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

I had one done under general anaesthetic.

I would have refused one otherwise.

Yes, they tried to give me one a couple of years ago for post menopausal bleeding, no anaesthetic at all. They couldn't get in because of scar tissue from previous treatment for CIN cells. But they just kept on and on trying, jabbing away. I was awash with blood and in agony. Eventually they gave up and I had an mri scan instead. They never did get to the bottom of the post menopausal bleeding, but I was given the all clear for cancer. It hasn't reoccurred.

Thank you so much everyone. I have decided to complain and I will get in touch with that group people told me about. I am not a wuss, I had 2 very difficult labours including one that led to a grade 4 tear. I have also had chemotherapy and cancer surgery before. Never have I felt pain anything like this though and it isn’t like I was really nervous or hysterical - I really believed them when they said it would just be uncomfortable! Thank you all because I was really doubting myself and it felt like the staff just saw me as a drama Queen

I had one back in March and I agree, completely barbaric. I described it as a Victorian operation without the chloroform. I was told to prepare for “period pain” - biggest lie ever. I don’t think this is about pain thresholds as PP suggest, I think there’s an anatomical reason why some women feel little pain, but most seem to find it excruciating

My mother’s recent experience is similar to yours.

I'm so glad I read this-and so angry you've been put in this situation OP. I'm due to have one soon for the same reason and due to being told many years ago (when having a colposcopy (laser treatment for pre-cancerous cervical cells, that it may be 'uncomfortable') - it was fucking agony, I researched this one, (my GP used the same word again - uncomfortable), I think I am going to request a GA or numbing and sedation. It seems to depend which HA you are under whether they offer GA or not. I am traumatised by the colposcopy which was 40 years ago. OP I hope you feel better soon.

I had one and it was awful even after giving me a local anesthetic. I was upset even before the procedure when the nurse weighed me and declared 'time to go on a diet ' So I was already tense and upset. I couldn't get the voltarol suppository up my bum as too fat to reach and too embarrassed to say so that didn't help. the whole experience has put me off having any kind of procedure done in the future to be honest. Sorry you had a bad experience.

I don't think it's about pain thresholds either. I gave birth twice, once with just gas and air and the other to a 10lb baby with no pain relief at all but this was a completely different ball game!

Same experience. I have had this twice first time was a male gynaecologist and although they were all very pleasant I felt like swearing and punching someone. No I did not want to chat about holiday plans! Feel
Like crying now remembering it.
Second time v nice female consultant who just said let's book you in first a GA
I really feel for you it was actually like an assault
Hope you are feeling better and that there were no abnormalities found xx

I had one today plus they fitted the coil. The worst part was the biopsy but it wasn't exactly painful. I was offered gas and air but didn't need it.
I thought I had low pain threshold so very glad I didn't read this before I went in.
I would have hated a GA for this procedure tbh.

I would never have one without GA after my friend's horrific experience where she blacked out afterwards,vommitted and lost control of her bowels. Errrr,no thanks!

I'm so sorry you went through this OP and sorry your partner isn't more sympathetic and understanding.

I’ve just had a scan for polyp today and I’ve been referred for one of these, I have had 2 c sections, failure to progress I can’t get past 3cm, also my womb is retroverted. I don’t think I want to have this done, it’s for painful periods and some bleeding a couple days after, sounds horrific

Why can’t they do twilight sedation? Instead of GA, that would be better than paracetamol.
I have a tilted/retroverted womb and was told GA was best.

Or gas and air?

I was referred for internal scan and hysteroscopy. The literature which came with the appointment was big on taking paracetamol and causing 'some discomfort'. One small sentence vaguely acknowledging that 'rarely' a woman might experience greater pain. No mention that if you were having a polp removed it was very likely to be painful. No mention of alternatives with GA or GA. So I did my own research. Found the protest group and NHS info saying that you can have a GA if you request one. I went armed with the info and said I was having the scan but not the hysteroscopy until booked for GA. There was some attempt to get me to give it a go but I was adamant. The Consultant agreed there would be 'more discomfort' because of the polp removal and agreed I should have another appointment with a GA. It; snt just polp removal that can be bad though. Getting instruments and a camera right into the womb is way more invasive than the internal scan which was fine. Some woman might be able to tolerate a hysteroscopy ok but the attempt in the literature to undermine the likely pain is annoying. It's aimed at avoiding giving women the choice in order to save money. The mention of choice on request is not there and if there is any mention of this in the literature at all it's put in such away that women can feel as though they are being over fussy and a problem patient asking for a GA. Do your own research ladies and make sure you're fully informed before making a decision.

