The horror of the hysteroscopy - chapter 2

Squareroot · 2024-08-27T05:18:06+00:00

A month or so back there was a thread about the horror of hysteroscopies, I had to go for one at my local cottage hospital after post menopausal bleeding but the nurse couldn’t get in there cos the opening to my cervix was too tight apparently & it was fecking painful. Two weeks later I went to the district hospital & saw a gynae who tried again. Even with gas & air the pain made me cry & she only got a tiny biopsy so it’s got to be done again under a GA. There was some associated minor bleeding afterwards for a day or so. Anyways, fast forwards a week & I am now having a full-on period - about a month since my original PMB - which makes me wonder if my ovaries have cranked up again, almost having a last gasp before passing out. Could this be? I’m 54 next month, had a chemo-induced menopause when I had cancer treatment aged 50 & am on HRT (approved by my oncologist) This “period” has come on with all the associated sore breasts, stomach cramps etc. intend to call GP today but first day back after bank holiday am not holding my breath…

JinglingSpringbells · 27/08/2024 07:54

It sounds as if you aren't as post-menopausal as you thought.
I don't recall your previous thread but you'd be post-meno if you'd gone for 12 months with no period. Perhaps the treatment you had before didn't make you as 'post' as you thought?

There's probably not much point contacting your GP because you're waiting for another look at it anyway. (Unless you want to cancel that?)

Sorry to hear about the experience of your investigation. I didn't even know nurses were allowed to do them! The skill of the doctor is very important. They need to be surgeons not nurses. I had to be dilated when I had one and it took a while ( 30 mins) but was painless.

blahblahblah2000 · 27/08/2024 10:17

Wow I thought hysteroscopies were under general anaesthetic! Sounds so painful. Plus only by a doctor!

Original poster

Squareroot · 27/08/2024 11:06

JinglingSpringbells · 27/08/2024 07:54

It sounds as if you aren't as post-menopausal as you thought.
I don't recall your previous thread but you'd be post-meno if you'd gone for 12 months with no period. Perhaps the treatment you had before didn't make you as 'post' as you thought?

There's probably not much point contacting your GP because you're waiting for another look at it anyway. (Unless you want to cancel that?)

Sorry to hear about the experience of your investigation. I didn't even know nurses were allowed to do them! The skill of the doctor is very important. They need to be surgeons not nurses. I had to be dilated when I had one and it took a while ( 30 mins) but was painless.

Edited

Thing is until this episode I’ve not had any bleeding for 3.5 years so thought I was past all this, as you say maybe not

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stilldumdedumming · 27/08/2024 11:18

I have had two hysteroscopes. I am sure they mentioned that it might start up some bleeding down the line (as well as just afterwards). But don't take my word for it obviously and it's best to get checked.

Just in case anyone has one coming up, I had both with no anaesthetic and for me it was uncomfortable not painful. I know it's not the same for everyone. But wanted to offer that in case it helps anyone. I did feel really weird after one of them. I went home, got into bed and cried! Not sure why.

JinglingSpringbells · 27/08/2024 13:41

blahblahblah2000 · 27/08/2024 10:17

Wow I thought hysteroscopies were under general anaesthetic! Sounds so painful. Plus only by a doctor!

There are very specific guidelines established for hysteroscopy by the ROCG. These are online and anyone can read them.

They are very 'caring' and do say that women should be given the choice. I think the guide says around 80% of women cope well without any pain relief but if they can't tolerate it, they should say so and the procedure should be stopped and rearranged with a GA.

Not everyone needs or wants a GA.
I was given the choice through my consultant.
I chose to try it with nothing and then a local (jab) if needed.
I definitely didn't want a GA with all the rigmarole of fasting, etc beforehand for what is a 5-10 min procedure.

The procedure does rely on skill. I had to be dilated but it was done very gently and carefully (and painlessly.)

Everyone is different but I don't think nurses should do and I didn't think they were allowed to.

Original poster

Squareroot · 27/08/2024 14:35

It’s weird isn’t it - the nurse who first tried & couldn’t get in said I’d be offered a local anaesthetic but when I was at my district hospital they said no because administering it was just as painful as having the procedure done so just offered me gas & air. For some reason that made me cry (and not laugh, which I thought it would do!) The gynae said I had a long cervix which didn’t help apparently… So yes, a GA is a faff but there we go

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JinglingSpringbells · 27/08/2024 14:47

Squareroot · 27/08/2024 14:35

It’s weird isn’t it - the nurse who first tried & couldn’t get in said I’d be offered a local anaesthetic but when I was at my district hospital they said no because administering it was just as painful as having the procedure done so just offered me gas & air. For some reason that made me cry (and not laugh, which I thought it would do!) The gynae said I had a long cervix which didn’t help apparently… So yes, a GA is a faff but there we go

I genuinely don't understand this.

How is a nurse qualified to look at a uterus and decide if there are any abnormalities? That requires a specialist gynaecologist who knows what to look for because they only 'look' for a very short amount of time- seconds.

It's also a choice about the injection or not. Sorry to bang on but this is all explained in a lot of detail in the RCOG guidance.

Original poster

Squareroot · 27/08/2024 17:07

JinglingSpringbells · 27/08/2024 14:47

I genuinely don't understand this.

How is a nurse qualified to look at a uterus and decide if there are any abnormalities? That requires a specialist gynaecologist who knows what to look for because they only 'look' for a very short amount of time- seconds.

It's also a choice about the injection or not. Sorry to bang on but this is all explained in a lot of detail in the RCOG guidance.

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I was a bit ahem about the nurse. I was shocked when she introduced herself, tho she made clear she’d done “dozens of these” from the POV of taking the biopsies, which would then be looked at in a lab. Second time round I was told because they didn’t use the speculum it wasn’t as uncomfortable but it didn’t feel like it to me. TBH I felt like a bit of a failure & think that’s why I got emotional & cried. Plus having had cancer before I think that had been playing on my mind…

OP posts:

JinglingSpringbells · 27/08/2024 17:34

Squareroot · 27/08/2024 17:07

I was a bit ahem about the nurse. I was shocked when she introduced herself, tho she made clear she’d done “dozens of these” from the POV of taking the biopsies, which would then be looked at in a lab. Second time round I was told because they didn’t use the speculum it wasn’t as uncomfortable but it didn’t feel like it to me. TBH I felt like a bit of a failure & think that’s why I got emotional & cried. Plus having had cancer before I think that had been playing on my mind…

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But she didn't manage did she?
Taking a biopsy isn't as straightforward as it sounds because they have to get a good 'twirl' of the instrument (that's my understanding).
You can have a biopsy without the camera. Or a biopsy along with the hysteroscopy. (I've had both.)

I'm sorry you've had to go through this.