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AIBU?

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Original poster

To request a general anaesthetic instead of local?

76 replies

radiateforme · 03/01/2021 20:11

Need to have a hysteroscopy and mass removed from my uterus. I don't like the idea of a general anaesthetic, but like it a lot more than the idea of a local. Doc has told me that local is routine. Without going in to detail, I haven't had sex in years, was sexually assaulted the last time anyone went near me, don't think I could cope with being awake during this procedure. Doc didn't seem too bothered and said local would be better. This fills me with utter dread and my counsellor says it's a bad idea to be awake considering I have PTSD. Where do I stand here?

OP posts:
nothingcomestonothing · 03/01/2021 20:50

YAdefinitelyNBU, but depending on the situation where you live it might be extremely challenging to get a GA for anything - I work in a large hospital in the east of england and we've cancelled all surgery and redeployed theatre staff to staff an additional ITU due to Covid admissions climbing. Would you be able to tolerate a LA maybe with lorazepam beforehand and a good whack of midazolan for the procedure - strong sedation which makes you fall asleep/be very drowsy at the time, and then not remember anything after? I'm sorry this is happening, just trying to think of a way round it which could work for you and still happen in the current situation. Flowers

SilentlyLaughing · 03/01/2021 20:50

@Funkypolar under the 2ww?! I think you need to contact the secretary and stress that waiting almost a year for a 2ww is alarming. I would suspect that the booking calendar has jumped when they were rebooking the appointment & they haven’t noticed. It does happen.

Op I had one under local but in your circumstances it’s totally understandable that you want a GA. I hope it can be arranged for you without delaying too much Flowers

veeeeh · 03/01/2021 20:52

@The3Ls

You could have light sedation and a local. Less risk and after affects but you feel like you just go to sleep. I had it for tooth removal as I am scared of the dentist following painful work as a child. Much less traumatic than what you are describing and it was suggested to me and no problem other than slightly longer wait as appointment longer
You have said exactly what I was going to say.

No one should have to endure anything without some sort of sedation. Especially women with this procedure, sorry if that offends anyone.

Imissmoominmama · 03/01/2021 20:52

I recently had a full hip replacement under a local, with sedation. They put a sort of tent around your head and you honestly can’t feel a thing. I snoozed quite a bit, even though I had planned to stay awake and listen in Grin. The recovery time is much quicker because you haven’t had the extra toll on your system.

UrAWizHarry · 03/01/2021 20:52

Request to be sedated rather than a GA. You will technically be awake during the procedure but you will not be aware of what is happening and will not remember it. It's far safer and will have the same desired effect.

Original poster
radiateforme · 03/01/2021 20:52

Does a GA for a 20 min procedure really have that large of a toll? I had a GA before which made me pretty sick but I was under for hours. My mum had a GA recently for a 40 min procedure and she was back to work feeling totally normal the next day.

OP posts:
Funkypolar · 03/01/2021 20:56

SilentlyLaughing - yep, apparently there is already a huge backlog for endoscopes and people needing them. My mum is going to see if she can pay privately instead of waiting for a year.

A friend of mine needs urgent gynae surgery and has been told she’s looking at 2022. Sad

TheFairyCaravan · 03/01/2021 20:57

YANBU.

I’m in exactly the same boat. I saw my GP last January with unexplained bleeding, she sent me for a scan which showed ?fibroids, ?polyps and a thickened endometrial lining. When I saw the gynaecologist in February he expected to do the hysteroscopy, biopsy and removal of what ever was there, there and then in the clinic. The problem is I have severe SPD still from when I had DS2 24yrs ago so wouldn’t be able to tolerate my legs in stirrups for the amount of time he’d need to do it.

He wasn’t especially sympathetic to my plight, I have to say, although he eventually agreed to a general anaesthetic and for it to be done within four weeks. Then Covid happened, so I’m still waiting.

BubblyBarbara · 03/01/2021 20:57

sedation. I had it for a tricky wisdom tooth extraction and also scared of dental work. I didn't remember anything

Yes but not being able to remember a trauma is not the same as it not having happened or been experienced at the time.

Original poster
radiateforme · 03/01/2021 20:57

@funkypolar that's awful. Sorry to hear that.

