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Women's health

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Original poster

Failed hysteroscopy

101 replies

theotherfossilsister · 24/02/2021 20:28

Hello, I'm feeling a bit crap and wanted some advice.

I had a failed hysteroscopy on Monday. It was insanely painful and they said they couldn't open the neck of the womb. After forty minutes of them trying various instruments they gave up. I was then very sick - dry retching for ages and literally lying on the bathroom floor in agony. I feel like something bead terribly wrong with me for it not to have worked but when I came out of the bathroom the doctor just said done women are like that.

We have been TTC for over two years now, abs a Hycosy said I had a polyp which was going to get removed at the hysteroscopy. But I failed to get it removed.

Weirdly our consultant thinks we have male factor and I am just being treated to rule anything our, but after the failed procedure I keep thinking I must have something terribly wrong with me. I've never heard of this happening to anyone else.

Please can folk advise? I don't think I have endo as periods are ok and regular, if a bit clotty, I just don't know why it went so wrong.

OP posts:

Igmum · 25/02/2021 11:02

I'm horrifed that it is now common to do this without GA. So pleased we have MN to find out what is happening - you have been really badly treated OP. Unless you react badly to GA I would absolutely insist on it. Very good luck

StuntCroissant · 25/02/2021 11:04

OP you are not weird and certainly not alone. Just adding my voice to the others who found it incredibly painful.

I was not at all prepared and looking back I think I was probably traumatised by the procedure - as I was dressing/putting myself together afterwards, two male hospital porters came in as I was naked from the waist down and trying to wedge one of those awful huge pads into my knickers whilst in pain and in tears. Weirdly that affected me more than the procedure itself as I felt like an object and like no one had considered my dignity.

megletsecond · 25/02/2021 11:08

So sorry what you are having to put up with.

Mine was 16 years ago but I refused to let them do it without general anaesthetic. Bollocks were they trying that with me awake.

Hysteroscopy Action on Twitter are trying to get the NHS to improve its gynea procedures.

Toelopeornottoelope · 25/02/2021 11:12

You poor thing! I had one recently and was told to take a paracetamol 30 mins before; no other help. It was agony. It’s not on.

StuntCroissant · 25/02/2021 11:13

It's not just male consultants either! My female consultant tried to get me to have a missed chunk or 3-month-old calcified placenta removed from my womb with no pain relief or sedation whatsoever. I had to push for a spinal and was made to feel like I was being difficult.

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 25/02/2021 11:17

@KellyMarieTunstall2

I'm having this procedure on the 8th via my private health policy. My gynae a Male, said it was a quick easy process, no GA required. He even said as I've had several pregnancies it will be a piece of cake! It's clearly not, and now I'm becoming anxious about it.

I'm sorry, it's very likely yours will be better, I hope anyway. The aim of this thread wasn't to frighten anyone.

OP posts:

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 25/02/2021 11:18

@megletsecond

So sorry what you are having to put up with.

Mine was 16 years ago but I refused to let them do it without general anaesthetic. Bollocks were they trying that with me awake.

Hysteroscopy Action on Twitter are trying to get the NHS to improve its gynea procedures.

Ah, that is brilliant to know they exist. I will look them up and tweet them now, thank you.x

OP posts:

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 25/02/2021 11:22

I'm really grateful for all the replies. It makes me feel better that my experience wasn't just me, even though it's hell.

I really hope @KellyMarieTunstall2 doesn't have the sane experience, but thinking not your post and my reply, actually.my advice is to ask for a general, but I am sorry if I scared you.

People are right about dignity. It all disappears with this procedure.

OP posts:

oneglassandpuzzled · 25/02/2021 11:23

@KellyMarieTunstall2

Get hold of some cocodomal, KellyMarieTunstall2. The strongest you can over the counter. I actually used some left over from my husband's wrist operation, which the hospital gave him.

I have had three and found them tolerable. There's cramping when the probe goes through my cervix for a few seconds and then it's actually fine.

