Any reassuring experiences of having a hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic?

[pikachu11]

Following on from another thread, are there any less frightening experiences with hysteroscopy? I'm having one under GA soon.

You will be intubated.

I had one done a month ago.
It was fine and I was discharged a few hours later.
I was a bit tired the next day, but perfectly able to function. Certainly not wiped out for days.

Why not? :-D

Omg same

I had my first one (gynae thing plus Mirena coil) under GA and it was fine. I had my second one (also gynae thing plus Mirena coil) with no pain relief whatsoever, and that was also fine. In both cases I went back to work the next day.

I’m so glad I opted for a GA for my Hysteroscopy (plus removal of mirena and biopsy) the worst bit was waiting for my turn to go down to theatre.
I was discharged home about 2 hours later, told no driving or cooking for 24hours so popped for a takeaway on the way home. Drove 24 hours later, was in the pub a bit later. I bled quite a bit that evening but it had stopped by the next day. Had no pain at all.

I was told it takes about a month to get a GA out of your system. I take it that's total codswallop?

I had a hysteroscopy & laparoscopy done in one session, take some pads with you because the moment you stand up for the first time all the fluid they have used to expand your womb runs out. You won't need anything other than simple painkillers afterwards. I had mine done Thursday evening & was able to attend a school function the day after.

Yes

You absolutely will not be intubated. That will not be necessary.

I had sedation rather than GA, so recovery was minimal. But the sedation was deep enough that I was completely out of it.

GA is standard here in Australia, I wasn't even offered sedation.

It was fine, I bled a lot after but very little pain.

I’ve had this done twice. It was fine. I do love a bit of GA. It’s like dropping your car off at the garage. You leave your body there, go somewhere else for a bit, and come back to collect it when it’s ready.

And the procedure itself only takes a few minutes really. I didn’t have any bleeding or pain or anything afterwards, it was all totally straightforward.

Absolutely fine! I was a bit nauseous afterwards, which that’s a normal reaction for me after a GA and it soon wore off. I was sore for about 24 hours afterwards and bled a bit.

I’ve had a biopsy without a GA since which was uncomfortable and I’m very glad I did have the GA for the hysteroscopy.

I had this done a few days ago.
I was frightened by the thought and very nervous, but it was fine.

I was able to work the following day (from home), though if you the option of NOT working the next day, I would recommend that as I did find that the hardest bit.

Nerves are kicking in again now as I wait for the results though, but I am keeping busy to stay distracted.

Good luck, I hope it all goes well.

I wanted mine under a GA but was told it would delay it by weeks so I went with gas and air.

It was okay, unpleasant obviously but I wouldn’t (edited as it said would initially!) be terrified if I had to do it again. Recovery was minimal, bit of cramping and I just lay on the sofa with snacks for the evening.

Sorry - I WOULDNT be terrified! Not I would!

I had mine under GA and it was absolutely fine. I was nervous beforehand but needn't have been. Good luck with your procedure, OP.

I had it under GA and some polyp removal and a biopsy. Loved it. The GA gave me the best sleep afterwards- like when I woke up then went back to sleep it was blissful. Had toast then got picked up. Slept all the way home and for a nap once home then felt fine. I had the day off work the next day (they offered- it was rude not to, NHS doesn’t often happen!) but would have been perfectly capable of working. Mild cramps and some watery discharge only.

I’ve had them done under GA. Was totally fine, some mild spotting after one of them. No other after effects.

I was told I could be awake, but I didn’t want to, would choose GA everytime. You never know what your pain threshold is like until it’s being done and that’s enough for me to want to be asleep.

I had one under GA last year. Was absolutely fine. I am so glad that MN forewarned me and empowered me to argue my case. Gyne was puzzled why I was adamant, given that I’ve given birth basically and have had IUDs for many years. My point was that this was why I knew I would not tolerate hysteroscopy. I find IUD insertion extremely painful, difficult and distressing, barely tolerable even with diazepam and maximum OTC PR.

GA absolutely fine. Gentle. No nausea. Dopey for the rest of the day. Took the next day off work, as I know I take a long time to recover from GA, I’m physically fine, but I’m liable to make daft decisions and doze off randomly.

Discharge like a watery period for a week or so. Longer than a period, but far lighter. Cramps for a few days, not particularly severe. Paracetamol for a day or two was all they needed.

if I have to have another, GA is definitely the way to go. Though I would consider IV sedation, too. I recently had a molar extracted under sedation, and that was almost as painless and untraumatic as GA.

Hope it goes well for you.

I had one without anything, didn’t feel a thing but it was the consultant who did it.

Had one under GA to remove a polyp, wiped out for 10 days in bed felt awful.

Another anaesthetist pov...
the surgeons are pretty good at spotting who's likely to find hysteroscopy too uncomfortable in clinic. They may refer for a GA, but in reality the decision about GA vs spinal is between the anaesthetist and patient. For quite a lot of patients coming for hysteroscopy, spinal may be a safer option. Sedation isn't used so often because of the difficulties around awareness/capacity & consent whilst sedated/some of the physiological responses to hysteroscopy can make sedation more hairy. The RCOG IIRC still recommends that sedation isn't advised as routine. Historically I think they used to say the risk of uterine perforation was higher having the procedure done under GA, but I can't remember the last time I saw one so perhaps that's not thought to be the case any more.

The decision re. whether to intubate or use other airway devices (or no airway device) is based on patient characteristics. The surgery doesn't require for someone to be intubated, but there are other reasons people might need that. The anaesthetic drugs are cleared pretty quickly, but people may experience varying degrees of hangover based on the physiological response to surgery - anxiety/fasting/a bit of GA/painkillers/some antiemetics/the physiological responses to the operation - can all affect how you feel post op. The depth of anaesthesia is exactly the same as for any other operation, but because the procedure is usually so quick the cumulative dose of anaesthesia is small and quickly cleared. Obesity is a real presence on hysteroscopy lists and that can affect the anaesthetic decision making and how people feel post-procedure.

Interesting what you say about sedation for hysteroscopy. I don’t think I would consider spinal. I would find my awareness of what was being done to me traumatic. I’d have no problems with a spinal for, say, knee surgery, but being in stirrups is distressing.

I tried having a hysteroscopy without GA and screamed the place down. I have given birth twice with no pain relief so I am not prone to overreacting to pain.

They had to abandon, obviously, and I was booked in to have the process done under GA. It was very straightforward. A friend was my post surgery nurse and she pumped me with maximum permitted Fentanyl (at my request because I wanted to try a class A type drug for the first time) and I stayed overnight.

Woke up, had toast, went home. Enjoyed my day off work. Try not to worry. 💐

Nothing to add to the thread here but bloody hell you’re strong - not to withstand the discomfort of a procedure but your mindset! Bravo x