Hysteroscopy advice - has anyone had one?

[Waitingwomb]

I need a hysteroscopy to check unexplained bleeding. There was nothing immediately worrying on the scan but my womb lining is a bit thick. I don't know if I'm peri or post menopausal because I take the mini pill (part of trying to balance my hormones after similar episodes before).

I've got to have it under general anaesthetic (couldn't cope when they tried to take a sample without).

Has anyone had one under general? I'm really scared it will be painful afterwards - think I have a curved cervix - and that they'll damage my womb by poking about.

I'm also worried about the wait. They said they couldn't see any signs of cancer, but there was a chance of pre-cancerous changes. I waited 6 weeks instead of 2 for my first appointment. Do I look at getting it privately (it's an option) or is the NHS the best bet for this kind of thing?

And the cheerful doctor said even if they do find anything dodgy, I can have a hysterectomy. Like it was an easy option...

I've been referred for one of these today so this thread has been very helpful, thank you - I had a consultants appt today. She examined me, tried to remove a polyp and take a womb biopsy (all with no pain relief) . After about 15 mins I ended up in tears and asking her to stop as it was just horrible. I feel really cowardly and wish I could have just ploughed on with it. But after seeing how many of you ladies have had these things done under GA. it kind of makes me feel better.

Mine was done to check whether it was pre-cancerous as well. Hope all goes well for you.

I had one under general, although I'm not sure my experience will be that useful because I also had an abdominal laparotomy at the same time. However I had no pain from the hysteroscopy (as in, I couldn't feel any pain 'down there' afterwards), and a little bleeding but not much. The only pain I had was from the actual surgery on my abdomen. Even that wasn't too bad with painkillers. You'll be ok OP.

I had one done last week to remove a submusocal fibroid. I think considering they had to cut it out that would have been painful with no GA. I woke up very sore and was given codine. I have been bleeding like a period type bleed the last 5 days and been told that can be normal. Just going to monitor and see how feel next week..

And now wide awake and HOT. No hot flush thankfully but this is happens so often. I really hate all this. Why is it so hard to manage hormone levels?!?!

Oh I've started with the waking up too

When I wake up I often have a racing heart as well and feel panicky 😩😩

It could also be cos you're worried about the hysteroscopy.

@janicegarvey I'm sure you're right. But sleep has been a real issue these last few years. Before this last couple of months of bleeding I had a couple of months of waking up stupidly early every day - often between 4-5am. I wake up hot and needing the loo - and then am wide awake 😡

The only thing that helps is Nytol. I'm so fed up of all the things I have to take to counteract the effects of everything else!!

I've just had one, but on two paracetamol rather than a GA. I was very nervous as I'd had a bad time having my last coil fitted, but it was honestly fine and I've had no bleeding afterwards which is a surprise too. The only bit which was momentarily painful was taking the biopsy, but it was just a few seconds.
If you're worried about the delay, maybe consider having one without GA as you may wait a lot less long for an appointment.

Sounds like it's definitely a menopause / peri thing then

I've been similar for a year or so now although I've been taking magnesium for about a week or so which I think is helping.

So I saw the gynaecologist and she is not overly concerned but has suggested it may be worth having a hysteroscopy

She says based on my ultrasound it is not considered urgent and I have no other risk factors. She reiterated it is very common in pre menopausal women and they only really tend to be concerned if these sort of symptoms happen post menopausal

She has also said in meantime I can try the progesterone only contraceptive pill as that can help minimise bleeding by making periods lighter

So I'll be waiting a few months for mine unless I pay privately which I'm considering tbh just to get it over with . I am going to get a price today

Don't feel cowardly. I had three female staff holding my hands and comforting me. I felt as though I had been violated and the doctor kept apologising. When he suggested he put in a coil I refused.

No pain afterwards. I had a laparoscopy at the same time and just had mild period cramps. Definitely no pain. Hope all goes well - I was terrified too. X

I’ve had three under general, all fine and nothing to worry about.

