AIBU to feel traumatised?

[cattypussclaw]

So yesterday I had a hysteroscopy. It was very very painful. I cried, I nearly threw up and I passed out at one point. They asked if I wanted them to stop but all I could think was that they'd only want to do this to me again and I couldn't face that. In fact, no medical person is carrying out any procedure on me again unless I am out cold.

I was told it would be particularly painful for me as I haven't given birth (one child, non-elective c-section) so my cervix is very tight. I asked why no anaesthetic and the gynaecologist's reply was "Because you're a woman, no man would tolerate this".

I'm usually OK with medical procedures. I'm in the "just get it over with" camp and have no problem with needles and - I thought - a pretty high pain threshold.

It was the most unpleasant and agonising experience of my life and I honestly feel a bit traumatised. AIBU to think that no woman should be expected to go through this? Or am I just a wuss as I haven't been through the pain of childbirth?

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

Are you saying that there was a whole team of people who removed an organ from you without a trace of anesthetic?

[cattypussclaw]

A hysteroscopy, not a hysterectomy!

[PrelovedWithValue]

That sounds awful. No, you are not unreasonable. I can't see why they couldn't use local anaesthetic for a procedure like that.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

Oh sorry! I was absolutely horrified here😱 this too is bad, but wowza. My apologies.

Yanbu still. Yanbu.

Hope you are ok!

[freeandfierce]

I had one without pain relief and the nurse gripped my hand which worried me at the start, thinking she knows this is going to hurt! It did bloody hurt but the consultant said to tell her if it was too much and she could use pain relief. Like you I just wanted it done. why don't they give a local anaesthetic anyway? It would be far better for the patient. Hope you are feeling better now.

[Bufferingkisses]

Preloved, how do you think they would get local where it was needed?!

Op some people find these procedures excruciating, some breeze through them. You are definitely not a wuss! There should have been the option to request sedation or GA and, if it was too much for you, they should have stopped and come back to it under GA. No a woman should not have to "put up with" that level of pain - as evidenced by the rather crass "a man wouldn't do it" comment. Hope you're starting to feel better

[Bufferingkisses]

Sorry, my previous post should have had an emoji after the comment to preloved, it was supposed to be lighthearted but came across a brusque

[WhattheCBGeebie]

You can have an injection in your cervix to have a coil fitted but it's only offered if you scream the go surgery down on the first un cervically anaesthetised time.

False economy and I found that traumatising, apparently she'd only put the clamps on and it shouldn't have been that painful.

Thanks for giving me the heads up in case I ever have to have this, sounds like similar pain levels.

I wonder if it's the same kind of thing here..

[WhattheCBGeebie]

Yanbu

[ValenciaOrange]

They can get local where it's needed by injection. I have had a hysteroscopy with local anaesthetic. It was done privately and I was told some of the consultants used local some didn't. I asked to be referred to one that did. It was an injection of local anaesthetic into the cervix.

[CausingChaos2]

Oh you poor thing. That sounds terrible and even if you told them to continue, the fact you were in so much pain should have seen them stop on ethical grounds.

Coincidentally I saw a gynaecologist yesterday who offered me either a lap & dye or this procedure you had done. He said if I went for the lap & dye I wouldn’t be awake to feel the pain. So it’s clearly known to be a painful procedure. Absolutely unacceptable and unethical to put women through this without pain relief.

I hope you feel better very soon, and don’t be afraid to seek some help to talk through what happened. I’m assuming you’re beginning fertility investigations? In which case further appointments could be triggering for you if this trauma isn’t managed properly.

[Sickoffamilydrama]

Tat sounds awful

I've seen a campaign around this so might be an idea to look for it basically different trusts/ hospitals offer different analgesia.

I can only imagine how painful it is I nearly fainted having the coil put in & I'm fairly good with pain.

[Noodle765]

I was given a choice of general anaesthetic or none for my hysteroscopy & chose general. Complain that you hadn't been given a choice. You ANBU to be traumatised!

[LunaTheCat]

I think it’s awful too!
At my local hysteroscopy clinic they don’t routinely offer anaesthetic either.
I put mirenas in all the time and do pipeline biopsies ( GP) and I spend the whole time apologising to the poor women.
Hysteoscopy is more painful. I think it’s appalling they do without pain relief /sedation - cost control I think.
What us women put up with is amazing!

[parietal]

I had that procedure. They helpfully said 'just take a paracetmol before' but it was agony. Like going into labour but immediately with no build up or preparation. The only good thing is that it was over very quickly.

