Going Under GA for hysterscopy

[Starwish90]

Hi

just wanted some advice really and to be told i aibu and theres nothing to be worried about.

I am due to go under GA for a hysterscopy next thursday and the fear of going under is scaring me. I feel so scared i have a 2 year old to look after who has a lung condition and solely ng fed and requires oxygen at night. im scared i wont wake up scared about what would happen to my son.

the procedure was tried a month ago but failed as the dr couldnt reach the cervix and i was in agony. She wasnt very nice about it so not sure if thats made me feel a bit more weary but i feel like i cant sleep or eat i literally cant stop thinking about it.

I went for pre op last week and they informed procedure wont last longer than 30mins and i have nothing to worry about but again not sure they understood my fears. They said i need to have the procedure for unexplained bleeding.

has anyone had proceudre under GA and if so how did it feel what can i expect?

I had a GA last week. Not for this procedure but to have my gallbladder removed.

Like you, I was absolutely petrified as at the grand old age of 41 I've never needed any surgery. I had many sleepless nights leading up to it.

On the day you arrive at the day ward and you are assigned a bed and locker to keep your things.

A nurse comes and checks all your details (like other pps say, you will need to repeat this about 4 times!) The surgeon came to introduce himself and then the anaesthetist does the same.

When it's your turn the nurses come to get you once you have changed into your gown and paper knickers. Don't forget your slippers and dressing gown. You walk down to theatre and they take your bed along too.

I went into a little pre theatre room where you get on a tiny bed and they put the monitors on your chest and hook up the blood pressure monitor and put in a canula. I had some gas and I remember the nurse stroking my hair. Then I woke up in recovery! I was in recovery for half an hour. A recovery nurse sits with you until you are awake and checking everything is ok.

When I was awake I was wheeled (in my bed) back to the day ward. On the day ward they need you to drink, eat and wee before you can go home.

I really worried for nothing. The care is so good and you will be absolutely fine. Let us know how you get on.

@cassort thank you so much for that really hope mine goes smoothly no other health issues so hopefully can be straightforward

I have had 2 hysteriscopies, the first under GA and the second, which was agony, traumatic and I was made to feel like a naughty child when I was in such distress ( I was 59) Psychologically , it took me a long time to get over it

Go for the GA,

If you're healthy they really have no risks to take. I think my anaesthetist was happy to dice with death with me lol.... (Joke). I think she was confident in her abilities and I'm confident I know my triggers for asthma.

They joke around with you as well, so it's all quite relaxed. But I must surely have been asked what I was allergic to ten times.

Honestly, it's like it never happened.

Glitteryfrog we always put a tube down

I work in both anaesthetic and scrub, I've been apart of more hysteroscopies than I care to remember. Happy to answer any more specific questions.

When is it? Tomorrow?

You'll be coming on tomorrow evening reassuring everyone else. It's a breeze.

There is snobbery among doctors (one in the family), but generally, the anaesthetists are the ones who hold your life in the balance while surgeons do their thing lol. If an anaesthetist fucks up you're a gonner.

Thank you all for the support and reassurance. its week tomorrow.

Make sure your legs are shaved, your toenails are clean and your bikini line is normal. Lol.

Honestly, I know the stressing I was going through. It is nothing to worry about.

I've only had a GA once so far and it was brilliant! What a lovely sleep, so relaxing. I had the procedure you are having while awake and it was so painful, just awful. You'll be totally fine ❤️xx

Are you sure this is a general anaesthetic as opposed to sedation? Mine were under IV sedation and I have no memory of them beyond waking up feeling great!

I've had 2 hysteroscopies under GA and was grand after both. They only found a fibroid and a polyp which wer probably the cause of heavy periods. I didn't have any further treatment or tests - was offered mirena coil but declined it. I've had a few GA's so knew what to expect. The procedure, as you've been told, doesn't take long. You'll be in recovery for a little while after it and then back onto the day ward for a while where they'll check your bp etc regularly. You'll need to have something light to eat/drink and also pee before you are allowed home. You might feel slight discomfort the next day with a bit of bleeding for a couple of days. You probably won't be allowed have anyone near theatre but you might be allowed have someone waiting back on the ward. You'll need someone to drive you home anyway. Best of luck. Try not to worry. It's a fairly quick procedure and hopefully they will figure out what's causing the bleeding.

