where you say that they might do another HSG and try to remove the blockage with a guide wire!! Be careful, I've heard of puncturing the uterus too often on this group and am a bit worried for you.

Just some points to consider!!

Poly

[Guest guest]

Jane - Thanks for your message. You're right about the purple poodle! I had never thought of it that way. I think my concerns are probably a little inflated because I'm so emotional right now. And I think it's also because the people in my life that were only children are not the most well-adjusted people I know. A lot of intimacy, relationship and entitlement issues with each of them...but that may be coincidence or due to other factors than their being only children. I think I will do some research into only children to put my mind at ease. Thanks for the reality check.

Is it really possible that my uterus could be open even though they couldn't " see " any uterine cavity at all? Do you mean that the scarring would be so low in the uterus that it acted as a kind of dam or roadblock beyond which my uterus could be open? That thought hadn't occured to me either. The only way to tell for sure is with a hysteroscopy yes? (Ooh I wish my doctor wasn't going away on vacation for 2 weeks - I want one NOW!!)

Thank you for your message - you've given me some much-needed perspective. I won't assume the worst and will wait for some more information.....I appreciate it.

Did you adopt? It appeared from your message that you did. Where from?

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

Hi Gwen,

Your story is my story, except mine was from an undiagnosed post-partum infection. I'm really sorry for what you're currently going through. I've been there.

With regards to your daughter asking for a sibling, please remember that if every kid on the block was getting a purple poodle, she'd want one too, or at least ask you why you didn't have one. Fair question for a smart kid to ask. But really, truly, she'll be OK if she's an only child. Please check the research. " Lonely only " is a myth. She'll be OK, it's you that is suffering and will suffer. I'm so, so sorry for that.

It is possible that the scarring is closing the end of your cervix but your uterus could possibly be open. It is too early for you to assume the worst.

Good luck to you and take care,

Jane

New Member of Asherman's Group

Hello all:

My name is Gwen. I'm 33 and just diagnosed with Asherman's last Friday. I'm so happy to have found a support group of others with the same diagnosis and I look forward to getting to know all of you. (Thank you again Poly for sending me the information!)

Here's my story:

I work full-time on a flex-time schedule as an attorney in downtown Chicago. (And before anyone asks...I have no experience in malpractice or personal injury law...but I'm thinking maybe I should get some given how betrayed and angry I feel right now...) I am married to Farooq, a wonderful but annoyingly optimistic man whom I adore.

I gave birth to our first (and now maybe only?) child Hannah in September of 1997. She is (if I do say so myself) the world's most adorable child....I'm going to try to attach a photo of her to this email if I can....) Her placenta didn't detach and my OB had to manually remove it which caused a good amount of bleeding (not to mention a great deal of pain.) Immediately after the delivery I changed to a different OB because the OB (who I LOVED!) that delivered Hannah was no longer accepting HMO insurance at all. So, I saw a new OB in October for my follow-up visit and I was still bleeding. He said don't worry....many women still bleed at 6 weeks. Call me if you're still bleeding at 8 weeks. I called at 8 weeks and he agreed to have me in for an ultrasound. Ultrasound showed I had retained placenta.

So, D & C done the same day as the ultrasound and more bleeding for 2 or 3 weeks after D & C but eventually stopped. My milk had never really come in due to the retained placenta, but I was able to get about an ounce of milk out of each breast a few times a day so I continued to nurse Hannah until I had to have my gallbladder out at 8 months post-partum. I didn't have periods at all while nursing which the OB said was to be expected. Was on Micronor for a few months even after stopping nursing and again, no periods, and again OB said not to worry. Switched to a low estrogen pill when Hannah was a year old....I wait a few months, no periods....again, OB said not to worry, could be that my body didn't have enough " time " to build up an endometrium after a full year of nursing and Micronor.

So, December of 1999, Hannah is 2-1/4 we stop all birth control pills with the intent of having our second child and I wait for a period. Keep in mind that I was on birth control pills for almost 10 years before we got pregnant with Hannah and we stopped those pills in October, had a period 28 days later and were pregnant by December.

This time, I stop the pills and nothing. No period at all. I'm having premenstrual kinds of symptoms each month but no period at all. I see my General Practitioner and she says...most likely due to being on birth control pills, can take a while for your body to return to normal. I ask why that would be when it didn't happen last time and she argues that the different pill type could be the reason. I wait some more, continue to have premenstrual symptoms but no periods. I see her 2 months later and she says, wait another month and if you still haven't had a period then see an OB. I find a new OB (as I have lost all faith in the one I was seeing post-partum by now) and see him in June. He says no periods for 6 months NOT due to any pill, maybe I have hypothalamic amenorrhea. Puts me on Provera for 5 days, and tells me I should have a period within 7 days.

