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Original poster

Hysteroscopy

85 replies

HotTopicsWithImogen · 06/11/2024 20:46

AIBU to think the NHS should offer realistic pain relief for this?

I am currently going through Benenden to get my hysterectomy because after 18 months the NHS is still failing to sort it. Had an appointment with a private consultant and first evaluative step is hysteroscopy.

Now I had this done on the NHS previously and it was barbaric. When I left the room my knees buckled. Staff were obviously all geared up for this to happen because there was a handy wee trolley there, just for all of us ladies leaving that room to lie down on when we collapsed.

So when the private consultant said I needed hysteroscopy, I asked if I could have some decent pain relief. And she said it would be small general anaesthetic as a matter of course. They wouldn't expect anyone to have this without it. If I didn't want it that's fine, but recommendation is to have it.

This is a different world! But why doesn't our health service do this? If you have a procedure with effects so horrendous that women routinely buckle after having it, why would you just persist with the same method? Why is women's pain baked in as an expectation?

OP posts:
TheDuck2018 · 06/11/2024 21:04

I had one without anaesthetic and it was truly horrific, I was utterly shocked afterwards, I've never felt pain like it.
When I had to have another, I had general anaesthetic, I would never have another without it 😔

putitdown356 · 06/11/2024 21:03

It should definitely be offered I agree, however some people don't want a general. (childcare, can't drive after etc).

Ive had 2 with local anaesthetic and one without. I did ask for local for the third one and was told the local is more painful than the actual procedure. The procedure was ok, but she removed a polpy and took a biopsy, afterwards I got dressed and left, feeling absolutely fine.

However literally 4/5 minutes later on was back to my car to pay the parking and I a huge wave of crampy pain came over me and I was shivering and was so desperate to get home I started driving. The pain spread down my thighs and was really bad, lasted only about 30 mins.

I really think they should have made me sit outside for 10/15 mins afterwards.

Snorlaxo · 06/11/2024 21:02

I was offered a general (9 month wait) but took the local option each time. The general option was mentioned in the appointment letter that my hospital sent but I was warned that my appointment would be delayed because waiting lists for the anesthesiologist.

PermanentlyTired03 · 06/11/2024 21:02

It seems insane they expect women to just have a paracetamol for the pain. I was mildly sedated for my endoscopy a few years ago, so why not offer that? I had an hour recovery time to come round and went home (assisted by DH as I was rather happy!)

JenniferBooth · 06/11/2024 21:01

Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy has now collated 7500 cases of women undergoing painful hysteroscopies without anasthetic and in some cases told to put up and shut up. One medic even admitted that they would not be attempting the equivilant procedure without GA on a man.
Video
https://x.com/HysteroscopyA/status/1850447745506525290

x.com

https://x.com/HysteroscopyA/status/1850447745506525290

Original poster
HotTopicsWithImogen · 06/11/2024 20:59

@Adelstrop anaesthetic wasn't presented as an option, for me. But they obviously know that women can't cope with it, because they set up a trolley outside the room for us. This boggles my mind! Don't give us a trolley, give us pain relief so we don't need the trolley! If what you are doing hurts women, the solution is to stop hurting them, not to give them something to lie down on once you've hurt them.

OP posts:
Barleycat · 06/11/2024 20:58

I had mine under general last year on nhs. Was asked my preference.

FloordrobeIsGoingToGetME · 06/11/2024 20:55

💯 agree, OP - there was a thread a little while ago with lots and lots of horrific experiences on it.

I've just linked to it,

I need a gynae biopsy - "Take some painkillers before you come" www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/5079614-i-need-a-gynae-biopsy-take-some-painkillers-before-you-come

Adelstrop · 06/11/2024 20:51

I totally agree. I had one without anaesthetic and I still feel violated when I think about it a year and a half later. The pain was so great they had to stop and I had it with a GA a while later. Absolutely no problem with that. I believe you can insist on a GA as an NHS patient, but I didn’t want to make a fuss. If it ever needs to be done again, I’ll be insisting! I hope all goes well for you.

Dotto · 06/11/2024 20:51

In my area it's offered under general if not possible otherwise, but not as a matter of course as not everyone needs it, and the risks and costs of general anaesthetic outweigh the benefits most of the time. It's not a given that it is always horrendously painful. Mine was almost painless.