To think hysteroscopy will be fine?

[fl1pfl0p87]

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

Mine was fine too. Not nice but uncomfortable rather than painful, there was quite a lot of faffing about too I think because of a previous operation and getting my womb to open up. I read that about 75% of women experience them similarly to how I did, with 25% finding them painful - I decided I'd give it a go and stop it if it was painful and request a GA. I didn't want the risks - after effects of the GA if I didn't need it. Good luck!

Had it without any offer of pain relief. Told to take ibuprofen an hour before.
I did okay initially but had to ask them to stop before a polyp was removed.
I'd managed cervical polyp removal previously. It felt like a job badly done / left undone for the sake of not using GA.
I did think the second time was done by a less skilled person tbh.

I think gas and air would have got me through to the end.

I had this procedure last year and did little research so didn’t really know what to expect when I got there, I stupidly drove myself to the appointment thinking all would be fine.

When the nurse explained the procedure and mentioned local anaesthetic I started to panic, the only time I have experienced LA down there was after a traumatic birth with dd1 and it was awful, the nurse calmed me down and explained that “I wouldn’t really feel the needle and it’s best to have it as it will make to procedure more comfortable”, so I agreed and went ahead. All was ok, it was a little uncomfortable at times but the doctor and nurses were lovely. I was a little shaken afterwards (which is why I should not have driven) and bled a little. I made my way to McDonald’s for a coffee before feeling well enough to drive home. It wasn’t nice but wasn’t awful either.

I asked about local anaesthetic and they said oh we don't do that like it was a preposterous idea! (Even though I'd picked up on that from their own leaflet..)

Hi OP, I had one with a local in January and the most painful bit was the administration of the local! I was terrified which definitely didnt help, but past the 'pinch' (make of that what you will lol) in my cervix it was fine. Genuinely felt nothing else during. I was very lightheaded (to the point where I was seeing stars and couldnt hear properly) but that was because I'd worked myself up so much. The nurses and doctor were very kind and genuinely would have stopped at any point (gas and air was also available). The fluid leaking out as you waddle back to put your pants on was the worst bit for me 🤣 I had some cramping after the local wore off took paracetamol and ibuprofen at appropriate intervals and was fine by the next morning x x x

I had one last year, no GA by my choice. I told the consultant that did the procedure that I may well yell all the way through it (I fine even smears very difficult to tolerate) but that he should not stop unless the thing I was yelling was "stop".

I did yell! And have some very odd conversations with the nurses who were doing their best to distract me, and it was all fine. The consultant was so pleased when he got the polyp that he showed it to me!

They should ask you beforehand - as they did me - whether you are OK with a male doctor or would prefer a woman. That time I was OK with a man, but other procedures I have asked for a woman. Don't be shy of stating exactly what you want and need, if you want only women in the room.

I’m having one shortly under GA. There’s been no suggestion of doing it any other way and I’m totally fine with that having also recently had a biopsy with LA which was horrific.

I've had a hysteroscopy without any pain relief or sedation, and I'm a huge wuss (can't deal with an gastroscopy without sedation at all). It was honestly fine for me. The anxiety beforehand was the worst bit for me by far.

I assume other people might feel things differently, so I'm not trying to make a blanket statement, though.

There's a in-between option which is conscious sedation. You don't have to have a breathing tube and far fewer complications than GA but you're still out for the count. That was how I had mine done. I hate GA.

Also, sadly my first without sedation failed as I was sick

@archeryannie I felt quite sorry for the nurse who's job it was to keep me talking. I was a state. My finest moments were asking if I could just close my eyes and listen to her talk (no) and not being able to coherently answer her 'are you married?' 'yes' 'how long?' 'I dont know...I cant work it out right now' 🙈 and 'where did you go on honeymoon?' 'I fant remember, but it was warm and there was food' 🤣

My mum had one. She said it was fine. We went straight out for coffee afterwards. Though I think she's fairly hardcore!

beckyCarlos 😆😄

The conversation with mine was about language differences between Welsh speakers in North Wales and in South Wales. Neither of us were Welsh and the only thing I can say in Welsh is "I am a dragon". (I do not know if there are regional differences when declaring oneself a dragon.)

Had one without - had to stop the procedure. Had two with anaesthetics.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Hysteroscopy with GA is a feminist issue l believe.

Sorry - why?

Always with a GA, always!

I mean without!!!

Because it’s dismissed as non painful, and as it’s only performed on women it doesn’t matter what they feel. But there’s been a sustained push for GA default, and request to opt out rather than the other way.

GA is so safe nowadays. What are the complications that people are referring to?

When I had my two with GA I was awake and eating a sandwich by 11am.

I am overweight and get white coat high Bo so it was a fanny to get approved for a GA. I’m also a single parent so the (then) self isolating and out all day etc was a problem.

Nipped in, none of the above, out in half an hour, drove home. Massive difference