You guessed it, no period. So, he refers me to a reproductive endocrinologist who listens to my medical history for 5 minutes and says....I think you have either Sheehan's Syndrome or Asherman's Syndrome and let's hope for your sake that it's Sheehan's. I asked why and all he offered was that Sheehan's was much easier to treat. He orders a hysterosalpingogram which took place last Friday. The RE I'm seeing, Dr. Gleicher is out of the office that day so another RE from his office performs the test. Everyone tells me that I might have some mild cramping but that's it and that it should only take 5 minutes maximum.

Well, I'm there for almost 40 minutes and it caused me serious pain despite having taken Darvocet and an anti-inflammatory beforehand in preparation so I know there is something seriously wrong. They tried 4 different catheters and couldn't get one to stay in place despite the balloon thingy that is designed to hold the catheter in. When I ask why the doctor explains that the pressure building up " behind " the balloon from the dye is just too much for it to hold. As I wonder what could be creating this pressure, the doctor asks me whether I have ever had an intrauterine surgery before and I tell him about the D & C and retained placenta and he says.....Ahh-ha....as if that explains everything. He moves the screen around so I can see it and demonstrates that the dye flows up through the catheter but then stops about a 1/4 of an inch inside my cervix and won't flow any further because something is blocking it....that something being my uterus. He couldn't visualize any uterine cavity at all and of course neither of my fallopian tubes either I am so blocked.

He says that I have a very severe case of Asherman's and I start to cry quietly right there on the examining table and he asks me why I'm crying....JERK! As if I don't understand what that diagnosis means....As soon as my regular RE had mentioned Asherman's I did a bunch of research on it so I was well-informed as to what having Asherman's would likely mean to our hopes of having a second child.

So, after the doctor leaves the room I sit on the floor of the examining room (did I mention I'm bleeding and already passing big clots while I sit there - but it's only the hospital gown...what do I care...) and I just broke down sobbing for about 5 minutes. Managed to pull myself together enough to call my husband to pick me up and then broke down in the car as soon as I saw him...and then basically cried on and off the entire weekend.

Got a call from my regular RE (Dr. Gleicher's) nurse at home on Sunday. (Nothing can freak you out more than getting a call from a medical professional at home on a weekend!) and she informed me that Dr. Gleicher had seen the results of my HSPG and asked that I come in for ANOTHER one because he wants to perform one personally. WHY? Does he have no confidence in this other doctor? Is my case SO BAD that he wants to see it personally? Could it be something else? Something malignant?

I am very hesitant to agree to going through that again especially considering that at the time I spoke with her on Sunday afternoon I was still bleeding from the procedure on Friday morning! So I ask her what possible purpose going through that again could serve and she says....Well, sometimes the doctor can remove the blockage just by doing another HSPG...he can use this little guide wire and punch through the mucus that is blocking your tubes! Ummmm - HELLO! They couldn't even get into my uterus let alone my tubes babe.......I'm thinking that's not the reason. So I relay this to her and she ummms and ahhhs and fumbles around for a while and then agrees to leave a message for the doctor asking him to call me to discuss this.

So, I'm awaiting his call and I have an appointment scheduled for the 28th which will either be to discuss and plan a hysteroscopy OR will be for another HSPG (but he'd better have a damn good and very convincing reason for wanting me to go through that again) or possible for both I don't know.

So, that's my very long story. I'm feeling basically numb and in shock and sad and angry and hopeless at this point. My little daughter asks me every day when she will have a baby sister or brother. She even prays for one at night when we say our prayers. Every baby we see she asks if we can have one too. And to top it all off (and I'm not exaggerating here....) I currently know 10....yes I did say 10....women that are pregnant including my 2 best friends here in Chicago (both of which are also neighbors) and my sister. I know I should be a " bigger " person and be unconditionally happy for them but I am so bitter and sad that I find it hard to be happy. I feel as if the Universe is playing some cruel, cruel joke on me to allow this to happen.....

That's about it I guess. I look forward to getting to know each of you. Anyone know of any success stories? I could use one today....

Gwen

[Guest guest]

Poly,

I also bleed after my last HSG for 3-4 days. I had to wear a pad.

I had a lot of pain with my HSG also.

Amy

> I had blood after HSG very similar to Gwen. I think I was

scratched as he was trying to find an area without scarring to get

the dye in.

>

> To those persuing adoption, that is very exciting!! Debbie, my

reasoning for adoption was the same as yours. After spending

$12,000, there was a definite child, not the possibility of more

heartache.

