Re: Those of you who are SU and NOT Resected - child/mc mentioned

October 27, 2005

Hi,

i think i answered this before: it wasnt a choice for

me- doc insisted we start this way b/c i dont have

miscarriage history (i had never had conceived in my

life despiet maassive efforts) and he said the surgery

carries some risks of damaging the uterus (so bc their

wasnt a clear rationale for why those risks should be

taken (miscarriage history) it wasnt the way to go).

best

heidi

--- loveuriley loveuriley@...> wrote:

> I asked this in another post, but it may have been

> missed.

>

> I've noticed that some of you have a SU, but have

> chosen (with the

> advice of your doctors, I'm sure) to not have the

> surgery to remove

> the septum. Do you mind me asking why?

>

> I have one DD who went full term, and now have

> discovered I have a SU,

> after having an MRI following a subsequent m/c. I'm

> wondering if

> there is any reason why I may be able to avoid

> surgery.

>

> Just grasping at straws, I guess.

>

October 27, 2005

Hello Heidi,

I apologize if you answred that already, I guess I missed it.

Thanks so much for coming in and answering it again. :-)

Hmmm...now I am still wondering b/c I did have one successful

pregnancy if it is worth it to have the surgery. I know I " can "

carry a baby to full term, so I wonder if the risk is worth it. Of

course, without it, there is a risk of having another m/c right?

Anyone else have any thoughts? What do you think you would do in my

case?

>

> > I asked this in another post, but it may have been

> > missed.

> >

> > I've noticed that some of you have a SU, but have

> > chosen (with the

> > advice of your doctors, I'm sure) to not have the

> > surgery to remove

> > the septum. Do you mind me asking why?

> >

> > I have one DD who went full term, and now have

> > discovered I have a SU,

> > after having an MRI following a subsequent m/c. I'm

> > wondering if

> > there is any reason why I may be able to avoid

> > surgery.

> >

> > Just grasping at straws, I guess.

> >

>

October 27, 2005

hi again,

it seems to me ive now heard of a handful of SU women

- either in the medical literature or on this site-

who had totally normal first pregnancies and then had

trouble after that w/ multiple m/c -- even cases where

the SU wasnt even diagnosed until after the first preg

(when the trouble started). so this may be a pattern

in some of the SU population (altho im generalizing

wildly from so few women, its not really sensible).

remember, miscarriage is quite common in pregnancy IN

THE NORMAL POPULATION- i have ***TONS*** of " NORMAL "

friends, pregnant at a wide span of the maternal age

range, who have miscarried once or twice, (and also

have the desired # of children by the end of it all).

So if you have had 1 m/c, the conservative approach

would be to keep TTC -- if you continue to have m/cs-

then the septum removal would be clearly indicated.

Best

Heidi

--- loveuriley loveuriley@...> wrote:

> Hello Heidi,

>

> I apologize if you answred that already, I guess I

> missed it.

> Thanks so much for coming in and answering it again.

> :-)

>

> Hmmm...now I am still wondering b/c I did have one

> successful

> pregnancy if it is worth it to have the surgery. I

> know I " can "

> carry a baby to full term, so I wonder if the risk

> is worth it. Of

> course, without it, there is a risk of having

> another m/c right?

>

> Anyone else have any thoughts? What do you think

> you would do in my

> case?

>

> >

> > > I asked this in another post, but it may have

> been

> > > missed.

> > >

> > > I've noticed that some of you have a SU, but

> have

> > > chosen (with the

> > > advice of your doctors, I'm sure) to not have

> the

> > > surgery to remove

> > > the septum. Do you mind me asking why?

> > >

> > > I have one DD who went full term, and now have

> > > discovered I have a SU,

> > > after having an MRI following a subsequent m/c.

> I'm

> > > wondering if

> > > there is any reason why I may be able to avoid

> > > surgery.

> > >

> > > Just grasping at straws, I guess.

