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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think hysteroscopy will be fine?

46 replies

fl1pfl0p87 · 16/04/2022 22:33

I’ve got to have a hysteroscopy and polypectomy. I’ve done a lot of googling and found no end of horror stories. AIBU to think it will be okay without a general anaesthetic?

I’ve had multiple colposcopies, a sonohysterogram and a HyCoSy and although I wouldn’t choose to have any of them done on a regular basis I managed to get through them without too much of an issue.

Is a hysteroscopy significantly worse?

Thanks

OP posts:
Thetoasterhasbroken · 16/04/2022 22:41

I have had 5 hysteroscopies (a HyCoSy too) and had polyps removed during each one. Last week I had an endometrial ablation which involved another hysteroscopy. I have been awake for every one and they are honestly nowhere near as bad as the horror stories you read online (I’m a sucker for going online before procedures and scaring myself stupid). I suffer from awful anxiety and I got through every one just fine. You will be fine.

iolaus · 16/04/2022 22:42

I had one without anything it was fine - a little uncomfortable more like period cramps and kept leaking fluid afterwards (they put water in to help them look)

Not had any of the procedures you mentioned so can't really compared

FloraPostePosts · 16/04/2022 22:45

@iolaus

I had one without anything it was fine - a little uncomfortable more like period cramps and kept leaking fluid afterwards (they put water in to help them look)

Not had any of the procedures you mentioned so can't really compared

This was my experience, too - I took paracetamol beforehand, and found myself leaking afterwards, but not enough to stop me going into b&q on the way home to get some paint.
Purplepeoniesdroppingpetals · 16/04/2022 22:48

I had one two weeks ago - was absolutely shitting it and told them I was v nervous. The consultant and nurses were so reassuring, chatted to me and whilst it wasn’t may fave thing to do, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought. Appreciate it isnt as straightforward for some women, but it would have been total overkill for me to have a GA or anything more than paracetamol to be honest.

MiniMaxi · 16/04/2022 22:55

I had one with a local as really didn’t want a GA. It was fine! A bit uncomfortable, and I had about 20 mins of severe cramping afterwards, but otherwise ok.

TomAllenWife · 16/04/2022 22:58

Always with a GA - ALWAYS

no fucker gets a medal for being in agony or 'brave'
Sod that just give me the drugs

JamieDornansBiatch · 16/04/2022 22:58

I had one in January & like you, had read all of the horror stories. I've never had a natural delivery & had heard this can make it even more painful. I have to say whilst uncomfortable, it was fine & over in no time. I had paracetamol & ibuprofen beforehand - my best advice is not to Google it!

Cryalot2 · 16/04/2022 23:02

I have had a few , staff were wonderful and the ceiling had pictures and I was told there was something different about one.
I was fine and very glad to have all sorted

mrsmacmc · 16/04/2022 23:02

@TomAllenWife agree 100% with you ❤️

WouldBeGood · 16/04/2022 23:05

Absolutely fine @fl1pfl0p87.

I had one, then an ablation, both with no GA, totally fine

Whatsmyname100 · 16/04/2022 23:09

@TomAllenWife

Always with a GA - ALWAYS

no fucker gets a medal for being in agony or 'brave'
Sod that just give me the drugs

This!! I had one, not in the UK. I'm fact, I'm horrified that here it's not done under GA. It should be! You should definitely push for this. Please don't read a few stories how 'uncomfortable' it is, it's more than that.
Generalise · 16/04/2022 23:17

I’m waiting to have my 3rd and it will be under general. The first I was completely ignorant about the whole procedure and they just did it under general as I was having several things done. After that, and reading more about it, I decided when blokes start having a prostate biopsy with some aspirin I’ll give it some further consideration. General is just a bit more hassle having a pre op but otherwise it’s straightforward. Last time I consented to a student having some practise which if I’d been awake would not have happened. Each to their own but I do believe it is important women remember that the RCOG guidance says they have the choice.

Generalise · 17/04/2022 08:15

Also to add I do think the NHS tends to not offer the GA approach if it can from a cost cutting point of view rather than a patient well being. One of mine I just had to say at the appointment that was my preference as clearly she was never going to offer it.

WouldBeGood · 17/04/2022 08:29

I actually wanted mine without GA for various reasons, so it was fine for me, but yes,,each to their own. I had a really good gynaecologist though.

bailey999 · 17/04/2022 08:42

Wow I had mine done under a GA, in fact I asked the consultant if it was really necessary and she said it was so I didn't realise it was ever done without.

Mine was done through the NHS but at a private hospital, I wonder if it would have been different had it been done in an NHS hospital? If so, I think that is disgusting

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/04/2022 08:44

I had one and found it horribly traumatic. Just awful. Never without a GA

NeedleNoodle3 · 17/04/2022 08:44

I’ve had two with GA.

MrsSkylerWhite · 17/04/2022 08:45

Seems to vary wildly, individual to individual. I was fine with all of mine and biopsy/polyp removal. Took paracetamol and codeine an hour before procedure and felt some discomfort, no pain.

dozydaisy · 17/04/2022 08:46

I had this done a few months ago, i had caesarean sections not vaginal births. It was bloody horrific plus i was past menopause which is another no no without GA. It looked like a bloodbath ! They failed.
Was booked in to have GA in december and it was over in minutes and without the trauma !
Women should not have to go through this without at least sedation
There is a lot online about this.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 17/04/2022 08:49

Hysteroscopy with GA is a feminist issue l believe.

aprilsunshine777 · 17/04/2022 08:50

I've had a hysteroscopy and they removed two tiny polyps. I have a very low pain threshold. It felt like a lot of pressure like I really needed a wee because they put water in, so it was uncomfortable. I had gas and air when I had mine!

Roselilly36 · 17/04/2022 08:53

I found that procedure ok, cystoscopy caused me far more pain for about three days after.

SimpleShootingWeekend · 17/04/2022 08:56

I had without GA and was fine. I had an endometrial ablation with codiene, ibuprofen and paracetamol before and gas and air during and it was fine. I’ve had 3 vaginal births and I think that makes a huge difference. I don’t think it’s “brave” to not have a GA, I think a GA is not without its own problems and given the choice I’d rather avoid if possible. The problem is, lots of people do find them incredibly difficult and I’m not sure if you can tell if you are one of those who will until it’s too late. Maybe judge it on how you are with smears and if you’ve had a coil and a vaginal birth. Anecdotally I think women who’ve had a vaginal birth find it easier.

Floydthebarber · 17/04/2022 08:56

I had one a few years ago, they removed a little bit of scar tissue from my uterus. I was so, so scared but it was ok. Moments of slight pain but mostly uncomfortable. This was about 8 months after having dd1 so I expect it would have been different pre-dc when my cervix would have been narrower? But this is only a guess. I hate GA personally (feel very ill after) but would like the option of it to be discussed more often for 'womens procedures'.

Cauliflowersqueeze · 17/04/2022 09:00

Oh my god. GA always.
And afterwards I needed more than a Panadol as well!

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