Pre-assessment for a hysteroscopy? Why?

[AuldJosey]

Apparently I've to have one of these Friday to see whether I'm fit to go through the hysteroscopy.
Can anyone tell me what that involves? BP? Bloods?

I just fail to see the reason for a bloomin test about a test!

I wouldn't mind but I was in A&E Weds night/Thurs morning as I had abdo pains/stomach/chest pains and just felt that something wasn't quite 'right' - but they didn't admit me - didn't seem to think there was anything particularly dodgy with the bloods at all! They sent me home!
And I seem to recall my heart rate being very high then too. So, who knows. As they say doctors differ, patients die.

Now I'm going to be paranoid that every twinge I have is a heart attack lol.

So if you see any threads started by me over the weekend titled AIBU to think I'm having a heart attack - just tell me to calm da fuck down

I'm sorry to hear it - it must've been stressful for you. Maybe your potassium levels being low might have something to do with the chest pain? Maybe your GP can prescribe some supplement to bring the levels back up? Or you can eat some bananas - they're supposed to be high in potassium!

I hope that it all works out. It's much better that all this stuff is picked up now and sorted in advance of the actual operation.

I was a little panicked alright when they were organising to bring me to A&E - mainly because I didn't have my phone charger with me, so thankfully they told me to go home. I've googled though and potassium isn't that bad - it's 3.2 (It's supposed to be above 3.6 apparently). Maybe it was the ECG that was the problem. Who knows. So back to GP it seems and apparently when bloods are right again they'll send me another appointment.

I have been getting terrible foot cramps recently which is apparently a symptom of low potassium, so I need to get me a bunch of bananas me thinks!

This is the exact reason a pre op is needed
Hope you get another date soon

My pre-op flagged up an issue that could be sorted prior to my hysteroscopy and subsequent womb ablation. Just meant it had time to be sorted. Tbh I had no symptoms prior to the pre-op so it was just as well. Had the surgery a few weeks later and it was worth it.

I suppose if a heart attack is a bit like a cramp, just in the heart, then it's not beyond the realms of possibility that I'm a bit dodgy in the ticker department, because the foot cramps are a fucking pain in the arse - so painful! Don't know if that's what a heart attack is though. Anyone know was the heart rate terribly bad (it was 114 first, but they kept checking it periodically, and finally came down to 107 by the time they did the ECG).

Oh - and as I live alone/no carer/friends/family - I was going to be kept in overnight. That's until my old ticker failed me!

I had my hysterectomy under local anaesthetic - is this an option instead? It’s honestly fine, didn’t hurt at all

What's so bad about a general anaesthetic, that you need to be in the whole of your health for? I don't think I've ever had one, though I was in a coma for 2 weeks (is that like a general anaesthetic?) but they didn't operate on me so I doubt it? They put me in the coma first (is that an anaesthetic they give you?), then I think the shit hit the fan, so maybe I was in a coma of my own accord then.

Note to self: Ask GP to tell me what happened while I was in that bloody coma! I know nothing at all!

@DollyTwat - NOT. A. CHANCE.

www.rcoa.ac.uk/patientinfo/risks

Risks increase with additional medical problems. Hence the preop.

I can assure you it’s fine. Bit like having a smear. There is no pain I promise you. I was worried but it was honestly fine. My friend who had ivf has them al the time, it’s worth thinking about if it’s the only way to have it done

It's not the pain I'm worried about. Very personal reasons.

Now that I've had time to digest what happened today, I'm left wondering, just how poorly do you need to be to not be fit for an anaesthetic FFS!! and IF I am that poorly, why amn't I in hospital!!??
I've known OAPs to undergo quadruple bypasses!!

Really wish I had asked to speak to one of the doctors on the phone - it was the nurse relaying all the information to me (filtered I suspect).

I know a couple of docs posted during this thread, so going to try to tag them.

@Greybeardy - would you mind if you have time to read my last few posts and shed some light for me? Very grateful if you can take the time.

@Doccc - same question to you!

Sorry to be picking your brains! But it's a long weekend and as you might have gathered I'm a nervous patient.

I don't even know which doctors were consulting with each other. I heard the nurse ask one of the staff whether any anaesthetists were around. Then when they told me I needed to go to A&E she was on the phone asking whether she needs to provide handover to the medical team when I get there or did she just leave me to wait there. Then apparently at least two doctors were calling each other (maybe a medical one and the anaesthetist?).

I feel very much left in the dark now actually! I'm a pain in the arse, but I like to know what's going on!

Depends upon the facilities/equipment available in the hospital and the professional opinion of the Consultant Anaesthetists.

For example, at our nearest hospital, you can only get elective surgery if your BMI is below a certain level, as they don't have the same Intensive Care and resuscitation facilities that another hospital has within the area - people with higher BMIs have a greater risk of developing breathing issues under anaesthetic. In a similar way, people with Sickle Cell Anaemia automatically get referred there (it's conveniently got the Blood Transfusion service on site) and if somebody's other medical conditions, such as heart issues, they prefer them to be operated on in a huge hospital with many highly experienced Cardiologists and the latest equipment, rather than the local with a small team.

A anaesthetist is going to be a lot happier about the risks if they know there are top rate specialists available on site and state of the art facilities if somebody becomes unwell under anaesthesia, which is why one hospital might offer a procedure and another might refuse and refer a patient on.

I suppose they concluded between them that while I'm not fit for a GA, I'm not at risk of death quite yet, hence letting me home.

And could they not just have given me a drip of potassium prior to the GA? Realise I'm clutching at straws...........

It's a teaching hospital Mitzi, so I think it probably has a lot of the equipment? It's part of a trust that covers 4 hospitals, which is a good trust I've heard (though I don't agree!).