Hysteroscopy

[emmetgirl]

Anyone ever had a hysteroscopy? I'm having one in 2 weeks. Is it painful? They suggest I take some painkillers before I arrive 🫣

I had one with no pain relief or anaesthetic and found it unpleasant but tolerable. I think it probably depends on the stretchiness of your cervix.

Exactly, for cost reasons.. doesn't matter if it hurts! same as csections which is why I insisted on them. My body, my decision.

While I absolutely agree with having adequate pain relief for gynae procedures (had hysteroscopy myself under general and would have had no choice) any anaesthesia does not come without risk. Granted the risk is incredibly low these days. But it's not nothing. I don't agree with the premise that doctors are making people not have anaesthesia just because they don't care.

I had one done yesterday by a doctor at the hospital. I found it was uncomfortable but not painful and in my case, wouldn't have warranted sedation or a GA. However, that doesn't mean other women wouldn't find it painful and sedation, at least, should be offered. I know they offered local anaesthetic to the cervix as another lady told me she had it.

Taking paracetamol before the procedure sounds like a good idea.

Taking

Mine was no more painful than a bad period cramp but everyone is different I guess.

its an individual choice but I agree with tobee that a GA isn’t an ‘easy option’ to be taken lightly. The last time I had one I stopped breathing properly and it took an absolute age for them
to get me stabilized and I was very very unwell for days afterwards. A GA is a serious medical intervention

I had one, no anaesthetic, no pain at all but luckily for me there was nothing to remove. Just needed the camera to have a look around,

I have friends who have had the same experience,one completely blacked out. I will not have one unless I have a GA.

Thank you for all your replies. It's been really eye opening. Mine is the camera for a look rather than a biopsy etc- well so far it is anyway.
I was going to go on my own but I think I'll take DP with me now just in case. And take some paracetamol and ibuprofen beforehand.
Forewarned is forearmed.
Some of your experiences sound terrible, I think there should always be a choice in situations like this but it appears that's not always the case.

There is a choice and you have the right to ask for a GA.
I have an ongoing complaint with my trust because of how I was treated.
It took two botched attempts before they agreed to a GA for me.
I've been totally traumatised by it, just reading this thread is giving me flashbacks.

Have had one recently under general as they decided to remove 'things' up there at the same time. The original proposal was for one to be done using local anaesthetic as they intended to take a biopsy but ended up going the full hog with a GA as they could then do everything under one procedure.

I had two five years ago - the first was under local anaesthetic. I thought it would be similar to a smear and was totally relaxed. It was NOTHING like a smear. The second was under GA and absolutely fine.

I am having another on Tuesday and I am feeling sick with anxiety about it. It's urgent - I only saw the GP a week ago and since then I have had two scans and blood tests - so I am reluctant to refuse it and wait for a GA but I am really anxious. My GP has prescribed Diazepam to help me through it which might be worth trying if anyone else is worried.

Omg, so glad I found this thread. I've got one booked for Tuesday after an ultrasound picked up a large fibroid and pelvic congestion. Even though I told the consultant that I can't have a smear test without screaming and crying she said it shouldn't be painful and just take paracetomol before the appointment. I'm worried now, I'm going to phone them tomorrow and find out if there are other options...

Don’t find out, just say you have had a think about it and say you have decided that you want a GA. It’s your choice but will probably mean you wait a few months or go private.
My consultant who saw me privately is an NHS consultant also and said if I wanted it doing next time under the NHS under GA they had to do it, as it’s patient choice. But there are longer waits for GA.

Mine is tomorrow I am so anxious.
About both the procedure and the results.
can I ask why you are all having one?
and if anyones had a D&C at the same time? I don’t know what this is for- just saw it on the letter.
or if anyone has had one- how long do I wait for results? I’m so scared.
x

I had one 10 days ago.
(I'm 50, normal periods, but then in Oct/Nov I had a 7 weeks period that as extremely heavy amd only stopped when I took transemic (sp?) acid. Vaginally ultrasound showed thickened womb lining and they wanted a further look).