@Glitteryfrog I'd had about 3 GAs before I learned about the breathing tube. It was after one of my most recent ones that I noticed some sticking plaster on my face and asked what it was. I'm sure the nurse must have thought I was stupid that I never knew before. I never had a sore throat or felt anything to indicate a tube had been down there

I had one Friday before last. It really was the least dramatic surgery I've ever had. Very straightforward and I've had more pain from the after-effects of carrying a heavy shopping bag. Afterwards you'll probably be a bit tired but no worse than after having a bad nights sleep. Really, it's fine.

I had a GA fairly recently. My anaesthetist was GORGEOUS. Felt a bit unfortunate that he was going to see me drooling and snoring legs akimbo 😂

Good luck, OP. I've had a hysterscopy without GA, and I would have preferred to be under - it was such a strange sensation!
One wee tip - take in your own preferred sanitary towels in case you have a bit of bleeding afterwards. Someone passed this advice to me, because you'll get one of the big brick ones otherwise.

@corkchester it is definitely GA as this was discussed at my pre op appointment with the nurse.

Just wanted to update..

here at the hospital now waiting to go in feel so anxious can't wait to come out and be like it was fine hopefully.

Thank you all for messaging and putting my mind at ease.

I've had on 3 times. They're fine. Don't drive or anything for about 24 hours after, but otherwise what you can/can't do depends on the procedure rather than the anaesthetic.

I’m having this next week, but without GA. I’m very scared, and having a mirena put in at the same time. I think I’m going to ring and see if there are any consultant appointments available as I have a terrible time during smears - they can never find my cervix - and I am quite traumatised by the horrible experience I had during that fertility investigation procedure when they put dye through your Fallopian tubes. Hope it goes well for you OP.

This is my biggest fear as hysterectomy may be a last resort for me.
Do you have a choice of GA or spinal block or does it have to be GA?
I've had spinal block to repair a 3rd degree tear with my first baby and feel I would rather be awake.

You'll be absolutely fine OP! Honestly it's nothing to worry about! Good luck, let us know when you're up

It’s always fascinating to read what people believe about anaesthetics. To dispel a few myths based on posts above ....

‘We’ don’t always put a tube down. We make decisions about how to manage someone’s airway & breathing on an individual basis having assessed risks and benefits of the various options.

There’s no such thing as a ‘light’ GA - if you’re having a GA you’re as asleep for the hysteroscopy as you would be for any other operation. What can make a difference in terms of grogginess post-op is the duration of the surgery and the need for strong pain relief. A hysteroscopy is usually a quick procedure that doesn’t need strong pain relief so your less likely to feel dopey for ages than if you were having major abdominal surgery (for example).

Oxygen doesn’t ‘flush the anaesthetic out’ - it stops your oxygen level dropping while you’re waking up and getting back to normal. Not every GA involves inhalational anaesthetic.

Having a GA with badly controlled asthma/COPD is high risk and generally elective surgery should be postponed to improve management (the same can be said for many conditions).

For a hysterectomy the type of anaesthetic will depend partly on the route they’re taking (laparoscopic vs abdominal/vag hysterectomy) and on any significant medical problems and whatnot that the customer has. For laparoscopic surgery spinal anaesthetic alone is not suitable (but it may sometimes be used in combination with a GA to assist with post op pain relief). For an abdominal/vaginal hysterectomy spinal can be used without GA or in combination with GA/sedation (but that may not be appropriate for other medical/surgical reasons).

Literally no one will give two hoots if you’ve shaved your legs/anywhere else and no one is looking at your toe nails!

From an anaesthetist. :-)