What will an ERPC/ D and C be like?

[AlwaysColdHands]

After miscarrying at ten weeks, I may need this as it looks like there are some retained products around my cesarean scar.
Please can someone tell me what it’s like? I’ve read a few posts but I think my main worry is whether they always knock you out? Or might they keep you awake?
Sorry, I’m sick to death of googling so just wanted to ask anyone who’d had an experience lately. to everyone on here x

Hi ACH. I'm sorry to hear about your miscarriage.

I've had two ERPCs, one less than a year ago, and both were under general anaesthetic. I think it is possible to have one under local but I thought I would find that more distressing.

With the more recent one, which is clearer in my mind, I was admitted at 9am, taken to theatre at 11am, and felt well enough to have a small meal about 2.30pm and went home at 4pm. I didn't have very much bleeding afterwards - like the last day of a period - and was only slightly uncomfortable for the next few hours; nothing ibuprofen couldn't deal with.

Would you prefer to stay awake?

Thank you, that’s helpful. I was wondering if it would be an all day type of thing too.
No, I really don’t think I want to be awake, I have found internal exams and scans after both my miscarriages really hard work mentally. But, also scared of general anaesthetic too.....
thanks for your reply x

@AlwaysColdHands I'm so sorry you are going through this. I had one under local anaesthetic in February and t wasn't very pleasant. At the time I was adamant I didn't want a general but if I ever had to have another I think I would go general. I found it very painful and had to have gas and air which i wasn't really expecting. The staff were absolutely incredible though. Good luck with whatever you choose

Hi, I'm so sorry for your loss.
When I had an ERPC, it was under a general anaesthetic. I don't think it was ever offered for the procedure to be done awake, and I don't think I would have wanted that, personally.
I went home a few hours after the GA. Afterwards I felt a bit crampy, like period pains, and had bleeding like a light period for about a week after I think.

Thanks both, it definitely sounds like a general is the better option. There’s something just horrendous about being wide awake with all kinds of scraping and removal going on. I can handle a smear no problem but this is a different category altogether.
Thankfully all the nurses I’ve come into contact with at my local maternity have been so kind and lovely, it’s really bowled me over. Can’t say the same about the doctors but honestly I’m so glad the women who have looked after me have chosen to work in nursing, they’ve made such a difference (slight tangent)

Not really a tangent; how you recover from a miscarriage is so personal and being treated well makes a big difference. Wishing you a quick recovery.

Sorry for your loss. I had an ERPC under general. I was home in and out within the day and the physical pain wasn’t too bad. High dose of painkillers and a hot water bottle was enough to cope with it. Mentally it was much harder so allow yourself time to grieve. My bleeding stopped straight away. Sending hugs. However it goes it’s an awful thing to go through.

I’ve had four ERPCs in the last 12 months, I actually find them to be a good form of closure, and also find the GA really relaxing.
I have a needle phobia so I always take my own emla cream and apply that in plenty of time before the op, and they use the needles they’d usually use in newborns as well.

Hi @AlwaysColdHands, sorry to hear of your loss

I had a D&C on Thursday so it’s fairly fresh in my mind. I was worried about the GA but actually didn’t mind it. Felt very relaxed, well taken care of and woke up in recovery feeling pretty good.

Have had a bit of bleeding but not much and have just had period like cramps, very manageable. The most painful part was after the operation where they put the blood pressure cuff on my upper arm when the cannula was still in my lower arm!
I’m so pleased that I choose this route, I felt closure and relief immediately. I’m still grieving for our baby and I think I always will but I couldn’t have carried on just waiting or something to happen.

Thanks everyone. Hopefully I don’t have to have the procedure but the information has been a massive help to me, as I was getting really anxious about it and was much better not to be in the dark about it. Thanks for sharing everyone x

The actual operation was the easiest part of the whole thing for me. I found out after 12 week mark. Ga was fine, felt like a big sleep, not much pain, heavy bleeding for a day then like a period. Recovered well and easily, period came back 4 weeks afterwards x good luck xxx

I was just thinking of you OP. I hope you're doing ok. No need to reply. x

Thanks for returning Hercules, it’s really thoughtful of you. I’ve been ‘discharged’ from EPU with instructions to do home test in 3 weeks etc. They think I passed everything on Thursday night, and couldn’t see anything on a scan on a Friday. HCG levels falling.
However, I am going to request a follow up because a), I passed a significant amount of matter on Monday morning which I’m certain was the foetus, so wondering why they didn’t see this on scan and b), perhaps linked to this, they observed that my c-section scar from 2014 looked a little tucked up & that there could be some ‘retained products’ hiding in there. I’d like some investigation into this (the sonographer explained it superbly but doctor wasn’t interested) as I’m concerned about it in terms of future pregnancy.
Not sure how much luck I’ll have requesting a review/ another scan but I need to be brave and do so. My friend who is a gynaecology nurse says they may still do an ERPC but I guess time is ticking so perhaps not.
I’m so grateful to everyone who gave me details of the procedure, I was feeling pretty petrified about it last week, thanks all x