AIBU to feel traumatised?

[cattypussclaw]

So yesterday I had a hysteroscopy. It was very very painful. I cried, I nearly threw up and I passed out at one point. They asked if I wanted them to stop but all I could think was that they'd only want to do this to me again and I couldn't face that. In fact, no medical person is carrying out any procedure on me again unless I am out cold.

I was told it would be particularly painful for me as I haven't given birth (one child, non-elective c-section) so my cervix is very tight. I asked why no anaesthetic and the gynaecologist's reply was "Because you're a woman, no man would tolerate this".

I'm usually OK with medical procedures. I'm in the "just get it over with" camp and have no problem with needles and - I thought - a pretty high pain threshold.

It was the most unpleasant and agonising experience of my life and I honestly feel a bit traumatised. AIBU to think that no woman should be expected to go through this? Or am I just a wuss as I haven't been through the pain of childbirth?

YANBU OP.

When I was in labour they wanted to check my waters - even though I KNEW they had all gone, they insisted.

They used some kind of needle try to burst the sack (which was already gone!) and it was the most painful and traumatic experience of my life. Far worse than actually pushing my massive baby out!!!

I cried after, my DP came back in the room and I just sobbed into him. I did feel exactly as you say, traumatised.

You are not being soft or dramatic or anything like that. We are subjected to so much medical brutality because it’s deemed insignificant “women’s” issues

That’s really shocking, I had a hysteroscopy a few years ago and I was just told that I would be given general anaesthetic so I assumed that was the norm.

@sadpapercourtesan

ShirleyPhallus I know that moment of pure transcendental agony you're talking about! When I was failing to progress the last couple of cm, a male consultant strode into the room, didn't even make eye contact with me, shoved his hand up there and basically tore me, then said "now she can push", then strode out again. It was a moment I've never been able to describe, like the whole world turned to ice for a couple of seconds. I get flashbacks to it.

That’s exactly it @sadpapercourtesan, I’m so sorry you’ve experienced it

As a separate point, the term “failure to progress” is hideous and should be consigned to the bin. Why do we have these terms that make it sound like our bodies are failing somehow?

I think there's a belief that because women survive the excruciating pain of childbirth we all have a superhuman ability to tolerate all other pain and invasive procedures in that area. I hope your results are OK, OP.

Is there a petition we can sign?

I’m sorry you had to go through that OP.

I haven’t heard of that procedure but it sounds horrible. I’ve had two coil fittings and removals. One worse than the other. I’ve had a colonoscopy before which was done under sedation! It does seem like only women’s specific procedures pain management doesn’t matter.

Currently pregnant but actually going to ask to get my tubes tied if I have a c section, as I can’t stand
the thought of putting myself through another coil fitting.

No you’re absolutely not being unreasonable and reading your OP took me back to mine in 2019. It was barbaric. No pain relief, no warning of what was to come. I felt utterly traumatised for a while and I really wish I had complained, please do consider complaining.

Hope you’re feeling better soon x

I had a procedure on my cervix many many years ago to get rid of pre cancerous cells. It was really painful. I asked the gynaecologist why I wasn’t being given an anaesthetic and he said I didn’t need one. Two nurses held my hands and I promptly vomited all over him! Served him right. I remember he also asked could his son watch because he was wanting to go into gynaecology . He looked about 16. I obviously said that yes I did mind very much. This was at Trafford general in the early 90’s.

I had a hysteroscopy and coil fitted about 10 years ago and was given the option of a local or general anaesthetic. I opted for local and whilst it wasn't a completely comfortable experience it was nothing like the horrific experiences detailed here. There was never any suggestion it would be done without any anaesthetic so I am shocked to hear this procedure is done without. It's absolutely barbaric and I'm so sorry for all of you that have endured this, I'm not the least bit surprised you are traumatised.

This is taken from the Hysteroscopy Action homepage:-

Dr Jonathan Lord helpfully suggesting that we need to find out if the bad stories we hear are just ‘rare occurrences’ or the absence of ‘best practice’.

It makes me furious that we need to gather data to prove what is obvious, absence of best practice my arse, unless of course you think not giving a shit about women's pain is a professional development issue.

This is awful! I had a hysteroscopy last year under GA. I could not have done it otherwise. I’m so sorry this happened to you and you’re not at all unreasonable to feel traumatised.

I’m so sorry for you. What a huge trauma. I find this really chilling. I can relate a little - I had an ECV to turn DS1 when I was 38 weeks pregnant, and it was absolutely awful. I was told that it might be uncomfortable, but it was hugely physical, the consultant had one leg on the bed with me to get traction and it went on for ages. I was so sorry that if agreed to it but didn’t feel that I could stop it mid way through. I couldn’t speak and cried and cried.

Ended up with an emergency CS after a four day labour, three weeks later, so the whole thing was pointless.

