I need a gynae biopsy - "Take some painkillers before you come"

[CantFindTheBeat]

Hi all,

Not sure if I'm wrong to be a bit annoyed about this. I'm way past menopause and recently had some bleeding. GP took it seriously, sent for a scan, internal scan done, sonographer was fab, all great in terms of speed and service.

I've just received a call from a different unit to book in for a biopsy. Great again in terms of speed and process. I'm not that worried as sonographer was very reassuring, but I'm really pleased they are being thorough.

The person on the phone who called me to book said 'please ensure you take some pain killers before you come'. I said why is that? She said because it can be a painful procedure - you will have a local anaesthetic but it will be painful - i know, the things us women have to put up with!"

She was really pleasant and sympathetic, and it is the system, not her, of course. but I'm really apprehensive about the appointment. I have a very low tolerance for pain anyway unfortunately, and think this could be hideous.

I am so pleased that I am being investigated, but am I right to think that men would not be expected to have internal cells taken for a biopsy without proper anaesthetic and it's another thing women are expected to put up with?

Or am I wrong, and this is par for the course for everyone?

(and what painkillers should I take before the appointment?)

That is beyond disgusting. NO ONE WOMAN agreed to have the procedure done again without a GA and yet they were continuing to do the procedure on first timers without adequate pain relief. FFS Why does this continue to happen to women?

I’ve just had one. Needed a biopsy on uterine wall and had a camera up there. I took paracetamol with codeine in it an hour before the appointment. Want sure it would be enough and was really worried having read loads of bad experiences online but it was really fine. They offered me gas and air (which I took) and that really relaxed me. Was over super quick. I did bleed a bit but not for long. No cramps afterwards although they said it might happen…

Funny how the world works, but I had an endometrial biopsy today.

It was extremely traumatic. I didn't have any pain relief other than ibuprofen beforehand.

I was truly sobbing on the table and begged her to stop. She didn't.

I actually feel completely violated. No one will be doing that to me again unless I'm sedated, at minimum.

I had a hysteroscopy with punch biopsy about 20 years ago. I took a Valium before the procedure and they give you local anesthetic. It wasn't so bad, but the bleeding can last a while. It wasn't as bad as getting my coil inserted and removed if that comparison helps at all.

I saw a thread on Twitter about this just today. Apparently you can request a general anaesthetic, they just don't advertise the fact. I can't vouch for the accuracy of this information but a lot of people were saying the same. It's definitely worth finding out your options.

This times 100.
I had no idea I was even getting an internal examination, far less a biopsy, asked if they were doing it without pain relief and despite my protestations, it went ahead. (It wasn't exactly informed consent). It was agonising torture and when I involuntary pulled up the bed, away from the pain I was abruptly told to "keep still". One nurse wiped my tears and the other held my hand - they were lovely and I knew my their exchanged looks they were as horrified as me. There was a lot more going on which led to a formal complaint, but I was gaslighted by the response (a local anaethetic is just as painful as the procedure so we prefer not to do it kind of thing). The result was that they didn't have a sufficient sample and intended to do it all again with full hysteroscopy. Nope. Not a chance.

I demanded a GA and the entire thing from start to finish was a breeze with attentive care and excellent follow up from the gynaecologist.
Have a look, as others have said at the Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy on Facebook.

The continued expectation that women put up with this nonsense really must stop. Sadly, we have to be our own advocates. Taking 2 paracetamol just doesn't cut it.

It must depend where the biopsy is like other have said.

When I read the above posts I feel so lucky mine was at the entrance to my uterus. Just a sting where the local went in. Later I could feel the thread pulling through as the stitching was done afterwards but it was weird not sore at all.

I drive home. Felt fine.

Afterwards when the local wore off, I got a pain at the site and I think also in my shoulder (I can't remember where, just that it was weird as nowhere near the site, and the leaflet I got said this could happen).

@JustWhatWeDontNeed

I am so sorry this happened to you. Thank you for posting. I'm so glad I did. I won't be having the procedure without anaesthetic of some sort (not local).