I didn't take any paracetamol before (as I forgot I'd read that in the leaflet) and just felt some extremely mild discomfort. They also took a biopsy, and then put a Mirena in.

No ongoing discomfort afterwards.

@Mrsworried1 I'm 61, 8 years postmeno. I've been bleeding since the week before last. Five years ago I had similar symptoms and it was polyps. This time the bleeding is much heavier and more prolonged.

Last time I was referred after a colposcopy. This time I had an ultrasound and a vaginal scan. I had the procedure and talked to the consultant afterwards. He suspected cancer. The sample from the D&C was sent for analysis and the results, which were clear, took about 10 days.

This time the bleeding is much heavier - yesterday (day 11 of bleeding) I was doubled up on the sofa with cramps and passing huge clots - but today it is lighter again,

Thanks for your reply! I am mid thirties, and have had mid cycle bleeding for the last two and a half years, smears always normal, had ultrasound two years ago, which was also normal, so they’ve suggested this at my last gynae appointment. I’ve been waiting six months for the appointment and feel sick that it’s here now. The whole thing seems a bit extreme if they aren’t sure what’s causing it and my transvaginal ultrasound was normal. X

Do all hospitals let you choose GA? I’m under St George’s and with changes to my HRT had a bleed a few months back (over 1y post-menopause). The gynae consultant wanted to do a hysteroscopy there and then give me a mirena at the same time but I suggested it might be the change in HRT and could we wait? I wanted to think about the mirena as I don’t get on with most progesterone and find smear tests deeply unpleasant… anyway… she relented but said if I bleed again I need to go back. So… I’m bleeding again, proper period, so I know it needs to be investigated.

So can I insist on GA? She made me feel like I was being ridiculous when I asked whether it would be painful and whether I would be offered pain relief or sedation.

Is a hysteroscopy when they insert a light / camera through the cervix, and pump in some saline water to improve the images? I had one with no anaesthetic and tbh didn’t even know it had been done. I looked at the images with the gynae and couldn’t feel anything feel anything while she was moving the camera around They didn’t take any biopsies though.

when I had the polyps removed, similar process but done under GA.

@Chocchops72 Yes, that's the one. I thought that the injection for the local was painful but that was nothing compared to the biopsy!

Part of me wishes I could hold out for a GA but the other part of me says that having a phone call 24 hours after the scan indicates that it needs investigating urgently so I am pulling up (or should it be taking down!) my big girl knickers and going through with it tomorrow.

I just got him after my procedure under GA. Feel rubbish. But glad I had it under GA as I am I quite a lot of pain , not sure if it’s from the d&c, but I am ok now as before I left they gave me IV morphine x

This should say home not him!

I will write more about what happened on the day for anyone having GA and would like to know more.

I feel so rough x

I had one last week. No pain killers.
It was very painful for me, and the doctor ruptured my uterus by pushing too far & hard. Went straight through.
Cue panicky call to colleagues who came in and had a look and poke around. Fair bit of blood.

I found it pretty traumatic (I like to think im tough as I've had a lot of gynae treatment) but it was horrible. I cried a lot.

I would definitely take my DP for any similar treatment.

My DSis had a hysteroscopy and found it no worse than a smear.

I found it awful. I’ve only had C-sections, and wonder if that made a difference? I took ibuprofen beforehand - ridiculous to suggest this would provide enough pain relief. At the pre-appointment, I asked if gas and air would be available if I needed it. The nurse basically told me not to be so stupid - “We don’t do things at this hospital that hurt people”. That was not true. It hurt a lot - I was physically clinging to the nurse. I had a biopsy. Then they said I’d have to have it all done again under GA because the fibroids/polyps would be too difficult to remove.

I would say, if it hurts, ask them to stop. I don’t know why I let them keep going with it - I should’ve said this is unbearable, I want to come back for a GA - but I didn’t.

It also means I’ve lost all confidence in the gynaecology department and declined further investigations/treatment for my fibroids ☹️

I was so chilled the first time. There were two nurses and the doctors and the nurses were lovely chatting about family and music and then at a nod from the doc they each held one of my hands! I remember wondering why - and then realising why!