I've had 3 children born vaginally. Last 2 children I laboured without pain relief. I had a smear test after the 1st 2 were born and it was excruciating. I was wincing, wriggling and close to tears while the nurse was ferreting about. I remember her saying to me after - 'It says on your notes that you've given birth naturally 2 times, so I really can't understand why that was so painful for you.'

Idiot nurse. I'm not a machine. Not my fault she was shit at taking smears. Don't really remember saying anything back to her while I'm usually v self assertive. We are put in these medical situations and you don't act like yourself when expected to 'behave'.

I live in Australia and I had this procedure done 3 years ago. I remember asking the consultant if I would be anaesthetised for it. He looked horrified and said 'of course you will be!' He was surprised I asked. I was glad I was asleep as I dont have a high pain threshold.

But I have heard that it can be bloody painful if it's done when you are awake and that a few places in the UK do the procedure without anaesthetic. I believe we should be given the choice.

I remember showing up to a urology appointment thinking it was just a conversation, and finding the room set up to do a cystoscopy without a general anaesthetic. I had previously had them done before under a general. One of my presenting problems was excruciating urethral and bladder pain on a daily basis yet they expected me to lie there awake and allow them to put a camera into my bladder? I refused obviously.

Absolutely appalling. It really angers me that not everyone feels able to say no, to demand pain relief, or to walk out. So many women being put through excruciating examinations and procedures.

This is awful OP. I had a few hysteroscopies 20+ years ago and was given GA each time as a matter of course. I'm horrified that this is no longer required

Sympathy OP. If it was anything like my sweep then it was agony.

(sweep is where a midwife pushes her finger/s up through your cervix and sort of rubs it round. designed to bring labour on if you're late)

Only had it done once. AGONY. Teeth grinding, trying not to scram, white knuckled agony.

OP you are definitely not unreasonable.
I have had this done twice in clinic, both times a woman doctor. The first was agony but the doctor talked to me throughout and was very quick. The second one was training a colleague and I wasn’t even given a pad. I remember bleeding and being in tears at the bus stop outside.

It is a vile practice and I am glad to see there is a campaign against it without proper pain relief. It just shows how conditioned we are to expect to be treated like shit. I thought about complaining about the second one, but preferred not to think about it again.

Avoid the Hammersmith Hospital!

Op I had one 10 years ago whilst under fertility investigation. I was not prepared for the procedure and it was so distressing. I thought my abdomen was going to explode! It was actually worse than childbirth ime. I left the hospital shaking and in tears.

Oh you poor thing. No YANBU

I had a uterine polyp removed. I'd had a cervical one before which was no problems and so didn't really listen to my pain relief options when the doctor was talking me through them. Uterine - whole different level of pain. I suddenly remembered what intense labour pains are really like. The doctor stopped and said "remember I offered gas and air? I think you should take it". That was brilliant and I am shocked it isn't offered to everyone having this procedure. I'm doubly shocked by the expectation that women don't need pain relief in the way that a man would because we are more used to pain???

It's just occurred to me that I should let everyone know where I had this done. Maybe other NHS trusts offer anaesthesia as standard and I don't want to frighten women unnecessarily. Just be extra careful if you live under the auspices of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and are scheduled a hysteroscopy at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Oh my goodness, how horrendous! I was put under when I had mine. (But they didn’t take me seriously about how long I would take to come round so they hadn’t expected I’d need to stay in overnight. Had a fabulous room to myself with a private bathroom etc in the end - assume it was a private one!!)

I had this procedure done 22 yrs ago with no pain relief, I also cried and felt sick, the surgeon said if I didn't stop crying he would give me a general at a later date, like you I just wanted it over. He also tried to make me watch it on screen and gave me a photograph after, wasn't that kind of him!

No way! they should be offering anaesthesia.

Yanbu. Im not in the UK anymore but still read up alot on here. I had a hysteroscopy and read a few threads here and was horrified that no anaesthetic is usually given. I went back to my gynae immediately and he said that absolutely no way would they ever do it without! Sorry you had that experience that op.

I feel so sorry for you, reading these replies makes me want to cry. It's inhumane that they just expect women to go through these procedures and just be okay.

A few years ago I had a colposcopy sold as being just like a smear. They asked me if a doctor could do it who was already a doctor but was training to carry out colposcopys, I agreed as I thought it would be under the eye of the consultant. The consultant left the room after 10 minutes and I was watching it on a screen, the doctor who was practicing said 'oh, it's bleeding quite a lot and I'm not sure quite what to do here so I'll just wait for the consultant to come back in'. I could see the blood on the screen?! 30 minutes later I was still waiting and started crying as i just wanted the metal dilator thing out of me. The consultant came back in and finished the procedure, it took around an hour total. There were no apologies and I still feel a little traumatised about it today when I think about it.