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Original poster

Hysteroscopy and polypectomy

20 replies

AllIwantedwasanMOT · 04/05/2025 13:26

I need to undergo a hysteroscopy and polypectomy. Can anyone share their experiences of this? For context, I am 40, had two ELCS before labour and have opted for General Anaesthetic as my only options were being wide awake with gas and air, or GA.

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 04/05/2025 13:27

Hi I had the exact same procedure after two cs. I also had a mirena put in. I woke up in exactly the same position I had gone under, and there was absolutely no pain whatsoever. I couldn’t believe it tbh!

Original poster
AllIwantedwasanMOT · 04/05/2025 14:12

Oh that sounds promising! I couldn't believe it when the gynecologist asked if I would consider being awake for it tbh! Good to know it was pain free with the anaesthetic for you! How much time did you need off work/ childcare?

OP posts:
sykadelic · 04/05/2025 14:16

I did it with gas and air. They numb your cervix. Didn't feel a thing and had a great "trip"

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Dee03 · 04/05/2025 14:21

Oh I’m having this done on Tuesday….bit nervous tbh. All I was told was to take paracetamol and ibuprofen an hour before the appointment….im expecting it to be very painful 😣

BoredZelda · 04/05/2025 14:26

I had mine under GA, I didn’t have any pain after it but the bleeding afterwards was heavy and constant for about 2 months.

dusttheaspidistra · 04/05/2025 16:02

I had it done with local in the cervix. It was quite dreadfully painful, and I don’t know how I got through it. Tears were rolling down my face and the kind nurse held on to my hand very tightly. Never again. I didn’t even know that GA was an option.

Original poster
AllIwantedwasanMOT · 04/05/2025 16:27

dusttheaspidistra · 04/05/2025 16:02

I had it done with local in the cervix. It was quite dreadfully painful, and I don’t know how I got through it. Tears were rolling down my face and the kind nurse held on to my hand very tightly. Never again. I didn’t even know that GA was an option.

I am so sorry you had such a horrid experience. TBH, I am pretty horrified that it is routinely performed without any anaesthetic (GA is not an option at all hospitals so that might be why you weren't aware of it). This kind of medical misogyny makes me furious. I hope you're OK xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
AllIwantedwasanMOT · 04/05/2025 16:28

Dee03 · 04/05/2025 14:21

Oh I’m having this done on Tuesday….bit nervous tbh. All I was told was to take paracetamol and ibuprofen an hour before the appointment….im expecting it to be very painful 😣

Read the NHS web page about the procedure. Ask for gas and air and tell them to stop if it's too much.

OP posts:
JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 04/05/2025 16:36

They tried this on me without any pain relief. I screamed involuntarily when they tried to do the procedure. They had to stop. It’s on my records that I need a GA if they ever want to do it again. Men would NEVER have this type of procedure without proper pain relief. It’s an absolute disgrace that women are expected to put up with this treatment.

MiddleAgedDread · 04/05/2025 16:43

Had it done under GA and got the bus home later in the day! I was fine, mostly just tired for a couple of days but that was partly due to other things in the run up too. I think I had mine done on a Wednesday and took Thursday and Friday off work to recover.

CosIJustWantToFly · 04/05/2025 16:44

I had this done with a local anaesthetic plus something that knocked me out (as I couldn’t have GA) and I’m glad I did, recovery was straight forward. When reading about recovery after my op I found many stories from women who had been given sub-par pain relief/none and had clearly suffered.

I’ve delivered two babies vaginally and feel very certain that I don’t want to endure more pain now, my pain was minimised during childbirth and I was certain it would be minimised again unfortunately, so when GA (equivalent) was offered to me I took it.

Im sure some women would be fine as we’re all different but I would urge you to read up on how they do the procedure and consider whether you think that would be durable for you. Decide that way. Hope you feel better after having it done.

CosIJustWantToFly · 04/05/2025 16:50

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 04/05/2025 16:36

They tried this on me without any pain relief. I screamed involuntarily when they tried to do the procedure. They had to stop. It’s on my records that I need a GA if they ever want to do it again. Men would NEVER have this type of procedure without proper pain relief. It’s an absolute disgrace that women are expected to put up with this treatment.