>

> Take Care all,

> Jane

>

> Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

>

>

> Gwen,

> I took your email to work today (boss was away), and had another

good read of it.

>

> I am so sorry that it has taken you (and others) so long to be

diagnosed with this syndrome. Unfortunately we find ourselves in a

position where we have to train ourselves tobe our own physisian.

This shouldn't be the case. I knew bugger all about gynaecology as

our infertility problem was male related. But now I find myself

searching every medical item on the net to learn about the role of

our female reproductive organs. I have totally lost all faith in

doctors and no one can ever make me believe otherwise again!!

>

> Reference to your HSG and the pain you had. Others in the group

have mentioned taking some other medication before to help with the

pain. I have tried to find the email with the name of the drug but

can't find it (can anyone assist)? An attempt was made to do a HSG

before my last surgery but my cervix was closed and they couldn't get

the probe through. No one mentioned any medication to me so am lucky

that they couldn't get in. Next time I will know to ask. Also I have

never heard of anyone bleeding after a HSG, sounds like they

scratched you while trying to get in and thus the pain and the

blood. Did they not say anything about the blood? Anyone else

experienced blood after HSG?

>

> I am interested to learn of all the different types of catheters

that can be inserted in the uterus. I had the balloon inserted in

UK, and when I came back home (Cyprus), my doctor who removed it

said " so this is what a balloon is!! All it is, is a foley catheter!

Now I know what balloon everyone is talking about is " Can you

imagine? Our lives in their hands!!

>

> Also I am a bit concerned where you say that they might do

another HSG and try to remove the blockage with a guide wire!! Be

careful, I've heard of puncturing the uterus too often on this group

and am a bit worried for you.

>

> Just some points to consider!!

>

> Poly

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

>

>

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

>

[Guest guest]

-

Gwen,

When I had all four of my HSG's, everyone but the first one, because

I didn't know any better I was given percacet and with that I did

really feel anything but mild cramping. I also did bleed for about

two days with all of mine to. Hope this helps.

Take care,

-- In Ashermansegroups, " Poly Spyrou " <kyrpoly@l...> wrote:

> Gwen,

> I took your email to work today (boss was away), and had another

good read of it.

>

> I am so sorry that it has taken you (and others) so long to be

diagnosed with this syndrome. Unfortunately we find ourselves in a

position where we have to train ourselves tobe our own physisian.

This shouldn't be the case. I knew bugger all about gynaecology as

our infertility problem was male related. But now I find myself

searching every medical item on the net to learn about the role of

our female reproductive organs. I have totally lost all faith in

doctors and no one can ever make me believe otherwise again!!

>

> Reference to your HSG and the pain you had. Others in the group

have mentioned taking some other medication before to help with the

pain. I have tried to find the email with the name of the drug but

can't find it (can anyone assist)? An attempt was made to do a HSG

before my last surgery but my cervix was closed and they couldn't get

the probe through. No one mentioned any medication to me so am lucky

that they couldn't get in. Next time I will know to ask. Also I have

never heard of anyone bleeding after a HSG, sounds like they

scratched you while trying to get in and thus the pain and the

blood. Did they not say anything about the blood? Anyone else

experienced blood after HSG?

>

> I am interested to learn of all the different types of catheters

that can be inserted in the uterus. I had the balloon inserted in

UK, and when I came back home (Cyprus), my doctor who removed it

said " so this is what a balloon is!! All it is, is a foley catheter!

Now I know what balloon everyone is talking about is " Can you

imagine? Our lives in their hands!!

>

> Also I am a bit concerned where you say that they might do another

HSG and try to remove the blockage with a guide wire!! Be careful,

I've heard of puncturing the uterus too often on this group and am a

bit worried for you.

>

> Just some points to consider!!

>

> Poly

[Guest guest]

Oh Celeste - That does help! Thank you. I was really beating myself up over

how long it took for my diagnosis, sure that if I had caught this earlier,

had pushed harder, hadn't trusted my doctors, it might not be so bad now, or

I could have somehow prevented it entirely. I'm glad to hear that isn't

necessarily the case.

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

>Gwen,

>

>One comment that may ease your mind in a small way. I believe that the

>amount of time that passed before being diagnosed doesn't really matter.

You

>probably didn't get worse as time went on because the adhesions from

quickly

>after surgery or infection and don't get worse as time goes on. In fact,

Dr.

>Berger told me that they usually form within two weeks of the trauma (D & C,

>surgery, infection etc.)

>

>Not a great comfort but hope it helps anyway.

>

>Celeste

>

>------------------------------------------------------------------------

>Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds!

>1. Fill in the brief application

>2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds

>3. Get rates as low as 2.9% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR

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>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm glad I made you feel better Gwen. That was my intention. As mothers, we can bear any pain but the thought of our children hurting is just excruciating.

