Would you have this hystersocpy under a GA?

[lyrapie]

In March 23 I started HRT. The prior year I had one or two periods. I also went 10m without a period. Since March 23 I have had either no monthly shows or v light spoting. All consistent with my HRT. Last Thursday I had a heavy bleed. Ditto Friday. Called Dr. They referred me to 2w emergency cancer screen. Today I had a pelvic scan. Lining 5.6mm. Normal for peri. Thick(ish) for post menopausal. I have been booked for hysteroscopy under GA (passed out last time due to bent cervix). I think the risk of cancer is too low to warrant this procedure and GA. The gynae said they were 95% sure there is no cancer. What would you do?

I’ve had this under ga on a Monday afternoon, recovered Tuesday and back to work on a Wednesday. Felt sick rest of that week but I even made it to London on a Saturday evening.

I’ve heard of people being signed of sick a week after or spending a night in hospital but I’m like how.

I personally didn’t like it, I was made to consent twice and woke up being up told I’d no fibroid, it’d disappeared, but they had still fitted a coil and I had no change - another hospital were later like you are cut out of a conversation but I just remember a consultant after the operation saying no fibroid and my ‘heavy periods’ would go, no idea to this day where they got this from. I was on a day unit of people having ent procedures so it’s not as if they could have attended the wrong bed. LOL

A private scan 4 weeks later said yep you have a fibroid, the hospital later said it was just buried to deep in front of another person who said weren’t they clever with their words. Eh you sent me home with paperwork saying no fibroid / no polyp I’ll beg your pardon.

I’ve heard of people who won’t trust nhs gynae and I fully understand why.

I had one under GA - ademyosis and 4.5cm benign fibroids all sorted out - I only needed 2 days off work and have been much better ever since.

Speak to the anesthetist about coming round in a previous GA. Certain conditions make you more likely and they can adjust accordingly. Being a red head (strange but documented evidence for this) and having hypermobility are probably the more common things. I have hypermobility and local anaesthetic and spinal anesthetic don't work well on me. Only had 1 GA and it was fine thankfully. But a frank conversation with the anesthetist should help.

@JinglingSpringbells Thanks for the info. Appreciate the trouble. I am on Elleste Duet 1mg which says monthly light spotting is to be expected. Agree I wasn't post meno when starting HRT - max I'd gone without a period was 10m - and suspect I am still not, given the spotting. Which makes me think the 5.6mm is fine hence my initial hesitation to go ahead with the procedure. However to go from light spotting to full on heavy bleed does feel bit odd so will fo the procedure when referral comes through.

@Soontobe60 Thanks. Agree. There is really wide range in response to these procedures. The consultation was interesting because I said I was very happy to try and see how far we get but have history of finding similar procedures of getting through the cervix difficult. The gynae instantly suggested doing it under GA. In the past I have always been encouraged to go ahead. Was surprised that this time I wasn't. V happy to fo under GA tbh. When I was younger I felt I had to prove myself (silly I know), happy yo say I no longer do.

@DryBiscuit A year! Feeling v frustrated for you.

This. If you're under a GA you won't feel a thing just wake up a bit groggy. You might need someone to drive you home. You'll feel tired and sleep a bit longer then you'll wake up fine. Don't take a risk with your health.

Consultants can often see more than just the thickness - they look for abnormalities in the lining which are variations on the regular stripes the scan shows. The thickness is only just one factor and is a guide.

Elleste Duet is for peri meno. It gives a monthly withdrawal bleed.
As you seem to be on a sequential type, the lining will be thicker at different times of the cycle. Up to 10mm is normal for sequential HRT.
The only accurate way is a scan immediately after a bleed- like day 5-7 of the cycle.

There is info online about this from the BMS which says that anything serious when on HRT and especially sequential is very rare.

You can have a normal cycle alongside your HRT that would give a heavier bleed. I have heavy bleeds on my HRT (just for info.)

Not trying to say don't have the investigation bur do consider a local jab not a GA.

@JinglingSpringbells Thanks, appreciate

Quick update as didn't want to post and run. Had the hysterscopy and biopsy under a general. Procedure was fine. Results benign. Found some other more minor issues which are being dealt with. Glad I did it. Thanks to all for responding :)

It’s not at all barbaric under a local. Not if you’ve had kids before. I had 2 hysteroctopies last year. Both under local. First was to look at womb lining and fit a mirena, that was aborted when the consultant found a polyp, so went back in, another procedure- which was more uncomfortable but an oof and a gasp level, and then he fit the mirena and it’s all good!

although with @lyrapie and a bent cervix, if the gynaecologist says GA, absolutely do GA.

you’ll be fine @lyrapie - you need to do this

Ah! X-post! Well done @lyrapie

good news! Here’s hoping everything gets sorted out for you soon!