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’ve had two in the past three years.

One was for polyp removal from my cervix with one growing through the middle and dangling down. I was given lots of LA, the polyp removal itself was fine but i had a lot of discomfort from the speculum itself, and feeling the pressure sensations in my bowel which was not painful but unpleasant and made me feel weird.

I then had one to check after post menopausal bleeding. No anaesthetic at all, no mention of any options for pain relief at all. Speculum insertion not quite so bad, the rummaging around did hurt a bit but the doc said he’d be as quick as he could so it didn’t last long.

had a coil insertion last week for the first time ever. Explained beforehand that sometimes the speculum hurts more than the procedure and the doc did a great job there, not at all painful. The coil insertion through! “I’m just going to clamp your cervix in place, you might feel a pinch”. Scrape me off the ceiling, assured that’s the worst bit but no, first the probe to judge the size of my uterus and then the insertion itself. Worse than the investigation for pmb.

I feel pain, but I’m quite stoic and can tolerate quite a lot, mum always said i never cried much when hurt as a child. Not to say i like it though and would quite like better pain relief please. I’ll tell you what i hate just as much though is that patronising “good girl” when you’ve come down from the ceiling/stopped swearing/mashing the nurses hand. I’m not a fucking 3 year old about to be given a lollipop, I’m a grown middle aged woman.

The thing is, it isn't universally awful. I've had two and whilst somewhat unpleasant they were fine. One I took paracetamol beforehand, the other I didn't. If I needed another one I wouldn't dread it. Presumably I can't be the only woman who feels like this.

It isn’t universally awful, but neither is pain “rare”. Some research into women’s experiences and to see whether there are factors that increase the risk you’d find it painful would be good. As well as better setting of expectations and offering some choice of pain relief other than “take a couple of paracetamol before you come to the hospital.”

And 17 months later im facing possibly having to have this done

He could have asked about driving? I don't know anything about getting your cataracts done but would assume no driving for at least a week....

I'm due a hysteroscopy under sedation next week which is another option. Sill not looking forward to it but the consultant was happy to put me on the list.

jennifer... I really can't believe, sorry, that anyone would presume they could drive anytime soon after eye surgery!

Had a letter from the hospital for appointment in gynaecology but it doesnt say exactly what the appointment entails. Says if you have to bring your kids to bring another adult with you. To bring any medication with you. And that its best for planning for your children to be cared for at home should you require further investigations during your appointment.

surprise hysterocopy?

I have just had mine done under light sedation. Still felt the needle for LA but was relaxed enough only to wince a bit. Now waiting for DH to pick me up but feel fine.

I had one recently and they did it under GA.
However it took me a week to feel better. I can see the benefits on both sides.

I'm getting one on Wednesday. No sedation. Two years ago, my health board did them all under GA. Not now. Have been told to take ibuprofen and paracetamol. My GP has given me a script for Diazepam.

Not looking forward to it. I will be getting a local in the cervix, but I'm 64 and have never given birth, so...

It's fucking barbaric. The only time in my life I let out a blood-curdling scream. Totally violating and traumatising. I applied for a credit card, went privately, then cut up the card and paid off the balance over however bloody long it took.

It's a disgrace the way women are treated by the NHS, like we're fucking sub-human.

currently on the phone waiting to cancel gynae appointment, cant deal with the uselessness of the NHS at the moment as my dad has died three weeks after being discharged from same hospital

Seventeenth in line on the phone so gave up and e mailed. Dont know if they will see it in time. Appointment is tomorrow Letter only came yesterday

I had one under GA after reading the horror stories online & I'm so glad I did. I don't find smears too bad but when I was induced in June w my DD, I found the vaginal examinations incredibly painful & needed gas and air (and that did nothing but gave me something to focus on). So I can only just begin to imagine how excruciating a hysteroscopy would've been.
Pain is subjective, but I refuse to be made to feel like shit for needing the pain relief I do during these things. The NHS should recognise that and offer the hysteroscopies with sedation at the very least.

Can any medical professional explain why conscious types of sedation and local anaesthetics are routinely offered to people undergoing colonoscopies or gastroscopies/ endoscopies but not gynaecological procedures?

I have read about the risks of conscious sedation but seems pretty strange they’re acceptable for non gynaecological procedures?

Because misogny Can you imagine a man being told to take an ibuprofen or a paracetamol before a vasectomy

I had one a few years ago, and they used a local anaesthetic on me but they were looking around my womb first and that bit was fine, but then they did a biopsy and the LA had started to wear off and my God it was agony! I was literally lifting off the medical chair and I remember the staff all looking at each other with worried expressions (maybe because I felt every single slice of the scalpel and was writhing in pain).
It's put me off ever having another one.

Sorry, but I keep hearing this. I do think there's some misogyny but I think it is a patient /doctor supremacy thing.

Anyone who has ever sat a male partner through a prostate biopsy would know that men are also expected to experience intense pain.

I sometimes think evelyn that it's sold as not causing us extra hassle. No gowns, no in patient stay, no catheters, no not being allowed to drive etc seems much better.

Plus. Money.

Re the misogyny , don't forget there's a whole bunch of women who will tell you women have different pain thresholds form men (not true) that birth should he painful (debatable) and that epidurals are the devil's work.

I had an absolutely needless one. I had some gynae issues and went for an ultrasound. They thought I had polyps so organised a hysteroscopy. I went for the procedure knowing it might be painful. They offered gas and air. The bit where we're looking for the mythical polyp was very painful, luckily a nurse had hold of my leg as I kicked out! Turns out the angle of the scan was done wrongly 🤬

Well I guess the key thing is making sure they agree to stop if you tell them to do so. A lawyer friend drilled them on medical consent in the procedure room and made sure they would stop if she told them to do so. 😀

I had my hysteroscopy yesterday. Different gynae from previously. He went over everything in great detail and stressed that I could stop it at any time and then have it done under GA.

The worst of it was the speculum going in. Gynae (a white-haired chap) did take his time and checked how I was doing. After that, it was absolutely fine. Turned out that there was no polyp after all and no hyperplasia (according to this gynae). A "more extensive biopsy" has been taken.

The gynae said that - to him - the scan taken in July shows a perfectly normal uterus for a 64 yr old. However, I did have uterine polyps removed 2 yrs ago, so a Mirena coil has been inserted for 6 months. (I'm high risk for uterine cancer - late menopause, sequential HRT for a lengthy period of time, no children.)

I felt the speculum going in. Gynae apologised that he couldn't stop that from hurting but told me to try to sink into the couch and to try to relax my thigh muscles. Did not feel the injection in the cervix, the biopsy or the insertion of the coil. The gynae's comment was that with his "years of experience [he] should hope that [he'd] be able to do that without hurting" me.

I'll add that there was minimal bleeding.

https://x.com/Tiffywren/status/1847558233155625343

They tried to do one on me... it was horrific. I actually screamed without realising it was me that was screaming. Never, ever again.

The gynaecologist was a woman and her bedside manner was horrendous. She seemed totally pissed off that I couldn't stand the pain. She did admit that I have a tilted uterus, so they 'might be' the issue.

It's in my notes that a GA is required if I ever need the procedure again.