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Women's health

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Hysteroscopy I am terrified.

44 replies

Thriving30 · 04/09/2023 21:07

Hi all it is my first time posting here.
I am hoping you lovely ladies can help me.
I am so worried.
I have a hysteroscopy booked and it is being done under general anaesthetic.
I am not worried about the GA, the thought is a bit scary but tbh I am not at all concerned about that, and can cope with the thought of being 'put under'.
I am really worried about the pain I may have afterwards. I think it may be irrational. I am so fearful. I know I can expect a bit of pain, which is described as period like in the hospital leaflet, but I am so so so so so scared that it will be like the pain I had when I had my miscarriage. They force open the cervix don't they?
I think I am still dealing with unresolved trauma. Since my MC I have not talked about it, blocked it out.
Please has anyone had this procedure before under GA and can give me a bit of an idea of what type of pain to expect. I would really appreciate honesty.

OP posts:
Daisyhillsareblooming · 04/09/2023 21:10

I had one fully awake , the surgeon was very surprised and now I know why . The pain during the procedure was absolutely agony and I actually felt like running away . Wish I had know how bad it was I definitely would have had it under GA. I didn’t have much pain at all after , just a bit of cramping like period pains . You will be fine . Good luck !

Babyroobs · 04/09/2023 21:11

I had it done without a GA and found it very painful. Would have preferred it under GA ! I don't remember any after pain. They gave me a voltarol ( anti-inflammatory ) suppository to self administer for pain but it didn't stay in and I still don't remember much pain afterwards. Hope it all goes well, it's not nice but under GA sounds like a good option.

CameronCook · 04/09/2023 21:13

I had mine with a local not general, it was numbed with numbing spray which wore off after half an hour or so (can't really remember).

I just felt a bit uncomfortable after, not really what I would call pain (although milked it a LOT for DP's benefit and lay on the sofa while he ran round bringing me nice things), it was more like the slight discomfort after a smear.

Please try not to worry too much, I'm sorry you experienced a loss Flowers

CassiniG · 04/09/2023 21:15

I had one done under a general anaesthetic and had absolutely no pain at all afterwards.

What pissed me off was having words with my consultant in front of two nurses and my anaesthetist after once again he tried to persuade me to have a Mirena coil fitted and once again I refused.

Lovemusic82 · 04/09/2023 21:16

I had one whilst awake. The pain afterwards was just like period pain, I had some bleeding but was ok after 24 hours, I actually drove home after (not a good idea).

OchonAgusOchonOh · 04/09/2023 21:16

I had one under GA and just had a bit of spotting afterwards. There was absolutely no pain or discomfort.

KingsArmy · 04/09/2023 21:17

I had one under GA for a lost coil and had no pain whatsoever afterwards.

TheDogsMother · 04/09/2023 21:18

I had one without GA and it was really painful but no pain afterwards at all. Just a bit of bleeding.

RedDoughnut · 04/09/2023 21:19

I had one with nothing! I took paracetamol before.
I had a biopsy too.
It was like a smear test with an added pinch.

I'm stunned so many people were having anaesthesia!

No pain afterwards at all.

I'm not especially tough.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 04/09/2023 21:31

They tried to do one on me with zero pain relief and had to stop, it was horrific. I'm down for a GA for the next attempt. So can't tell you what the after pain will be like but you're definitely making the right decision to have a GA! And I am not a wuss. Had zero pain relief during labour and have had dental worth with no injection!

ChaliceinWonderland · 04/09/2023 21:34

Had it under G.A if was fine, zero pain afterwards,..

girljulian · 04/09/2023 21:35

I’m so sorry about your miscarriage. I had a hysteroscopy under “twilight” and I didn’t feel any pain during or after.

TarquinOliverNimrod · 04/09/2023 21:38

I had one under GA. No pain at all afterwards.

So sorry to hear about your loss Flowers

Sundaefraise · 04/09/2023 21:41

I had one awake and it was completely fine, which is weird because I found having a coil fitted absolutely agonizing. However having it done under general you will be completely fine - don’t worry!

NowWhattt · 04/09/2023 21:43

CassiniG · 04/09/2023 21:15

I had one done under a general anaesthetic and had absolutely no pain at all afterwards.

What pissed me off was having words with my consultant in front of two nurses and my anaesthetist after once again he tried to persuade me to have a Mirena coil fitted and once again I refused.

Hope you don’t mind me asking but I was due to have this procedure today except it was cancelled and under GA too: now it’s been upped to a laparoscopic operation too.

Out of curiosity.. and I hope you don’t mind me asking but what made you adamant the mirena coil wasn’t a good idea? Only as they want to fit one for me too.

Crazymadchickenlady · 04/09/2023 21:43

I had one with a spinal and no pain after at all.

DameKatyDenisesClagnuts · 04/09/2023 21:44

Similarly to several others, I had one under GA at the same time as a laparoscopy and had no pain afterwards

Nannyfannybanny · 04/09/2023 21:46

I had one with biopsies, while awake,GA was never mentioned but every one I have had has made me vomit. The lovely gynae consultant said I might get cramping after the biopsy,had nothing,no bleeding no pain.

Occitane · 04/09/2023 21:46

I had one under GA, and had no pain afterwards.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 04/09/2023 21:47

I had one awake and with no piano on my period. I'm not exaggerating when I said I felt violated and cried all the way home. But the pain after wasn't that bad.

nottaotter · 04/09/2023 21:51

I had one last week with no pain relief, I took a paracetamol before. I had two small polyps removed and a biopsy. The actual procedure was fine, and afterwards it was like bad period pain.
Ive also had one with a GA, and afterwards there was zero pain, I felt like absolutely nothing had happened.

I really think you will be totally fine with a GA, also you will be under for such a short period of time that its unlikely you will have nausea/tiredness either.

RunningJo · 04/09/2023 21:53

I’ve had 2, both under GA. No side effects at all upon waking. A little bit of bleeding afterwards, but nothing much. I’m sure you’ll be fine, try not to worry. The hospital staff will be able to reassure you and answer any questions you have.

MouseKeys · 04/09/2023 21:53

I also had one with no pain relief except paracetamol a few years ago. A friend had had one prior at the same place and fainted from the pain so they had to call her husband to come and pick her up. She helpfully told me this just before I had mine so I was bricking it but honestly it was absolutely fine, I didn’t have any bad pain at all and even drove myself home afterwards on my Vespa scooter!
I think as with anything, we hear a lot about people’s bad experiences with them online but nobody really bothers to write about their good experiences because there’s no need to.
Good luck OP, I hope it all goes well xx

Thriving30 · 04/09/2023 21:56

Thank you all so much for your replies. It is really reassuring to hear that the majority of you had no pain at all after and the rest of you described having period pains afterwards. If it is period pains I can manage I think. It is the miscarriage pain/contraction type pain I am terrified of just because I know if I do get that it may bring it all back and I don't want to be an emotional mess. I feel so much better already about the procedure. Thank you 😊

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 04/09/2023 22:00

I also had one under ga, along with polyp removal, biopsy and coil insertion. I woke up with not one scrap of pain to the point where I wondered if it had really happened!! Even afterwards a very mild cramp was the worst-didn’t even need painkillers or a pad.