General anaesthetic questions- Womens health

[Myfavouritecoffeemug]

I am having a coil fitted under general anaesthetic and I wanted to know if the procedure is the same as any other. Am I allowed to wear toenail polish? My toes are going through a trauma and are all discoloured I would love to be able to cover them up. Also I know this is embarrassing but do I shave down there or not? I know there is a risk of infection but if the team/doctor is staring down there while I’m unconscious this gives me more anxiety. My legs are going to be up in the air with no underwear it’s a woman gynaecologist thankfully but the other team members might be male. I can’t believe im embarrassed about this at my age but I am. Anyone had this done before? Thanks

Why would you shave if you don't usually? I never shave my public hair but will occasionally trim it to keep it under control

It'll just be another coil fitting to them, they've seen more vaginas than any other profession, unless you're thinking of glitter and sequins it'll be another vagina, move on to the next one.

No, don't shave

No toenail varnish, no make-up, no piercings (you need to remove any you have), no unnecessary shaving.

Good luck with the procedure OP.

@Myfavouritecoffeemug

It is the same as any other however it is classed as gynae. So it is likely whilst under you will be internally examined by a number of med students as experience for them, if you dont want this then i would make it clear when signing consent, as to what you are consenting.

[quote mandyjones]@Myfavouritecoffeemug

It is the same as any other however it is classed as gynae. So it is likely whilst under you will be internally examined by a number of med students as experience for them, if you dont want this then i would make it clear when signing consent, as to what you are consenting.[/quote]
This is appalling if that would happen without actually giving consent surely?

@TheVolturi
Was made aware of this around 4 years ago, i read the consent form and it did say words to the effect i was giving my consent ( it certainly wasnt in bold capitals and brought to my attention )

That's shocking

That is so awful!

[quote mandyjones]@Myfavouritecoffeemug

It is the same as any other however it is classed as gynae. So it is likely whilst under you will be internally examined by a number of med students as experience for them, if you dont want this then i would make it clear when signing consent, as to what you are consenting.[/quote]
This has come up on MN repeatedly, it does not happen in the UK. Any medical student wanting to examine a gynae patient under anaesthetic must seek specific consent to do so. The general operation consent form covers med students being present in theatre but not examinations. OP can seek reassurance from the surgeon on the day but having spent many, many days doing gynae lists, there really honestly is not a queue of medical students waiting to examine anyone. Most days there aren't students watching, and if there are it's only one or two, who you have the right to object to if you so wish. Everywhere I've worked has been extremely strict on them going through the appropriate consent process for examinations.

Thanks for the replies. Honestly, I’ve had smears and wasn’t embarrassed and I sat in my bra yesterday for an ECG. Im embarrassed that I don’t know how many people will be in theatre, while my legs and my vagina are up in the air. I have heard horror stories about staff doing examinations on you when you are under. Thankfully as a previous poster said, it’s more common in the US rather than the UK.

Has anyone here had this done before under GA? Is everything the same , will I need a cannula? I don’t mind having one ti be honest. Just curious.

I’ve just come across this article and it is in the UK. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.vice.com/amp/en/article/59njez/nonconsensual-pelvic-exams-performed-unconscious-women.

These were done on girls who were having surgery on their abdomen via keyhole. These doctors had no business going and removing the women’s underwear and going into their vaginas for practice, unless they gained consent first. It makes me wonder if the procedure is already taking place inside the vagina whats to stop the gynaecologist saying to their students come here and feel this.. then before you know it three pairs of fingers have been inside you. I just think it’s a bit strange. By all means they should ask permission first. It also mentions about men waking up from surgery having had fingers inserted into their anus for practice on prostate exams. I very much doubt that this will happen to me but seeing as my procedure will cause some bleeding and cramping I’ll never know. I remember having period like blood after my smear test. Fingers crossed most of the UK hospitals don’t follow this protocol.