I am not as up-to-date and knowledgeable as some of the other women in this group as to the current medical stuff. From what I understood from your EMAIL, your cervix or lower uterus was scarred shut so they couldn't see past that scarring. Did you have an ultrasound to look above that? Perhaps there is only a band of scarring in the bottom portion of the uterus.

My little girl is 4-1/4, from Korea. She's brilliant and beautiful.

Take Care,

Jane

New Member of Asherman's Group

Hello all:

My name is Gwen. I'm 33 and just diagnosed with Asherman's last Friday. I'm so happy to have found a support group of others with the same diagnosis and I look forward to getting to know all of you. (Thank you again Poly for sending me the information!)

Here's my story:

I work full-time on a flex-time schedule as an attorney in downtown Chicago. (And before anyone asks...I have no experience in malpractice or personal injury law...but I'm thinking maybe I should get some given how betrayed and angry I feel right now...) I am married to Farooq, a wonderful but annoyingly optimistic man whom I adore.

I gave birth to our first (and now maybe only?) child Hannah in September of 1997. She is (if I do say so myself) the world's most adorable child....I'm going to try to attach a photo of her to this email if I can....) Her placenta didn't detach and my OB had to manually remove it which caused a good amount of bleeding (not to mention a great deal of pain.) Immediately after the delivery I changed to a different OB because the OB (who I LOVED!) that delivered Hannah was no longer accepting HMO insurance at all. So, I saw a new OB in October for my follow-up visit and I was still bleeding. He said don't worry....many women still bleed at 6 weeks. Call me if you're still bleeding at 8 weeks. I called at 8 weeks and he agreed to have me in for an ultrasound. Ultrasound showed I had retained placenta.

So, D & C done the same day as the ultrasound and more bleeding for 2 or 3 weeks after D & C but eventually stopped. My milk had never really come in due to the retained placenta, but I was able to get about an ounce of milk out of each breast a few times a day so I continued to nurse Hannah until I had to have my gallbladder out at 8 months post-partum. I didn't have periods at all while nursing which the OB said was to be expected. Was on Micronor for a few months even after stopping nursing and again, no periods, and again OB said not to worry. Switched to a low estrogen pill when Hannah was a year old....I wait a few months, no periods....again, OB said not to worry, could be that my body didn't have enough "time" to build up an endometrium after a full year of nursing and Micronor.

So, December of 1999, Hannah is 2-1/4 we stop all birth control pills with the intent of having our second child and I wait for a period. Keep in mind that I was on birth control pills for almost 10 years before we got pregnant with Hannah and we stopped those pills in October, had a period 28 days later and were pregnant by December.

This time, I stop the pills and nothing. No period at all. I'm having premenstrual kinds of symptoms each month but no period at all. I see my General Practitioner and she says...most likely due to being on birth control pills, can take a while for your body to return to normal. I ask why that would be when it didn't happen last time and she argues that the different pill type could be the reason. I wait some more, continue to have premenstrual symptoms but no periods. I see her 2 months later and she says, wait another month and if you still haven't had a period then see an OB. I find a new OB (as I have lost all faith in the one I was seeing post-partum by now) and see him in June. He says no periods for 6 months NOT due to any pill, maybe I have hypothalamic amenorrhea. Puts me on Provera for 5 days, and tells me I should have a period within 7 days.

You guessed it, no period. So, he refers me to a reproductive endocrinologist who listens to my medical history for 5 minutes and says....I think you have either Sheehan's Syndrome or Asherman's Syndrome and let's hope for your sake that it's Sheehan's. I asked why and all he offered was that Sheehan's was much easier to treat. He orders a hysterosalpingogram which took place last Friday. The RE I'm seeing, Dr. Gleicher is out of the office that day so another RE from his office performs the test. Everyone tells me that I might have some mild cramping but that's it and that it should only take 5 minutes maximum.

Well, I'm there for almost 40 minutes and it caused me serious pain despite having taken Darvocet and an anti-inflammatory beforehand in preparation so I know there is something seriously wrong. They tried 4 different catheters and couldn't get one to stay in place despite the balloon thingy that is designed to hold the catheter in. When I ask why the doctor explains that the pressure building up "behind" the balloon from the dye is just too much for it to hold. As I wonder what could be creating this pressure, the doctor asks me whether I have ever had an intrauterine surgery before and I tell him about the D & C and retained placenta and he says.....Ahh-ha....as if that explains everything. He moves the screen around so I can see it and demonstrates that the dye flows up through the catheter but then stops about a 1/4 of an inch inside my cervix and won't flow any further because something is blocking it....that something being my uterus. He couldn't visualize any uterine cavity at all and of course neither of my fallopian tubes either I am so blocked.