OTC pain killers need to be taken an hour before for maximum effectiveness plus they use a local, I've had many just fine

The waiting lists are not womens fucking problem

You have the right to a GA so tell the medics that you will be having the procedure done with correct pain relief.

This is assault. You withdrew your consent.

I can confirm that they said if too painful could stop at any time and could request GA but would have to return another time for that but as it wasn’t too bad I obviously didn’t (and am also aware GA come with their own risks.)

I had a hysteroscopy with biopsy recently. I was a bit alarmed by the fact that the nurse who phoned me up to arrange it told me to take painkillers - "anything you can get" - beforehand. I then got an appointment letter telling me that some people are unable to tolerate the procedure and they have to stop and have it rebooked to be done under GA. The letter also suggested asking the GP for diazepam to take beforehand. In the end, I took cocodamol and ibuprofen. I asked for gas and air (oddly enough, they don't seem to proactively offer it, but once I asked for it they happily got it for me and kept encouraging me to use it during the procedure). It was completely fine and I didn't even notice when they took the biopsy, despite being warned that they were about to do it. Good luck 🍀.

Exact same scenario (hysteroscopy)for me too , they tried twice and I had been advised to take paracetamol , it was agony and I’m now waiting for an appointment at a day unit with a general anaesthetic , tell them you are anxious . My sister had the same procedure and had local anaesthtic and was fine

Insist on GA. Good luck.

I’ve had loads of gynae procedures. I was dreading the hysteroscopy but it ended up being the easiest one. The camera insertion didn’t hurt at all (and I’ve never given birth naturally, only through C-sections) and I couldn’t feel the biopsy at all. I’d taken Solpadeine Extra (the over-the-counter codeine one) beforehand.

If it hurts, they’ll stop. So please don’t be dreading it. You’ll be fine to shout, “fuck this, get out of my womb!”

I had some cells burned off on my cervix and it was painful. I remember the iodine

I had a hysteroscopy and biopsy. I took tramadol for pain. I'm in Canada and your post and others sharing on your thread really resonated. Women everywhere are dealing with a lot medically and with their respective healthcare.

I'm pleased you were fine, but for many women it's excruciating and saying 'you'll be fine' is misguided at best.

I passed out when a registrar tried to do a uterine biopsy, and I've got a really high pain threshold. Women should be offered a GA if they wish. I say that as someone who worked in theatres for years so I'm fully aware of the - minimal - risks of GA.

A GA for something that takes probs 30 seconds, no wonder the NHS has no money. Not sure what a uterine biopsy is but womb one was insertion of a small tube through a speculum like a smear and could feel a nip inside and it was over. No worse than a smear or coil in and out. Of course other peoples experiences might be different but come on a GA, surely getting the canula in would be worse

I was advised to take paracetamol before the procedure but I didn't, I had the biopsy done and polyp removal and was fine just a tiny bit uncomfortable but nothing to write home about.

I find smears excrutiating. It feels like razor blades Its the reason i havent had one for ten years. The NHS squandering having no money is not the fault of women.

Im child free by choice and the article suggests a hysterocopy is likely to be worse for someone who hasnt given birth. Which brings me neatly to my next point. I PAY FOR MY OWN MINI PILL. i buy Hana from Boots because you can never get a bloody appointment. £19.75 every three months since Sept 2021. I also pay for my own esomaprazole £13 a fortnight since 2015

Now adding up what ive spent AND the fact ive never used maternity services ive more than fucking paid for a GA should i need one if you want to bring it down to money. This NHS worship is like a fucking cult

I had to have a cervical biopsy without pain relief (they didn't even tell me) and it was awful. I had one previously and although painful they gave me relief and administered the local anaesthetic properly. It felt like they hadn't given me any anaesthetic and it was such an awful experience I'll never go back to that hospital.

Hi, not relevant to the OP but you can be prescribed the pill at a pharmacy with no charge now. https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy-offering-contraceptive-pill-without-prescription