OP posts:
BubblyBarbara · 03/01/2021 20:58

I strongly recommend GA by the way. It is far safer as they have to monitor you non stop and it's very clear when there are problems. With sedation it can be harder to tell if there are problems. There are people who have GAs every year for various reasons, it's a safe practice!

UrAWizHarry · 03/01/2021 21:01

@BubblyBarbara

sedation. I had it for a tricky wisdom tooth extraction and also scared of dental work. I didn't remember anything

Yes but not being able to remember a trauma is not the same as it not having happened or been experienced at the time.

Er, it is, really. Under a GA the procedure still has to take place in the same way. I've had sedation twice, during both procedures I was not aware of what was going on and I don't remember anything.

It's also not true to state that a GA is safer, unless you think you know better than the royal college of Anaesthetists.

loveyouradvice · 03/01/2021 21:03

interesting.... when I had my hysteroscopy I was automatically given GA ... admittedly 20 years ago but just what they did then

VinylDetective · 03/01/2021 21:03

I don’t think you’ll get a GA, they’re doing them for fewer procedures all the time. My dad had a hip replacement with an epidural and sedation at 99. He didn’t remember a thing.

loveyouradvice · 03/01/2021 21:03

So sorry... you are NOT being unreasonable at all...

Agree huge potential toll of GA but risk of not having one feels far greater given trauma you have experienced

Nunoftheother · 03/01/2021 21:06

I had a hysteroscopy with GA after an unsuccessful first attempt without.

veeeeh · 03/01/2021 21:07

@Imissmoominmama

I recently had a full hip replacement under a local, with sedation. They put a sort of tent around your head and you honestly can’t feel a thing. I snoozed quite a bit, even though I had planned to stay awake and listen in Grin. The recovery time is much quicker because you haven’t had the extra toll on your system.
That would have been an epidural. Common enough with joint replacement now. Glad it all worked out for you.

I had twilight sleep sedation at the dentist recently. Still floating lol. Brilliant stuff.

DrJump · 03/01/2021 21:08

Would you consider valium rather than a GA. It means you are just zoned out before hand. You can even take it 12-24 hours before so you don’t have the anxiety building.

Tier10 · 03/01/2021 21:08

I had the same procedure and had a general. I went in early in the morning, asked to be first on the list and went home before lunchtime.

Indecisive12 · 03/01/2021 21:09

You can certainly ask for a GA. The issue is that a lot of hysteroscopys are done without an anaesthetist as they are needed for a LA. So you might have a longer wait until there’s a spot on a list available with an anaesthetist.
But it certainly sounds like you need more than a LA.

WeeDangerousSpike · 03/01/2021 21:11

I've had sedation for multiple colonoscopies and a gastroscopy. I was definitely aware of what was going on and definitely remember what happened with all of them. I'd definitely push for GA, OP.

AnyFucker · 03/01/2021 21:12

I had a hysteroscopy with zero pain relief. It was actually horrific and I am a tough old bird with no history of trauma.

Insist on the GA.

planningaheadtoday · 03/01/2021 21:13

I always thought this. Always. I've had similar procedures under general and was ok.

Two years ago as I turned 50 I needed another procedure and I didn't cope with the general anaesthetic. It took me ages to come round, ages to recovery enough to get off the trolly and a full week at home to feel normal, my head felt fluffy and my memory was shot. I've not experienced anything like this before.

If I ever get the option to be sedated and have local anaesthetic, even a nerve block I'd opt for this now. I've had minor procedures with intravenous sedation before and it's been fine.

I don't want to worry you but maybe discuss with your clinician the best option to take.

UrAWizHarry · 03/01/2021 21:14

@WeeDangerousSpike

I've had sedation for multiple colonoscopies and a gastroscopy. I was definitely aware of what was going on and definitely remember what happened with all of them. I'd definitely push for GA, OP.
There are different levels of sedation, ranging from small doses which just calm a person down up to something which is close to a GA but with a significantly reduced risk.

Really, the OP needs to discuss their concerns with a qualified medical practitioner, but would be well advised to do their research into the risks of GA and sedation as a viable alternative.

Lalliella · 03/01/2021 21:14

YANBU. I’ve had a number of gynae ops including a hysteroscopy and have always requested a general if given a choice.

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