Hysteroscopy and biopsy - please reassure me, I'm terrified

[Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong]

I have this procedure coming up early next week, and it looks like a terrifying procedure. The information letter states that having a hysteroscopy with a general anaesthetic is the safest way ....

.... So potentially it's a procedure that could be so unpleasant that general anaesthetic may be used?

I've phoned up the hospital to ask if I can re-schedule the appointment to include a general, but wonder if anyone out there has had one of these and honestly can tell me how bad was it without GA?

I just had to rent when I read this. I had a hysteroscopy and biopsy recently. First attempt was under local. When I got the appointment letter I phoned them up and asked if I could have a GA and was told no, it was just some mild discomfort.

I was quite reassured by this, so was really relaxed, had taken some co codamol before, but my god, it was one of the most traumatic things I've been through. When she pushed the instrument through my cervix it was like a red hot poker. I was traumatised and shaking after the sudden pain. But that point I couldn't bear the thought of a local which was offered, I just needed to get out of there.

I had it by general a couple of weeks later and it was absolutely fine, done in a day case.

You're right, it does seem to be the luck of the draw as to whether it's bad or not. I've never been worried by smears or anything before, but now I'm dreading having to have anything like that again.

reply not bloody rent !

I’m sorry yours was bad too @mrboingboing. I didn’t have the red hot poker sensation but I guess they were going right in and also pumped me with liquid, which was very unpleasant. The funny thing is like you my smears have been fine and I’ve had an hsg/hycosy with liquid - the latter was a bit more than mild discomfort for me but not unbearable.

Anyway I don’t want to derail the thread. I think the point is that you really can’t tell until you try it. If you’re confident of telling them to stop if it’s too much so you can come back for GA then I guess that’s fine. Since I know I don’t tolerate it well, I would now go straight for the general.

I had one without GA and did not like it. The consultant then wanted to.try there and then to.burn off the cells lletz treatment I literally xouls not handle it and had to get another appointment with GA

Someone else posted about this this morning and I linked to this website
www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/due-to-have-a-hysteroscopy/
I would have a GA. I have had two, the first was with no pain relief and I found it very traumatic. Second was under GA.

All you good people that have replied to this thread and have undergone this procedure (and even if you have read so far but not replied) please go into the above link. Frankly this is bordering on a scandal, especially as it appears the government is providing cash incentives for hospitals who carry out more procedures without GA as it's substantially cheaper (£197 for outpatient v £995 for day stay and GA).

OP I can't very far on the page, is that the link to all the info?

I am sorry to say I am not surprised.

They think "women give birth, they won't complain". They also use us as a way to avoid paying anesthetists I guess.

Hi Ostara

Yes that link takes you to a page with further links to articles etc on the top 2 bars of the page. Click on the arrows next to each item and it will show a drop-down menu of articles. It's very powerful reading.

I haven't found the cash incentive bit but the stories are shocking.

I think it's quite lucky I wasn't told to have this when I had the pelvic ultrasound. I didn't know enough at the time to query things.

The GYN tried to do a hysteroscopy on me with no anaesthetic and I thought I was going to be sick with pain. I’ve had 3 children vaginally without pain relief, one was back to back labour. Although some women seem able to tolerate this procedure it would appear there’s no way of telling which.

OP take the GA 👍
I had exactly this procedure a couple of years ago and, thinking I was wonderwoman, opted for LA. Mistake!
Last year I also had endometrial ablation, this time under GA, and as a result the process was far less awful, even though it was more complex.

There was a thread here the other day from a lady who had been in terrible pain and left feeling traumatised from this procedure while awake. Lots of women also posted to say they had a similar experience. It is outrageous that women are put through it.

I'll give you my experience:

I had a hysteroscopy and biopsy awake, no local either, I didn't feel a thing. I'm obese which I guess would make it harder with the fat and I haven't given birth naturally. I was expecting local in my cervix but as the thing went in she said "is this painful?" and I said no so she continued. They also would stop and re book for GA if required too.

I'm not invalidating the experience of many women who fine it awful too but I just want to say this it isn't painful for everyone. Of 2 friends who have also had this done awake, one was like me, the other tolerated it but did have pain.

Have a general. Not everyone finds them extremely painful but there’s no way of knowing if you’ll be one who does until it’s happening. It’s absolutely barbaric that they are still being done without a GA. some women will be fine without one - some will not, and it should be routinely offered. I’ve had one, under GA and wouldn’t have one while conscious - smears and colposcopy are extremely painful for me so no chance would I have a hysteroscopy without one.

I had one under local for womb lining thickening. It was unpleasant but fine, as was the biopsy.

I had one a month or so ago and didn’t have GA, I was given LA, it’s wasn’t too bad, I’m glad I didn’t have a GA, I was a bit shaken afterwards, stupidly drove myself to the hospital so ended up sitting outside for a bit afterwards and then grabbed a coffee in McDonald’s until I felt well enough to drive home. It was uncomfortable at times but not really painful. I had ablation a few days ago under GA, if I wasn’t being sterilised at the same time I wouldn’t have had GA for the either.

I had this around a month ago with no GA or local. It was painful, but not unbearable. I do have a high pain threshold.
The dr and nurses present told me I did remarkably well, which did make me wonder why I wasn’t offered any kind of relief.
Thankfully the biopsy came back normal. Bleeding afterwards for around 3 days but not heavy. No lasting effects. If I was to have it again I would ask for local anaesthetic only because the sensation was so bizarre and made me feel squeamish for a good few days after.
If it makes any difference I have had 2 children.
If you don’t feel comfortable with the thought of no anaesthetic then definitely push for GA or local. It’s your body and you shouldn’t have to suffer pain when there are options available.
Good luck

I haven’t had a biopsy but I’ve had a hysteroscopy for a coil fitting (I have a womb complication).

It was a very odd sensation,the painful bit was putting the coil in.