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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

just wondering whether there is an option for sedation for colposcopy and further treatment?

115 replies

Sullabylullaby · 12/03/2018 00:38

I'm being referred and have received a leaflet. I'm a little concerned that you don't get sedation for a biopsy if that ends up happening? I've had this procedure in Ireland before and the consultant said he always offers sedation. England seems a little barbaric to be honest. Intrude into your nether regions, then cut a piece off if necessary all while you have a local bloody anaesthetic which sounds painful to start with?
I'll end up crying and that doesn't seem right?

Surely they can be more humane?

OP posts:

jkl0311 · 12/03/2018 07:11

It's not painful in the slightest, I had nothing for the biopsy the consultant fiddled about down there whilst I played sudoku on my Nintendo then he just asked for a little cough.... snip done!! A sedative would be another unnecessary cost for a brilliant smear scheme that saves 1000s of women every year.

caringdenise009 · 12/03/2018 07:12

Yes there is. I was so distressed at my initial appt for the colposcopy that the nurse wrote GA on my notes for the procedure. (A midwife assaulted me at 9 months pregnant and I've developed a horror of internal examinations). She was very kind, asked me why I looked so frightened and went through the options.

As it happened I was able to get through both appointments without sedation. But if you feel you can't, talk to your gp about valium or similar, or you can just be sedated. It's most important that you attend the appointments and get the cells removed and if you need a bit of help to do that, it is available.

Just to reassure you I am honestly the biggest baby in the world and cry when I get the smear letter, but the procedure was not too bad. The thought of it is definitely worse than the reality, and as PP have said it's just 10-15 mins.

CabinFeverShorts · 12/03/2018 07:15

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

CheekyRedhead · 12/03/2018 07:31

what an attitude. had it done several times without sedation. it's uncomfortable not painful. I'm not aware sedation is available for such minor things in our cash strapped NHS. just get on with it or go to Ireland

OneStepSideways · 12/03/2018 07:34

In the U.K. morphine and sedation is usually provided on request. My first I didn't ask for it, they gave me a mild sedative but the pain was indescribable and they couldn't complete the procedure because I was screaming. Second time they gave me morphine and midazolam, much better and I can't remember much!

Pantah630 · 12/03/2018 07:48

I've had a couple, including biopsies and don't remember sedation/pain relief being offered.

It's uncomfortable, not painful but if you find smears painful you'll need to ask for pain relief, if you don't then there's really no need.

ShutUpRobert · 12/03/2018 07:51

Don't worry, OP, the NHS provides full anaesthetic for GFS (goady fucker syndrome).

sourgrapes28 · 12/03/2018 08:00

I had one a few months ago and was offered sedation ( in Scotland though so not sure if it's the same). In the end I ended up with no sedation as the 4 nurses on the ward couldn't get a vein to put in the sedation. Ended up doing it with nothing, i was offered gas and air but it makes me sick so we just had to plod on. It's not painful tbh but it is very uncomfortable ( think incredible period cramps as it's moving about and an internal pinch when taking the biopsies).

Steeley113 · 12/03/2018 08:30

Well aren’t you a delight. If you call your GP they will prescribe you a sedative to take prior to this. Or you could fuck off to Ireland and have it done, your choice

sar302 · 12/03/2018 08:33

I had a conscious sedation I think they called it, for endoscopy and colonoscopy with biopsy. I was out of it for a while! Woke up in the middle of the colonoscopy though which was painful. You can't feel them snipping bits off, but can obvs feel the pole twisting around in your guts. When I told them I was in pain, they gave me gas and air to get through the rest of it.

ememem84 · 12/03/2018 08:37

I had one recently (colposcopy) and don’t recall being asked if I wanted sedation. As it was though, it was very quick (less than 15 minutes from waiting room to procedure over). I guess sedation must be available so I suppose if I’d asked they would have gone through the options.

shouldnthavesaid · 12/03/2018 09:09

I was offered a full GA for smear and have had anaeathetic for a coil ,
sedation for other internals, scans etc so would imagine if there is a legitamate medical reason (I've been assaulted in a medical setting) then they would try to help.

theWarOnPeace · 12/03/2018 09:15

Dick-heads in the NHS. How ye stand for it I'll never know. Totally sub-standard health care.

So you’re an NHS health tourist?

