Having scoured the internet for days looking for positive and real experiences I thought I would share mine for anyone else who is looking. I had a surgical abortion with local anaesthetic at a bpas clinic. I was 8w 0d.
The Mifepristone the day before did escalate my already bad nausea a lot. I felt extremely nauseous and weak a few hours after taking this and until the next day. I arrived at the clinic and was checked in and obs done. I was taken upstairs after a 30 minute wait with a lovely kind HCA who made me laugh. Got changed into a gown but kept my own clothes underneath on the top half. Removed all bottom half.
Went into the theatre with legs up on stirrups and they inserted the speculum (like a smear) the local anaesthetic did sting, they did about 4 of these, like little bee stings.
Then the procedure began, the nurses were so kind and one was constantly scanning my stomach, we chatted during. I felt some cramping pain but I would say for me it was about 3 or 4 out of 10 pain wise. Very manageable (I had taken 800mg of ibuprofen as advised beforehand)
It was all done in about 5 minutes. Then they inserted a rather large antibiotic into my back passage (not pleasant!!) I did get extremely emotional for 5 mins or so afterwards but they said this is normal.
I was then helped up off the bed and into some knickers with a pad. I had some mild spotting immediately afterwards and some dull cramping. After 10 minutes in recovery I was sent back to a waiting room to be discharged.
I want to reassure anyone reading this that it was completely bearable and manageable. Pain was almost non existent during the procedure and it was very similar to a smear in terms of someone putting a speculum in etc. I am glad I went for LA personally as it made it very quick. Whoever needs to read this- you can get through this!