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Original poster

Uterine Polyp the size of my thumb...are they really going to just "snip" it out without any sort of anaesthetic????

55 replies

LackaDAISYcal · 21/11/2013 23:48

brief history; has a teeny tiny polyp removed via a hysteroscopy in February. Very fleshy and nurse unsure she had got all of it due to amount of bleeding.

six months on I started bleeding and three months later I haven't stopped. I knew there was something not quite right when I investigated myself, and gynae confirmed yesterday that polyp has grown back, but is nbow godzilla in proportion and is the size of my thumb and growing down through my cervix into my vag Shock

She has referred me back to hysteroscopy.

Now....my previous experience was very, very unpleasant indeed. No anaesthetic, and much discomfort followed by pain, cramping and bleeding, and the last one was teeny, teeny tiny (< 2mm at the base). This time I have an actual finger of angry, bleeding tissue sticking out of me; surely they can't just snip it off?

Can I demand an anaesthetic? I really do not want to be conscious to witness the removal of this monster!

OP posts:
PoshPenny · 22/11/2013 00:06

I can help you a little. I was at hospital seeing the consultant on Tuesday about this very thing. I am under the impression that I am on the waiting list for a polyp removal via hysteroscopy under GA. I expressed my anxiety about having it done without sedation - frankly I don't have much faith my cervix will cooperate as it let me down giving birth both times and I ended up with em cs due to failure to progress (cervix wouldn't dilate). the doctor I saw didn't try and persuade me otherwise, I believe I will be dealt with under GA. I don't think they are stringing me along and I will get a nasty shock when I turn up for day surgery sometime early next year...

I have had 2 polyps removed previously, both back in the day when I had private med insurance. D&C both times, so under GA, have not had any polyp trouble for over 10 years I think.

hopefully you will get your GA too

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 22/11/2013 00:14

Thanks Penny :)

I need to pursue this further I think; I really do not want to go through what I did the last time, for a bigger, fatter, angrier and bleedier (is that a word???) polyp.

Is it normal for them to be done under GA? Is my PCT just a bit barbaric? Last time I had no pain relief or anything, but it was teeny. The nurse asked me if I had been advised to take painkillers a few hours prior to the procedure, and I hadn't. And it was horrible; uncomfortable, crampy and sore.

OP posts:
LineRunner · 22/11/2013 00:21

I do think you need to make it clear you want a GA.

Unfortunately there are people like me who hate the idea of a GA, and so are prepared to undergo all known procedures under a local or no anaesthetic, which hospitals love doing as it's marginally safer for the patients.

I have found though when other family members have asked got a GA for various procedures they have been allowed to have one.

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 22/11/2013 00:59

I would be happy with a local; I'm of the "better awake than zonked out" squad as well. I might check that I can have a local, but I do have a vague memory of being told the last time that it "shouldn't hurt as there are no nerve endings down there "

I'm also concerned about what's going on with my cervix as it is clearly dilated at the moment. Will it go back by itself once the polyp has been removed?

OP posts:
babyjane67 · 22/11/2013 12:58

Ive gotta have this done exactly a wk today!

babyjane67 · 22/11/2013 13:03

Sorry pressed too soon!lol
I dont know how big polyp is but will ask wed when i have pre op assessment
its first one ive had&am having it done under ga as i find sex,smears etc painful so they said that willbe best option for me
They said i might get some bleeding&cramping for couple of days after
So im hoping its nothing more than that!

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 22/11/2013 14:09

Thanks babyjane. I guess I'll find out what they are going to do soon enough. Got my appointment through already, for next Tuesday!

OP posts:
Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 22/11/2013 17:46

anyone else have any experience?

OP posts:
babyjane67 · 22/11/2013 18:42

Good luck with it&let us know how you get on

ChestyNut · 23/11/2013 17:25

My DM had a polyp removed and they didn't use anaesthetic either.
She was in a lot of pain.

I was Hmm that they don't use any drugs.

GW297 · 23/11/2013 21:19

This happened to me. I had a polyp removed from my womb without anaesthetic and it was bigger than they thought so they couldn't get it all out. I ended up having the rest removed under GA and it was much less distressing. I would push for a GA if I were you.

ThenAgain · 23/11/2013 21:28

Is it me or is there something about gynaecological procedures where women are somehow expected to grit their teeth and get on with it?

I just can't imagine expecting a man to have a fleshy growth removed from his penis with no anaesthetic. And as for the no nerve endings thing, bollocks.