Do take time to process it, and do look at the campaigns for better pain relieve with this. www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/

[WrongWayApricot]

I have read about this before on a feminist forum, they try to make women have this procedure without sedation or pain relief for their convenience. It's abhorrent and it shouldn't keep happening. YANBU and I'm so sorry you were made to go through this.

www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/

[chloeb8]

Sending you a huge hug because I have been through this as well and it was just horrific.

It was so bad I thought I was going to pass out. I was not able to tolerate the full procedure and it was abandoned. (As a side note, I was then offered it under general anaesthetic and got as far as preparing for it, going into hospital that morning, being admitted, and my gynaecologist coming to see me beforehand on the ward and deciding after all that it was not necessary for me to have it, but that’s another story).

Look up the “Campaign against painful hysteroscopy” group on Facebook. Full of women who have endured this barbaric procedure which really should be done under full anaesthetic.

[SpringSparrow]

I’m sorry that you experienced that 😥.it is known about and there’s a campaign about it here www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/
After my horrendous first experience, I had a general anaesthetic the next time. My second gynaecologist told me not to put myself through that. I’m really angry that women are expected to find it unbearable before an anaesthetic is offered.

[SittingAround1]

I think you should make a complaint, mainly to stop other women going through the same

[cattypussclaw]

Oh I'm so relieved to read these replies, thank you

I thought I was being a bit of a drama queen and needed to just put up with these things but, the more I thought about it, the more angry I became. Thankfully, I took today off work as well as I was told to expect severe cramping and bleeding (not much of either, luckily) because I can't stop crying (work in a primary school so wouldn't want to upset the children by crying all over them).

It doesn't help that I'm also trying to cope with my mum dying of cancer, my sister being treated for breast cancer and my daughter self-harming at the moment. So bit wobbly anyway.

No, not fertility issues, menopausal ones. On HRT but still have the occasional bleed. Had an ultrasound and womb lining was thicker than the GP liked so referred me for this torture procedure. All sounded like a fuss about nothing to me - I'm perimenopausal, my body is going to do odd things.

I guess I'll get over it but any ladies searching on this procedure in the future please please - ask to be sedated/anaesthetised for this procedure.

Thanks all ❤️

[ChameleonKola]

YANBU. It absolutely horrifies me that they knowingly put women through procedures like this without adequate pain relief. What the fuck.

I have ongoing severe pelvic pain day to day for many years and made it very clear when I went to be induced that I wasn’t going to be able to tolerate anyone touching or examining me down there without gas and air, and they provided it. Women often feel like proper pain relief isn’t an option and that’s down to the medical staff providing care.

[Grohlsguitar]

You are absolutely not unreasonable to feel a bit traumatised. I haven't had children either and had this procedure twice 2 years ago. I wasn't given any option of local or general anaesthetic, only told to take a couple of paracetamol before arriving at the hospital each time. It was agonisingly painful both times, and the man who said I'd not feel the actual biopsy lied. There was blood all over the seat they had me on, and it ran down my legs when I stood up. I really don't understand how it's acceptable to put women through that.

[auldmaw]

That sounds horrific OP.

I had to have an endometrial biopsy and was told I'd experience mild cramping. It was genuinely one of the most traumatising experiences I've ever had. The pain was horrific, like a full blown contraction. I think it was made worse by the fact it was so unexpected from what I was told beforehand. I literally couldn't speak for hours afterwards and to this day (3 years later) I shudder at the thought of it.

So you are defo not BU.

I had to go back for a 2nd biopsy and my GP gave me diazepam due to my anxiety over having it done. I couldn't take strong pain meds as it could have interfered with my results. But I was also offered gas and air. Although it was just as painful, the gas and air (and knowing what to expect) seemed to minimise the trauma aspect that time.

I understand for a lot of women these procedures don't cause a lot of pain. But, if you happen to be one of the ones who has an adverse reaction, it's truly horrific.

Hope you recover ok OP

[ElphabaTWitch]

Why no anaesthetic? I had a MASSIVE needle stabbed into my cervix for a womb biopsy. Ducking excruciating pain. And I’ve had babies. It hurt so bad I was gripping the bed, shaking and sweating. Bloody awful. No you’re not a wimp. They should have been able to offer something. I dread to think of the pain without the pointless massive injection first
You’d never remove a tooth, or biopsy the face without numbing it so why were you expected to. I’m sure the ‘you’re a woman’ was an off the cuff attempt at humour, badly misplaced though. I’d certainly question what you went through though....

[cattypussclaw]

Just reading about the campaign. I had no idea. Why would I? Even more bloody angry now.