Failed hysteroscopy

[theotherfossilsister]

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.

Urgh, don’t we have enough to ‘tolerate’?

@AgnesNaismith

Urgh, don’t we have enough to ‘tolerate’?

Apparently not, we're guinea pigs to test it out on.

So medics think the male has an issue but decide to put the female through an invasive, painful and degrading procedure 'just in case'.

Can you imagine the outcry if men were subjected to such treatment?

Good grief get anaesthetic... mine was GA

@StopGo

So medics think the male has an issue but decide to put the female through an invasive, painful and degrading procedure 'just in case'.

Can you imagine the outcry if men were subjected to such treatment?

My husband was offered a GA for a vasectomy, given a choice, and at least given a local. It appears women are not even for a far more invasive procedure, 'many women tolerate it'. Gas and air is not anaesthesia.

I was prepared for potentially needing one as my HCG wasn't falling after an ERCP for a missed miscarriage. I managed to avoid the procedure in the end but it was going to be under GA there was never any discussion about in being anything but. Having said that, I know of people having MVA procedures with no pain relief and that makes me feel sick to my stomach.

@rawalpindithelabrador exactly. It's an utter disgrace.

Hello, just an update, I rang the Gynae office and they seemed unfriendly but said I can have it done again.

I received a letter today saying I have been added to the waiting list (I was already on the waiting list for six months!) and as I'm priority group four it will take up to a year to see me. We're meant to be beginning IVF soon and I'm not able to start until the polyp is out.

I know they need to do hysteroscopty's for people with cancer, etc and it's really difficult at the moment but I am furious that their failure means I am to go to the back of the waiting list. I have no idea what to do or what next steps to take, please can anyone advise?

Can you afford to go private? Sorry but more and more people are having to pay to get seen quickly.

@willibald I'm not sure, we will look into that if it comes to it, but I just feel desperately sad that I waited six months and am now being punished for what I feel is not my failure by having to wait another year.

Like I completely understand that the NHS is overstretched and part of me feels like a spoilt brat throwing a strop because I need a general anaesthetic, but I didn't ask them to stop the original procedure, despite the intense pain. They stopped because I was sick, and I feel (rightly? wrongly)? I don't know, that I am being punished for that, and also having read about so many other women's experiences that this procedure should have been offered under general in the first place.

Private. Mine came to 4.5k inc all fees can you go to that

@Beaniecats - please can you tell me if that was with full general anaesthetic?

[quote theotherfossilsister]@Beaniecats - please can you tell me if that was with full general anaesthetic?[/quote]
Yes it covered my consultant, the anaesthetist and hospital day rate
It was on insurance so might have had a fixed rate or something

I've not read 4 pages but I wanted to come along here only to give another side.
I had this done a few years ago and it was almost painless.
I'm not saying this as a stealth boast, only to show other women what it can be okay. My gynae was great (I'd seen him for years) and I was offered a local or a GA if preferred.

I FULLY appreciate this is not all women's experience but it's wort pointing out that I was okay and I've had friends who were ok too.

I had a hyscwhatyoumacallit, for polyp removal, insanely stressful and so painful when they attempted to inject LA I called time on it. Gynecologist said they had previously done them mostly under GA but now tried LA first as many women could tolerate it. He was happy to complete under GA instead, I had that done a couple weeks ago and although the GA knocked me out for a week I'm glad that was an option, cervix is a sensitive area and sitting in stirrups is horrible.

So I wouldn't worry that something is wrong, I'd see whether GA is a possibility. Sorry you've had such a rubbish time of it.

I was slated for using the word tolerate,maybe bad wording.
I have had3 hysteroscopies,one under GA as it was more extensive.
The first under local was fine.The second became painful and the consultant stopped immediately.
That's what should happen.
Waiting lists are very long at the moment.Local hysteroscopies are quicker so more can be done in the same time as it takes for a GA so lots of early cancer detection and those get priority ga's.
And I've been waiting a years for a hysterectomy before I'm told I'm heartless again.
The longest waiting lists are women's health at the moment as only 2 week waits were prioritised.
I've had my preop assesment but met a woman who had hers 6 months ago so I'm just waiting.
I'm sorry it's putting off your IVF op,good luck with that,my DD is almost 18 and worth the wait.