I understand the anxiety, but ultimately, they’re saving your life for free, so maybe the attitude could be turned down a notch. I had a colposcopy awake but under LA so no pain, when I told other people, they’ve said that they were sedated and don’t understand why I wasn’t. Seems to depend on the hospital. Under a local there will be no pain, but if you’re having pre-cancerous cells removed then surely take what you can get to stay alive?

ittakes2 · 12/03/2018 09:16

I went privately and did not get sedation for that or for the cone biopsy where they cut off the end of my cervix that I ended up having at a later date. The treatment you are having I remember watching on a screen and it was not painful. Good luck.

DaisyInTheChain · 12/03/2018 09:17

I think it depends on hospital, but I know if you've got a twisty bowel and it's going to be rather uncomfy they even put people under GA. so best thing to do would be call up and ask. Best of luck.

snewsname · 12/03/2018 09:22

It's not a pleasant experience but it's not particularly painful - I had a cone busy but she took more than usual. It's ok to be nervous and ok tho ask for sedation but tbh you lost any sympathy fRom me by being so aggressive.

Zazzleza · 12/03/2018 09:26

I’ve had numerous colonoscopys and two biopsies. All awake and unpleasant... Not because of the pain but it was the noise and smell I found traumatic.... But hey, it probably saved my life! It was over ten years ago and I didn’t even question having a GA, just got on with it.
You need to grow up and be grateful you are having treatment.

Zazzleza · 12/03/2018 09:27

*coloposcopys not colonoscopys!

reddressblueshoes · 12/03/2018 09:32

I've had it done in the UK (was actually from a referral from Ireland, I moved in between getting a dodgy smear test which was repeated by the NHS) and I can honestly say I didn't feel a thing.

I went to a colposcopy unit, I honestly don't believe there's the equivalent in Ireland where it is quite literally all they do and they're qualified to that level. (I know there will be similar but my memory is they will do a mix of gynae procedures rather than just colposcopy) I have always found smears painful, and I didn't feel anything, including the biopsy. There were incredible competent women, I was back twice before being discharged and I felt so well taken care of.

I don't remember the specifics but I think they would have offered sedation depending on what they found- I needed a v small area biopsied, I can see it could have been painful if I'd needed multiple areas. I have a feeling if I'd wanted sedation it may have involved a separate appointment, but they reassured me it would be no more than a pinch and I didn't want to waste another day and it really was painless. So- ask.

But honestly, I've spent my adult life divided between Ireland and the UK, and like almost all Irish people I know, I rhapsodise about the NHS. It's an objectively higher standard of care in most ways, so I'm not sure why you'd call it barbaric. Whatever technique they use, in my experience, does not cause pain. It may be in Ireland the practise is to take a larger sample, or use a different instrument. But given you haven't experienced the procedure it's a bit random to claim it's barbaric without pain relief when thousands of women have no complaint.

PatchworkGirl · 12/03/2018 09:34

Are people getting confused between colonoscopies and colposcopies?

This.

I had one and have had a couple of painful smears but I didn't feel the biopsy bit at all. I actually blurted 'is that it?' when it was done.

ShovingLeopard · 12/03/2018 09:44

You need to grow up and be grateful you are having treatment.

zazlezza there is no need for that. I appreciate the OP may have got backs up about her comments on the NHS, but if she is genuinely anxious about the procedure this is a very unhelpful and pretty ignorant response. People with anxiety do not simply get over it by 'growing up'.

GabriellaMontez · 12/03/2018 09:45

Saving your life for free

No really they aren't.

Places often have different procedures so I'd phone ahead and discuss in case it needs to be pre arranged.

Agree, some medical professionals really don't mind inflicting significant pain without anaesthetic to make their lives easier.

FuzzyCustard · 12/03/2018 09:49

I've had it. It's like the tiniest of pinches.

But if you can't bear the thought please do pay for it and save the NHS the cost and trouble.

Your choice entirely.

theWarOnPeace · 12/03/2018 10:01

*Saving your life for free

No really they aren't.*

Yes, they are. It’s free for OP as she will come over from Ireland to get treatment via what she herself calls “the dickhead NHS”. It’s not free for me or other UK residents as we pay into it with our taxes. The OP lives in a different country and pays taxes there. If OP had the treatment in Ireland she’d most likely have to pay for it. This is why the attitude from OP is unnecessary, as I understand her anxiety about the procedure, but making sweeping statements about how crap the NHS is are out of line IMO.

MyNameIsntChole · 12/03/2018 10:04

I had a mole cut out of my back due to possibility of melanoma, and only local anaesthetic. Stitched up afterwards. It was absolutely fine and I didn't feel any pain.

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