> > >

> >

>

October 27, 2005

hi

i had my son in 2001 with my septum intact - at the time drs thought

i had a BU - last 6/04 i mc my 2nd pg (6 or 7 weeks - no tests done

on the baby) and last 1/05 i mc my third (10 weeks - chromosomally

normal boy).

i'm still angry that the obs i saw never asked for further testing

after my 1st mc - i would have found out i was SU and had had the

lap/hyst/resection i ended up having only after my 2nd mc .... and

maybe i would have my baby with me now .....

i know surgery can be risky and i'm afraid to death of general

anethesia but i'd choose that small risk over another mc ANYTIME

i think it's fundamental, though, to get a VERY good RE/surgeon who

is experienced with MAs - where do you live?

i trust my RE and ended up having the lap/hyst/resection 3/05 and a

2nd hyst last 8/05 - i'm now TTC .....

gabi, 38

October 27, 2005

I think it becomes a personal decision whether or not to resect when

you know what the possibilities are. I think that if I had gone on

without the resection and had another m/c, I would have regretted

the decision. I also have incompetent cervix, so the septum was only

making that condition worse. I would have been on strict bedrest and

had a cerclage during pregnancy if I hadn't done the resection, and

though there's no way to know right now what the future holds, there

is a much better chance that I will have a more " normal " pregnancy -

still with a cerclage, bi-weekly ultrasounds, maybe modified bedrest

(I can't believe how much things have changed that I now consider

all of that close to normal!)

My dh made a good point before my resection. What if my pregnancy

with Fletcher was a " fluke " ? Meaning, what if that was a one-in-a-

hundred occurence, that he didn't implant in the septum and his

placenta didn't grow onto it? Not that it necessarily supports our

decision to do the resection. It was just another thing to consider.

Heidi, I have been meaning to ask you about your pregnancy, and it

relates to this thread... I was laying in bed the other night,

unable to sleep, so I was going through my mental list of people to

pray for, and of course my MA board friends. :-) That got me

thinking about you and the endurance test this pregnancy has got to

have been for you so far. Do you feel that you will do it again

without a resection? You've written before that you would have

needed to have a m/c before your docs would have done surgery (which

seems so unfair to have to suffer a loss in order to fix things...)

but it seems like a high-risk, high-stress pg like yours would be

enough for some to opt for a resection/septoplasty without

experiencing a miscarriage. What do you think? To be honest, as soon

as we found out that I had a septum, we didn't truly think about NOT

doing the resection. But I had already had a m/c. Anyway, sorry to

pry. I've been thinking of you and praying for your little

boy...almost full term!!! Wahoo!

Love,

October 27, 2005

Heidi,

Sorry to keep bothering you again...but you and I have a lot of

similarities, considering we are both SU and have experienced (or

are experiencing) carrying a baby to term. (And you will, no doubt!)

So, you really think ttc again with the septum would be

the " conservative " approach? Interesting. I was sort of thinking

the opposite, that having the surgery would be the conservative

approach.

My OB told me that without the surgery, I have a 50-60% chance of

m/c, while with it, I go back to what it is for ALL pregnancies,

which as you know is 20%. She told me I could ttc again without it,

it all depended on how I felt about the possibility of going through

another m/c.

> > >

> > > > I asked this in another post, but it may have

> > been

> > > > missed.

> > > >

> > > > I've noticed that some of you have a SU, but

> > have

> > > > chosen (with the

> > > > advice of your doctors, I'm sure) to not have

> > the

> > > > surgery to remove

> > > > the septum. Do you mind me asking why?

> > > >

> > > > I have one DD who went full term, and now have

> > > > discovered I have a SU,

> > > > after having an MRI following a subsequent m/c.

> > I'm

> > > > wondering if

> > > > there is any reason why I may be able to avoid

> > > > surgery.

> > > >

> > > > Just grasping at straws, I guess.

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

October 27, 2005

Hi Gabi -

I think the surgery just sounds like a huge deal to me right now.

