MRI

I was finally able to do the MRI to see what uterin deformity I have.  The doctor thinks I either have a septate uterus or a bicornuate uterus.  A septate uterus means that there is a thick wall of bloodless tissue dividing an otherwise normal uterus.  This causes pregnancy loss if the baby attaches to the wall, the baby won't receive the blood and nutrients it needs to survive and grow.  It causes late loss because the baby has 1/2 the room to grow as it normally would have.  This defect can be fixed with a simple non-invasive surgery.  Once the woman has the surgery, she is able conceive and carry a baby without any more problems.

A bicornuate, is when the uterus it's self is divided into 2 parts.  It is in the shape of a heart and each horn/corn is a separate uterus.  This causes the same reasons for losses as the septate uterus.  Unfortunately the way to fix this defect is much harder, more invasive and less of a success rate as the septate uterus.

I hope I NEVER have to do another MRI again!!!!  It was awful!!!  Bear said that an MRI is like a can of soup: the machine is the can and you are the soup.   When it was time for me to take the MRI, I asked how long it would take.  The nurse said about 30 minutes.  I thought OK I can do this.  I get on the 'bed' and lay flat on my back.  and the bed lifts up to go into the MRI machine.  I usually a not claustrophobic but I sure had a bit of claustrophobia for my MRI. The hole is so little that I had to fit through.  While laying on my back I had cross my arms over my chest.  I could touch the roof of the inside of the machine just by raising my pointer finger.  That's how close the roof was to my crossed arms over my chest.  

My back started hurting within a few minutes and I couldn't shift much to relieve the pain.  My back continued to hurt worse and worse with each minute.  I tried my best to get comfortable but nothing worked.

After what seems like hours, the nurse stops the machine and rolls me out.  I was SOOO HAPPY to be out of there!!!!  I start to sit up and she tells me I can't get up yet, she was just there to give me a shot for the contrast portion of the MRI.  I was crushed.!!!  I couldn't believe I had to spend more time in the machine.  The nurse gives me the shot and reels me back in.  I spend another 10-15 minutes in the MRI and I about lose it.  I finally am reeled out for good this time and learn that the MRI took well over 1 hour.  I was so shocked about how long it was and not surprised why my back was in agony.   My back was so stiff and sore, I had big problems walking and standing up right for about 15 minutes.

Like I said in the beginning, I hope I NEVER have to have another MRI again!!!!  
  

I Finally Have Answers

After I lost Monkey and Cub, my doctor did an ultrasound and discovered that I had a uterine deformity.  He wasn't for sure which one so he wanted me to get an MRI.  He said it was either a septate uterus or a bicornuate uterus.  A septate uterus is a normal uterus but has a wall of thick, bloodless tissue running down the middle of it, dividing it into 2 parts.  The reason a septate uterus causes pregnancy loss is because if the baby attaches to the wall, the baby does not get the blood supply and nutriments needed to survive and grow.  If the baby does not attach to the wall but to the uterus, once the baby gets to be a certain size, the baby has no room to grow since the uterus is only half it's normal size.  This causes early pre-term labor and other complications.  This deformity can easily be fixed with a simple, non-invasive surgery.   Once a woman has the surgery, she can get pregnant and stay pregnant without any more problems.  

A bicornuate uterus, is one that the uterus, it's self is divided into two parts.  It is shaped like a heart and each of the two horns/corns is a separate uterus.  This causes loss for the same reasons the septate uterus does.  Unfortunately, although this can be fixed with surgery, it is more invasive and less of a success rate as the septate surgery.

I had the MRI on Monday and heard back from the doctor today.  The MRI confirmed that I have a SEPTATE UTERUS!!!  YAY!!!!  I CAN HAVE SURGERY SOON AND GET BACK TO TTC!!! My doctor is waiting to hear back from my insurance company so we can schedule a date and time for the surgery.