Hysteroscopy was fine

[EDMarr]

Hi, never posted before but wanted to add my experience of hysteroscopy to the discussion!
I was terrified. Had spoken to friends who had horrible experiences and I am by no means dismissive of their experiences but mine was fine. I was very honest about my anxiety and worries and felt heard and seen by each of the three members of the all female team. Was offered gas and air (never had this before) from the beginning but decided to try without initially and at no point needed it. Felt completely in control and respected at all times. Hope this helps some other woman out there. For context, am in my 50s but have never given birth. (Have had multiple miscarriages so possibly don’t belong here but really respect the sisterhood on this forum).

Agree OP. Same for me. The horror stories online are very scary.

I’m glad it was an ok experience for you. I was offered nothing at all the first time and it was horrendous, barbaric. The second time, they wanted me to do the same again and I refused and insisted on a general anaesthetic.

I think the most important thing is that they need to make women aware that they have a choice re anaesthetic. So many women do not even realise that a spinal anaesthetic or even a general anaesthetic is an option. If women can manage without this that’s absolutely great but so many women DO have horrific experiences and do not even realise they can say no and ask for anaesthesia. I had mine done under a spinal - this wasn’t offered to me, I insisted but I’m very used to having to advocate for myself due to having multiple rare disabilities. Other women do not feel comfortable doing this or have the knowledge to do so.

Very true, sparrowsandbudgies. The first time, I wasn’t even aware that it was a procedure that some had a general anaesthetic for. It was just assumed that I would have it without any pain relief discussed oroffered at all.

Luckily my consultant just said you'll have it under general anaesthetic I said why and he said well you can if you like but why would you 🤣 mind I did have a biopsy and mirena as well.

I don’t understand why we can’t be offered sedation like you are with a colonoscopy. Mine was awful - I had just been told to take a couple of paracetamol before.

I’ve just had one under GA. They did an ablation too but I was always going to have it under GA regardless. I’ve had enough painful smears and a terrible coil fitting to even entertain the idea of doing it without. I’m glad I researched and realised I had the choice though as it certainly wasn’t put to me. When they rang to book me in, I asked about pain relief and they said they do ‘hundreds’ a week and ‘most women’ manage well with ibuprofen and paracetamol. I pushed back and just had to see a Gynaecologist to talk it through and she was more than happy to sign it off. If I hadn’t pushed back at that point then that would have been that as they wanted to do it at my local outpatient hospital which doesn’t have the facilities of the bigger hospital nearby.

It is great that it’s fine in some instances for some women but I wasn’t willing to take the chance. It’s obviously incredibly painful for many.

Its so tricky isn't it? I was so wound up and worried about mine too, but in the end it was absolutely fine, and I had a biopsy too. Didn't feel a thing, and no after-effects. I had a local in my cervix, but nothing else.

I am alway fine with smears, and have had two babies, so maybe that helps.

The problem is that if everyone takes the GA route, then the lists would be massive, when it is actually true that most woman are fine without. I tried to put a positive note on a campaign site, but they wouldn't pass it, and every single comment was negative. I think that worries women. It's like childbirth, you only ever hear the bad experiences.

I know that for some people the experience is fine and for others (including myself) it is pretty awful. The problem is that until you’re actually having the procedure done you won’t know which category you’ll fall into!

Saying that it was fine for you, even with the best of intentions to reassure others, is ill advised. I believe that all women should be offered sedation as a minimum.

I wasn’t offered sedation as I was assured that having had 4 straightforward vaginal deliveries it would be virtually pain free. I’ve never had a problem with smears and generally have a pretty high pain threshold. The procedure was extremely painful and when the nurse said they would have to do a repeat I insisted on a GA. Maybe if I’d been offered sedation in the first place a GA could have been avoided.

I had one under general anaesthetic, but a polypectomy and D&C as well. It took 30 minutes so there was no question of having nothing to help. This was the first time having a GA so i won't be scared next time. I felt nothing, no pain whatsoever either during or after the procedure.