The more I read about it, the less I want it. My OB recommended

hormones for 21 days, possible balloon catheder, antibiotics, then

an hsg, then 2-3 months to wait to ttc, etc. She also told me to

plan on missing a week from work. It is making my head spin thinking

of the huge process I am about to embark upon.

The whole process is just overwhelming to me, to be quite honest.

I'm just trying to weigh the risks in my head and figure out if I

want to go through this. Of course, the thought of going through

another m/c is even more frightening, but there is a chance I won't

m/c again too. The OB told me that I have a 50-60% chance of m/c

again w/o the surgery. With it, I go back to the normal 20%. That

is a difference, but it doesn't look all that substantial when I

stare at the numbers.

I know for some women, having the surgery was a no-brainer. For me,

the decision has not been as simple.

>

> hi

>

> i had my son in 2001 with my septum intact - at the time drs

thought

> i had a BU - last 6/04 i mc my 2nd pg (6 or 7 weeks - no tests

done

> on the baby) and last 1/05 i mc my third (10 weeks - chromosomally

> normal boy).

>

> i'm still angry that the obs i saw never asked for further testing

> after my 1st mc - i would have found out i was SU and had had the

> lap/hyst/resection i ended up having only after my 2nd mc .... and

> maybe i would have my baby with me now .....

>

> i know surgery can be risky and i'm afraid to death of general

> anethesia but i'd choose that small risk over another mc ANYTIME

>

> i think it's fundamental, though, to get a VERY good RE/surgeon

who

> is experienced with MAs - where do you live?

>

> i trust my RE and ended up having the lap/hyst/resection 3/05 and

a

> 2nd hyst last 8/05 - i'm now TTC .....

>

> gabi, 38

>

October 27, 2005

> The OB told me that I have a 50-60%

> chance of m/c

> again w/o the surgery.

YOURE OB DOESNT KNOW THIS- NO ONE DOES. THE

STATISTICS FOR OUR CONDITINOS ARE NOT VERY GOOD AT ALL

AND ID LIKE TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE PIECE OF MY MIND FOR

TELLING YOU THAT

>

> >

> > hi

> >

> > i had my son in 2001 with my septum intact - at

> the time drs

> thought

> > i had a BU - last 6/04 i mc my 2nd pg (6 or 7

> weeks - no tests

> done

> > on the baby) and last 1/05 i mc my third (10 weeks

> - chromosomally

> > normal boy).

> >

> > i'm still angry that the obs i saw never asked for

> further testing

> > after my 1st mc - i would have found out i was SU

> and had had the

> > lap/hyst/resection i ended up having only after my

> 2nd mc .... and

> > maybe i would have my baby with me now .....

> >

> > i know surgery can be risky and i'm afraid to

> death of general

> > anethesia but i'd choose that small risk over

> another mc ANYTIME

> >

> > i think it's fundamental, though, to get a VERY

> good RE/surgeon

> who

> > is experienced with MAs - where do you live?

> >

> > i trust my RE and ended up having the

> lap/hyst/resection 3/05 and

> a

> > 2nd hyst last 8/05 - i'm now TTC .....

> >

> > gabi, 38

> >

>

October 27, 2005

Hi,

many prayers and wishes to you in making this very

difficult decision. if it feelsl like too much

pressure to make the decision without more guidance,

it might help you to talk to another doctor(s) who are

highly acclaimed in the MA field to help you make and

informed decision.

which path is more conservative (surgery vs. not)

really depends on how you consider " risk. " consider

psychological vs. physical risk:

1) huge psychological risks of having another

miscarriage or going on indefinitely not being able to

get or stay pregnant- this really depends on who you

are and how you react to miscarraige. In our (MA)

situation, there is alot of pressure on every

pregnancy and worry about not being able to get or

stay pregnant EVER... we are stuck with the sense of

having no control over our own bodies which makes the

experience of miscarriage much much worse (compared to

miscarriage occuring in normal women who experience

miscarriage at a rate of 20% and also know they can

easily get pregnant again). women w/ MAs are also at

higher risk to think (falsely or not) that the embryo

was perfectly fine, and if it werent for their uterus

being abnormal, the pregnancy wouldve continued....

