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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WWYD, general or local

15 replies

smileannie · 29/08/2023 21:02

I need to have a Hysteroscopy as soon as possible. Fortunately I have health insurance from my employers and insurers are happy to cover cost of either general or local.
Consultant said that she would expect the procedure to take no more than 40 mins max and no overnight stay is required even with general.

Common sense tells me not to put my body through a general if I can do without. However, I’m worried that I am going to be so tense and anxious that it’s going to be extremely uncomfortable and painful due to feeling like this and with a general it will all be over and done with and I won’t have to spend the days beforehand worrying how I’ll cope.

I felt the same about the preliminary internal procedure and the practitioner was so great that I honestly didn’t feel any physical discomfort at all. The consultant did say that the hysteroscopy was up a few levels from that.
I think I have a pretty average high pain threshold generally.

Has anyone got any advice or opinions please. I’d like to call the hospital to arrange as soon as I can.
thanks

OP posts:
HTmmm · 29/08/2023 21:05

I've never known anyone to have it with a general. I have known of taking Diazepam or gas and air for those who have a very bad time with these things. Is Midazolam an option?

intergalacticplanetary · 29/08/2023 21:19

Just to tell you my experience as I had one last week. I had no anaesthesia at all. I popped a couple of paracetamol beforehand and could have had gas and air if needed, but I didn't. I just tried to breathe deeply and zone out. It wasn't pleasant but I didn't find it painful. The staff were all absolutely lovely and constantly reassuring me.

RedDoughnut · 29/08/2023 21:26

It's like a smear test and if you have a biopsy it's like an added pinch.
It's not pleasant but it's bearable and I'm not especially brave.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 29/08/2023 21:39

I had paracetamol and lots of gas and air , because I have a weird cervix so I thought it would be painful - it was fine with those. I do like a general though, because I love the feeling of going under and the feeling I get upon waking all giddy. 😳

vonniee · 29/08/2023 21:45

I've had both. The local is painful for a few seconds and then you get some normal cramping afterwards.
Honestly if I had another I'd choose the local so I didn't have the effects of the general.

Zanatdy · 29/08/2023 21:46

I went with my friend to hold her hand 2wks ago. I said if I ever have to have this, I’m taking the general. I won’t go into detail, but it wasn’t nice - maybe some people are affected differently but she was in agony, and for 1hr after.

edited to say she didn’t have a local, it was just nothing. No gas and air - just 2 co-codamol before hand

Zanatdy · 29/08/2023 21:47

Doingtheboxerbeat · 29/08/2023 21:39

I had paracetamol and lots of gas and air , because I have a weird cervix so I thought it would be painful - it was fine with those. I do like a general though, because I love the feeling of going under and the feeling I get upon waking all giddy. 😳

I love having a general too, I’d 100% choose a general

LovedFedAndNoonesDead · 29/08/2023 21:51

I had 2 - 1 with local, 1 with sedation similar to that given for an endoscopy. If you have someone who can collect you and stay with you afterwards, I’d go for sedation as you are helped into position then given the sedation; next thing you know it’s all over and you’re off to the recovery area for tea and biscuits. Once they know you’re fully awake and mobile plus pee’d, they get your escort to come for you.

RandomMess · 29/08/2023 21:55

They tried without anything and it wasn't working (my womb is stuck together post ablation)

Local wasn't offered so has a general.

MajesticWhine · 29/08/2023 21:57

I had a general, after a first attempt with no pain relief, was very painful and I couldn't keep still. They decided they needed to remove some polyps and so they insisted on me having a general. Sedation wasn't offered so it was a general or nothing.

Tulipvase · 29/08/2023 21:58

Apologies if it’s not remotely the same but I had a cervical polyp removed a few years ago without out any kind of analgesia. It definitely did pinch but it was fine. It was certainly sizeable when I saw it removed.

Beachbodyready · 29/08/2023 22:01

If it’s just the camera it’s fine with local. If they do biopsies or remove polyps it’s horribly pain for a short period of time and then like period pain. I’d always choose without a general anaesthetic

CopperLion · 29/08/2023 22:04

I had the same choice recently for hysteroscopy plus removal of fibroids. My consultant advised general as I have not had children and she thought it would be pretty unpleasant. I’m glad I did because it was all pretty stress free under GA.

CopperLion · 29/08/2023 22:04

Unpleasant under local, that is.

LilacLemur · 29/08/2023 22:24

I had one earlier this year but wasn't offered a local or general. In fact all they advised me to do was have some pain killers an hour beforehand.

Certainly wasn't nice but it was bearable with gritted teeth.

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