To worry about this procedure after doctor’s comment about birth? (Polyp)

[Summer20024]

I need a uterine polyp removed. I was told I could have it under general or local but as I had had a c section I probably wouldn’t cope with local as I wouldn’t cope with the pain? I suppose implying I haven’t suffered labour pains before?

I don’t want general and now I’m petrified of local too. Has anyone got experience of this? I am lucky I can go privately but apparently most private hospitals only offer it under general. I don’t know what to do, feel really overwhelmed by it all.

You won't be able to drive same day after either a GA (or sedation) or spinal.

Generally, it's a procedure that can be done with local but some women do find it painful and may not be able to proceed/finish with just local (in which case the alternatives are GA/spinal). If you've passed a baby through your cervix in the past it's often easier to pass the small scope back up through the cervix and that's perhaps why the gynaecologist made the comment about having had a c-section rather than vaginal delivery.

Re. the anaesthetist-delivered options, it can be done with either spinal (or saddle) block or GA. For most fit and healthy patients there's not much in it in terms of safety (there are risks as well as benefits to every medical procedure) but you're probably more likely to go home same day after a GA. The gynaecologist won't have mentioned spinal because it's not their specialty and they probably won't have thought about it...doesn't mean it's not an option though. The anaesthetist would be able to go through the relative risks and benefits. For some patients where we believe there is an increased risk we may be more persuasive for either GA or spinal, for for most people either is reasonable (and either would be an option in the NHS).

Kosenrufugirl's experience of working on labour ward will be very different to providing anaesthesia for other things where the risks/benefits are often very different.

x-posted with @SockQueen !

Why wouldn't you want to have a general? I had two myself just in the past year - one for a surgery, one for a colonoscopy. I can't think of anything easier.

It's most likely this reasoning. If you deliver naturally you tend to have a remaining small gap which makes it easier to get through the cervix

Doesn't mean you can't try though. I was told the same when I wanted a coil - I told then to try it and I'd let them know and it was fine

Theres no reason why you couldn't just have it under spinal anaesthetic like you had your csection if you wanted, if you don't want a GA. We have a drug called prilocaine which is used for day surgery spinal Anaesthetics as it only lasts an hour then you can go home. Much better recovery as none of the woozy nausea of GA and you can eat immediately

You'd think gynae would remember spinals from their obs days though lol. Prilocaine spinal would be best, walking within 2h then home

If anyone can remember where it is/find the keys to the cupboard... May just be my hospital though!