even if this isnt acutally true in their case, or in

the case of a particular pregnancy theyve had. in

addition, there is the risk of enduring a pregnancy

with a non-resected MA. i got pregnant by IVF in a

non-resected MA so that the doctors " could see if i

miscarried " this was really terrifying to me, to make

both me and my baby a guinea pig like that. The

pregnancy has been hard psychologically knowing i

might have put my baby in a not very good situation

and that i might loose him in 1st or 2nd tri-

theoretically " because " i didnt have the surgery

first. i still worry that he is somehow deformed by my

uterus, all packed over to one side, even tho im

pretty sure this is totally irrational.

2) the physical risks of surgery:

while anesthesia is always a risk, it is likely at an

absolute minimum, at least in the US, due to

relatively good quality control in hospitals and

pre-screening of patients prior to surgery.

however, the risk of causing more harm than good to

the uterus in an MA surgery is always there- even if

small. my doctor emphasized alot of this with me. the

boundaries between fibrous and healthy tissue are not

always clear, major blood vasculature to the uterus

could be compromised. the way a woman scars is also

an issue- i think there are alot of individual

differences in this domain - and scar tissue could

present a problem in TTC later. if a mistake is made,

it is unreversible. finally, there is the issue of

diagnosis- what if your diagnosis is wrong, and they

go in and cut a septum that is actually primarily

healthy tissue? while i would hope that could never

happen, i think it is possible at least in theory.

we know that women with non-resected MAs can have

babies at or near term. what we dont know is any of

the who, why or when, which sucks. i think women with

MAs are probably a very genetically and

morphologically heterogenous population and this has

alot to do with why some can get or stay pregnant

non-resected and some cant.

you sound scared of having surgery. i was ready to

dive into surgery and cried and cried when the doc

said no. now i am thanking my lucky stars that my

doctor didnt respond to my urgency about the surgery,

bc, God willing, i am still pregnant at 35 wks.

many prayers, and dont rush into anything until you

feel ok about it.

best

heidi

>

> > > >

> > > > > I asked this in another post, but it may

> have

> > > been

> > > > > missed.

> > > > >

> > > > > I've noticed that some of you have a SU, but

> > > have

> > > > > chosen (with the

> > > > > advice of your doctors, I'm sure) to not

> have

> > > the

> > > > > surgery to remove

> > > > > the septum. Do you mind me asking why?

> > > > >

> > > > > I have one DD who went full term, and now

> have

> > > > > discovered I have a SU,

> > > > > after having an MRI following a subsequent

> m/c.

> > > I'm

> > > > > wondering if

> > > > > there is any reason why I may be able to

> avoid

> > > > > surgery.

> > > > >

> > > > > Just grasping at straws, I guess.

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

October 27, 2005

Heidi,

Thank you for taking the time to write all that out. It does help

to sort it out that way. I just wished I had a crystal ball (don't

we all???) that would tell me what would happen if I got pg again

with my SU.

I have a consult scheduled with an RE as well, mostly to get a

second opinion, but also because I am thinking of getting the

surgery done there instead of my regular OB.

I am secretly hoping she will say something like " Wow, your septum

is so small and insignnficant, surgery wouldn't even be worth it. "

Of course, a girl can dream, right?

All the best to you in the remaining month. Can't wait to hear news

of your new baby born and safely in your arms!

Sheryl

> > > > >

> > > > > > I asked this in another post, but it may

> > have

> > > > been

> > > > > > missed.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I've noticed that some of you have a SU, but

> > > > have

> > > > > > chosen (with the

> > > > > > advice of your doctors, I'm sure) to not

> > have

> > > > the

> > > > > > surgery to remove

> > > > > > the septum. Do you mind me asking why?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I have one DD who went full term, and now

> > have

> > > > > > discovered I have a SU,

> > > > > > after having an MRI following a subsequent

> > m/c.

