Hysteroscopy

[Floydsturgess69]

Hi ladies - I’m due to have a hysteroscopy this Wednesday. I’m absolutely terrified. It’s hanging over me like a black Cloud. Im going to take some painkillers an hour. I’d appreciate any positive feedback and advice on how to make it easier for myself.
Thanks in advance xx

Gosh five ?
Did you have biopsies too ? Do they take long to do ?
I had one done in April but under a GA.
Hope you’ve got sorted.

I had one with no anaesthetic or painkillers, not because im hard, just the way it worked out. I drove home and made the tea. It's not fun at all, won't lie, but it's not agony and when it's over, it's over. I had a wee cry and the nurses were lovely, a gin at home and was glad I'd been checked out. Good luck.

Mine can be fiddly because there's not much to biopsy now. It was actually easier for them to biopsy when there were larger polyps! They never seem to be able to get to a stage where they can discharge me. The mirena I had inserted a few years ago has certainly helped stop more polyps and prevented the bleeding. They are now murmuring about a hysterectomy again, which I really don't want. I would prefer to have the hysteroscopies as the immobility following the hysterectomy would be very difficult for family reasons.

Our trust only does them under GA. There’s a reason for that.

I had one done 2 weeks ago and like you, I was really concerned about how painful it might be.

I can honestly say I felt nothing! I took 2 paracetamol and 2 ibuprofen about an hour before as recommended by the consultant and was absolutely fine. They took a biopsy as well and I didn’t feel that either…

had slight period like pains for about 24hrs but nothing to worry about.

hopefully it will be the same for you!

Don't you feel a post like this will only worry the OP more @Remainiac ?
You make it sound quite scary.

I had mine done privately, at probably the best private hospital in London. If it was 'best' to offer a GA, it would have been done that way. I had the choice.

I was told by someone (medical) that when they are done with a GA, the dr can be a bit more 'gung ho' because the patient is not awake.

What does 'gung ho' mean in this context? As someone whose wonderful consultant (the same consultant who also works privately) offered me the choice of no pain relief, sedation or GA at my NHS hospital with no dire warnings of gung ho behaviour I'm fascinated.

I'd have thought it was clear @SirChenjins

Obviously, it doesn't apply to all doctors (and I'd include my consultant too, just as you have, who'd take the same care whatever.)

To put it bluntly, when someone is under a GA, they don't feel pain. When someone is awake, they do.

There is a risk (very small) of perforation of the womb with the procedure. If a woman can feed back on any discomfort, it could minimise the risk further as the dr will go slower and more carefully.

There is a higher risk of uterine perforation under GA, statistically

Personally I'd still choose GA - I've never had my cervix stretched and suffered with bad period pain ( turns out there's endo). Also sexual abuse in my background.

The risk of perforation is about 1%. Having a GA does not increase your risk of perforation significantly - there are other risk factors including technique used, instruments used, physiology of the woman and so on, and it’s important that’s highlighted. No Consultant should be relying on the woman telling them they are in excruciating pain to highlight a potential uterine perforation.

How did it go @Floydsturgess69 ? Hope it was ok!

Hi there - I saw a consultant who said it was completely unnecessary to do another hysteroscopy as I’d had one in April and biopsies done but under a GA. He did do a transvaginal scan though. He said it was the HRT causing the bleeding and apparently I’ve been put on the wrong kind. Everything was good within the uterus. The fibroid is still measuring 4.5cm which is considered small. So the relief was lovely.
Thank you for asking me it means a lot xxx

Just to add my experience in case it helps someone else going forward. I’ve had two hysteroscopies this year, one under local and one under general (because the mission couldn’t be accomplished under local).

I think the one under local was the better experience overall, it wasn’t painful, just a bit awkward and uncomfortable. I was in and out of the hospital in about 40 minutes. No time off work. Minimal disruption.

for the GA I had two days off - the day of the procedure and the following day but in truth I was groggy for several days after.

I also agree about the comments about being more gung-ho. When I asked the surgeon why a GA would be needed he said that he needed to be rougher and use sharper implements which he couldn’t do whilst I was awake because in the very unlikely event of perforation or damage it would be easier to manage in theatre. I mean, I did ask!

I was quite worried before the first hysteroscopy, partly because of comments on here but honestly it’s no big deal.

@SirChenjins

The risk of perforation and of a GA are documented in guidance from the RCOG. Their advice is an NSAID before the procedure, or a local anaesthetic, although even the latter is shown (in their analysis) not to offer much more pain relief compared to using a very small scope.

There are always risks with a GA and it's not something anyone should have unless absolutely necessary.

That’s great you didn’t have to have it in the end - you must have been very relieved!

For anyone saying it’s no big deal - for many women it is a big deal, for all sorts of reasons. Everyone’s experiences are different and it’s important that women are made aware of their choices for this procedure without being forced or encouraged’ down one route over another.

@Floydsturgess69 Pleased you had a good outcome!

I’m going to add to my stats by shortly having my second hysterectomy under GA, following four hysterectomies without.

Because they also want to dig deeper
and hopefully finally discharge me or offer me a hysterectomy.

I am well aware of that guidance @LisaLovedUp which also advises that women should be offered a GA if they wish.

Hysteroscopy Action has a lot of excellent resources for women who wish to find out more about the choices they have for this procedure so that they can make up their own minds before discussing it with their Consultant. Mine was excellent and talked me through each option - don’t accept anything less.

I had this with no anaesthesia, they told me to take a couple of Valium before. It was really really uncomfortable and I could not handle the pain after a few minutes. Then I’ve never been pregnant and have a tiny uterus so sticking a camera up my cervix was not fun. I’ve met many women who told me it was no big deal for them so maybe it was just me. I’ve been told that if you’ve had babies and a wider cervix things are much easier.

Hello, just wondering, do ppl take partners along? Mines been moved to Tuesday, I forgot to ask re partners when they called yesterday. I'm having mine due to heavy bleeding, irregular bleeding & thickening of lining seen at ultrasound, plus infertility (fun times)

Mine is in a fortnight and the information from the hospital states that I should bring a friend or relative with me and won't be able to drive afterwards. (I'm not having a GA either.)

I was able to take my dh with me but I left him in the waiting area. I found the whole thing mortifying as it was and didn’t feel him being there would help. When I needed a second, I had it under general anaesthetic. My gynaecologist said why put yourself through that if you don’t need to. For the first, I think I would have been able to drive afterwards, but it was helpful to have my husband there to do so. Hope it goes well.

My first one was painful and I felt sick and faint- they said it was taking longer because my womb tilts back. I’ve had 4 huge babies my biggest almost 12lb i delivered them naturally so I’m quite good with pain! I googled it when I got home and found that most hospitals do it under GA ….. so when I needed another one I had it under GA - so much better as you feel nothing! I would not have had another one while awake. My friend had one too and found it a not nice experience. Ask for GA is my advice every time

I wasn’t aware I was having one - just turned up to a gynaecologist appt that had been delayed due to the pandemic - so didn’t take any meds beforehand and I can honestly say it wasn’t too bad.

Yes uncomfortable but no more so than a colposcopy or a smear with an inexperienced nurse. I think with the paracetamol and ibuprofen prior I would have been fine.

I walked to collect DC from school afterwards.

By the way I am someone who has fainted from jabs and having bloods taken so not sure my pain threshold is high.

Good luck 🤞

@Dancingfairydreams - my dh came with for the most recent one - he waited in the waiting area. I was fine after the hysteroscopy to drive but not the polyp removal - took longer & I was a bit shaky.
I had no ne about 15 years ago privately and I drove afterwards.