Emotional aftermath of hysteroscopy

[SkylarkKitten]

I needed a hysteroscopy today. Despite having a usually high pain threshold, I know from past experience that, due to having a retroverted uterus, anything inserted into my cervix is painful

The male doctor dismissed my wanting a pain injection and rushed me through. The pain was unbearable for me, and despite my referral stating I should have biopsies, I told him to stop. He said everything looked normal anyway so said they weren't needed.

I feel totally violated and can't shake the feeling. My needs weren't listened to. When I was crying with pain, the nurse asked if I wanted a stress ball. The whole thing felt undignified and degrading

However, I cannot pinpoint exactly what's made me feel this way. It wasn't just the doctor, it was his whole team. I've had smears, scans and internals before, but never felt this way afterwards. How could I even complain without being able to say eloquently what I feel they did wrong.

Why is it, every other investigative procedure - colonoscopy, cystoscopy, endoscopy etc - you get proper pain relief. But when you have a camera into your cervix you just get a paracetamol and told to deal with it

I've felt like crying all evening. Even the way they discussed my past miscarriages was so dismissive.

I hate being a woman, and having a lifetime of gynae pain and issues constantly dismissed. Even my endometriosis was dismissed as period pain for over 20 years. Why should we always bear any pain in silence or made to feel like drama queens?

I need a hug :(

I am so sorry you have had such a terrible experience. It really sucks being a woman sometimes and having your very reasonable requests dismissed. Is there a way to complain about the treatment you received officially?

I’m due to have one of these soon and I’m being put to sleep for it… due to exactly what you’ve described last time. Though I was given gas and air… it was horrible. I feel for you 💐

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I had a hysteroscopy a few weeks ago and it was under general anaesthetic. I can't believe they would do that with paracetamol and stress balls.

Sending you much love. I’m so sorry you’ve had such a horrible time.

So sorry this has happened. It is terrible that hysteroscope is done this way, with pain and dignity trivialised. I’m not surprised you feel violated. X

I wouldn’t say you get decent analgesia/sedation for everything else. My experience of bronchoscopy I later described as high tech water boarding. Thank goodness they got what they needed the first time, as I don’t think I could ever have gone for that again.

You’ve said it perfectly eloquently. You told the doctor that from past experience you know your body and that this would be painful for you. Rather than listening and responding with the appropriate pain medication he proceeded without any. This dismissed your experiences and knowledge of your own body. The team then doubled down on this by dismissing your pain as mental and suggesting a stress ball rather than offering any meaningful pain relief. He and the team basically said they know your body better than you do.

I don’t know if this would technically “count” as obstetric violence as you haven’t said the reason for the procedure, but regardless it fits all the patterns of medical systems ignoring women’s needs and preferences.

I’d report it to PALS so at least there’s a record of it somewhere and perhaps it’ll build a pattern of behaviours of the doctor and the team as a whole.

You should have been offered anaesthetic, either spinal or general .. I’ve had both.

It’s a painful procedure, I’ve had friends who have had in done in clinic, and have vomited in pain.

It’s a disgrace that it’s not offered with anaesthetic as a starting point.

I really feel for you. I’ve had four of these. The last one on Friday. Two under local which were unbearably painful and my Doctor had to stop when I had an adverse reaction and my blood pressure dropped.
Then under a general where I had such bad bleed if they didn’t pause I would have needed a transfusion or a hysterectomy. 24 hours of monitoring at hospital.
Back again on Friday and the myosure failed twice and my Consultant said he’d have to stop and bring me back again. Whilst high on the meds I pleaded with him just to finish the procedure. He did. And he was brilliant, went mediaeval with gruesome equipment that just cut everything out. All removed for a biopsy and there was a lot! I cannot criticise as I was at the end of my tether. But jeez I’m so pleased I had a brilliant Consultant who listened to me and did as I asked regardless of the pain.
I really don’t think they would have done this to a man, and I’m so glad that I don’t have to go through this again. The advice to take paracetamol an hour before is significantly understating the pain of this procedure.

I felt like this after the birth of DC2. I think there’s something very vulnerable about being in intolerable pain, and everyone moving as normal around you, witnessing your distress, and doing nothing at all to solve it. It’s kind of humiliating. Hugs! X

I really feel for you. Ive had 2 without anaesthetic and the second one I was almost hysterical with the pain. They had to stop. It was barbaric. I then had one under general and it was so easy. I’ve been in touch with these people - https://www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLZFGdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABpwhHDTfaywRqJai4QlimpgosjhtQJ9quulIu_t9mNh2L0M7cnaQkVUaYTa4u_aem_F6pLD9qBTG5ONmT7onW2NQ. They are campaigning for change. Do complete their survey and join their campaign if you can.

