Uterine polyp removal (via hysteroscopy with GA). Recovery?

[Mykittensmittens]

Getting a bit wound up as I’ve never had a GA before!

having this done tomorrow, privately.

initially the consultant said it was a very small op and over in about 20 minutes. I’ll be home same day. But at my pre op last week a different picture was painted - I will potentially need to stay overnight as my surgery slot is PM, I shouldn’t drive for a week, been signed off for 2 and recovery will take up to 4 weeks with nothing strenuous - hoovering, gardening etc in that time.

I’m also worried about recovery from the GA and how that feels as some people have told me it’s ’not nice’ and can mess with your head/give you the blues for a few days. Is that likely to be the case?

thanks

It's usually a minor day case procedure. With every operation though there's a chance of needing an overnight stay for all sorts of reasons. The surgeon probably has a better idea of what they're expecting in terms of recovery than the pre-assessment nurse because they'll know what they're expecting to find/do whereas the pre-assessment team will be working from generic info. It's a procedure that can be done with spinal injection (so long as there's no contraindication) if you're really worried about GA, but that may slow down discharge a bit. HTH.

Minor operation, done in 20 minutes. They are REALLY good at this kind of thing, do it repeatedly day in day out.,

Recovery from GA will be rapid due to the medications they use, very short acting.

You might feel hung over for a few hours, nothing that a nap, plenty of fluids and paracetamol won’t deal with.
Back to normal the next day.

You will be thrown out as they really don’t have the overnight beds to spare so every effort will be made to get you out asap. (Presuming it’s U.K. and NHS)

Sorry op I see you say it’s private, then you will be really well looked after, they will make sure you are tip top before sending you home.

Its still a minor procedure, will be really quick and you will have little recollection of it.

Think big picture here, one day of inconvenience to a future with less issues that I assume you have been suffering with to lead you to a GA and surgery.

Thank you. Yes @Brandnewskytohangyourstarsupon I’ve got adenomyosis and am very anaemic as a result. They are fitting a mirena at the same time. I’ve had several in the past so know they work for me. I’ve just not had one for 5 years as DH had the snip, during which the adenomyosis has run riot.

I was offered a hysterectomy but went for this option at this stage due to recovery (I need to help my parents move house in July!) then ironically had a panic as it sounded like the recovery was also protracted. My boss is also less than happy as I’d told him I’d be back at work in a couple of days but the pre-op nurse told me minimum of 2 weeks even though I can work at home and it’s not a physical job (although can be stressful!).

and thanks @Greybeardy yes the surgeon knows exactly what he’s doing as I’ve had both an mri and a scan, so going in with hopefully good knowledge.

The thought of someone fidgeting about with me when I’m unconscious feels ……odd?

2 weeks recovery seems a long time but they are probably being cautious to reduce the risk of bleeding etc.

I think it depends on the individual, I have zero patience for illness or being off my feet so crack on very quickly.

It wouldn’t be 2 weeks for me but then others might need that time. Everyone is different.

I worked at home the next day and back at work day 3. It is a very minor procedure. You don't need all that time off work. (Unless you do a physical job I suppose)

Thanks all. I had it done today. All went well,
still a bit floaty but should be discharge later. But the surgeon has indeed said I shouldn’t drive for a week and take longer off work unless I can work shorter hours at home - which I hope I can do so will give the boss a ring tomorrow. They did remove polyps, and as my period is also due in 2 days he said it could be quite a considerable bleed for 7+ days - which is already at a debilitating level so I am hoping he was being over cautious.

I am having this in a few weeks under GA too. Could you update when you are able about what to expect recovery wise. I am very nervous.