He says that I have a very severe case of Asherman's and I start to cry quietly right there on the examining table and he asks me why I'm crying....JERK! As if I don't understand what that diagnosis means....As soon as my regular RE had mentioned Asherman's I did a bunch of research on it so I was well-informed as to what having Asherman's would likely mean to our hopes of having a second child.

So, after the doctor leaves the room I sit on the floor of the examining room (did I mention I'm bleeding and already passing big clots while I sit there - but it's only the hospital gown...what do I care...) and I just broke down sobbing for about 5 minutes. Managed to pull myself together enough to call my husband to pick me up and then broke down in the car as soon as I saw him...and then basically cried on and off the entire weekend.

Got a call from my regular RE (Dr. Gleicher's) nurse at home on Sunday. (Nothing can freak you out more than getting a call from a medical professional at home on a weekend!) and she informed me that Dr. Gleicher had seen the results of my HSPG and asked that I come in for ANOTHER one because he wants to perform one personally. WHY? Does he have no confidence in this other doctor? Is my case SO BAD that he wants to see it personally? Could it be something else? Something malignant?

I am very hesitant to agree to going through that again especially considering that at the time I spoke with her on Sunday afternoon I was still bleeding from the procedure on Friday morning! So I ask her what possible purpose going through that again could serve and she says....Well, sometimes the doctor can remove the blockage just by doing another HSPG...he can use this little guide wire and punch through the mucus that is blocking your tubes! Ummmm - HELLO! They couldn't even get into my uterus let alone my tubes babe.......I'm thinking that's not the reason. So I relay this to her and she ummms and ahhhs and fumbles around for a while and then agrees to leave a message for the doctor asking him to call me to discuss this.

So, I'm awaiting his call and I have an appointment scheduled for the 28th which will either be to discuss and plan a hysteroscopy OR will be for another HSPG (but he'd better have a damn good and very convincing reason for wanting me to go through that again) or possible for both I don't know.

So, that's my very long story. I'm feeling basically numb and in shock and sad and angry and hopeless at this point. My little daughter asks me every day when she will have a baby sister or brother. She even prays for one at night when we say our prayers. Every baby we see she asks if we can have one too. And to top it all off (and I'm not exaggerating here....) I currently know 10....yes I did say 10....women that are pregnant including my 2 best friends here in Chicago (both of which are also neighbors) and my sister. I know I should be a "bigger" person and be unconditionally happy for them but I am so bitter and sad that I find it hard to be happy. I feel as if the Universe is playing some cruel, cruel joke on me to allow this to happen.....

That's about it I guess. I look forward to getting to know each of you. Anyone know of any success stories? I could use one today....

Gwen

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane:

I don't know yet where my scarring is. All I know is that they couldn't get an image of my uterine cavity at all which could mean that I either don't have one at all (that the uterus isn't open any longer because it is full of adhesions, has collapsed, has fused together, something) OR that the space immediately above the cervix is filled with scar tissue preventing the dye from reaching and imaging my uterine cavity. I won't know which until they do a hysteroscopy I think....which should happen sometime early next month. I am STILL awaiting a call from my doctor. I'll cling to the hope that I have an open uterine space beyond the scarring near my cervix until I know otherwise.

How wonderful that you were able to adopt a little Korean girl. I bet she's beautiful. Did you adopt her as an infant? Or when she was a toddler? How long did the process take? Was it extremely difficult? I know next-to-nothing about adoption so please excuse all the questions....it's something I had never really considered before finding out I had Asherman's but am starting to consider as a possibility now.

I hope I'm not prying to ask, but what is your current medical status? Are you still actively trying to repair your uterine cavity? Are you trying to conceive or are you here to offer saged and much-needed advice but not actively pursuing treatment right now?

Thank you again for writing.

Gwen

Re: New Member of Asherman's Group

I'm glad I made you feel better Gwen. That was my intention. As mothers, we can bear any pain but the thought of our children hurting is just excruciating.

I am not as up-to-date and knowledgeable as some of the other women in this group as to the current medical stuff. From what I understood from your EMAIL, your cervix or lower uterus was scarred shut so they couldn't see past that scarring. Did you have an ultrasound to look above that? Perhaps there is only a band of scarring in the bottom portion of the uterus.

My little girl is 4-1/4, from Korea. She's brilliant and beautiful.

Take Care,

Jane

New Member of Asherman's Group

Hello all:

My name is Gwen. I'm 33 and just diagnosed with Asherman's last Friday. I'm so happy to have found a support group of others with the same diagnosis and I look forward to getting to know all of you. (Thank you again Poly for sending me the information!)