I think you're completely reasonable to request some form of anaesthesia OP.

GW297 · 23/11/2013 23:04

ThenAgain - I completely agree. My consultant wrote in his letter to my GP that he had to stop the procedure because I became slightly uncomfortable. I was in agony and very distressed!

JackaDAISYcal · 24/11/2013 23:15

Thanks for these responses :) My main issue is that I can't see how they can get the hysteroscope in there as this monster thing is blocking my cervix. And if they couldn't remove all of the teeny one last time, what hope will they have with this one? Surely as soon as they start it will just bleed profusely? The appointment letter came through and said if you are bleeding heavily they may not be able to so the procedure...I have bled profusely since August which is why I am having the fecking procedure on the forst place Hmm

they do a little pre-op and consent thing beforehand, so I'll tell them then that I'm not happy about no anaesthetic. I would hope for some sort of sedation at the very least. I am nattering myself silly about it; probably because I know what to expect, having been there twice now; once for the previous polyp and once for having the mirena fitted. Neither of which were very good experiences.

Also, how will having the polyp removed affect my coil? Will this stay insitu, or will they have to remove it and reinsert it later?

Like I say, nattering myself silly over it Sad

VivaLeBeaver · 24/11/2013 23:19

I would ring the gynae secretaries up now and tell them your concerns. Pre-OP might be too late as if your changed to a GA you may need to be on a different theatre list and these are decided some time in advance.

JackaDAISYcal · 24/11/2013 23:47

I'll ring them in the morning VivaLeBeaver, thanks.

lolling at your name on my thread about my nethers...procedure is to be done in the someone or other Beavers day unit as well Grin

LineRunner · 24/11/2013 23:51

There is a gynae Beavers unit??!

JackaDAISYcal · 24/11/2013 23:57

I know LineRunner; you couldn't make it up. Just checked and the spelling is Beevers, but still :D

Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 26/11/2013 13:38

Well it's out! and it was a whopper apparently and the fastest growing polyp the consultant has ever seen. Unfortunately they couldn't make sure it was all out as they couldn't check all of my uterus as the polyp had opened my cervix so much that the fluid they pump in to inflate it just kept pouring out. So I have to go back in about six weeks. He also mentioned that my gynae has put me on the cancer pathway, but he is certain there is nothing dodgy about it inspite of it's rapid growth. Gynae never mentioned anything about cancer to me, so the polyp man thinks it was just so I could get it dealt with sooner rather than later. However, it will be an anxious wait for the results now he has mentioned the C word Confused

And it was fucking painful, especially when he tried to squeeze my cervix closed so he could try and get enough fluid in there Shock. Needless to say I told him to stop that out pretty quickly!

So, now wraped up on the sofa with chocolate and a hot water bottle and feeling quite sorry for myself. And counting the hours till I can take more paracetomol!

OP posts:
LineRunner · 26/11/2013 16:11

Hey, well done, and how are you feeling now?

I am also still on the oncology referral pathway despite having had a negative biopsy. It is a worry, being realistic, but it does speed things up.

Thanks
Original poster
LackaDAISYcal · 26/11/2013 17:39

Like I have period pain, and I am a bit bloated and a bit of trapped wind, but not bleeding as much as I was, so that is a good thing!

I did ask about a GA, but the lovely doctor was so nice and reassuring and promised me he would be as gentle as possible convinced me I didn't need it. And he was very quick too. He had removed the bulk of the polyp before I had even got comfy Grin whilst distracting me by asking me questions about my hand knitted socks!

I'm trying not to fret about the cancer pathway thing. Though Dr Google does say that quick growing things tend to be more nasty than slow growing things.

Wish I didn't have to go back though :(

OP posts:
PoshPenny · 26/11/2013 18:52

Well done for being so brave, and glad for you it's out. Hope that the news from the biopsy is good.

LineRunner · 26/11/2013 19:37

I've had to wean myself off Dr Google. Far, far too stressful!

I like the sound of a nice hot water bottle, though.

GW297 · 26/11/2013 20:04

Tomorrow when you are full recovered you will be glad you didn't have a GA and feel drowsy and out of it for the next 2 weeks!

babyjane67 · 26/11/2013 20:20

Well done daisy!
Hope youre feeling bit better now
Chocolate always helps i find!
Im having mine done on friday.got pre op assessment tonorrow
Be kind to yourself:)

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