Fucking hell I've got one booked next week without ga. Gonna change it. Already after a natural birth with no painkillers ...I lived in a 3rd world country then was bloody torture. Not going to risk that. Great information here, thank you.

@Signoramarella

Fucking hell I've got one booked next week without ga. Gonna change it. Already after a natural birth with no painkillers ...I lived in a 3rd world country then was bloody torture. Not going to risk that. Great information here, thank you.

My understanding is that the vast majority of women are fine having it done under local not GA. GA is much more risky so, unless it's contraindicated, local anaesthetic is far better.

I've had two hysteroscopies under local, and both times was back at my desk within a couple of hours. This isn't meant to minimise other people's experience, but almost every one of my friends who has had a hysteroscopy has been fine and not needed a GA. There is no way I'd have wanted to have a GA because a minority of people can't tolerate the procedure under a local.

Hopefully you will be fine.

I’ve just had a hysteroscopy under GA they didn’t try to do this in outpatients but they did try to do a biopsy in outpatients first and couldnt because of my anatomy so dont feel strange about that we’re all made differently. I Wish you luck with ICSI I have twins through this method of fertility treatment and know how stressed you will be feeling now so sending positive vibes and keeping everything crossed

I'm 56 and post-menopausal. I had a hysteroscopy today for general investigation and to insert a Mirena coil to supply the progesterone part of my HRT programme. I wasn't looking forward to the procedure but had no idea just how horrific it would be. The pamphlet they sent prior to the appointment certainly didn't explain fully what to expect.

After having to use a speculum for access, the doctor finally managed to get the camera in to my uterus, but then failed to be able to navigate the area. The procedure certainly took much longer than the suggested time of 15 minutes and I was in so much pain, even with gas and air, that the doctor decided to stop the whole thing. It must have been an hour before I was able to go home as my heart rate and blood pressure plummeted and I threw up. I've never experienced anything like it. I did wonder why it took three medics to assist with a seemingly simple procedure, but soon realised why!

I've always considered myself to have a high pain threshold and don't like to make a fuss, but I would never even consider having such a procedure again without general anaesthetic. It's disgraceful that this is not an option and seems archaic and barbaric practice in this day and age. I'm sure I read it used to be done under GA. Are women being subjected to this because of healthcare cuts?

Obviously the Mirena coil wasn't inserted and I will now have to change my HRT to a conti patch to get the progesterone I need, even though it has never really suited me in the past. The doctor has said that she will book me in for an ultrasound scan instead and in the hope that it shows no signs for concern, I will be able to continue as I am. Heaven knows what I would do if she suggests there may be a problem!

I've read too many posts this evening from women who've had similar experiences and doubt I'd have gone today had I read them beforehand. Even the nurses said it wasn't that unusual. Many commented that they are left with the worry of why the procedure failed and what could have been missed in the process. I feel that I suffered for nothing, that it was such a waste of time and that potential problems have still not been investigated.

Hello, anyone who has experience of delayed period after hysteroscopy? how long is it normal for the period to be delayed when have done a hysteroscopy without D&C?

I had a hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic.
@saraah30 I had delayed period after it, but only by about a week. How late is yours?

@rawalpindithelabrador

You know who failed? Not you, but the NHS with this BARBARIC practice of doing this procedure with NO anaesthetic and/or just bloody gas and air. Absolutely horrific practice! There are reams of threads about this. It's nothing less than utter misogyny. A man would NEVER be expected to undergo such an invasive procedure with nothing. I'm so sorry.

I agree. I've had 3 and always unde GA. I'd never allow it otherwise though it wasn't even suggested without GA.

Thanks for the reply. my period is about two weeks delayed now...