Here's my story:

I work full-time on a flex-time schedule as an attorney in downtown Chicago. (And before anyone asks...I have no experience in malpractice or personal injury law...but I'm thinking maybe I should get some given how betrayed and angry I feel right now...) I am married to Farooq, a wonderful but annoyingly optimistic man whom I adore.

I gave birth to our first (and now maybe only?) child Hannah in September of 1997. She is (if I do say so myself) the world's most adorable child....I'm going to try to attach a photo of her to this email if I can....) Her placenta didn't detach and my OB had to manually remove it which caused a good amount of bleeding (not to mention a great deal of pain.) Immediately after the delivery I changed to a different OB because the OB (who I LOVED!) that delivered Hannah was no longer accepting HMO insurance at all. So, I saw a new OB in October for my follow-up visit and I was still bleeding. He said don't worry....many women still bleed at 6 weeks. Call me if you're still bleeding at 8 weeks. I called at 8 weeks and he agreed to have me in for an ultrasound. Ultrasound showed I had retained placenta.

So, D & C done the same day as the ultrasound and more bleeding for 2 or 3 weeks after D & C but eventually stopped. My milk had never really come in due to the retained placenta, but I was able to get about an ounce of milk out of each breast a few times a day so I continued to nurse Hannah until I had to have my gallbladder out at 8 months post-partum. I didn't have periods at all while nursing which the OB said was to be expected. Was on Micronor for a few months even after stopping nursing and again, no periods, and again OB said not to worry. Switched to a low estrogen pill when Hannah was a year old....I wait a few months, no periods....again, OB said not to worry, could be that my body didn't have enough " time " to build up an endometrium after a full year of nursing and Micronor.

So, December of 1999, Hannah is 2-1/4 we stop all birth control pills with the intent of having our second child and I wait for a period. Keep in mind that I was on birth control pills for almost 10 years before we got pregnant with Hannah and we stopped those pills in October, had a period 28 days later and were pregnant by December.

This time, I stop the pills and nothing. No period at all. I'm having premenstrual kinds of symptoms each month but no period at all. I see my General Practitioner and she says...most likely due to being on birth control pills, can take a while for your body to return to normal. I ask why that would be when it didn't happen last time and she argues that the different pill type could be the reason. I wait some more, continue to have premenstrual symptoms but no periods. I see her 2 months later and she says, wait another month and if you still haven't had a period then see an OB. I find a new OB (as I have lost all faith in the one I was seeing post-partum by now) and see him in June. He says no periods for 6 months NOT due to any pill, maybe I have hypothalamic amenorrhea. Puts me on Provera for 5 days, and tells me I should have a period within 7 days.

You guessed it, no period. So, he refers me to a reproductive endocrinologist who listens to my medical history for 5 minutes and says....I think you have either Sheehan's Syndrome or Asherman's Syndrome and let's hope for your sake that it's Sheehan's. I asked why and all he offered was that Sheehan's was much easier to treat. He orders a hysterosalpingogram which took place last Friday. The RE I'm seeing, Dr. Gleicher is out of the office that day so another RE from his office performs the test. Everyone tells me that I might have some mild cramping but that's it and that it should only take 5 minutes maximum.

Well, I'm there for almost 40 minutes and it caused me serious pain despite having taken Darvocet and an anti-inflammatory beforehand in preparation so I know there is something seriously wrong. They tried 4 different catheters and couldn't get one to stay in place despite the balloon thingy that is designed to hold the catheter in. When I ask why the doctor explains that the pressure building up " behind " the balloon from the dye is just too much for it to hold. As I wonder what could be creating this pressure, the doctor asks me whether I have ever had an intrauterine surgery before and I tell him about the D & C and retained placenta and he says.....Ahh-ha....as if that explains everything. He moves the screen around so I can see it and demonstrates that the dye flows up through the catheter but then stops about a 1/4 of an inch inside my cervix and won't flow any further because something is blocking it....that something being my uterus. He couldn't visualize any uterine cavity at all and of course neither of my fallopian tubes either I am so blocked.

He says that I have a very severe case of Asherman's and I start to cry quietly right there on the examining table and he asks me why I'm crying....JERK! As if I don't understand what that diagnosis means....As soon as my regular RE had mentioned Asherman's I did a bunch of research on it so I was well-informed as to what having Asherman's would likely mean to our hopes of having a second child.

So, after the doctor leaves the room I sit on the floor of the examining room (did I mention I'm bleeding and already passing big clots while I sit there - but it's only the hospital gown...what do I care...) and I just broke down sobbing for about 5 minutes. Managed to pull myself together enough to call my husband to pick me up and then broke down in the car as soon as I saw him...and then basically cried on and off the entire weekend.

