Getting through a painful investigation

[Marypoppins19]

Any practical tips on how to get through a coloscopy and hysteroscopy when a basic smear test causes lots of pain?

I don’t really know. But my mother has this and was very anxious so they couldn’t do it. I think trey had to sedate her the next time. I can find out if you don’t get any other suggestions on here. Good luck xxx

Really being anxious is probably going to make it worse for me 😭

I'm sure they will offer you sedation. I've had both those procedures and was sedated both times.

You can ask for general anaesthesia if you are anxious. They can also give you a local if you prefer that. If you don't ask for anything then they will ask you to take painkillers 30 minutes before the procedure. I would suggest to please ask firmly for sedation as it is quite painful.

I had a hysteroscopy done privately (medical insurance thankfully) and it was done under general, I didn't even have to ask for it. I had another gynae procedure done with sedation & painkillers and I felt worse after that than I did after the general.

These days they don’t usually offer sedation. I had a hysteroscopy a few weeks ago - which was ok,definitely bearable. But then I was booked for another because there is a polyp they want to remove, and that time it was so painful (they only offered gas and air) and I had to stop the procedure because I was so distressed.
I’m booked in to have it done under GA now.

😭😭😭😭😭😭

Total disaster - so painful had to stop.
Awaiting a GA now 😭

@Marypoppins19 same boat as me then. Sorry it didn’t work out, bloody stressful isn’t it? I actually felt a bit traumatised for a few days.

@missyB1 horrible isn’t it. Felt really silly but nurses were lovely and recommended a different consultant and a GA. I have a really large ectropion, not sure if that made it worse? Also not sure how long the wait will be for a GA

I’ve got my appointment through already for 18th August. I think I was on a two week wait pathway though as I’ve had breast cancer in the past. I just want it over and done with now.
Hope you don’t wait too long.

Did the letter offer a GA?

Yes my new appointment is for day surgery under GA. It’s at our local private hospital but as an NHS patient, all local NHS Gynae surgery is happening at the private hospital at the moment.

So glad it’s GA. Keep me posted xx