Hysteroscopy Advice Please

[gettingalife]

I'm having a hysteroscopy next week under general anaesthetic to remove a polyp and some cysts. I've has dreadful period pain each month for the last 6 months with heavy bleeding. I'm 49 so probably peri menopausal. I'm really anxious about it and wondered if anyone had had anything similar? Any advice if so? Thank you in advance.

Hi. I've had 2 hysterocopies with biopsies to explore the cause of very heavy bleeding. Turned out to be fibroids which I had removed later.

I had mine done under Local not General so was back at my desk straight afterwards. No issues and the subsequent fibroid removal sorted out the heavy bleeding. I was about 47 at the time so assumed peri menopause but 7 years on I still have no menopausal symptoms and bleeding is fine and very regular!

I had 2 hysteroscopies under ga several years ago, the second one to remove a troublesome polyp which was causing torrential bleeding. I can only say that it was life changing and enabled me to get back to a normal life. You have all my sympathy gettingalife, and I do hope the operation will be as helpful for you too.

Ps I am now through the menopause and it is absolutely wonderful not to have periods any more! Hang on in there, it does seem interminable at the time, but you will come through it.

I had one a couple of months ago. I ended up with a spinal as they said it was better in covid times. Was fine. I wouldn’t like one without an anaesthetic but I know some people have them with a local. I took overnight things with me and needed them as they did it so late I ended up staying overnight.

Thanks so much for the replies, they're very reassuring. How long did you have to wait for the biopsy results? I'm scared of that bit too!

Mine took weeks to get the results. I had to chase it up. During the procedure though as I was awake (spinal) they showed me the inside of my womb on the camera and said it looked nice and healthy and that they weren’t worried that the biopsy would show anything (though they still took one and sent it off)

I'm sorry I can't remember now how long I had to wait for the biopsy results, but just to add that both times I had the op in the morning and was home again the same day. Good luck.

I've had a couple of these before a hysterectomy. I didn't have any pain from the op except trapped air after the first one- excruciating.

The results were quite quick.

You'll be fine

I think the results came through within a fortnight.

I had both mine in the morning, was back at work by lunchtime. No pain as far as I remember.

I had a hysteroscopy and removal of polyp under GA 6 months ago. I’m 52 and have had breast cancer in the past.
It took about 5 weeks to get the results which was quite annoying!
Try to remember the vast majority of polyps will be benign. Mine was showing pre cancerous changes, but they removed the whole thing. I just have to watch out for anymore bleeding.

Thanks so much for the replies. I think the pain I'm having has really got me down and I've over thought the whole thing! Sounds like it's an ok procedure so I need to keep reminding myself how much better I'll feel afterwards. You've all really settled my mind.

It's interesting you've all had your hysterscopy under some sort of anaesthesia. I had mine in the gynae department with no anaesthetic at all last November. I am due at some point to go and have an ablation with fibroid shaving and a polyp removed, but with local this time. Whenever that will happen. However, about 7 years ago I had some polyps removed under ga. I wonder why it's so different now?

@longtompot I also had a hysteroscopy with no pain relief in a special chair in the gynae dept. It was actually horrific but it did sort my gynae problems out.

[quote AnyFucker]@longtompot I also had a hysteroscopy with no pain relief in a special chair in the gynae dept. It was actually horrific but it did sort my gynae problems out.[/quote]
Me too! About 6 years ago. It was like the worst period pain that I've ever had but I was sorted out.

longtompot That is interesting. I also had a transvaginal ultrasound (I think that's what it was called) before both of my operations, so I wonder whether it depends on the position, size and the accessibility of the polyps/fibroids. I was also signed off work for a week after the polyp removal; again, I wonder whether that is a change in practice or whether it is related to the size and position of my polyp.

@Boiledeggandtoast

longtompot That is interesting. I also had a transvaginal ultrasound (I think that's what it was called) before both of my operations, so I wonder whether it depends on the position, size and the accessibility of the polyps/fibroids. I was also signed off work for a week after the polyp removal; again, I wonder whether that is a change in practice or whether it is related to the size and position of my polyp.

The tv ultrasound is different to the hysterscopy. I'd have the ultrasound any day over the hysterscopy. It might well be due to the size. They didn't pick up the polyp at my ultrasound, just all the fibroids. The one I have removed under ga I remember the surgeon coming to see me and said one of the polyps she removed was massive, which was probably why they couldn't remove it with me awake. My hysterscopy wasn't horrific, but I got myself all upset as there were more people in the room than I was expecting (4, all women) but I think it took me back to when I was due to have my first smear at the health clinic and that seemed to be a room full of people. The nurses were amazing, and the consultant dr and the trainee dr were both lovely too. The chair was awful as I felt so very exposed, but was covered in a blanket and it was all very discreet. Some bits were a bit breath taking, not in a good way, ie the biopsy. I was still very tense at the end that they couldn't removed the speculum!! At least my muscles work The next one I am dreading, but also want done NOW! So fed up of heavy periods, flooding and clots. This is despite having depo and this Zoladex injection.

Hello, I'm having the same done late February and cannot wait for the polyps to be removed. A friend had it and said she was surprised by how painless bit was, hers was under local not general. I am sure it will be worth it for both of us.

I am TTC with male factor infertility but the polyp has to go before we start IVF. It also explains why my periods are horrible and sometimes a bit clotty.

I’m about to have my third hysteroscopy. Funnily enough the one done by the nhs returned biopsy results in ten days and the private one took three weeks. I now have them done with no anaesthetic but take OTC cocodomal before. Don’t find it too awful. I 57 and am having precancerous cells ruled out as the cause of my bleeding. They always remove polyps, which are benign but want to make sure. This started when I commenced HRT. Which I am still on, but now with a mirena.

Don’t read too many online accounts as you will mainly see negative experiences. Those of us who manages without more than discomfort don’t tend to post as much.

Good luck! 💐

It could well be size then because my polyp was picked up at the initial ultrasound. I agree that an ultrasound is a lot easier than a hysteroscopy!

I wish anaesthetic was offered in my area. I was told to take paracetamol 30 mins before and the nurse gave me her hand to squeeze while they did it. That was all. Most painful thing I've ever experienced. The pain didn't last more than 20 mins or so after they had finished though so I would imagine by the time you come round from an anaesthetic that you will barely notice it.

I've ended up having it done privately as the waiting list was so long on the NHS. It's done under general privately, but would be either a local or nothing on the NHS.

I'm 48 and had one done about 9 months ago for heavy bleeding and polyp removal. They warned me beforehand that a lot of women can't cope with the pain, but I actually found it bearable. The biopsy came back in a week or so - I was unlucky as it found early stage endometrial cancer. Had everything whipped out two weeks later and hopefully that's it. Having cancer and a sudden menopause is a bit crap, but not having periods any more is fantastic.

I had one done privately last year and it was fine. I was probably only away from my hospital room for about an hour in total. Had very little bleeding afterwards and wasn't really even sore. I didn't have any pain relief after the procedure other than whatever they might have given me during the GA and they sent me home with some fairly serious painkillers which I never needed to take. I felt groggy afterwards but I think that was probably also because i'd had a couple of stressful days, a fairly sleepless night the night before and an early start. I was otherwise fine and got the bus home late afternoon - had to be accommpanied as they wouldn't let me go home alone after a GA (although I was willing to lie and say someone was meeting me in reception!).

@gettingalife I had one done a few years back, privately.
It was more or less painless and I had nothing. I asked for nothing and they had a local to hand if needed.
I know the experience varies hugely but my own experience was that it was on a par with a smear although took longer. I took public transport there and back and was fine the next day.
Hope yours goes well.