[quote Myfavouritecoffeemug]I’ve just come across this article and it is in the UK. www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.vice.com/amp/en/article/59njez/nonconsensual-pelvic-exams-performed-unconscious-women.[/quote]
This is really poor, over-dramatised reporting of a normal surgical procedure which was badly explained to the patient. It is NOT medical students lining up to examine unconscious women.

A "uterine manipulator" is a normal part of laparoscopic gynae surgery - and yes, to get it inserted correctly a vaginal examination is required. But this would be done by a trained, supervised member of the gynae team, it's not a bunch of students just trying out exams.
This should be explained in advance to patients as part of the consent process, and if they didn't understand that, the doctors involved should have been more thorough and more respectful in their clean-up after, but it's a necessary part of the procedure.

I've spent plenty of time in gynae theatres and on any occasion when a student is present, the surgeons and the scrub team are meticulous about making sure the patient has consented for them to be present and for any examination. Please don't panic about this happening, and speak to your surgeon about your worries on the day.

Yes, you will need a cannula, the anaesthetist will usually put it in when you arrive in the anaesthetic room, occasionally on the ward beforehand.

I had a hysteroscopy under GA yesterday, the pre op info sheet says not to shave beforehand due to risk cuts that could become infected.
I know how you feel about toenails, I had horrendous fungal toenails before I overcame my embarrassment to see my GP and had a course of terbinafine, but you may be told to wear surgical stockings which will cover them.

[quote mandyjones]@Myfavouritecoffeemug

It is the same as any other however it is classed as gynae. So it is likely whilst under you will be internally examined by a number of med students as experience for them, if you dont want this then i would make it clear when signing consent, as to what you are consenting.[/quote]
This does not happen anymore.
Women need to sign a specific consent form.
Please be reassured.

Hope all goes well for you OP. 💐
Coil insertion is very brief and you will be made comfortable and treated kindly

Y

[quote mandyjones]@Myfavouritecoffeemug

It is the same as any other however it is classed as gynae. So it is likely whilst under you will be internally examined by a number of med students as experience for them, if you dont want this then i would make it clear when signing consent, as to what you are consenting.[/quote]
Not true at all in the UK. Yes med students will observe the proceedings at times if they are going into surgery. But they won't be invited to have a feel about. It would be unethical and highly inappropriate.

Btw a lot of the sisters that work in the theatre operating rooms are very fierce women who would not allow this.

Thanks guys 🙏 I’m a bit confused because she wanted me to have the coil and I told her that I haven’t ever considered it and never would because I'm scared of the pain. I explained to her that on my last smear I felt very faint and like I might throw up. I felt pinching pain which I shouldn’t really have felt during a smear, I expected the pain when she put the speculum in and previously had never felt the little brush but this time I could feel something. She assured me that having a coil fitted would be worse and that she would give me a general anaesthetic and literally booked me in straight away on the system. If I am scared of the pain then why do I need to have a cannula? Surely that insertion will be more painful than the actual coil fitting. Personally I’m not too worried because I have had needles in my hand recently and it wasn’t too painful. Im just curious as to why im swapping the coil pain for the cannula pain 😂 anyway if I had to choose between the two I’d choose the cannula. I think I felt faint during my smear because of the lack of control I had, I could feel pinching burning pain really high up and she was taking forever to do it, I was just laying there not knowing when it would end. I feel so silly writing this because I suffer with horrific period pain every month and I survive that. I think it’s probably all in my head but thankfully she offered to put me to sleep. Im grateful for that.

Anaesthetist here - toe nail polish is fine. Actually so is fingernail polish as long as it’s not a dark bluey-red colour (mucks with our monitors) and we can always put the monitor on your ear lobe if needed. But the pre-op ward will make you take off the nail polish on your fingers so easier to do it at home. Leave it on your toes.

Oh and cannulas shouldn’t hurt if they go in the right place. It’s when we miss it’s really painful. Ask them not to put it in your hand if you have tiny veins as that does seem to be more painful.