Had a pelvic scan seeing gynecologist next week. Hysteroscopy question?

[alrightluv]

For those who have had a hysteroscopy did you have GA/local or just pain relief? TIA

Just asking in case they mention having one.

I had one with no pain relief (except BYO paracetamol), performed by consultant. It was awful. I would never do it again without GA.

I was just told to take 2 ibuprofen beforehand. I asked if I would be able to have gas and air if needed and was told I was being silly because it wouldn’t hurt - and the answer was I couldn’t have gas and air.

It was extremely painful. I was clinging to the nurse - and it was being carried out by the gynae consultant. I would never have one done without GA again.

However, my sister’s experience was ‘no worse than a smear test’. It seems to really vary….

I've had this procedure recently. Because I know two women in my family who found it incredibly painful, I asked to have it done under general anaesthetic. I was having a polyp removed as well and really didn't fancy being conscious for that.

I'm so glad I chose GA. It was all so easy. And I didn't find it difficult to recover from the GA afterwards, although I'm sure people's reactions vary.

@DrunkTinkerbell40s I had one under GA with a polyp removal, it was on a Sunday and I took the Monday off work. I was given a sick note for the Monday. I was glad to have the day off, for the GA more than the procedure - could have worked but would have been shattered.

Omg, just stumbled across this thread & slightly freaking out. I’ve got one of these in the morning & secretary just told me to take a couple of paracetamol or ibuprofen… oh well, I’ve had cancer once before & got thru that, am sure this will be fine 😬

Had one a month ago, they removed a polyp, and had a smear all at same time, under GA. Was day surgery but ended staying in overnight due to heavy flooding with huge blood clots. Got over GA super quick but just the flooding stopped me from going home. Flooding stopped over the next day and a half then bled for about 9 days, slowly petering out. Haven't had my results yet. The admin side of the NHS sure lets it down.

I had a hysteroscopy, biopsy & coil last month. I took paracetamol & Nurofen before I went in. Was sore for a few days after with cramps. Best of luck.

I had a general anaesthetic with my first hysteroscopy, during which they removed a polyp, did a D&C and put in my first Mirena. It was great, not a bother.

With my second hysteroscopy, when I was due to have a polyp removal (I am prone to them), biopsy and another Mirena, my gynaecologist reckoned as I've had three vaginal births I'd be fine with just ibuprofen. He was right, it felt a bit weird but I didn't find it painful in the slightest.

Might be worth reading through the official advice so you know what's possible and the risk factors.

www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/outpatient-hysteroscopy/

I had a GA, it took nearly a week to recover from the anaesthetic.

This is slightly off topic in a way but if it's within your means to take out private health care, consider it. (And the younger you start, the cheaper it is.)

Usually it doesn't cover menopause itself (ie HRT or existing long term stuff) but it does cover other gynae procedures. I had company cover for years then carried on once that stopped.
With things like a hysteroscopy it means you have the choice of how it's done and can choose who does it. You're able to have a conversation with your consultant, not be 'told' what your NHS trust does.

Oh good luck!! I'm sure it'll be fine and just think if it isn't, tell them to stop and book it in with a GA. Please let us know how you get on x

Thank you so much. Was starting to panic as was reading about recovering maybe being two weeks! I've told my boss I'll only need the day off!

Have it done under GA.

Don't believe the hype that it's fine to have it done without sedation, it's not true - just more of that women's health problems are always dismissed/minimised narrative that's been going on for far too long now.

Real women's experiences are not 'hype'.
There are plenty examples here of how some didn't have any pain or very little.

The important thing is choice. That gives women power.

I was adamant I didn't want a GA.

Often you can choose to have it with nothing, then a local done at the time if you find it painful. And if neither of those work, reschedule for a GA.

It's easy to underestimate the risks of a GA. There is always a small risk. You need to fast beforehand, can't drive home, have to have an adult with you for 24 hours afterwards, and some people take a week to get a GA out of their system. It's not just a 'doddle'.

A big problem is that you don't know how painful it is until it starts, @JinglingSpringbells. Then there is lots of implicit (and in my case explicit) pressure just to plough on and get it done.

It is an example of women's pain being ignored/minimised. A choice of IV or gas and air sedation is offered as standard for a colonoscopy, which is usually uncomfortable rather than actively painful (unless significant bowel disease). Having had a hysteroscopy on just paracetamol I would literally have ten colonoscopies before I had another.

@Squareroot I hope you got on OK?

I do appreciate your feelings. But I don't agree that all medics are anti-women or dismiss women's feelings. I accept some women have had bad experiences, which isn't right. My gynaecologist is a man and couldn't be kinder or more considerate.

There are examples from women on these forums who were told they could choose and start with nothing, add on a local jab if they wanted to, or abandon it and wait for a GA.

If a woman finds it very painful, they have every right to say 'Stop' and reschedule with a GA if they want to.

Unfortunately, and this is just what I've read, the procedure and how it's done varies within NHS Trusts rather than taking into account personal choices.

A friend had it done and she was made to feel soft for complaining. It was a different hospital so hopefully I get a different team 🙏

I don't agree that all medics are anti-women or dismiss women's feelings

I clearly didn’t say that, @JinglingSpringbells, or imply it.

My post was more about the practicalities of ‘see how you go’. At the point I was in stirrups, in a lot of pain, trying not to scream, I didn’t know if the worst was over or if it would get worse still. This makes informed consent tricky at best.

Women should not be put in that position. Gas and air should be available. Adequate pain relief and other forms of sedation should have been discussed prior to the appointment.

Yes, it clearly varies on location.

I chose GA. This is an option on the NHS although they prefer to do them without anaesthesia. I don't think they promote women having full information on this procedure and being able to make an informed choice.

Most women find it uncomfortable or painful but manageable. However a sizeable minority of women find it extremely painful, beyond for example the pain of childbirth and fainting from pain is also not uncommon.

I had GA. I asked for it but my gynaecologist refuses to do them without. She says it's 'brutal'.

Did you not have any discussion beforehand on what was possible? You should have been told 'Tell me to stop if it's very bad and we can give you a local'.

There was no pain relief offered at all, @JinglingSpringbells. Just take your own paracetamol.

I had a local for each of my 3 hysteroscopies which was fine