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Original poster

Hysteroscopy

81 replies

Miracle29 · 26/07/2022 20:57

I'm due to have a hysteroscopy in a month's time and wandering if anyone has had one? I spoke to someone a few weeks ago who said it was the worse pain she felt and ended up having a local anesthetic in her cervix and that hurt just as much so now I'm freaking out. I remember years ago when i had ivf, when they did the transfer it was so painful for me that i nearly passed out and this sounds very similar. I've had scan/internal scans ect. How painful is one? What should I expect? Thankyou

OP posts:
Hippee · 26/07/2022 21:05

I had one a few months ago. I didn't have any pain relief and it was quite painful, but not unbearable - I did grip the hands of the lovely nurses who were trying to take my mind off it. Would probably take some painkillers beforehand if doing it again. Was most annoyed when called for a routine smear a couple of weeks later - surely they could have done one at the same time!

Crocky · 26/07/2022 21:12

I had one recently. I nearly passed out. Was not fun.

Purplecatshopaholic · 26/07/2022 21:30

My friend just had one under GA - is that not an option?

Spudlover · 26/07/2022 21:33

I’ve had one with only ibuprofen and paracetamol and it was fine.

I don’t have a particularly high pain threshold but it was no worse than a coil fitting. Maybe it depends on the person doing it, I have heard many mixed reports.

Hope it goes ok for you.

CarpetMollusc · 26/07/2022 21:42

I took paracetamol before mine, then accepted the gas and air when it was offered which definitely helped, mayve it was just the distraction though!
It was painful, I won't lie, but it was over quickly, and mine also involved the removal of polyps and insertion of a coil. If I had to do it again I would still take the same option. For me, GA would seem overkill for how speedy the procedure was. However that is not a judgement on anyone else, we all have different pain thresholds.

StottyCakeandJam · 26/07/2022 21:45

I had one and was told to take two paracetamol an hour beforehand. I didn’t find it at all painful but was told beforehand, that if it hurt at all, they’d stop and rebook me for a general anaesthetic. It definitely seems to vary from person to person as afterwards, I was having a cup of tea in the waiting room and another lady said they’d had to stop hers as it was too painful. The staff were all lovely so try not to stress and see how it goes. I’d happily have another one.

thisreallypissesmeoff · 26/07/2022 21:49

I had one under GA last year. Is that an option for you?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 26/07/2022 21:50

I'll probably be having one soon and everyone I know has said the pain was horrific so I will be having an internal scan or nothing unless they come up with a serious pain relief option.

blindmansbluff · 26/07/2022 22:01

I've had one just with paracetamol an hour beforehand. I found it to be no worse than having a coil put in, was giggling with the nurses during the procedure about advent calendars with a cervix behind the door as it was Christmas time 🤣 I think it all depends on the individual though as I've read it can be painful

TomAllenWife · 26/07/2022 22:04

I've had two under general
I've got another one under general next month

Like fuck would I be having it done awake

It's not a competition ladies!

StottyCakeandJam · 26/07/2022 22:17

@TomAllenWife definitely not a competition but worth trying one without a general anaesthetic in case you’re lucky enough to find it ok. There’s a quicker turn around/recovery time. I’m not awarding myself brownie points for not finding it painful. 🤣

Original poster
Miracle29 · 26/07/2022 22:24

Thanks everyone, lots of mixes feelings on it. I've not had my letter yet or phone call yet to go through it, my doctor just said she'll refer me and that was it. As I've never had one I didn't really know what it was until I googled and saw the responses and there were more negative than positive. I had a hcg a while back and that was horrendous. I've always been ok with smear and internals but I just feel something going up the cervix is going be more intense. Do you think if I asked for pain relief before hand I can get it. I just don't want to waste there time by going in, finding it too painful and having to reschedule with pain relief. I'm so desperate to get this sorted but really nervous.

OP posts:
Original poster
Miracle29 · 26/07/2022 22:25

Hsg not hcg

OP posts:
cakewitch · 26/07/2022 22:31

I've had two. First one , no pain relief and was excruciating.. felt like I was going into shock afterwards. The second, I insisted on gas and air, and it was a far more comfortable experience.

