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.

@Chuffles That sounds awful, and the fact that you are scared to speak to your GP about your current bleeding, just to avoid another hysteroscopy speaks volumes.

I am glad that they didn't find anything sinister after your last procedure though.

Thanks for your help.

I had one prior to being booked for hysterectomy - I fortunately had private care and was offered my choice of GA or local
I asked the consultant what she would have and she said GA. I booked for GA. Home same day, no issues.

@TheShellBeach maybe it depends on the Trust? The anaesthetist explained that many people think it's a GA, but it's deep sedation. I had midazolam and fentanyl, and worked as if I've had a GA. I felt so much better though when I woke up, compared to when I did after GA, and no sore throat or neck.
I just googled and it seems some hospitals do use GA.

I had 4 nurses holding me down.

I can't give too many details but the gas and air wasn't enough and I couldn't walk or stand up to get dressed afterwards. I was put in a ward to recover, couldn't sit up to take the other painkillers they gave me afterwards and I was in there for most of the rest of the day unable to do anything.

When I finally could walk I had to drive myself home, which I can't even remember doing. I spent the rest of that day and the next in bed. In absolute agony.

This was a few years ago and it was definitely a GA.

I had it at UCLH in London.

@AlisonDonut That sounds absolutely horrible and for your body to be like that mentally and physically can only mean that you'd gone in to shock. I am so sorry you had to go through this, and I am very grateful that you could share your experiences with me. It can't be easy talking about it.

I went. Was given no info beforehand so didn't know I was meant to take paracetamol. Anyway... I had to have a c- section as my cervix didn't dilate. I can only assume my cervix still prefers to stay clamped shut. The pain was so horrific I screamed before I even thought about screaming. The procedure was abandoned and if it was put on my notes that a GA would be required.

I guess you'll get as many different answers to the question if it hurts as you do to 'what's your giving birth story'...

No one knows how it will be until you're actually there.

If you have iPlayer try and watch a daytime show called doctors, one specifically on 3rd January. It’s on the subject of this.

I had an abandoned one before I become a candidate for ga, after it was just sprung on me during the course of an appointment, I haven’t had children which the nurse did say is a huge help, it really didn’t help I’d had a iffy tummy due to unknowingly eating out of date ham unfortunately days before my gynae appt I’d never felt anything like it and it took 3 days to feel ok down there. I wish in so many ways it could have been done there and then as I’d now have results, instead of a 12 month waiting list for a ga (making it 2 years since my gynae problems began) it just bemuses me they never indicate I could get an infection but they certainly made it clear when the ga paperwork came out. Then they said well if the cervix doesn’t open we’ll wake you up and put you through an MRI to see how else we can help - I suppose at yet another continued wait and oh lord what a waste of anaesthetic.

It has put me off going for a smear although I get it must be done. It’s so sad how they treat women’s services.

I was intubated, and had a general anaesthetic. I've had several GAs, I know what it is 🙄

I had it as an outpatient with "heavy sedation" and it was totally fine. Think I had to stay in for about 2 hours afterwards but I was asleep as far as I know. Is that an option?
I also had a hycosy without any sedation and it was the absolute worst pain ever. Worse than labour so I'm pretty sure it was the sedation that made it ok.