Anyone here like to share their hysteroscopy stories, please?

[Jencs1983]

Hi all,

Hope you are all well.

My gynaecologist is booking me in for a hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. She asked me if I would be okay having one, and since I'd never heard of it, I just blurted out "yes" straight away without thinking!

She then muttered stuff like pain relief an hour before, gas and air during the procedure, and if I really can't handle it, stopping the procedure and booking it with a GA at a later date. Call me unadventurous, but it doesn't sound like fun to me.

So my question is, are there any nice ladies out there that would be willing to share their hysteroscopy stories with me, whether they be good or bad?

I've read that if a woman has had pain during pap smears, that hysteroscopies without GA are horrific?

I've also heard that they are more painful if you've not given birth.

I'm basically just weighing up my options, because an outpatient procedure sounds attractive because there won't be an overnight stay, but on the other hand, I don't want to have to go through something that is masquerading as a medieval torture!

Just for the record, I've never had any trouble with having pap smears and I've never given birth.

Thank you.

Look up hysteroscopy action on twitter (there's also previous threads on here) about women having this procedure in outpatients with either no pain relief or being told to take paracetamol beforehand or being told 'it's just like a smear' when for some women it is excruciatingly painful. It happened to me like you at an appointment for heavy periods, not told that any kind of procedure might happen, just suggested a biopsy there and then (so no informed consent) as I had no problems with smears. I went ahead, it was horrific, and they had to stop. I went home and read all about it then went back and insisted on a general anaesthetic, which I had, it's shocking what women are expected to put up with

I've copied my reply above from a previous post on here about this.

@northernnurse

Thanks for the advice. I've done a little bit of research, and I would say most women have reported the whole experience as an outpatient as horrific.

I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience. But I can't tell you how grateful I am for you sharing your experience with me. It will definitely help me make an informed decision.

There are a number of threads on here if you do a search.

Below cut & pasted from a reply I made on a thread last August...

I've had 2 this year - both at Addenbrookes, Cambridge.

1st. I forgot about taking paracetamol beforehand. It was (very mildly) uncomfortable but not at all painful. I'm sure I had a local anesthetic injected and seem to recall that hurt the most. I then had a biopsy taken and Mirena coil inserted. No pain afterwards.

2nd. I remembered to take the paracetamol before. I didn't have a local anesthetic and while the hysterscopy itself wasn't a problem they then took a biopsy which was fairly "ouchy" but only for a matter of seconds. Again no pain afterwards.

@Chasingsquirrels

Thanks so much for your reply.

It sounds as though your experience wasn't too bad, but it's still horrible that you had to go through them in the first place.

It is good to hear that some people have more positive stories to tell on the matter.

I had one privately in November. Consultant said he wanted to do it without a GA if possible as some people are fine/GA not without risk. He told me we could stop if I was in pain and try again with a GA.

Honestly, for me it was totally fine. It felt weirdly cold because they push water inside you so they can visualise the uterus clearly. I barely felt it passing through my cervix. The only uncomfortable bit for me was the biopsy, which felt like fairly strong period pain - a deep, crampy feeling.

I have a Mirena IUS and I didn't feel anything when that went in either - maybe my cervix doesn't mind being poked and prodded.

I took paracetamol and ibuprofen beforehand.

One thing I didn't expect was I skipped my next period.

Some people obviously find it very painful but I guess it's worth knowing it can be ok for some people too? I really appreciated that my consultant said he would stop and plan to do it under GA another time if need be.

You will find loads of horror stories online but very few that are reassuring as people only share the dramatic details and not the boring ones.
I had a hysteroscopy a while back with no pain relief. I was offered gas and air if needed but warned I would have to stay after the procedure for a set time before going home if I used it so said I would try without. I had a very short time of sharp pain, probably only seconds although pain always feels longer, during which the nurse kept reassuring me she was almost done.

I was fine afterwards with just paracetamol for mild discomfort.
I know we are all different but I'd sooner have that short pain than the worry of a general anaesthetic.

@wldpwr

Your consultant sounds great, although mine also said that we can stop the procedure at any time too. It sounds like a lot of women don't get told that, and go in to the procedure not knowing much about it at all.