Generalise · 26/07/2022 22:43

Had my 3rd (and hopefully last for a while) a few weeks ago under general anaesthetic. Aside from the faff of having a pre-op it is a light general anaesthetic so I’d far rather be out of it whilst they get on with what they need to do. The important thing to remember is it’s your choice based on your personal factors as often they present the paracetamol route as the only option. If this is the case you’ll have to state that you want it under general (and get used to various staff members subsequently asking why you don’t just try it without). Hope all goes well whatever route you go for.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 26/07/2022 23:05

blindmansbluff · 26/07/2022 22:01

I've had one just with paracetamol an hour beforehand. I found it to be no worse than having a coil put in, was giggling with the nurses during the procedure about advent calendars with a cervix behind the door as it was Christmas time 🤣 I think it all depends on the individual though as I've read it can be painful

And if you're not lucky enough to have it with no pain you have the most horrendous pain / worse than labour / agony/ blacked out - all the way friends have described having it done!!

CallMeKaty · 27/07/2022 07:36

This question comes up very often here @Miracle29 You will find as many experiences as there are posters!

I had one and in all honesty it was fine (had it in my mid 50s.)

I did have to be dilated, as my cervix was a bit tight, and the whole thing took around 30mins not 10 mins.

I didn't feel any pain at all and far less than a smear.

A lot depends on the doctor doing it and their skill which is why there are so many different experiences.

I did feel faint afterwards and had to rest before going home but that's an uncontrollable reflex action to being prodded.

There are more risks to having it done under a GA (supposedly more risk of perforation) compared to when the patient is awake.

megletthesecond · 27/07/2022 07:38

I insisted on a GA for mine. I wanted them to get on with it.

CallMeKaty · 27/07/2022 07:38

@Miracle29 The advice on pain relief is the same as for the coil- take 2 ibuprofen beforehand.

C0mfyChairP0se · 27/07/2022 07:39

I had one under sedation. I hardly remember it. What I remember was that the next period was very painful. The gp swore blind that there was NO connection but I'd had hundreds of periods that did not bother me, hardly needed a nurofen then the first period after the hysteroscopy I thought I was dying. Get the pink solpadeines in stock

CallMeKaty · 27/07/2022 07:40

@megletthesecond I refused a GA and a local for mine! I'd rather avoid the risks of a GA. And I'm glad I did, as it was fine.

VirtuallyHere · 27/07/2022 07:55

CallMeKaty · 27/07/2022 07:36

This question comes up very often here @Miracle29 You will find as many experiences as there are posters!

I had one and in all honesty it was fine (had it in my mid 50s.)

I did have to be dilated, as my cervix was a bit tight, and the whole thing took around 30mins not 10 mins.

I didn't feel any pain at all and far less than a smear.

A lot depends on the doctor doing it and their skill which is why there are so many different experiences.

I did feel faint afterwards and had to rest before going home but that's an uncontrollable reflex action to being prodded.

There are more risks to having it done under a GA (supposedly more risk of perforation) compared to when the patient is awake.

I’ve not heard there is more risk of perforation under general anaesthetic but I’m suspecting a study has been done somewhere that showed a small difference between two groups of patients and some NHS trusts like to quote this to push their cost cutting agenda. There is a very small risk of perforation regardless of which method you go for. If you are unfortunate to be in this very small group of patients they will deal with it appropriately. And personally I think I’d rather be asleep whilst they do!

Bemyclementine · 27/07/2022 08:01

I'm Due fo have one next month, and am down for GA. No real idea why though, I thought it was standard!

Original poster
Miracle29 · 27/07/2022 08:06

Thanks all. What kind of things do they looking for? Sorry for the questions but I'm just really nervous..not just the pain but what they may find aswell. Cancer is in my family quite a bit so that scares me. I've had a ultrasound scan which looked normal. If I need a biopsy on anything would they do that there and then or would I have to go through it all again?

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 27/07/2022 08:16

I had one with nothing and I haven’t had kids.

I work in healthcare though and we often don’t want ga and la uses a needle so no thanks. A nurse at work said it would be ok and that reassured me.

I also had dye injected once to check my Fallopian tubes were open, now that hurt a lot and I could feel the dye if I lay on my side all night.