Oh my god. I can’t believe you had to do it without anaesthesia. I had one under general anaesthetic.

I'm so sorry you've been through such a horrific experience. You were not listened to and treated cruelly when at your most vulnerable. Please do report to PALS so that it's on record. Be kind to yourself and give yourself time - it's ok to cry, rage and feel how you feel. I hope you have a good friend or family on hand to support you and give you a hug. If you find in a few weeks, you're still feeling traumatised, make an appointment with your GP and talk it through with them. Thinking of you, take care of yourself lovely 💐

I had mine done without any anaesthesia, I was just told to take paracetamol before hand and to get some one to drive me home after. I was very lucky as I didn’t really feel too much pain but a close friend of mine had hers done at the same clinic and she vomited and passed out from the pain, horrendous experience, I feel for you OP

Hugs OP

I totally hear you.

It’s a massive violation and when this happened to me I was completely unprepared as I thought I was just going for a scan. The second letter that explained I would also see a gynaecologist didn’t reach me.

The gynaecologist couldn’t access my cervix - I had warned that my GP had struggled with a recent attempt to fit a coil but the dr just dismissed it and said I’ll use a clamp if I need to. Well she needed to and I have never felt anything like it in the life. It was as though she was about to pull my womb out through my vagina.

I told her to stop which she did. They then booked me in to have it under GA. I cried all the way back to the car , I think I was in shock. I had to sit there for 20 mins before my legs stopped shaking enough to be able to drive.

its hideous OP, I feel for you. I’m sorry this happened to you, to us.

I had one too but under GA. Not pleasant but I was listened to and treated with dignity and that made a huge difference.

Any chance that in addition to the procedure being uncomfortable the whole experience was compounded by the fact that yet again you are a woman who knows your own body, what you feel and what you need and there's some ignorant medic dismissing it and not listening because they think they know better.

I was over 10 years waiting from my endo diagnosis, dismissed on multiple occasions as a dramatic teenager etc. Even know if anyone in the medical profession doesn't listen to me, it really frustrates me disproportionately.

I agree with everything you've said.
You aren't wrong and you do deserve better.

big Hugs OP sounds awful. 😞

I'm so sorry. I had a similar experience but the nurses on the day were lovely with me. The doctor was awful and told me I must have a low pain threshold he was really rude and dismissive. I did nothing about it and now i wish I'd complained as we need to complain about things like this if things are ever going to change for the better. If it helps op I also had the procedure as investigation into recurrent miscarriage and I have a 12 week old baby now (through ivf) so hopefully you'll get where you want to be x

Definitely complain. It's the only way practice will change. Describe what happened, and how it made you feel. If you feel able, request a resolution meeting to further discuss what happened and what they're going to do to improve (plus an apology from them!)
I'm so sorry OP, you've had a horrible experience.

I'm so sorry OP. I've been avoiding having my coil sorted for the same reason. You're upset because they didn't listen when you expressed a need and went ahead anyway.

Barbaric. Get chatgpt to draft a complaint to PALs tomorrow. Don't waste more of your time than necessary, doubt PALs will listen either but I'd actually write in the letter than they'll dismiss you and when they do you can consider escalating to your MP is someone who actually cares about women.

I too have a high pain threshold yet I found a hysteroscopy so painful that I went dizzy, felt sick and felt I was going to pass out- I told them to stop. They’d almost finished and I said I’ll come back but only if I get put to sleep. I sobbed afterwards and felt traumatised and I’m not a weak person. I googled it and found most hospitals put you to sleep for it. My next one I requested to be put to sleep and they agreed no problem. I’m sorry you went through this awful experience, sending hugs x

I had a hysteroscopy, no meds or advice to take any before hand.
It was akin to what I'd imagine medieval torture was.

I was ridiculed because I asked for a sedative when I had a hyseteroscopy years ago. By a female gynaecologist.

That sounds truly awful. 🫂

I’m so sorry, absolutely complain if you feel up to it. What bothers me the most about this is that they know full well how painful and traumatic this can be, that’s where the gaslighting and callousness comes in. We know that they know and they still pretend you’re the only one.