Hysteroscopy - experiences and outcomes!?

[lemonandlimes33]

I have a hysteroscopy today and I'm so nervous about it.

I have really heavy periods and now been bleeding for weeks, constantly.

Anybody else had similar, what was the diagnosis? And how was the procedure?

Mine was ok. Nurses were great. Pain relief if you needed it. I had mine due to bleeding.
I hope it goes OK for you. I was ok to walk home after xx

Honestly, mine was fine. The nurse doing it was a very experienced person and whilst unpleasant it was fine. They removed a polyp and that was OK too.

@Cysco @Whyherewego great, thank you. Did they find the cause of the bleeding and tell you there and then?

Mine was fine. Nurse held my hand and gynae showed me everything she was doing on a screen. Interesting view of my cervix. Got an immediate diagnosis of Ashermann‘s and fixed within a few months. Was generally easy. Good luck!

They wouldn't 100pc confirm there and then but she said she thought it was the polyp and she'd removed it but I had to wait for the letter

Thank you for your positive experiences :)

I've had 2, both for post menopausal bleeding. First one was done straight after I'd had an ultrasound/chat with the gynaecologist. No prep, apparently 'no worse than a smear'. They lied. Had I known then what I found out after I wouldn't have done it until I'd at least taken paracetamol or something first.

Second one I had under general (had colposcopy/biopsy/coil fitted at the same time). Was told after both that despite lining being thickened everything looked all ok. Got clear biopsy results about 10 days later. Uncomfortable/crampy for a few days afterwards plus spotting. Bleeding was put down to HRT imbalance and since the coil settled have had no more bleeding.

So if you're not having anaesthetic I'd say pop some painkillers preemptively, and have a hot water bottle on standby. Hope all goes well

@JoyeuxNarwhal thank you very much. Got pain killers at the ready. On the way to the hospital now.

Mine was really straight forward and much quicker than I expected. No pain relief needed but I must emphasise that there are many who need pain relief and the nurses were really supportive and offered to stop at any point and give me some if necessary. Overall it was much less stressful and painful than I had imagined. The biopsy came back clear.

Wouldn't say it was a great experience but not one that I would dread either.

They did a biopsy but thought looked normal. Hope you are OK 😊

Hope all went well. I'm waiting on an appointment for one, for light periods due to scarring from previous procedures.

Had mine done under GA - wasn't prepared to see if I could 'tolerate' it and it was the best decision for me. I was in and out in no time and back on the ward having tea and sandwiches. I had a biopsy and I bled afterwards - there was far more blood than I expected, but I was checked and advised it was normal. Results were clear, thank goodness.

Hope all went well for you today.

Hope it went OK, OP. I'm a bit late to be of use to you, but for anyone else wondering there is a big disparity between the level of pain or discomfort felt by different women during a hysteroscopy, and there's no telling how it will affect you before you have it. About a third of women feel only minor pain, a third feel moderate pain and 35% suffer severe pain. Post menopausal women and women who haven't given birth are at higher risk of severe pain.
You can't judge by others' experiences what you will feel. Offers of pain relief tend to be sketchy, and risk of pain greatly downplayed.
Personally, I had an incredibly painful traumatic hysteroscopy, which left me with PTSD, and I'm far from alone in that. There is no way that I would have another without either general anaesthetic or deep sedation. Anyone concerned can contact the Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy who are supportive and informative regarding hysteroscopies.

Thank you everyone for your responses. I had local anaesthetic and gas and air, it was uncomfortable and a little painful but nothing unbearable. Lining was thickened but she was not too concerned. I had the coil fitted afterwards as well.

Now the wait for the biopsy results!

@BigGapMum oh my goodness. I'm glad I read this afterwards. I'm so so sorry you had this experience. It sounds awful :(

@JoyeuxNarwhal @BigGapMum thank you for being so candid. I'm having mine on Thurs under GA and having my biopsy and coil fitted at the same time. I'm pretty anxious but been v useful reading your accounts, thanks.