Got a call from my regular RE (Dr. Gleicher's) nurse at home on Sunday. (Nothing can freak you out more than getting a call from a medical professional at home on a weekend!) and she informed me that Dr. Gleicher had seen the results of my HSPG and asked that I come in for ANOTHER one because he wants to perform one personally. WHY? Does he have no confidence in this other doctor? Is my case SO BAD that he wants to see it personally? Could it be something else? Something malignant?

I am very hesitant to agree to going through that again especially considering that at the time I spoke with her on Sunday afternoon I was still bleeding from the procedure on Friday morning! So I ask her what possible purpose going through that again could serve and she says....Well, sometimes the doctor can remove the blockage just by doing another HSPG...he can use this little guide wire and punch through the mucus that is blocking your tubes! Ummmm - HELLO! They couldn't even get into my uterus let alone my tubes babe.......I'm thinking that's not the reason. So I relay this to her and she ummms and ahhhs and fumbles around for a while and then agrees to leave a message for the doctor asking him to call me to discuss this.

So, I'm awaiting his call and I have an appointment scheduled for the 28th which will either be to discuss and plan a hysteroscopy OR will be for another HSPG (but he'd better have a damn good and very convincing reason for wanting me to go through that again) or possible for both I don't know.

So, that's my very long story. I'm feeling basically numb and in shock and sad and angry and hopeless at this point. My little daughter asks me every day when she will have a baby sister or brother. She even prays for one at night when we say our prayers. Every baby we see she asks if we can have one too. And to top it all off (and I'm not exaggerating here....) I currently know 10....yes I did say 10....women that are pregnant including my 2 best friends here in Chicago (both of which are also neighbors) and my sister. I know I should be a " bigger " person and be unconditionally happy for them but I am so bitter and sad that I find it hard to be happy. I feel as if the Universe is playing some cruel, cruel joke on me to allow this to happen.....

That's about it I guess. I look forward to getting to know each of you. Anyone know of any success stories? I could use one today....

Gwen

[Guest guest]

Gwen,

I just got a chance to view the picture of your daughter and may I say she is beautiful. She will break a lot of hearts someday.

Tina

-----------------------------------------------------Click here for Free Video!!http://www.gohip.com/free_video/

New Member of Asherman's Group

Hello all:

My name is Gwen. I'm 33 and just diagnosed with Asherman's last Friday. I'm so happy to have found a support group of others with the same diagnosis and I look forward to getting to know all of you. (Thank you again Poly for sending me the information!)

Here's my story:

I work full-time on a flex-time schedule as an attorney in downtown Chicago. (And before anyone asks...I have no experience in malpractice or personal injury law...but I'm thinking maybe I should get some given how betrayed and angry I feel right now...) I am married to Farooq, a wonderful but annoyingly optimistic man whom I adore.

I gave birth to our first (and now maybe only?) child Hannah in September of 1997. She is (if I do say so myself) the world's most adorable child....I'm going to try to attach a photo of her to this email if I can....) Her placenta didn't detach and my OB had to manually remove it which caused a good amount of bleeding (not to mention a great deal of pain.) Immediately after the delivery I changed to a different OB because the OB (who I LOVED!) that delivered Hannah was no longer accepting HMO insurance at all. So, I saw a new OB in October for my follow-up visit and I was still bleeding. He said don't worry....many women still bleed at 6 weeks. Call me if you're still bleeding at 8 weeks. I called at 8 weeks and he agreed to have me in for an ultrasound. Ultrasound showed I had retained placenta.

So, D & C done the same day as the ultrasound and more bleeding for 2 or 3 weeks after D & C but eventually stopped. My milk had never really come in due to the retained placenta, but I was able to get about an ounce of milk out of each breast a few times a day so I continued to nurse Hannah until I had to have my gallbladder out at 8 months post-partum. I didn't have periods at all while nursing which the OB said was to be expected. Was on Micronor for a few months even after stopping nursing and again, no periods, and again OB said not to worry. Switched to a low estrogen pill when Hannah was a year old....I wait a few months, no periods....again, OB said not to worry, could be that my body didn't have enough " time " to build up an endometrium after a full year of nursing and Micronor.

So, December of 1999, Hannah is 2-1/4 we stop all birth control pills with the intent of having our second child and I wait for a period. Keep in mind that I was on birth control pills for almost 10 years before we got pregnant with Hannah and we stopped those pills in October, had a period 28 days later and were pregnant by December.

