To request a general anaesthetic instead of local?

[radiateforme]

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?

@Figgyboa

Would suggest looking into sedation. GA takes a huge toll on your body

I'd second sedation if it's an option. I had it for a termination when they wouldn't do a general for medical reasons (thyroid was being wacky) and I honestly was totally unaware. Apparently I was awake and talking, I have no recollection of that. I 'came to' on the way out of theatre and could have sworn I'd slept through it.

Regardless, you're entitled to the choice in your circumstances and I would insist on being listened to.

I posted it and then the post vanished - hope it doesn't post twice now.

I had a hysteroscopy with a spinal two months ago and it was fine - didn't feel a thing. They didn't want to do a GA due to much higher risk.

I suffered a hideous leg break and had sedation for them to straighten it (twice!) Don’t remember a thing from them telling me it was going in the cannula and being lifted into bed on a ward hours later. I’d been in resus, X-ray, resus, X-ray, long spell in resus then up 7 floors in a lift and onto the ward...cannot remember any of it and recovered quite quickly (had major surgery under GA a few days later and took days to feel better!) Just my experience of sedation incase it’s helpful, I hope they listen to you and are considerate to your wishes x

Can you have sedation for it. I had sedation and as soon as I had it I was out like a light till I was woken up.

I've had a hysteroscopy on two occasions, both with GA rather than LA.
I think LA was suggested on the first occasion, but similar experiences to you OP, and they agreed to GA.

They’ll just be investigating so I will be a local. Depending on what they find they would then for example remove anything under a GA. Tell them you’ve previously been sick u set the GA & they’ll give you something to prevent this. OP you’ll be OK, tell them you’re nervous, they’ll look after you.

@BubblyBarbara

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!

Hmm. SIL went in for a routine op and was given a GA. She reacted badly and almost died. Was in intensive care for a week. I'm not saying this is the norm but GA definitely carries more risks than a LA (and I ended up in the high dependency unit after a spinal).

I’ve had one hysteroscopy by general and the next one with just OTC painkillers and breathing exercises. The second was fine, but I had a very skilled consultant and because I’d had the one by general fairly recently, it probably made it easier.

In your position I’d ask for a general.

I had a spinal with mine a couple of months ago. It was good apart from the spinal didn’t wear off for four hours but better than being in pain. Anaesthetist said due to covid they now prefer to do spinals rather than GA.

this is a US research article on the benefits of local (regional) anaesthetic rather than general in relationship to covid.

I think there's a UK study on a similar theme.

I had a hysteroscopy and GA in the summer - there wasn’t an option for a LA.
As others have said, speak to the consultant again about a general - you’ll need a few days to recover from it (anaesthetic stays in your body for up to 2 weeks after a procedure). Alternatively, a sedation and local may be an option so you won’t know what’s going on. I’ve had various fertility procedures with sedation and it’s quicker to recover from than a GA. You ultimately have to feel comfortable with the procedure though so really important to speak to them about your concerns. Good luck.

I work on theatres and would definitely recommend asking for a general, the patients who come in for this procedure under local don’t tolerate it well, let alone under your circumstances. Please push for what makes you most comfortable xx

YANBU at all. Given your previous trauma, I can absolutely understand that you want a GA and you should definitely push for one.

Can you speak to PALS at the hospital and ask them for support in speaking with the consultant? Or can a trusted friend/relative speak to them with you? Sometimes, when we are anxious about something it's hard to get our point across so having someone else there might help.

Either way, don't let them railroad you into something you don't want

Insist on a GA. It’s about your comfort and care.

www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/

I had a horrible experience having a hysteroscopy without any pain relief and had been told I had to go into the outpatients and find it difficult before they would offer it under general. I went through with it and it was horrific. When I had to have another, 18 months later, I explained to the consultant how horrible I’d found it and he said it would be fine to have it under general anaesthetic. The wait was a bit longer, maybe four weeks. This was in November. In your circumstance I would insist on having a ga.
There’s a campaign group against painful hysteroscopy.
www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/

Same happened to me.

Not quite the same but dh had bad experiences with dentists and was traumatised. He needed an extraction which they did under sedation and came out afterwards in good spirits. He thought the procedure was fantastic as he didn't remember a thing.

To operate with general anaesthetic you need a full operating theatre, staffed accordingly plus recovery area. These are currently being used in many hospitals to look after covid patients and those staff have been redeployed. Under local it's done in clinic and requires only the dr plus one nurse. Under normal circumstances asking in specific circumstances to have a GA is reasonable but with surgeries being highly restricted, using the precious operating theatre time for something that can be done under local is not. Ask if you can have sedation and bring a friend, ive had it done under local myself.

In the day clinic I was told they could offer me no pain relief and that local wasn’t an option. I had taken nurofen but that did nothing against the pain. They said I could have my husband with me, but what help is that?! For many woman, myself included, the procedure is very painful. They took a biopsy. I found the whole experience really traumatic.

@movingonup20 you can't take a friend with you because of covid.

Because of covid I had no one with me. Looking back, I think there was a nurse meant to fulfil that role but she spent the whole time looking embarassed and pretty horrified, tbh.

Sorry op, I am sure this thread isn't helping you. Don't get railroaded into something you are not comfortable with.

There's a Twitter group about this. IIRC it's called Hysteroscopy Action.

Tbh I never mind a short GA. It's like a power nap. I had sedation for a colonoscopy and felt groggier.

I know thanks, Meg

No fucking way would I have this under local - same goes for D&Cs and all the other traumatic procedures women have been expected to endure under local in the name of covid. Women's health is always the first to be sacrificed for the greater good. Fuck that. You stick to your guns OP, it's your body and you don't have to consent to something you're not happy with just because someone in a white coat says you'll be OK. They don't have to live with the consequences.