Hysteroscopy

[cookiecakes]

I'm postmenopausal, on HRT Everol patches and progesterone, and have had some bouts of light bleeding. I have not consulted by GP, and am very worried by the thought of coming off HRT and having a hysteroscopy. Can anyone tell me what a hysteroscopy is like?

Hi, I work in theatres and see lots of routine hysteroscopies. I think they can be done in outpatient clinics too but my experience is if them being done under a general anaesthetic - I'd say a straightforward hysteroscopy is nothing to worry about, if under GA you'd be brought into theatre, your legs would be popped up in stirrups and they use a long thin camera to look inside through your cervix. Depending on what's going on it can take a matter of minutes, if they need to take biopsies or anything again they'd use a long thin instrument to simply grab a sample out. Please don't worry about it, the staff are used to dealing with it day in and day out and you need to do what's best for your health.

I had this done yesterday so you do not need to worry. The only annoying things is once you arrive early after fasting all night and they do blood test, ecg on heart, blood pressure test then a long wait for a few hours and more delays as were a few emergency ops. The only sore thing was putting the candula in my hand as painful but besides that had anaesthetic and woke up bit groggy and cold but they put a blanket on me that then has hot air put into it so warmed up great. Did have cramps so gave me painrelief and after an hour brought back to ward where rested another hour with coffee and toast. Barely bleed as new technology/equipment so good. I had abalation lining of womb done. Am good today and surprised not in pain. You will be fine so don't worry ok. Ask me anything if you need to.

I had one done in clinic. It did not hurt at all, just felt like someone was rummaging down there.
Tney took a biopsy and that hurt, but it was fine by the time I put my knickers back on. Wasn’t worth having a GA for what I had done.

I have had a couple done in the clinic without GA too. Take a couple of paracetamol an hour before your appointment and it will be fine. It is uncomfortable but ok. I had a lovely nurse holding my hand and honestly, for me, not worth having a GA. Good luck.

I'm having this procedure in a couple of weeks. When the GP phoned and I asked her about it she said they used to go it under GA but now there is such a demand they do it when the patient is awake. Er...

I wouldn’t say it was due to demand, I’d say it was because a GA comes with its own risks. They used to do vasectomies under GA too.

Im not medical so don't have any background but she was really clear. I was quite shocked, I checked the NICE guidelines which does say that the procedure should be discussed along with alternatives.

If you have a low pain threshold insist on ga.

I’ve three in total. The first one I found too painful so the procedure was stopped and I had subsequent ones under general anaesthetic.

I have had one and am having another week after next. I opted to have it without GA because it takes half an hour and I don’t want to spend half a day in hospital. It’s uncomfortable depending on what they do whilst in there. I had biopsies taken last time, this time I’m booked for biopsy and polyp removal of they find any. I’m pretty good at just zoning out whilst they do what they have to do. I did have some period type pains last time so I will be taking a load of pain killers before I go this time.

I had this and a pipelle biopsy a couple of weeks ago without a GA. Took two paracetamol an hour before, my womb is apparently tilted so took longer to get into it because of angle but honestly it wasn't dissimilar to a smear for me. Procedure took about ten minutes max total appointment time including consultation was about an hour. Headed straight to dentist appointment afterwards, no cramping or pain after thankfully.

The most painful thing was getting that candula or whatever you call it in your hand for the meds. I have a massive bruise on hand now as she could not get a vein. Was in a lot of pain with cramps after procedure. I have sensory issues so had to have ga but you women are very brave as could not do that.

May be ok as an outpatient if you have had children in recent years as a post menopausal woman I found it agonizing altho I have a high pain threshold. Never again had two since under ga no problem

Thanks everyone, I will definitely opt for a GA. In the past I've found even smears really uncomfortable and painful, especially post-meno.

PS if you were on HRT did they suggest or make you stop taking it?
My oestrogen patches have been increased but not my progesterone and wondered if that may have caused the bleeding.

I do not want to come off HRT under any circumstances!

I was told that someone will "review" my HRT but I'm not holding my breath. I'm also not going to stop taking it because for me the benefits are massive. It's the difference between me feeling like me and feeling like I'm a completely different person.

I’ve had two. I didn’t have to stop my HRT beforehand and just took two paracetamol before my appointment. I had some polyps removed and was fine without any anaesthetic. It really seems to vary from one person to another, whether it’s painful/uncomfortable or not. I think I’m just lucky. The consultant did say that if at any point it was painful, they’d stop and book me in for one with a GA which was very reassuring.

I've had two, one with no pain relief at all and the second recently with local anaesthetic. They were both manageable but the second one much more so. I had biopsies both times and the local made this so much better. I had cramps with both but tbh they were less painful than my periods so coped ok. I must be one of the lucky ones.
I would highly recommend having the local if this is offered. Much better than having all the hassle of several hours in hospital and the side effects of GA.

I had local too, was petrified when they said they were going to give me local (flash back to when I gave birth and needed stitches) but I didn’t feel a thing. I wish they had prepared me before hand as I didn’t know what to expect. Next time (in 2 weeks) I will be more relaxed as I know what to expect.

Yes, the local injection sounds worse than it is. It's wonderful stuff! I had it for a coil fit a few years back so I knew what to expect. Knowing what to expect is definitely better than the fear of the unknown in this case.

I had this done a few days ago, had not had any pain killers beforehand, no anesthetic, had biopsies done and polyp removal, it was ok a little bit of cramping but nothing major.

I'm having one done in a couple of weeks so glad those who had it as an outpatient were ok.

I’ve had 5 all under local anaesthetic and I suffer terribly with anxiety and really worked myself into a frenzy panicking about the first one but really I shouldn’t have worried as it was fine, the staff were wonderful and one of the nurses held my hand throughout. After that the next four were a breeze. I’ve also had a uterine ablation via hysteroscopy which was fine too.