> > > > I'm

> > > > > > wondering if

> > > > > > there is any reason why I may be able to

> > avoid

> > > > > > surgery.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Just grasping at straws, I guess.

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

October 27, 2005

Hi!

I don't have an SU, but I could really relate to your feelings about the

ambivalence of having surgery. I was feeling exactly that way about a year and

a half ago. I have a t-shaped uterus and the surgery to reconstruct it is done

by very few doctors in the country, and even then it's success rates are not

well-documented.

So, I kept pushing off having the surgery for various reasons (I'll wait til

next year when Flex & the new insurance plan kicks in..., etc.). Well, I ended

up having to have surgery anyway because my uterus was almost totally scarred

from a D&C (95%) and there was no way I was going to get pregnant like that.

Sometimes things that seem horrible end up forcing us into the solution we need

to reach our dreams. I was so angry about having to have the surgery after the

D&C. But if I hadn't had the surgery I really, truly believe that I would not

have gotten pregnant again, nor would I still be pregnant. It is truly awesome

how these things turn out.

To make a long story short, my advice would be wait as long as you don't feel

convinced of the surgery, but pray for the best. Hopefully, you can avoid the

surgery and have a healthly pregnancy. Many women are blessed this way! But,

if you don't choose to have it now you can always change your mind later.

Waiting will give you more time to learn about and evaluate your options.

Lastly, I did have to have the 21 days of hormones, balloon catheter,

antibiotics, the dreaded HSG (my doctor had to prescribe vallium for me to get

me through a second one!), the 2-3 month wait and missing 3 days from work. To

be quite honest, it was not that bad! The only thing that was terrible was the

shoulder pain due to the gas, but it does eventually go away. It really is all

a distant memory now. But, each person's recovery time is different based on

the severity of the MA and the amount of cutting done. The cutting to my uterus

was pretty significant, but it might be worse for someone who has a vascular

septum (can't remember what yours is). If you can sleep as much as you can

right after the surgery and have someone else take care of you, that will help

tremendously!

Wishing the best for you! Whatever you decide, hoping you have a little baby

soon!

Mikell, 34

27 wks, 6 days

t-shape

1 m/c 2/04 @ 7 wks

Re: Those of you who are SU and NOT Resected -

child/mc mentioned

Hi Gabi -

I think the surgery just sounds like a huge deal to me right now.

The more I read about it, the less I want it. My OB recommended

hormones for 21 days, possible balloon catheder, antibiotics, then

an hsg, then 2-3 months to wait to ttc, etc. She also told me to

plan on missing a week from work. It is making my head spin thinking

of the huge process I am about to embark upon.

The whole process is just overwhelming to me, to be quite honest.

I'm just trying to weigh the risks in my head and figure out if I

want to go through this. Of course, the thought of going through

another m/c is even more frightening, but there is a chance I won't

m/c again too. The OB told me that I have a 50-60% chance of m/c

again w/o the surgery. With it, I go back to the normal 20%. That

is a difference, but it doesn't look all that substantial when I

stare at the numbers.

I know for some women, having the surgery was a no-brainer. For me,

the decision has not been as simple.

October 27, 2005

Mikell,

Thank you for sharing your story. Maybe it actually DOES sound worse

than it will be. I suspect that in this case, the anticipation will

be worse than it is. You have really been through quite a lot. It

is good to hear from people who came out on the other side, and lived

to tell about it, so to speak.

I talked to my OB's office again (they just LOVE me by now...)I was

wrong about the balloon catheter, turns out my OB doesn't normally

use it. (I had thought she said she did..) I guess the other thing

that weighs heavily on my mind is my age. I hate having to put off

ttc for several *more* months. I just completed a 2 month waiting

period after my d&c, now 3 more months - UGH. I don't have years to

play with at this point. But, if I don't have the surgery, I could

end up with another m/c and ANOHTER d&c, delaying ttc even further

(and needing surgery anyway.) Its a no win over here. Can you say

Rock and Hard place?????

