Hysteroscopy (nervous)

[JNicko]

Iv been going through testing due to 3 miscarriages. All tests and scans etc are normal (I have been diagnosed with PCOS). The consultant said they saw a small cyst within the endometrium, however doesn't suspect that this would have anything to do with my miscarriages. But to rule everything out want to do a hysteroscopy to check the thickness of my womb... due to have jt in a couple of weeks. Iv read lots of mixed bag comments on here that it's extremely painful and shouldn't be done without GA and some saying it's not that bad at all...I'm extremely nervous. They said they dont do GA and to tale paracetamol an hour before and will be offered gas and air. Anyone got any experience in having this procedure?

[DustyLee123]

I had it done, and I’ve had worse smears.

[JNicko]

@DustyLee123

I had it done, and I’ve had worse smears.

Really, I'm hearing so many horror stories.

[HummingbirdChandelier]

Yes! I had one and it was honestly absolutely fine. There are a lot of scare stories round it, but my own experience was that it was quick and easy

[jackstini]

It really varies, and can depend on your body

I had to have one in January, and honestly it was the worst pain I have ever had
However, I have a backwards facing cervix, which refuses to dilate (even with strongest induction drugs - 1 EMCS, 1 ELCS) so believe this was the issue

It will also depend on the time taken - it can be quite quick, 10-15 minutes, but it depends on what they are checking for; mine was an hour. I wish I had been told about the water pipe they put inside your vagina to keep it flushed and clean so they can see better. I did know about the speculum and have never had an issue with smear tests, that part was fine, but it was the opening of the cervix that hurt. The doctor did say it was much more difficult than usual to open it. Part way through the procedure they did inject local anaesthetic, but then they had to do a biopsy and I could feel that as it was beyond where it reached to - doc told me to hold my breath for 20 seconds and that he was really sorry

I was told beforehand to take whatever I usually would for period pain so had paracetamol - it didn't even touch the pain. The medical staff were lovely, tried talking me through it and doing breathing exercises, but I spent the last 20 mins, including the biopsy part with tears just streaming down my face

I was very shaky when they finished. They told me not to look down (because blood, water & tissue will come out of you) and then I got dressed and put a pad on. I had to stay seated for 20 mins and have tea and a biscuit before they would discharge me. Afterwards I had codeine and ibuprofen then 2 hours later when it had made no difference I hit the Chardonnay (which finally took the edge off)
I was in bed with difficulty moving for 36 hours

I appreciate that my body was being particularly awkward, and others have been fine, but I personally would never have another one without a GA

Was more pissed off that the reason I had to have it in the first place was that I was prescribed the wrong HRT and my womb lining had thickened (found after an internal ultrasound - which I was absolutely fine during, no pain at all)

Happily, the biopsy came back negative so that's a good ending at least!

[JNicko]

Sounds like a very mixed bag of information experiences! Safe to say I'm bricking it 😂 like to think I cope with pain quite well. My periods are horrendous and the pains are really bad some months so I'm keeping my fingers crossed I may be ok