Hysteroscopy advice

[IAmCrazyMostOfTheTime]

I’m due to have a hysteroscopy soon to investigate heavy periods and abnormally thick womb lining. I’m not very tolerant of smears and they usually hurt quite a lot so I’m really worried about this procedure. The consultant has advised me to take pain relief and diazepam an hour before it’s due but I’m looking for anyone who wouldn’t mind sharing their experience and (hopefully) putting my mind at rest a little bit. The consultant did say if I couldn’t tolerate it they could reorganise it and put me under general anaesthetic. Thanks in advance

I’ve had 3 and a womb biopsy/polyp removal. Paracetamol and codeine an hour before. Some discomfort, wouldn’t say pain as such. Absolutely fine 10 minutes later and drove home from each. Minor bleeding, subsided within a couple of days.

Opposite experience to MrsSkylerWhite, I won't scare you with details. Suffice to say if you struggle with smear tests then I'd definitely consider having a general anaesthetic. And I hate the term they use 'tolerate', I suspect they wouldn't expect a man to tolerate a similar procedure

Yeah I was in for shock, it was made out to be 'uncomfortable' procedure but I def felt ambushed by the amount of pain and burst into tears from the searing pain and felt pretty violated tbh. I've had conscious sedation also for egg collection and didn't like that either and felt aware of the pain but unable to vocalise it due to the drugs.

I had a GA for cystoscopy and that was the best decision yet

Thank you both. Unfortunately no sooner had I posted this thread I spotted the other one with lots of different experiences - lots of them quite negative which has put the fear of god into me. I’m going to request GA from the outset. You’re absolutely right marriednotdead, we shouldn’t have to ‘tolerate’ anything so I’m going to go for the least painful option.

marriednotdead

Opposite experience to MrsSkylerWhite“

Shows how different we all are. You know yourself better than anyone, OP. Insist on what feels right for you and good luck, hope all is well

@IAmCrazyMostOfTheTime I'm not dismissing your question at all, but this question appears most weeks on this forum :) if you do an Advanced search for the topic, you ought to find the thread that kicked off about 2 weeks ago and has pages of responses.

What you will find is a 50-50 split between women who found it more or less pain-free and others who found it very uncomfortable. I come into the first group but everyone is different.

I hope yours goes well.

@IAmCrazyMostOfTheTime

Thank you both. Unfortunately no sooner had I posted this thread I spotted the other one with lots of different experiences - lots of them quite negative which has put the fear of god into me. I’m going to request GA from the outset. You’re absolutely right marriednotdead, we shouldn’t have to ‘tolerate’ anything so I’m going to go for the least painful option.

Sorry- see you have found the other thread.

Just FWIW the RCOG does say that the risks with a GA are greater because there is a higher risk of perforation of the uterus. I'd personally avoid a GA at any cost, if I could, because it takes the whole thing into a very different process- nil by mouth for hours, an adult with you for 24 hrs afterwards, not being able to drive etc, whereas the other option (which can include a local jab) is all done in about 10-15 mins.

I'm due to have one soon too. And I have refused point blank to have one without a general anaesthetic. I've had one done before also done under anaesthetic and was quite uncomfortable for some time afterwards. I cannot tolerate smear tests so no way would I entertain the idea of having anything more done without a general.
Go with your gut. If you feel you would be better having a general then ask for one. There are no prizes for suffering in pain unnecessarily.

Please please please don't be frightened to get the procedure, but as other posters have said - do consider GA.
I had this done a few years ago and the dr was very relaxed, "mild discomfort possible, just take paracetamol 30mins before" so I did zero research and went in very naive. Afterwards I found the stories from other women you're probably referring to - and couldn't believe nobody had told me how bad it could be.
It seems like some women are completely fine with it and some find it excruciating. Unfortunately you don't know which camp you'll be in until you do it. I was the latter. Honestly I've given birth since with only G&A and that was far easier.
Best of luck and I'm sorry if this scares you more - it's an important procedure to have if you need it, but also an important one to be fully informed about beforehand.

I've had two. I hate smears. I hate being levered open and it hurts. I actually found that part less painful the first time and not really an issue the second. Maybe they're more practised than the gp nurse? I took ibuprofen and paracetamol. It was a little uncomfortable when they put the water and air in, a bit like mild period cramps. But I personally didn't find any of it bad (the nattering nurse was irritating, though) and I went shopping and had lunch out afterwards both times.

It does seem to very much differ between patients and I don't think it's possible to know which category you might fall into. Try to be relaxed and as nonchalent as possible. I do think it helps to go in thinking it'll be ok rather than to go in worrying and being tense.

Top tip. To preserve your dignity, wear a loose skirt so that you can just take your underwear off and walk around with your dignity intact. That way you stay well covered in the chair as well. My sister went in trousers and had to walk round with paper towel wrapped round her which obviously upset her and made the whole experience more traumatic.

Hope it goes well for you.

FWIW the nurse who attended mine told me that in her experience, when a GA is used, some drs can sometimes take less care (hence the stats about perforation) compared to being awake.
My cervix was closed. The odds were I'd find it painful but my dr is very experienced and took his time. Twice the normal time to gain access.

I had a coil fitted years before and found it very painful indeed.

I do think this type of procedure is directly linked to the skill of the person carrying it out.

I also just wanted to say - and this is completely anecdotally from what I've read from other women and not based in data at all so please take with salt - I wonder if having given birth previously reduces the likelihood of extreme pain during the procedure, because your cervix has already been opened iyswim. Could possibly explain why some women are ok and others not at all.
Maybe something to think about yourself?

moonbedazzled

(the nattering nurse was irritating, though“

The nattering nurses are told to put you at your ease in an awkward situation. Mine were very sweet.

@MrsSkylerWhite. Yes, they were there to distract you, I think, for when it hurt. But I just wanted to watch the monitor and ask questions. (So they probably found me just as irritating. 😂 ) And they kept trying to engage me in conversation. So then I was trying to concentrate on what was going on and ask questions, whilst being polite with the nurse. It was a lot to juggle. The second time she stood a distance away and I found that much better.
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply she wasn't nice or didn't do her job, I just found her constantly asking me questions was irritating when I was concentrating on other things.

I had one with ga and I was absolutely fine. I would definitely ga. Good luck 🤞

I had a GA - I wasn’t prepared to try and tolerate a procedure that’s very painful for a significant number of women whenI had issues similar to yours OP (plus others which are v personal). I didn’t regret it for a second - I was in and out of the anaesthetic before I knew it and back on the ward. The staff were brilliant throughout - really kind and professional. I was surprised by the discomfort and bleeding afterwards given that it’s supposed to be minor, so if you have the same take paracetamol when they offer it.