I've scheduled the pre-op, so I am going to that at a minimum, and go

from there. I just wish I could press a fast-forward button through

all this!!

>

> Hi!

>

> I don't have an SU, but I could really relate to your feelings

about the ambivalence of having surgery. I was feeling exactly that

way about a year and a half ago. I have a t-shaped uterus and the

surgery to reconstruct it is done by very few doctors in the country,

and even then it's success rates are not well-documented.

>

> So, I kept pushing off having the surgery for various reasons (I'll

wait til next year when Flex & the new insurance plan kicks in...,

etc.). Well, I ended up having to have surgery anyway because my

uterus was almost totally scarred from a D&C (95%) and there was no

way I was going to get pregnant like that. Sometimes things that

seem horrible end up forcing us into the solution we need to reach

our dreams. I was so angry about having to have the surgery after

the D&C. But if I hadn't had the surgery I really, truly believe

that I would not have gotten pregnant again, nor would I still be

pregnant. It is truly awesome how these things turn out.

>

> To make a long story short, my advice would be wait as long as you

don't feel convinced of the surgery, but pray for the best.

Hopefully, you can avoid the surgery and have a healthly pregnancy.

Many women are blessed this way! But, if you don't choose to have it

now you can always change your mind later. Waiting will give you

more time to learn about and evaluate your options.

>

> Lastly, I did have to have the 21 days of hormones, balloon

catheter, antibiotics, the dreaded HSG (my doctor had to prescribe

vallium for me to get me through a second one!), the 2-3 month wait

and missing 3 days from work. To be quite honest, it was not that

bad! The only thing that was terrible was the shoulder pain due to

the gas, but it does eventually go away. It really is all a distant

memory now. But, each person's recovery time is different based on

the severity of the MA and the amount of cutting done. The cutting

to my uterus was pretty significant, but it might be worse for

someone who has a vascular septum (can't remember what yours is). If

you can sleep as much as you can right after the surgery and have

someone else take care of you, that will help tremendously!

>

> Wishing the best for you! Whatever you decide, hoping you have a

little baby soon!

>

> Mikell, 34

> 27 wks, 6 days

> t-shape

> 1 m/c 2/04 @ 7 wks

> Re: Those of you who are SU and NOT

Resected - child/mc mentioned

>

> Hi Gabi -

>

> I think the surgery just sounds like a huge deal to me right

now.

> The more I read about it, the less I want it. My OB recommended

> hormones for 21 days, possible balloon catheder, antibiotics,

then

> an hsg, then 2-3 months to wait to ttc, etc. She also told me to

> plan on missing a week from work. It is making my head spin

thinking

> of the huge process I am about to embark upon.

>

> The whole process is just overwhelming to me, to be quite

honest.

> I'm just trying to weigh the risks in my head and figure out if I

> want to go through this. Of course, the thought of going through

> another m/c is even more frightening, but there is a chance I

won't

> m/c again too. The OB told me that I have a 50-60% chance of m/c

> again w/o the surgery. With it, I go back to the normal 20%.

That

> is a difference, but it doesn't look all that substantial when I

> stare at the numbers.

>

> I know for some women, having the surgery was a no-brainer. For

me,

> the decision has not been as simple.

>

October 27, 2005

Hi - I have a complete septum extending to my cervix (definitively dx

via lap/hyst), and I have had one dd safety, vaginal birth at 40

weeks. I am currently ttc number 2.

I have not had my septum resected, and almost certainly will not for

two connected reasons: firstly, I do not have a normal SU (I like to

say that even my anomaly is anomalous). My septum is muscular and well

vascularised I could not have it resected through simple day surgery

(i.e, via lap/hyst) as is normally the case with the typical fibrous

septum. I would need to undergo a metroplasty, major abdominal

surgery. Secondly, I have no history of m/c - I have only ever had one

pregnancy and it ended happily at 40 weeks with a more or less normal

vaginal delivery. As I do not have a history of 1st trimester loss,

nor of serious pre-term labour, my doctors advised me not to have the

metroplasty.

