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.

I had one without GA or local anaesthetic, it was fine. It was a bit uncomfortable and not very dignified but the nurses were very reassuring that I could stop at any point, it was all over very quickly and I was free to go. No offer of a cup of tea! The most I got offered was being advised to sit in the waiting room for a bit if I felt I needed to and to let the receptionist know if I felt faint. Luckily I felt fine so was able to leave. The only after effects was some period like cramping for the next few hours.
Good luck with your procedure OP, hope it goes as well as possible!

I had a hysteroscopy privately three weeks ago. My consultant would only do it under GA. I had a biopsy, polyp removal and a Mirena fitted. I went in in the morning and left hospital in the early afternoon. Immediately afterwards I had crampy pain, which went away for a day or two, but now I have it all the time, and am still bleeding. I've got a GP appointment tomorrow to see if I have an infection.

I think she must have felt it when doing an internal. I had my dc by a planned C section for medical reasons so it had never dilated during labour.

It's not really risky - you'll be the most monitored you ever are in your life and it's a very short time so don't be put off if you wanted to go with GA

I’ve had 2-3
First one I had privately (health insurance) as had bleeding w no obvious cause. I was told to take painkillers beforehand and bring a pad for after. I don’t remember it being bad, but I did have a bit of spotting and felt ‘a bit weird’ that evening. They found a polyp and in those days they took them out under GA. I did drive home afterwards.
Second was about 18 months ago, spotted another polyp on ultrasound - had it to confirm diagnosis. That was on nhs in a clinic - again took painkillers beforehand- this was more painful but maybe cos I was 51 and not in my 30s! They said sometimes they take the polyp out there & then, but I was in too much pain! They were nice to me but it was ouchy!
Third was the polypectomy- they give you local anaesthetic now rather than GA as ‘tools are thinner so cervix doesn’t need to be dilated as much’ - the local was the painful/fiddly bit. After that it wasn’t painful but ‘awkward’ and I was a bit shaky afterwards. DH was with me and he drove home. I bled for a week!
Edited to say I’ve had 2 c/s so cervix never dilated fully.

I had one under GA a few years ago.
I went in at 8am and was out by 2pm.

I wouldn't have one without a GA personally.

I went in for an ultrasound, they referred me straight to the Hysteroscopy clinic then and there, and I had no idea what it was, had no time to take pain relief and he got me to sign to say I would have it with gas and air without any explanation of what it even was, and then blakcmailed me to get it done there and then as otherwise it might take months to rearrange.

I had been taken off HRT due to excessive bleeding, even though it took 7 years to get the HRT in the first place, and I was so desperate to get it again as I was so ill before I had it, I agreed.

I am one of the women in the Hysteroscopy Action evidence documents because it was one of the most horrific experiences of my life.

I hadn't had a baby and I had painful smears but that was not ever asked.

@darkmodeera Oh no, I'm very sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience. Not only the pain, but the lack of care from the medical team. It really sounds awful and barbaric.

Thank you for sharing your story with me.

@BatshitCrazyWoman I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling unwell after the procedure. It just goes to show that these procedures aren't without their risks. I hope you get the treatment you need and feel better soon.

When people are saying GA I think they mean sedation? I had one last year under sedation, I heard horror stories about women being coerced to continue when they had severe pain. I had to wait longer, but even the nurse said she would recommend sedation every time.
I was in at 8am and home for 1pm, a smear, biopsy and polyp removal was done at same time. I'd highly recommend sedation.

I also had one under GA and went home the same day. I had a few GA's a couple of years ago for different issues (bad year!) and each time I was able to go home the same day, one was done just after lunch time and I was still released early evening. They like to get you home asap now unless a problem arises.

@AlisonDonut I am so sorry to hear of the awful time you had. It's terrible that they rushed you and didn't even make sure that you understood everything.

We should all have a good understanding of medical procedures that allows us to choose the appropriate action. And it's like they didn't care with you.

It makes me sad that women are treated this way, especially these days.

Definitely GA not sedation.

Same it was definitely GA, not sedation. Why would anyone think so many of us would get that wrong?

@steppingcarefully It certainly sounds like you had a bad time of it that year. I hope you are well now?

Thanks for sharing your story.

@madderthanahatter I was just told that if I couldn't cope with the pain during being awake, they'd stop it and I'd be booked in for a general anaesthetic at a later date, where I'd be fully asleep.

I'm seriously considering a general anaesthetic now.

I took paracetamol as advised, wasn't offered gas and air was made to feel like it would be a massive inconvenience if I wanted more pain relief (anesthetic of any type) so breezily want along with them. I am generally happy to get on with things like this.

Fuck me, a paracetamol and a handhold is not enough when they are taking lumps out of your womb.

Don't make plans for the rest of the day either.

I’ve posted about my experience before, I had one without GA and the whole experience was traumatising and painful. When I had to have another my gynaecologist said don’t put yourself through that again, have it under GA. There’s recently been a story on the BBC drama show Doctors in which one of the doctors had a Hysteroscopy without anaesthetic and found it very painful and upsetting and is now raising awareness about it. I know it’s just a drama but found it good that they are raising awareness in this way.
Also as you haven’t had children I would say go for a GA.

When I had my procedure the anaesthetist told me whilst the drugs they use to put you asleep are used in a GA, this isn't a GA. You aren't intubated for a start, and you receive a lot less drugs that you would in a GA. My purpose for saying this is that it isn't as invasive on the body than an actual GA. I'm not saying no one ever gets a GA, but I don't think it's standard practice. It's usually the same sedation like you get for colonoscopy and gastroscopy.

Before my hysteroscopy they tried to insert a metal straw thing in outpatients to do a low uterine biopsy. Despite being day 2 of my period she couldn't get in and it was very sore, but I felt under strong coercion to let her keep trying. The doctor then advised hysteroscopy and said it was fine, but there was no way after that that I would have trusted her to stop if I was in pain, hence I insisted on sedation.

I had one plus a biopsy. I was offered all pain relief options and went for a GA for personal reasons. I was in, under and back on the ward having a sandwich and cup of tea before I knew it. A bit more bleeding than I was expecting but I was checked and it was normal - just be prepared for a full on period type bleed rather than a bit of staining. Back home a few hours after I’d gone into hospital - best thing ever.

You are fully within your rights to have a GA if you want one, so don’t be afraid to push for one if that’s what you want (and you’re clinically suitable obvs).

I was intubated and it was a full GA. The anaesthetist told me what they were going to do before the procedure.

I had one recently for post-meno bleeding and it was very traumatic. I've had a vaginal delivery but I think once you're post-menopause, the cervix is pretty much closed up. Plus mine is tilted, which clearly made things harder for the gynae dr. I'd taken prescription co-codamol (30/500) in anticipation of pain but that didn't touch the sides. They offered gas and air but I ended up needing a local anaesthetic. Needle into cervix isn't fun but at least it took effect pretty quickly and the endometrial biopsy could be done. Fortunately it was all clear. Unfortunately I'm still having bleeding (on HRT) and am very reluctant to discuss with my GP in case they send me for another hysteroscopy. I don't think I could go through that again without a GA this time

@SirChenjins It definitely sounds to me that the most positive stories are the general anaesthetic ones, so I'm seriously considering pushing for a general anaesthetic now.

Thanks for your help.

No, I had a general anaesthetic.
I've had things under midazolam as well. But not a hysteroscopy.