Agonising hysteroscopy

[CoralPanda]

Hi I had a hysteroscopy recently for post menopausal bleeding. They told me it would be a bit uncomfortable and pinch a bit. They just said to take a paracetamol before I went in.

So I went in thinking it would be like a smear, bit uncomfortable and invasive but no big deal. Couldn’t have been more wrong! The second they started trying to shove past my cervix it was like an agony I’ve never felt in my life. The nurse just kept saying oh don’t worry that’s the worst bit over you’re doing so well. I thought it was going to pass out from the pain then it got worse! They took a biopsy with absolutely no pain relief and I went grey so they stopped because they thought I was going to pass out.

Has anyone else had this barbaric procedure done?? I want to make a complaint but my husband says I’m being over the top and it’s a legitimate medical procedure

Hey. Yes. 2 recently. One as you describe and one under general anaesthetic.

Let's just say if they were going to prod instruments into men's gonads they'd not even think about doing it with no painkillers or sedation at least.

Barbarically is the word.

The consultant who did my first said that it's only a recent thing that they do them without GA. I'm expecting that it's cost cutting positioned as 'giving women the choice of something less disruptive'. Or some other bullshit.

I had it for the same reason. Gynaecologist kept apologising for the pain all the way through. It felt barbaric. I genuinely feel like they should offer some kind of sedation or general anesthetic.

I'm now terrified to have a coil fitted because I'm worried it'll be the same pain. Does anyone know if it's the same?

I'm so sorry for what you experienced, OP. That's absoltely awful. They should've stopped the procedure and offered it under GA instead, which is what my gynaecologist said he'd do. He reckoned that after three normal births I'd be fine, and he was right, but if I hadn't had that gynaecological history he'd have done it for me under GA.

For the sake of balance I'm going to say that I had a hysteroscopy for the same reason as you, plus a biopsy and a Mirena coil insertion. I can honestly say that for me it was completely pain free. Two paracetamol beforehand and it was a weird sensation, but no actual pain whatsoever. However, we all have different pain thresholds.

OP, if I were you I'd ask for some kind of debrief at least. You shouldn't have had to go through pain like that.

I’ve had two in the six months and both under GA . Was never any questions asked about no GA .

Yes complain. And your husband is a cunt.

Definitely complain and get in touch with the Hysteroscopy action group

Really sorry, that's horrible. It's not new though. I had one 20 years ago, totally standard to 'suggest paracetamol' .

It is barbaric. I had an attempt to do this with paracetamol but fortunately the gynaecologist stopped it very quickly and offered me to have it done at a later date with anaesthetic and a uterine ablation. I got the feeling she didn’t approve of trying it in the first place without anaesthetic.

I had one without anaesthesia.
I believe the fact that I felt listened to, and was told I could opt for ga at a later date if I couldn't tolerate it, helped me enormously.

So sorry you had to go through that.
I insisted on a GA for mine.

Complain flowers

Yes I had one, it was horrific. Definitely complain. But nothing will change.

Yes I had one last year. I had read about it on here, so went loaded up on cocodamol and ibuprofen. My GP has referred me to somewhere they'd offer gas and air, she thought. Only that wasn't available. For me it was doable but very unpleasant. I was a bit shellshoccked after and didn't manage to ask the right questions (why I was discharged immediately - BEFORE they had the results of the biopsy). If I need another one I'm on the fence about a GA - I don't like those much either. But the advice on taking paracetamol really isn't enough.

I've had lots of hysteroscopy procedures due to ivf, all under GA. I was shocked when the nhs suggested doing it while I was awake! This guy was literally sawing off polyps while I was laying there listening and being shoved around. It wasn't a pleasant experience and someone less familiar with these procedures would probably be scarred for life!
I certainly wouldn't agree to one again without GA!

In answer to your question about the coil...it was a walk in the park compared to the biopsy!

It's not new, I had one done 10 years ago as part of infertility investigations, also told to take a paracetamol beforehand. It was a horrendous experience and I came out in floods of tears, couldn't stop crying, I felt totally violated. This was in Aus so nothing to do with the NHS.

Can I ask what your result was though? Hope it was clear after all that pain!
And the rest of you with PMB.

Women are routinely not given the option of pain relief for agonising gynaecological procedures. It is a funding decision propped up because the (usually men) who historically devised these procedures and the literature around them decided women ‘shouldn’t find them painful’. It’s utterly barbaric.

I've had two recently both with just paracetamol. The first was for a biopsy, the second to remove a polyp. Whilst very uncomfortable, particularly as she was dilating my cervix, it was bearable for me, and far preferable to the risk and recovery time for a GA. I was offered entonox, but didn't use it. I didn't feel the actual biopsy or polyp removal at all (I could see it happening on the screen). I don't think there are nerves in the uterine lining.

I sat down for 20minutes and they gave me tea and biscuits, then I drove home.

I do have a high pain threshold, but from other threads I've seen on this topic other women don't. They should have a choice.

I'm due to have one for pmb and I have postponed it. I need it but the anxiety at the thought is just too much. I went to pieces with an internal scan a few weeks back. Not due to pain, just so traumatic.

I had one under GA to remove a mirena coil

My sister had one for polyps removal and was advised to take pain killers. She had a horrible experience that ended up with them sourcing gas and air as it was so incredibly painful and worse than giving birth (in her view). Think she made a complaint directly afterwards.

I had a hydteroscopy at about 30 and although I got throgh the procedure, the next period, I thought I was dying. I called an ambulance. Luckily they could see I was not right. I was grey. Unbelievable. I wondered what they did to make the next period be so horrendous.

I’m having one in June, plus polypectomy and mirena insertion for heavy bleeding caused by adenomyosis.

its covered by my insurance which work provide so I don’t know if it makes a difference but my gynae said there was no way he’d do it without a general. I’m relieved after reading this as I am frightened of having a GA and was pushing for gas and air. Glad I didn’t pursue that now!

Yes do complain. And contact the Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy group linked to above, they are striving to make changes to this barbaric practice.
1 in 3 women experience horrendous pain.
I was one of them, and 2 years later I'm struggling not to cry writing this.
Anyone facing this procedure please know that you have the right to ask for a GA, and don't let them fob you off.
I was actually told by the female gynae attempting my procedure that the cannula for the GA would hurt me more than the Hysteroscopy I wanted to punch her, I've had 13 GAs/Sedations and I think I know what's painful and what isn't.

PS tell your husband that I worked in urology for a while, and not once did a man have a camera pushed into his penis without a GA.
Suggest to him that he asks to have it with just a couple of paracetamol if he ever needs such a legitimate medical procedure.

being a legitimate medical procedure doesn’t mean you don’t need a GA.
I had one in December and the possibility of doing it without a GA was never even mentioned.