If, however, my septum was the typical fibrous septum, I would have

had it removed. If I had had even one unexplained m/c, I would have

seriouslly considered the metroplasty.

Hope this helps. Best of luck with your decision, I know it isn't an

easy one.

Many women with SU have successful full term or nearly full term

pregnancies - thousands of women probably have had several babies

without significant problems without ever knowing they have SUs. And

sadly miscarriages happen frequently to women without MAs. Having said

that, however, many, many women with SUs have recurrent 1st trimester

m/c. Given that the surgery is normally low-risk, quick recovery,

etc., most choose to have the surgery whether or not they have had a

loss.

a

36

Complete SU, unresected

DD 15 months old

October 27, 2005

hi

i know it's not a simple decision - i struggled myself also b/c of

my fear of something going wrong during surgery and ending up in an

even worse situation - after i had the hsg which showed a huge

septum i opted for a diagnostic lap/hyst to accurate determine if i

had a BU or a SU - if the dr found a septum and if he considered it

was the right kind of 'operable' septum then he would resect -

that's what he did - i went in thinking i most probably was BU but i

was happily surprised when i woke up and the dr told me i was SU and

i was fixed ....

you also have to consider your personal preference with regards to

being pg and knowing you have a septum that can mean no problem at

all, just a few minor issues or huge problems - personally i'm a

very pessimistic kind of person so i knew i couldn't even think of

getting pg knowing the septum was in there - after 2 mc i would

already be VEY aware of EVERY tiny 'symptom' - with the septum

intact i would be completely freaked out the whole 30/40 weeks ...

so i factored that in my decision too .... i'm also living proof

that you still can carry quite close to term with no major issues

(son born at 33 weeks, turned 4 and doing great) - but at the time i

didn't even thought about my 'BU' cause drs always told me not to

worry and luckily his pg was completely normal right until the day

he was born ...

at last, i'm 38 - if i were 24 or even 30 maybe i would have tried

once more without surgery but now i don't feel i have that much time

as to try again with a big risk of mc compounded by septum and age

so that also made my decision a little bit easier .....

i wish you can make the decision that you feel is better for you -

we'll be here to try to help and support you no matter what

best of luck!

gabi

October 28, 2005

Sheryl,

After reading all the dialogue about resecting or not, I'm starting

to rethink my own decision. I'm in a similar boat to you...I lost

twins due to twin-twin transfusion. Supposedly it wasn't related to

my MA. In fact, the doc who was treating me with the twins noticed

the septum during laser surgery and suggested I have it checked

before getting pregnant again. After losing the twins, I had it

checked by 3D U/S and they diagnosed a wide, vascular septum. I'm

having an MRI to confirm that it actually is a septum and not BU, as

there is a flat fundus, but it might really be a BU with a septum.

Anyway, I've struggled a lot with the decision about resection. On

one hand, I carried twins to 20 & 27 weeks (one was lost at 20 but

remained inside), although clearly they were on either side of the

septum and didn't have a ton of room. Obviously my uterus stretched

almost enough then. On the other, I don't think I can deal with

another loss, especially if it is later in the pregnancy.

I, too, am pretty nervous about the risks on the resection side,

especially since my SU is vascular. But...thus far I still have an

appointment to do it in early December. The thought that gets me is

how I'll feel if I have a 2nd trimester loss, knowing that I could

have done the resection. Not sure if I could forgive myself in that

case, even though we've all learned that there are many aspects to

pregnancy out of our control. As well, I think I would be SO stressed

until I reached 37 weeks, knowing that I already lost two and have an

imperfect uterus.

All the best to you in making a decision that you are peaceful with.

It is really hard...I found it helpful to get a 2nd RE opinion, even

though it is a pain to work with more doctors' schedules.

A question for those of you who have had a resection with the balloon

catheter - how long does the balloon stay in? And can you fly with

it in? Just wondering if there is a problem with pressure(even though

plane cabins are pressurized). Thanks.

