Uterine polyp removal and biopsy and pain relief

[paperose]

I was diagnosed with possible uterine polyps, referred to my local gynae department for further investigation, biopsy and removal. I attended (N&N hospital was extremely prompt and I attended a week later). I was sent a sheet of instructions which stated that I should take 2 pain killers two hours ahead of the appointment and this would be sufficient to deal with any discomfort. I saw a 'specialist' nurse who, using the correct equipment proceeded to tell me there were many polyps and she was unable to remove them and then without any warning proceeded with a biopsy - this was extremely painful I yelped and called stop, what are you doing to me. It felt as if I had been internally stabbed. She looked at me shocked expression on her face and said, she had never previously had a woman complain, did I take the painkillers, I responded yes, what are you doing to me, that was bloody painful. She immediately stopped but insisted she had never before had a problem with patients feeling pain with going through this procedure. She told me that was all I got up feeling very shaky and dressed and left. Since this I have spoken to upwards of 10 local women who had all gone through this procedure and told me the pain level that had gone through was pretty extreme, describing the pain as stabbing, cutting, extreme. I wondered, is this standard, that two over the counter pain killers are sufficient that women simply feel slight discomfort when having uterine (womb) biopsy's or polyp removal??

If you search hysteroscopy on mn you'll see plenty of posts from people who found the procedure barbaric and I think theres a petition to have them done under ga
I've never had one and if I ever have to I'll demand a ga after reading so many horror stories .

Nearly 10 years ago I was offered it under GA or to have it done there and then in a gynae appt which I chose due to the difficulty I would have had with childcare arrangements. The nurse told the consultant to give me gas and air after about 2 min. I would never have this done again without sedation or GS - it was excruciating. I am very sorry you had this experience and she is talking absolute BS.

@paperose Have a look here please. You might want to contribute. Really sorry to hear about your experience. https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/draft-patient-information-resource-on-outpatient-hysteroscopy-opens-for-consultation/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0akXqJbaOZtHh996nWcOoPbV959OafgVgQ3eGzONo3ulG4xsjCzNtpmfI_aem_AREnPyRE8F9CwgKtINm32bXFgwz3l68gDaSXpQnjb9FwoeqwefonqdLevT4-QGpkvv6Brg8gscWlsIMsyfgn0fv4

I've had both, at three different hospitals, first time no GA and subsequently twice with a GA, once NHS and once private (waiting times had increased so I used my insurance). I happened to be referred to a different hospital for the second one and the gynae there was very surprised the first hospital had not offered a GA. And yes it is traumatic without a GA, easy peasy with. Care was excellent for both the GA's. Not so much for the non GA. And I will never understand why healthcare professionals think a paracetamol does anything for severe pain (like when you're offered it during childbirth!?)

I am having another go at this procedure tomorrow morning , I was reassured by the consultant that NO PAIN would be involved. I will report back tomorrow...the consultant told me that having local anaesthesia would be find and make that procedure pain free. As I have to get the bus home I was wary of having the aesthetic..... I want to add that I want to be able to trust a doctor, a consultant, not fear the pain levels I will have to tolerate in order to be healed.

I was supposed to see a female gynae about one vaginal polyp, seen during a smear. (I'd also had some bleeding.)

When I got there, was told that my doc was off sick. Man introduced himself as a consultant. He'd remove the polyp there and then, he said.

I emphasised that I'd never had children. Confirmed my age at the time - 62.

I was on my own at the appointment, having been widowed 2 yrs previously. I also emphasised that I'd been widowed after caring for my husband for some years, assuming that he'd draw the obvious conclusion about vaginal atrophy.

He stuck the ruddy scanner/wand/whatever up me and looked. "Oh. There are several."

Next thing, he's cutting with absolutely no pain relief. Excruciating. Finally: "I can't get the one on the cervix."

I was in a helluva state. Have never experienced the like - and I've had painful fractures, etc.

He left and the nurse gave me paper towels to clean myself up. Then she left. Blood all over my thighs, on the couch, puddle on the floor...

I heard another nurse outside speaking to my nurse: "Is she all right?"

I was in such a state of shock that I automatically cleaned up the blood on the couch and floor as well as on myself.

When the nurse came back: "I've been discussing this with my female colleagues, and we don't think it's right."

Drove myself home. Nearly had an accident at lights.

Took painkillers and went to bed. Hallucinated that my husband had come to check on me.

I was referred to have the rest of the polyps removed under GA. Some from the uterus, some from the vagina. No problem with that - good pain relief. However, my symptoms have reoccured. Have to go back for another examination next month. Shitting myself at the thought.

I have some diazepam left over from the script I got when my husband died.I'm going to take some before I go into the examination room.