hysteroscopy. can I ask for Ga? really scared..

[MegGriffin]

I need one because am getting occasional bleeding between periods. I don't tolerate smears etc very well and wondered if I ask will I be able to have a ga? does anyone have any advice or experience please? The hospital blurb says it is their preferred way to do as outpatient.

I don't understand it either Meg - it's the same procedure, so why the different (or lack of in some cases) options?

Please please don't put it off if you're scared, I had a hysteroscopy six weeks ago, they found severely pre cancerous cells and I had a total hysterectomy last week.

I keep thinking that if I'd not had the investigation things would be very different. Mine was without GA and really not bad.

I won't put it off i'm just scared although everyones stories have made me feel a bit better about it. I'm sorry to hear about that scarlett. How are you now? Do you mind telling me what your symptoms were. It must be such an awful shock. Im so focused on the procedure, its diverting my attention to the outcome.

My symptoms were very heavy, long painful periods and some spotting. They found the polyps and arranged to have them removed then found the abnormal cells when they biopsied them.

I'm a week post op today and every day is different. Can't get out of bed for long, very sore and bloated but thrilled to have no periods after this.

Scarlett - sorry to hear about your events, it must have been as shock! Thank goodness for the positive outcome.

I'm the same as Meg, so focussed on the procedure, haven't thought about beyond that! Don't want the procedure done under GA tho!

Hope you feel better every day, take it easy

Good! I didn't want to sound all doom ridden but honestly if this had gone undetected for much longer it would have turned into cancer. I'm so glad I had the hysteroscopy now.

My hysterectomy took five hours due to the size of my uterus and needing a blood transfusion too. The surgeon came to see me the following morning and said "there was no more cancer." Best thing ever.

Scarlett did you have an ultrasound first and if so did they see the polyps on it?

Yes I did, they saw the polyps (I did too as I watched) but they didn't tell me they were abnormal until a week later.

Ah thank you. I hope you are well on the mend now.

Kazza how did you get on?

Just wanted to reassure anyone awaiting this procedure under GA - I had this done on Thursday, was absolutely terrified - mostly because of the GA!

It was fine! Staff were lovely and knowing what I know now, tho I hope there isn't a 2nd time - the GA was not as bad as I feared! I was very scared and walking into the operating theatre wasn't good but I focused on the light(!) and breathing deeply and that's all I remember!

Woke up in recovery, obviously groggy and in pain but was immediately offered pain relief and fell back to sleep! Back in my room approx half hr later and absolutely fine since. No bleeding since, just have to wait for biopsy results now, which hopefully will be the end of it!

Meg I still haven't had mine yet, but am waiting for an appointment.

How did you get on?

Kazza sorry I thought you weregoing today. Mines on Saturday at 9am.

I had an appointment to see the consultant today, but he just asked how I got on taking the mini pill, whether it made my periods more bearable. We chatted about it and decided to put me on the waiting list and see how I am by then- waiting list is about 2 months.

Good luck Are you having yours with or without ga t

Sorry my appointment was yesterday.

Just to add one more experience here- I had this done with no GA and no local. It took a while because I'm post menopausal and the cervix was quite tight. I had this done privately and was offered it with a GA, no GA or local. I opted for 'nothing' with the back up of local if it hurt, or GA if that didn't do the trick! The whole thing took 30 mins of painstaking gentle probing but I can honestly say there was no pain- not even a nip when the biopsies were taken.

Hope this may help some of you facing this.

Thanks ab, I am looking for your sort of stories. I'm having mine on Saturday, no ga, not even sure about local. My only info was a photo copied leaflet and a letter so I have not had a consultation and have been referred directly from GP to hysteroscopy clinic. I am terrified of the pain but lots of people yave said its not too bad.

Kazza I will post all the details afterci have been on Saturday with my experience as well.

Please do. I hope it goes well.

Thank you.

Meg- I chose to have it without a GA. My consultant was offering a GA at first but I said I'd rather try without- had already had a biopsy a few months before in his surgery and that was fine and very quick.It was less painful than a smear and TBH the worst bit was lying akimbo for all that time! But that is quite unusual - think it was because I was older!

He did keep asking if I was ok and had it become too bad he'd have stopped and given me a local, or rescheduled for another time with a GA.

Hope it goes well for you.

Thanks again ab. My gp said she expects they will do a biopsy whilst they are in there. I need to keep my positive head on and keep away from Google.

You'll be fine.
I was collected by a friend, had a cuppa with her at her home for a while then got the train home ( only 30 mins) and was collected by DH.

The scope is tiny- I asked about this before I agreed to have it done, and it's about 3mm.

The cervix actually has very few nerves. The worst part for me was being opened up with the speculum for 30 mins and I asked for it to be closed slightly for more comfort. Don't be afraid to ask or suggest anything to make it more comfortable.

Thanks again ab.

Good luck for today Meg x