Laurie

SU

lost twin sons at 20 and 27 wks (at birth), 6/26/05

October 28, 2005

Hi,

Have a resection doesn't offer complete protection against having

another m/c - since m/c is such a common experience and often nothing

to do with MA.

Similarly, not having a resection doesn't mean you will have another

m/c. You have had one sucessful pregnancy, and that's the very best

indication that you can have another one.

Resection is serious surgery - so the question is whether your septum

is causing any serious problems. Unless there is some reason to think

that the septum caused your m/c, it's probably too early to conclude

that your first pregnancy was a 'fluke'. If you feel you would like

to proceed with a resection, but are worried about the clock ticking -

you could take a middle way: book the op, and ttc while waiting for it

(I don't know how long your doc's surgery lists are). If you become

pregnant in the meantime, cancel the op - if not, then you decide when

your surgery date comes up whether you still want to go ahead.

All the best,

Judith

October 28, 2005

Sheryl,

I am sorry for your loss.

I thought I would chime in on the resection vs. Not thread.

I am planning to have resection surgery early next year.

I'm not sure where you are located, but I found in Boston that there

is one doctor who is considered the expert at surgery for special

cases (I am an SU with a septum down through the cervix). I have a

consult with this dr in January and fully plan to have him do the

surgery. It is outpatient surgery, and I have had one laparscopic

surgery to remove endo and a vaginal septum, so I have a sense of what

I am in for and for me, the benefits outweigh the risks for me.

There is plenty of literature on MC rates with SUs, and each of us has

to make our own decision, based on what we are told by are docs, and

what we think is best for us mentally and physically, but for me it is

a no brainer. My recovery from my last surgery was a full week, of

just lying low, and a month before I felt back to myself. I am an IVF

patient and there are studies which show a higher rate of failed

implantation too, so this was another factor for me.

Every dr. is different but the one doing my surgery does not use a

balloon...he rarely does as he used scissors for the cutting and

apparently scissors cause less scarring than other means of removal.

Good luck with making your decision.

>

> Sheryl,

>

> After reading all the dialogue about resecting or not, I'm starting

> to rethink my own decision. I'm in a similar boat to you...I lost

> twins due to twin-twin transfusion. Supposedly it wasn't related to

> my MA. In fact, the doc who was treating me with the twins noticed

> the septum during laser surgery and suggested I have it checked

> before getting pregnant again. After losing the twins, I had it

> checked by 3D U/S and they diagnosed a wide, vascular septum. I'm

> having an MRI to confirm that it actually is a septum and not BU, as

> there is a flat fundus, but it might really be a BU with a septum.

> Anyway, I've struggled a lot with the decision about resection. On

> one hand, I carried twins to 20 & 27 weeks (one was lost at 20 but

> remained inside), although clearly they were on either side of the

> septum and didn't have a ton of room. Obviously my uterus stretched

> almost enough then. On the other, I don't think I can deal with

> another loss, especially if it is later in the pregnancy.

>

> I, too, am pretty nervous about the risks on the resection side,

> especially since my SU is vascular. But...thus far I still have an

> appointment to do it in early December. The thought that gets me is

> how I'll feel if I have a 2nd trimester loss, knowing that I could

> have done the resection. Not sure if I could forgive myself in that

> case, even though we've all learned that there are many aspects to

> pregnancy out of our control. As well, I think I would be SO stressed

> until I reached 37 weeks, knowing that I already lost two and have an

> imperfect uterus.

>

> All the best to you in making a decision that you are peaceful with.

> It is really hard...I found it helpful to get a 2nd RE opinion, even

> though it is a pain to work with more doctors' schedules.

>

> A question for those of you who have had a resection with the balloon

> catheter - how long does the balloon stay in? And can you fly with

> it in? Just wondering if there is a problem with pressure(even though

> plane cabins are pressurized). Thanks.

>

> Laurie

> SU

> lost twin sons at 20 and 27 wks (at birth), 6/26/05

>

October 28, 2005