To ask for hysterscopy with local anaesthetic

[Summertimewish]

My consultant is amazing but I struggle with smears and she says I need a GA for a hysterscopy.
I’m really panicking about a GA, I’ve never had one before and it’s much more of a risk than a local anaesthetic.
Do you think I could ask for local anaesthetic and also take painkillers. So far she is refusing but I’m seriously panicking about a GA.
Also, does a local anaesthetic for this procedure mean a spinal or is it literally a local anaesthetic near the site?
Thanks

A GA is quick and simple and safe. I doubt they would do a spinal for such a quick and simple op. Local anaesthetic wouldn't cut it or may be hit and miss, waking sedation may be an option in the middle so maybe ask about it?

Honestly go for the GA version if you struggle with smears as the local anaesthetic will only work in a small area at the cervix, and won't help, neither will the painkillers.

I tried having this done awake...a week later i was in the day surgery unit having it done under GA. my consultant apologised when he realised it was me he had sent for the awake version as he's knew I wouldn't be able to cope with it.

So if your consultant says you need it done under the GA route then honestly i'd choose that option.

Your only under for a very short time and you'll most likely feel fine by the time you're ready to be picked up to go home.

Trying to have this done while I was awake was absolutely brutal.

good luck.

Boiled x

I have had two, one under GA and one LA. Im sure I will need a third at some point! And would opt for local, quicker, less waiting around and If needed I can drive myself.

The consultant tried do to it without anything and I think because I haven't had children and I have a tilted uterus he couldn't. He said I have to come back and have GA and I really begged him to keep trying even though he seemed reluctant.

He finally managed and took a biopsy and I was relieved not to have to go back.

If he had just done the local anaesthetic in the first place it would have been so much easier and quicker. he seemed annoyed with me because I obviously took up 3 appointment slots.

I had a GA for mine, there weren’t any other options given. I was anxious too but it was great and it’s very fast. Go for the GA, I found I was back to myself again much faster than the time I was sedated.

How do you struggle with smears? Do you find them difficult to tolerate, painful or do they make you very anxious? I think if the answer to any of these questions is yes then you may be better with a GA.

I had a hysteroscopy under local some years ago and it was fine, they inject the cervix with local anesthetic. I'm not sure I would have opted for local if I struggled with smears.

I chose local because I was anxious about having a GA but then I had to have a GA for something else a few years later and that was also fine.

Thanks so far- the thought of a GA fills me with dread as I haven’t had one before.
The consultant says she will have to open the speculum fully and this is where I struggle with smears.
But I would rather she tries with local anaesthetic first. I’m just so worried about a GA.

Hopefully local anaesthetic would numb the area for the time I’m having this done?

GA is amazing. I had my first one for hystroscopy. It's like the best sleep of your life.

I couldn't have coped with a local for it.

If you struggle with smears a GA is lesser of the two evils in my view. Don't overthink it!

I fucking love a GA. It's the best thing ever!

Have the GA. If you struggle with the speculum being opened a lot a local cervical block would be pointless as the speculum would have to be opened to be able to administer the cervical injection. The local would also not help with any pain not just coming from the cervix ie uterine cramping and pain from biopsies.

I had a hysteroscopy and biopsy and wasn't offered any sort of anaesthesia. I had it without plus a mirena and the only part that hurt was the biopsy.

I've had one without anaesthetic (I don't remember a cervical block) and it is more uncomfortable than a smear (and if it's opening the speculum you have an issue with in order for them to inject the cervix the speculum needs to be open for them to do the local anaesthetic)

Personally by the time they had put in a lot of the fluid it was uncomfortable but it was ok - but from what you say I don't think you'd get to that part

A GA is an amazing relaxing feeling. I’ve had many, the first one I was scared but you’re in very safe hands.

I have had a hysteroscopy under GA and also with a local. There is anaesthesia used with the local, but as my consultant said, even with this some women will still feel pain. I definitely did - I found it a pretty painful, unpleasant procedure. I did tolerate it, but there is no way of knowing in advance if you are someone who will find it painful or not. The consultant said about one in ten women can't tolerate a hysteroscopy under local and will then be offered one under GA. Good luck with how you proceed - I was v nervous about GA but honestly it wasn't that bad.

I've not had one, but am curious if an epidural would work for pain free hysteroscopy? And if not why not!

Thanks so far- the thought of a GA fills me with dread as I haven’t had one before.

So have one and then you'll know that it's fine and nothing to dread in future. Rather than feeding your fears by casting around for impractical/ineffective alternatives against medical advice, better to look into and use techniques to deal with your anxiety to get you through this and out the other side safe and well. Objectively you must know that GA are safe and thousands have it everyday, so this isn't about the GA but about your anxiety. Deal with that first and foremost, have the GA and it'll cease to be this unknown to be dreaded.