Thanks for sharing your story. I really don't want a GA if I can help it. I'm overweight and I'm not without other health issues either, so an outpatient appointment would suit me better.

Hysterocopy and biopsy several times. As a previous poster it wasn't horrific. The biopsy caused an unpleasant ache but I'd happily avoid GA for another

@QueenOfHiraeth

Yes, most people tend to just share bad experiences on the Internet, don't they, which is why I've it is so great to hear positive experiences too.

For those ladies that suffer tremendously during outpatient procedures, it must be awful and barbaric.

I am glad to hear that your experience wasn't too bad though.

I hope you are well now.

I had one without general anaesthetic.
Definitely take the pain killers beforehand.
I did feel shaky after it for a few minutes so if you go ahead give yourself a bit of time just to relax before you set off home.

@dahliaaa I will definitely take your advice. I've been told they offer you a cuppa afterwards too, so I'll definitely take them up on that.

Thank you.

@Wishthiswasntmypost

Absolutely. I want to avoid GA whenever I can really, because it is quite risky.

I'm glad that the procedures weren't too hard on you.

Thanks for replying.

I had an outpatient hysteroscopy about 6 months ago for post menopausal bleeding. I took a couple of paracetamol beforehand, no other pain relief. It wasn't the most pleasant procedure but it was bearable. One brief moment was quite painful when they were putting in the water and I involuntarily let out a sound, but they stopped to let me catch my breath then it was fine. Afterwards had slight period like pain for the rest of the day but nothing after that, small amount of bleeding for around a week afterwards.

I’ve had a couple under GA, each time had the procedure during the morning, no residual discomfort and went home in the afternoon.

@GetWhatYouWant

I've seen that a lot of women dislike the water bit. It does sound deeply unpleasant, but I guess that if you've got a decent medical team that they'll be happy to go at the patient's pace.

Thanks for your reply and I hope you are well.

@Tumbler2121

Ahh so they let you go home the same day after your GA then? I assumed they'd keep you in overnight. That's interesting to learn.

Thank you very much for your reply.

I’ve had more than one and was offered a local anesthetic each time. I found it slightly uncomfortable but fine.

I've also heard that they are more painful if you've not given birth

My gynaecologist automatically booked mine as a GA because my cervix was "tight"

@starfishmummy

Yes, I was wondering about that myself. I've no idea if mine is tight or not, and I don't even know what would make it not as tight.

It's good to know that some medical staff won't do the procedure if they feel it'll be too difficult for the patient. Thanks for your reply m

When I had mine I barely felt anything. I took some paracetamol an hour before but honestly, I just felt a slightly crampy, tugging sensation whilst the biopsy was taken.
I was then slightly crampy for a few hours after but otherwise absolutely fine. My period pain is much worse!
Everyone is different but try not to worry.

It’s a few years since I had mine, which was done privately. I can’t remember if I was offered a GA, but I didn’t have one.

I have 3 children by vaginal delivery.

The gynaecologist doing it said he’d use some local anaesthetic but that wouldn’t do much. I had a nurse’s hand to hold, though.

All I really remember is that it was a bit sharp when the samples were taken, and I felt sorry for the nurse who was having her hand squeezed but she didn’t seem to mind.

I’d do it again that way. I hope you have the same experience.

Not told about the procedure in advance so had no time to take paracetamol. Whole thing was sprung on me whilst discussing an ovarian cyst.

The consultant just said it'll fee like a sharp scratch but it was actually more like a long scrape with a red hot poker that went on for about 60seconds before je stopped necause I screamed.
Was told I could have pain relief but if I could stand another 60 seconds of it, it would then be over.
I stupidly agreed to it.
Nurse came over and have me some water and stood at head of bed with me to make sure I didn't pass out!

Was very shaky and wobbly for 30 mins after.

With hindsight it was done that way, with no warning and no pain relief to make their jobs easier. No care for me really!

I'd had previous vaginal birth with a massive baby so obviously that didn't help when it 'should' have.

Where I live they are only offered under GA. I had it done, went into recovery and left the hospital an hour later. There was a bit of bleeding but no afterpain.