I had one with biopsies taken under GA - best decision I ever made. I was in and out before I knew it and back on the ward having a cheese sandwich and cup of tea. A tiny bit of discomfort (and I mean discomfort, not pain) and more bleeding than I was expecting - it was like a period, but the nurse checked it and it was within the normal range. The staff were brilliant all the way through. I’d urge anyone who is concerned about the procedure to have a GA if that’s what they want.

I had one done in Feb and was shitting it because of the lengthy info I received about pain. Luckily, my friend had just had one and was positive. I took painkillers as advised before and whilst stressed, it was absolutely fine - consultant and nurses super friendly and calming and I had no real after effects to speak of. I was quite tearful going in because I was scared - it was ok and I hope that you’ll find the same, op.

@janicegarvey do you have any other risk factors like PCOS, Obesity, family history of breast or womb cancer, and long term irregular periods/bleeding?

No none of those x

Under GA, no problem. Like you, I have a tilted uterus and it has caused issues in the past. Like when I had a coil fitted, or rather had one shoved through the wall of my uterus into my abdominal cavity. Funnily enough, I'm a bit squiffy about being fiddled with down there now. 😬😬

GA for me now for any procedure that involves me spreading my legs! Helps that I'm weird and rather enjoy a nice GA.

@janicegarvey that's a really positive thing and like gynae said will mean you aren't at high risk.
I'm 40 and did have womb cancer this year but had all of those risk factors and erratic bleeding too.

I had one last year with the numbing gel they use. I was terrified. There was an elderly lady sat next to me in the waiting room with the same leaflet so I assume she had the same. I watched her go in and come out looking ok which made me feel better. Sat in a chair with stirrups, two nurses do their best to distract you. For less than a minute it is excruciatingly painful, like labour, very very bad period pain, but it’s over very quickly. There is a tiny bit of pain afterwards and a bit of bleeding. I actually walked home in 30o heat for 45 mins as I couldn’t get a taxi ( my husband was away and I didn’t want to worry my children). I was later told that the majority are done under GA as most struggle with the pain. I only waited 10 days for my appointment and a week for the results ( I think, it wasn’t long ). I know not relevant to you as you are having a GA but just incase anyone else comes across the thread. No after effects, tiny bleed only lasting a day.

Forgot. I had paracetamol before I got to hospital.

Update: The NHS has come through. I was expecting to wait for ages and was looking at going private but now have a date for the first week of October. (Obviously I'm pleased not to have to wait, but then a little voice started worrying they were rushing me through because they think there is something bad.)

So definitely under GA because of my tilted cervix and the fact the neck of my womb is too closed to get the speculum(??) in.

I think I'll have the Mirena fitted too, though still doubtful. (Also they said they wouldn't change my HRT until they had the biopsy results but they wouldn't have them on the day of the op either...)

@janicegarvey Glad they weren't too worried. And hope you get an appointment as quickly as me

I'm so pleased I started this thread. It's genuinely helping me deal with all this.

Thank you xx

They will always rush this test, it’s likely to say suspected cancer, I think it’s a two week commitment that they will see you. The doctor never even mentioned cancer to me, but when I looked at the referral on my nhs app that’s what it said. They found nothing wrong thankfully. I had an unexplained thickening of the womb.

The doctor won’t know what’s going on up/down there and these tests are precautionary and take all the ‘what if’ away. They always have to rule out Cancer which I am grateful for. I made the mistake of putting it into you tube, the stories on there are quite dramatic, i showed them to my husband afterwards, he kept going on about how I shouldn’t have had to go through that with out a GA, he was quite traumatised by it and felt guilty for weeks that he was on a golf trip and I walked home 😂😂😂

Just in case one is due, you can’t have a smear test for a few months later. I couldn’t even understand why they didn’t do a smear test at the same time.

I didn't have a GA for mine (it wasn't very nice to be honest) I didn't realise the option was there (typical for women's health) but no effects afterwards.

My MIL took me and we stopped for a carvery on the way back!

I would have thought you would be fine when you've woken up a bit.

The medical staff did my long overdue smear before they carried out the hysteroscopy, on a sort of “while we're in here” basis. 😀
It saved me an extra internal examination, for which I’m grateful.
I would suggest it, if I were you.