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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I too sensitive? Fainted after biopsy

34 replies

Hopebrown · 15/04/2023 09:16

So, I went to a long awaited gynaecology appointment over my heavy bleeding and anaemia. The doctor agreed that the best course of action would be an ablation and so started to get the ball rolling with it.
He said that I would need a biopsy beforehand and said I could either come back or have it there and then. I said to do it now whilst I was there.
Never had one before, found it extremely painful, was told to lie down for a few minutes afterwards as i would feel a little funny.
After a few mins I said I felt fine and asked to get up, I did so and started putting my trousers on, and suddenly everything went black and I woke back on the bed with a student nurse talking to me. I fainted.
Never fainted in my life.
Told me to stay lay down for a few mins got me water etc. 2 more nurses came in, one with a blood pressure monitor and another, I dont know why he came in. He took one look at my face, and said 'oh your face is the same colour as the walls' and walked back out saying 'if she's after sympathy she wont get it here!'
Now, im 90% sure he was having a joke.
But I just remember trying to leave as quick as I could feeling embarrassed and upset. Apologised to the doctor for delaying his next appointment (i heard that the lady next was informed what had happened) and I went.
Now im waiting my ablation, I'm dreading this nurse being there, I just felt really vulnerable at the time and like I said it was probably to try and lighten the situation but it made me feel worse.
Happy to be told IABU
And no I am not thinking of complaining or anything for what its worth. I just wanted to know if Im being too sensitive, hoping I am. X

OP posts:
GettingThereCharleyBear · 15/04/2023 09:18

That was really shit of him but I’d try not to overthink it. I’ve fainted a few times in medical situations - it’s not something I have any control over 🤷‍♀️

ChateauMargaux · 15/04/2023 09:19

The nurse was totally inappropriate. You should report his behaviour and if he is present at your next appointment, as for a different nurse.

AgrathaChristie · 15/04/2023 09:20

Don’t be embarrassed. It happens a lot. You lay down, your blood pressure dropped then you stood up and started to dress, it probably didn’t have time to regulate.
I used to faint regularly when I got out of the dentists chair, relative fainted the day after giving birth (3 times) Said she only had to think about what had gone on and she went out like a light.

Emmamoo89 · 15/04/2023 09:22

I would report him. X

PartingGift · 15/04/2023 09:22

Complain. Complain. Complain!!

I am so so sorry that that happened to you. What a dick!!

I am a nurse am incensed reading this!

Please complain to PALS. If he is actually a nurse, I'd be tempted to also complain to the NMC (the body that is meant to regulate nurses).

And no, you were not being sensitive. Having a biopsy from there is fucking horrible and painful, and patients/visitors faint all the time all over the hospital. And when it happens, they should expect to wake up to reassurance, compassion and care, not some knobhead!!!

Nimblesandbimbles · 15/04/2023 09:23

I’ve had a similar biopsy & it can be really painful & also you feel very vulnerable. When I had it done there was just a female nurse present as a chaperone & she & the doctor were very sensitive. I would feed this back to the hospital as it was very insensitive of that nurse to make a joke about this & unprofessional too.

JustDanceAddict · 15/04/2023 09:26

Is this an endometrial biopsy? If so they’re really painful and it’s v common to faint due to pain (I’ve fainted after banging my elbow!). The nurse who made a joke is out of order, otherwise they dealt with it fine, I should imagine you’re not the only one to have done that!

DilemmaDelilah · 15/04/2023 09:28

I thought your post was about fainting after your biopsy, in which case I would have said that it is a physiological reaction and nothing to do with being sensitive.
However I see it is actually about your being offended by the nurse's reaction when you did. I understand your being offended, I do actually think you are a bit over sensitive about the matter as you were actually being looked after and I am sure that the nurse looking after you probably had a word with the other one afterwards. They wouldn't have done it when you were there. When it comes down to it nurses are people not saints.

PartingGift · 15/04/2023 09:30

Now im waiting my ablation, I'm dreading this nurse being there, I just felt really vulnerable at the time and like I said it was probably to try and lighten the situation but it made me feel worse.
Happy to be told IABU

And no I am not thinking of complaining or anything for what its worth. I just wanted to know if Im being too sensitive, hoping I am. X

Sorry OP, I was too incensed when I read it that I didn't take it this bit. What is putting you off complaining?

I hate that you are dreading going back because of that nurse. He should not be working in an area like this with that attitude, even if he was "joking". It's not his job to make sarcastic jokes, he's meant to make patients feel better, not worse.

worriedgasper · 15/04/2023 09:39

Jesus - that's awful. I've had the same but worse. Google Vasovagal reaction. I started sweating profusely after the same procedure and my blood pressure dropped and I thought I was going to throw up and pass out. Had oxygen and drip until I recovered. It was awful. They know this happens to some people which is why they don't bloody tell you first!

worriedgasper · 15/04/2023 09:41

And no that nurse shouldn't have said anything like that. Completely inappropriate in the context of his job. And also sex!