Edited

Sorry you went through this. I agree it is a disgrace that it’s touted as a pain free simple procedure. People will have their reasons for what they choose but doctors failing to be honest about the excruciating pain experienced by many women is tantamount to not obtaining informed consent. Yet more trauma endured by women.

Greybeardy · 04/05/2025 17:12

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 04/05/2025 16:36

They tried this on me without any pain relief. I screamed involuntarily when they tried to do the procedure. They had to stop. It’s on my records that I need a GA if they ever want to do it again. Men would NEVER have this type of procedure without proper pain relief. It’s an absolute disgrace that women are expected to put up with this treatment.

Edited

there are some pretty unpleasant procedures that men go through...it's just that most women haven't heard of them.

Original poster
AllIwantedwasanMOT · 04/05/2025 17:19

Greybeardy · 04/05/2025 17:12

there are some pretty unpleasant procedures that men go through...it's just that most women haven't heard of them.

Show quote history

No one doubts that men have unpleasant procedures, but the issue is that hysteroscopy is clearly extremely painful for many women and yet it is not considered necessary to anaesthetise as standard.

OP posts:
Original poster
AllIwantedwasanMOT · 04/05/2025 17:21

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 04/05/2025 16:36

They tried this on me without any pain relief. I screamed involuntarily when they tried to do the procedure. They had to stop. It’s on my records that I need a GA if they ever want to do it again. Men would NEVER have this type of procedure without proper pain relief. It’s an absolute disgrace that women are expected to put up with this treatment.

Edited

That is awful, I am so so sorry you went through that. I hope you're not too traumatised from the experience xxx

OP posts:
Original poster
AllIwantedwasanMOT · 04/05/2025 17:26

CosIJustWantToFly · 04/05/2025 16:44

I had this done with a local anaesthetic plus something that knocked me out (as I couldn’t have GA) and I’m glad I did, recovery was straight forward. When reading about recovery after my op I found many stories from women who had been given sub-par pain relief/none and had clearly suffered.

I’ve delivered two babies vaginally and feel very certain that I don’t want to endure more pain now, my pain was minimised during childbirth and I was certain it would be minimised again unfortunately, so when GA (equivalent) was offered to me I took it.

Im sure some women would be fine as we’re all different but I would urge you to read up on how they do the procedure and consider whether you think that would be durable for you. Decide that way. Hope you feel better after having it done.

Thanks. I've already decided to have GA. I am just not confident that it wouldn't be an extremely painful experience if I were awake. My cervix has never dilated, I have had some extremely painful smears and I just feel like it would be easy to end up letting them continue when the pain is actually too much.

OP posts:
Butternutissquashed · 04/05/2025 17:31

I had it done under GA. I’ve also had 2 sections and the consultant recommended that I went for the GA as I’d never dilated.
I was nervous but it was fine. I went into theatre at about 2.30 and was back in the vat on the way home, via Sainsburys, by 5. A bit of bleeding for a few days but nothing like the horror show that I’d been having for months before.
Hope it goes well for you.

rickyrickygrimes · 04/05/2025 22:08

MiddleAgedDread · 04/05/2025 16:43

Had it done under GA and got the bus home later in the day! I was fine, mostly just tired for a couple of days but that was partly due to other things in the run up too. I think I had mine done on a Wednesday and took Thursday and Friday off work to recover.

Had exactly the same experience: GA, day surgery, tired for a couple of days then fine.

I cannot believe it’s offered without GA.

ThePoetsWife · 05/05/2025 09:43

Have had it done 4 times - first one was horrible so opted for GA the second time. However it meant taking the whole day off work, no driving for 24-48 hours and recovering from the after effects of the GA. So opted for local since then - using painkillers beforehand and then gas and air so I coped ok. And was able to get back to work, drive etc straightaway.

Haggisfish3 · 05/05/2025 09:47

I took one day off work (the day after) but only really because they told me to! I’m a teacher and on my feet so took it off but I was absolutely fine.

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