This time, I stop the pills and nothing. No period at all. I'm having premenstrual kinds of symptoms each month but no period at all. I see my General Practitioner and she says...most likely due to being on birth control pills, can take a while for your body to return to normal. I ask why that would be when it didn't happen last time and she argues that the different pill type could be the reason. I wait some more, continue to have premenstrual symptoms but no periods. I see her 2 months later and she says, wait another month and if you still haven't had a period then see an OB. I find a new OB (as I have lost all faith in the one I was seeing post-partum by now) and see him in June. He says no periods for 6 months NOT due to any pill, maybe I have hypothalamic amenorrhea. Puts me on Provera for 5 days, and tells me I should have a period within 7 days.

You guessed it, no period. So, he refers me to a reproductive endocrinologist who listens to my medical history for 5 minutes and says....I think you have either Sheehan's Syndrome or Asherman's Syndrome and let's hope for your sake that it's Sheehan's. I asked why and all he offered was that Sheehan's was much easier to treat. He orders a hysterosalpingogram which took place last Friday. The RE I'm seeing, Dr. Gleicher is out of the office that day so another RE from his office performs the test. Everyone tells me that I might have some mild cramping but that's it and that it should only take 5 minutes maximum.

Well, I'm there for almost 40 minutes and it caused me serious pain despite having taken Darvocet and an anti-inflammatory beforehand in preparation so I know there is something seriously wrong. They tried 4 different catheters and couldn't get one to stay in place despite the balloon thingy that is designed to hold the catheter in. When I ask why the doctor explains that the pressure building up " behind " the balloon from the dye is just too much for it to hold. As I wonder what could be creating this pressure, the doctor asks me whether I have ever had an intrauterine surgery before and I tell him about the D & C and retained placenta and he says.....Ahh-ha....as if that explains everything. He moves the screen around so I can see it and demonstrates that the dye flows up through the catheter but then stops about a 1/4 of an inch inside my cervix and won't flow any further because something is blocking it....that something being my uterus. He couldn't visualize any uterine cavity at all and of course neither of my fallopian tubes either I am so blocked.

He says that I have a very severe case of Asherman's and I start to cry quietly right there on the examining table and he asks me why I'm crying....JERK! As if I don't understand what that diagnosis means....As soon as my regular RE had mentioned Asherman's I did a bunch of research on it so I was well-informed as to what having Asherman's would likely mean to our hopes of having a second child.

So, after the doctor leaves the room I sit on the floor of the examining room (did I mention I'm bleeding and already passing big clots while I sit there - but it's only the hospital gown...what do I care...) and I just broke down sobbing for about 5 minutes. Managed to pull myself together enough to call my husband to pick me up and then broke down in the car as soon as I saw him...and then basically cried on and off the entire weekend.

Got a call from my regular RE (Dr. Gleicher's) nurse at home on Sunday. (Nothing can freak you out more than getting a call from a medical professional at home on a weekend!) and she informed me that Dr. Gleicher had seen the results of my HSPG and asked that I come in for ANOTHER one because he wants to perform one personally. WHY? Does he have no confidence in this other doctor? Is my case SO BAD that he wants to see it personally? Could it be something else? Something malignant?

I am very hesitant to agree to going through that again especially considering that at the time I spoke with her on Sunday afternoon I was still bleeding from the procedure on Friday morning! So I ask her what possible purpose going through that again could serve and she says....Well, sometimes the doctor can remove the blockage just by doing another HSPG...he can use this little guide wire and punch through the mucus that is blocking your tubes! Ummmm - HELLO! They couldn't even get into my uterus let alone my tubes babe.......I'm thinking that's not the reason. So I relay this to her and she ummms and ahhhs and fumbles around for a while and then agrees to leave a message for the doctor asking him to call me to discuss this.

So, I'm awaiting his call and I have an appointment scheduled for the 28th which will either be to discuss and plan a hysteroscopy OR will be for another HSPG (but he'd better have a damn good and very convincing reason for wanting me to go through that again) or possible for both I don't know.

So, that's my very long story. I'm feeling basically numb and in shock and sad and angry and hopeless at this point. My little daughter asks me every day when she will have a baby sister or brother. She even prays for one at night when we say our prayers. Every baby we see she asks if we can have one too. And to top it all off (and I'm not exaggerating here....) I currently know 10....yes I did say 10....women that are pregnant including my 2 best friends here in Chicago (both of which are also neighbors) and my sister. I know I should be a " bigger " person and be unconditionally happy for them but I am so bitter and sad that I find it hard to be happy. I feel as if the Universe is playing some cruel, cruel joke on me to allow this to happen.....

That's about it I guess. I look forward to getting to know each of you. Anyone know of any success stories? I could use one today....

Gwen