Plingston · 15/04/2023 10:24

I think you'd be well within your rights to complain. Whether he was joking or not, he has made the patient feel uncomfortable and not want to receive further care. He should know that that is the impact his words can have so he can make sure he doesn't do it in the future. I am prone to fainting and do find it quite embarrassing so I often make jokes about it so I don't feel like such an idiot. I recently fainted after a biopsy too, from a different area, but you are not alone!

Monkeymonkeymoo · 15/04/2023 10:34

Fainting after gynecological procedures is really common (vasovagal syncope often happens- I was warned about it when I had my coil inserted and asked to lie down for a few minutes afterwards). It’s a reflex and has nothing to do with how tough you are.

It’s also not unusual to faint after a procedure if you have anaemia, low blood pressure or low blood glucose (I’ve fainted after a small blood test despite being totally fine after donating blood in the past and after my c-sections).

The nurse’s comments weren’t really appropriate (I imagine they see it so frequently that he thought it was just a harmless joke and didn’t realize how vulnerable you were feeling). You could contact the senior nurse, your gynecologist or PALs with feedback (they’ll have a chat with him about what’s appropriate to say to a patient). But there’s nothing wrong with your reaction- it’s a totally normal physiological response.

DeathBy1000PipeCleaners · 15/04/2023 10:55

So sorry this happened to you! It's not just you: I fainted after a cervical polyp removal (and I don't usually faint either) but unlike you I had kind nurses. I would have been really upset by that male nurse's comment.

Original poster
Hopebrown · 15/04/2023 16:15

Thanks for all your replies.
Been out all day with kids so just catching up with them now.
Yes was a endometrial biopsy for the PP who asked.
Glad it isn't just me that its happened to!! The lovely nurse who was present when I had the biopsy and fainted said it was a common thing to happen but I didn't know if she just said that to make me feel better at the time as I was so embarrassed and constantly apologising.
The doctor told me it was similar to a smear and I have always been fine with my smears so didn't realise how painful I would find it.
I didn't want to complain as I wasn't sure if I was just over reacting/ sensitive.
I'm early 30's and he was quite alot older so I wasn't sure if it was just a difference in humour if that makes sense.

I feel better tho so thank you, hopefully I wont encounter him again X

OP posts:
ArianahX · 15/04/2023 17:46

He sounds like a right knob OP! I would complain.
I'm an HCA and on my ward patients faint or feel faint quite often due to low blood pressure after procedures.

I would never be so offhand and unsympathetic to a patient- fainting is not exactly pleasant & gynae procedures make many women feel at their most vulnerable so he should have understood that - or he shouldn't be working in that department!

defi · 15/04/2023 17:48

Wow they're in the wrong job. They've basically removed tissue, it's very painful.

Miscellaneousme · 15/04/2023 18:22

This makes me so cross. Another painful procedure women are just supposed to tolerate. Did they offer you any pain relief?

Wonder how a man would react to a biopsy of inside their penis.

crumpet · 15/04/2023 18:26

I think he was just trying to lighten the mood/make you smile. He’d already acknowledged that you were unwell, by commenting on how pale you were. It wasn’t as if he was saying you were making it up!

2023Hope · 15/04/2023 18:51

Miscellaneousme · 15/04/2023 18:22

This makes me so cross. Another painful procedure women are just supposed to tolerate. Did they offer you any pain relief?

Wonder how a man would react to a biopsy of inside their penis.

How true!

Americano75 · 15/04/2023 18:54

Fucking right I'd complain, he's got no business being near female patients with that attitude. Prick.

Original poster
Hopebrown · 15/04/2023 20:29

@Miscellaneousme

Nope, no pain relief offered before or after, and very true!!

OP posts:
N0tfinished · 15/04/2023 20:57

God I had that done too. It was so painful and really unsettling. Usual medical misogyny that we're not offered pain relief or sedation for procedures like this, and in your case, ridiculed for having a very normal reaction! Please don't feel embarrassed OP. Mine was done by a female doc and female nurse and they were very gentle and sympathetic. I was advised to take my time standing etc. Flowers

northernnurse · 15/04/2023 21:09

Look up hysteroscopy action on twitter (there's also previous threads on here) about women having this procedure in outpatients with either no pain relief or being told to take paracetamol beforehand or being told 'it's just like a smear' when for some women it is excruciatingly painful. It happened to me like you at an appointment for heavy periods, not told that any kind of procedure might happen, just suggested a biopsy there and then (so no informed consent) as I had no problems with smears. I went ahead, it was horrific, and they had to stop. I went home and read all about it then went back and insisted on a general anaesthetic, which I had, it's shocking what women are expected to put up with

northernnurse · 15/04/2023 21:10

And to add, that nurses attitude was disgusting, please complain. We women put up with enough