I had this and I felt absolutely fine but at times it felt like I was quite dehydrated and dizzy. Definitely do what the doctor says and take it easy for a couple of weeks

@AzureBlue99 happy to have dropped you a message

Really pleased to hear it went well, OP! I just wanted to pose the question - if you suffer terribly with periods, DH has had the snip so no further plans for children and you're biggest factor for not wanting a hysterectomy is the recover time, I would possibly look into a endometrial ablation! It's minimally invasive with a really short recovery time (usually a few days), and it will either drastically reduce how much you bleed during menstruation, if not completely stop your periods altogether. Also, just my opinion, we're all different - far better, overall, for your body that hormonal birth control 🙂

Ah thanks @Onthebrink87. ablation was discussed but as I have adenomyosis (you may well know - the lining of the womb encroaches into the uterine wall, and it repeats every month so gets worse and worse). So an ablation would work short term but would likely return. Plus it’s already quite bad and that they couldn’t ‘ablate’ the deep seated encroachment out. My uterus is a lot bigger than it should be. Lucky with insurance I have options and while all this is in the offing I have very much resigned myself to the prospect of a hysterectomy if not immediately then further down the line. The irony of the mirena being had I not taken the original one out due to DH having the snip 5 years ago, then the adenomyosis wouldn’t have run rampant in that time where I was hormone intervention free. Oh well!

Anaesthetic has messed with my sleep a bit as I’ve been wide awake since 5am, but amazingly pain is barely there and not a spot of blood. Really wondering if I have a false sense of security and when my hideous period is due in a couple of days maybe all hell will break loose!

I actually had this done last week under GA also for polyp removal. But no-one told me I needed to take time off work or take it easy in any way except obviously the actual day of the procedure due to the effects of the GA. I worked from home the day after and was back doing everything I normally do the day after that including a very busy weekend. Now I’m worried I’ve done too much too soon but I feel ok so far 🤞

Glad it was all ok. I’ve had this done twice now - once private and one (more recently) on nhs on local anaesthetic (would not recommend). I def wasn’t told not to drive or not work. You do bleed for about 7 days after. I was due on when I had the first op but didn’t really have a ‘proper’ period / it all merged together (was in my mid-30s vs early 50s for most recent one).

@LivesinLondon2000 dont worry - honestly. I do feel okay today and won’t be milking any time off ‘just because’ as it isn’t what I do! I do still feel waffy this morning and certainly wouldn’t drive, but it’s clearly the anaesthetic not the op itself. I’m going to have a restful day and see how things go.

@Cattyisbatty helpful info on the period front. Hopefully it’ll stay away for another few days so we are out of this hot spell of weather (pads only they said, which I find so hot and sweaty anyway).

@Mykittensmittens
I’m glad it went well and you feel ok today.
I guess everyone is different & maybe individual recovery also depends on the size of the polyps removed etc.
I’m one of those people who follows instructions to the letter so if I’d been told to take it easy for X days/weeks I would have completely done that (and I’m almost disappointed I wasn’t given a reason to not do any housework for a few days 😂).
Generally as a society I think we don’t take enough time to recover from illnesses/operations so if the surgeon said to take it easy I would definitely try to do that as much as you can 😊

It was fine, I went back to work in the afternoon.

Of course, sorry, I seemed to have drifted over that bit!

That sucks, but it at least sounds like the op/post-op has been reasonably positive. I do hope it stays that way and gives you some relief for a while 😊

Had my procedure yesterday. Day surgery. But I got admitted to stay. GA was okay, ready to go home feeling ok, but TMI - flooding blood with huge clots. Only really stopping this morning. They said I had to stay overnight. Waiting to see doctor to get released.

Still quite heavy bleeding and cramping. At least I am home now with the biggest sanitary towels I have ever seen. Feel a bit wiped out. Sensory overload in the hospital. Not exactly a restful place, banging, clattering, nurses talking really loudly (apart from the night ones who were very quiet). On the whole not as bad as I feared as long as the heavy bleeding stops soon. The GA part was the easiest bit. The anaesthetist was a middle aged woman, possibly Dutch or German. Very dry senses of humour. When I got on the table to be knocked out, she said welcome to my dungeon! Doubt I will be going into work tomorrow in case of leakage but might wfh.

Hi OP, I wondered whether you would be able to let me know how your recovery went. I am due to have the exact same op on Monday at a private hospital. My children are back to school next week, so I thought the timing of the op would work well. I also have a tennis tournament to play on the Friday after the op. I thought I’d be okay to play, but now I’m not so sure.

I’m feeling rather nervous about the GA plus the recovery time afterwards. I thought I would be okay to return to work (working from home) on the Tuesday. I’m now thinking my recovery expectations might be too high.

Any information on your post op recovery would be really helpful. Many thanks ☺️

@Mumupnorth7 hopefully you are done now but I’ll drop you a DM.