I had one a few months ago, and the procedure itself was uncomfortable but not really painful.
I did feel weird afterwards, couldn’t get up for about 10 minutes and had cramps for the afternoon but by evening was ok. Paracetamol was the right suggestion for me.
I think, like childbirth , it varies from person to person. I didn’t find childbirth particularly painful either tbh, I don’t know if there’s a correlation there.

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

Just to clarify, it has nothing to do with some women "tolerating pain" better than others. Anatomically there can be stenosis of the cervix and (frequently) after menopause the cervical opening is completely fused shut. This can make the procedure extremely painful. It's not a matter of perception; forcing an instrument (or attempting to) under those conditions is going to hurt.

I had one 30 years ago and I thought they were going to have to peel me off the ceiling!! It was done as part of fertility investigations and it was awful!

I needed to have another one when I had post-menopausal bleeding and the gynae wasn't able to do it, as my three children were all born by c/section. She concluded that it was the HRT that was making me bleed, and if I didn't bleed again after coming off HRT, that would be ok, and that was what happened. I would never consent to having one again without GA!

I had one here in Australia and there was no discussion, I was told it was done under GA routinely. I am very glad when I read these threads that she didn't try to do it without GA.

Complain to anyone you can. Barbaric to not offer GA because some women find it OK.

I had one last year for PMB and wasn't told what to expect or to take painkillers before I went. I had no idea what was going to happen. It was horrific. I involuntarily screamed when the gynaecologist tied to start the procedure.

If i'd know what they were going to do I'd have told them - or maybe they should have looked at my notes!! - I have an incompetent cervix which is why despite whatever induction drugs they gave me when I was pregnant my cervix refused point blank yo open. Which is why I had to have an emergency c-section!

There was no way they were going to be able to do the procedure they wanted to do. It is now on my notes that a GA is essential for future treatment.

I spoke to my GP about my experience when I saw her and she was appalled.

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

Honest to goodness this sort of casual remark sends me into conniptions.

[redacted] [redacted] for fucks sake.

I fell off a building, smashed my elbow to smithereens, had two ambulances and was off work for 4 months, couldn't drive a car for years.

And that was less painful than having a fucking hose shoved through my cervix whilst I was held down by 4 nurses for this procedure. It is a fucking abomination. Fucking 'high pain threshold'. Fuck off.

I had a hysteroscopy and biopsy last year for post menopausal bleeding. Was told to take paracetamol beforehand. It was unpleasant but perfectly fine, one moment when they were putting the water in was painful but it only lasted a few seconds.
Afterwards I drove myself home and carried on as normal. I much preferred doing it that way than with the bother and attendant risks of GA.

You were lucky, unfortunately it really is luck of the draw as to how your body will react and that's why it's so unfair for Doctors to minimise the pain and fob women off with a paracetamol.

Fully agree, not helpful when people turn it into a competition of who can tolerate the pain. Nothing to do with pain thresholds, our bodies are all different

The other reason why this is such a disgrace is that often women having this procedure have a reason to suspect cancer (as was my case) so you end up tolerating the pain through fear of waiting for months for the procedure to be done via GA. I put up with things that I definitely should not have done and would not have done in different circumstances. Fortunately my biopsies were clear but I only know this as 2.5 weeks later my coil expelled and I got to speak with a lovely female doctor who was able to look up the results for me. Still not had the official letter and this is now almost 2 months ago. Apparently the letter is sitting in drafts and waiting to be signed and sent out. No consideration for the anxiety this causes in any way. Women’s health is the disgrace of the NHS