BonnyandPoppy · 25/02/2021 11:23

I was offered the choice a GA straight away which I took! I found them examining me painful and the doctor said she thought I had made the right decision as often they fail and end up doing it under GA anyway and she thought I would be one of the woman who needed a GA. Some seem to find it not painful and for others it is horrendous. It was not your fault at all! I had it done with a spinal in the end as they said it was better than a GA due to Covid. It was fine and interesting to be shown the inside of my womb on the camera (I refused the sedation so was wide awake). It meant I couldn't walk for four hours afterwards and ended up having to stay a night in the hospital as they had done it so late in the day but that was fine.

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 25/02/2021 11:31

Thank you @rawalpindithelabrador and @AnyFucker for saying I'm not making a fuss. I think this is the next step but I'd like it confirmed and also not to be bumped to the bottom of the waiting list. I feel so demanding.

OP posts:

AnyFucker · 25/02/2021 12:47

www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/

CookPassBabtridge · 25/02/2021 12:54

I don't understand why general isn't offered for all vaginal procedures, they are barbaric!

Beaniecats · 25/02/2021 12:56

Had mine under GA privately no other option offered. NHS at fault not you
Mine was difficult access I believe

InkyOctopus · 25/02/2021 12:59

There are national campaigns to stop this procedure because your experience is not uncommon.

It’s barbaric. I had mine under G&A. I’m sorry - big hugs.

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 25/02/2021 15:11

Thank you.

I'm talking to hysteroscopy action on twitter now. It's amazing to know there are campaigns to stop this. It was utter hell a d I feel misled, but at the same time I think the doctor just can't have known how bad it was going to be, could she? Otherwise she would have said more than a little pain and discomfort.

I've called and asked to be put forward for the procedure under general anaesthetic and to please not be bumped to the back of the waiting list. I'll see what happens.

OP posts:

Beaniecats · 25/02/2021 16:06

It depends my costs were covered through insurance (work policy) and even allowing for GA, consultant and hospital fees the cost wasn't through the roof if you were to look at this as a private option....

2lipsinamsterdam · 25/02/2021 16:22

They attempted to perform a hysteroscopy on me to remove a polyp. The pain was indescribable and the procedure only ended when the doctor realised that I had never given birth. A week later I had the procedure under GA.

It is barbaric.

emmathedilemma · 25/02/2021 17:19

I've heard so many horror stories of this it's ridiculous. I had mine done privately and there wasn't even any question about it being done under GA. A lot of the Consultants in the NHS also work in private practice so they know full well how much it hurts and why one offers GA as standard and the other doesn't!!

rawalpindithelabrador · 25/02/2021 17:20

@2lipsinamsterdam

It is barbaric.

And it doesn't matter if you have given birth, removing a polyp from an internal organ with NO pain relief is barbaric.

NoSausageRoll · 25/02/2021 17:30

I think it’s horrific that you are expected to undergo this without pain relief. I had one under GA privately. The consultant told me that he would always recommend GA, but of course that costs the NHS more.

Jbck · 25/02/2021 17:42

Had a ‘failed’ procedure and it was a consultant gynea doing it, she was lovely and kept reassuring me but only tried for about 5 minutes or so, asked if I wanted to try again, said I wasnt keen. No problem she said we’ll do it under GA, which TBH i would rather have avoided but it was fine, same consultant and she acknowledged the difficulties some women have.
Ive had natural birth too but had some scarring from a previous colposcopy, which although not pleasant, was a walk-in the park in comparison.
Don’t blame yourself in the slightest, good luck and hope you get it sorted quickly.

Beaniecats · 25/02/2021 17:46

@NoSausageRoll

Exactly what I was told

poppym12 · 25/02/2021 17:57

I'm sorry you went through this. I agree with the others who have said it's barbaric. I had one last year. I've also given birth to a large baby in a back to back position (albeit 20 years ago), a mirena put in and taken out and dodgy cells treated on my cervix so I'm used to procedures. However, if I ever need another hysteroscopy they'll have to anaesthatise me first.

The process of carrying this out must be updated. Occasionally a woman may not feel too much discomfort but more often than not, their experience is awful.

I hope you manage to get seen and heard.

Original poster

theotherfossilsister · 25/02/2021 20:10

Thank you all. I'm going to draft a complaint letter tomorrow then send it to hysteroscopy action to see if it's ok. I am both glad and horrified that it's not just me.

OP posts:

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