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Original poster

Hysteroscopy Advice

61 replies

adviceplease1238 · 05/01/2025 19:49

I'm booked in to have a hysteroscopy on Thursday - I was offered GA and turned it down because I'm quite anxious about GA, but I've since read some horror stories and now I'm wondering if that was a mistake.

Does anyone have any advice please?

For context, I'm 33YO, the procedure will be done privately (not sure if that makes a difference?) and I'm likely to be on my period for it. They will be taking a biopsy as well.

Any advice..? Current plan is to have local anaesthetic to numb the cervix...

Should add I do have health anxiety (hence being concerned about GA)

OP posts:
Original poster
adviceplease1238 · 05/01/2025 22:31

I guess the problem is that you never know how it's going to affect you until it's happening. It's such a hard decision!

I'm hoping I can talk it through on the day with the anethesist on the day, but then I'm scared I'll make a rash decision and regret it

OP posts:
ramonaquimby · 05/01/2025 22:31

Had one last summer under a GA. It can be awful for lots of women , and lots of threads here where women have shared their experiences. You can absolutely change your mind. My experience was fine, I was home a few hours after the op with a quick recovery. Waited 3 weeks for results. Good luck.

TriceratopsRocks · 05/01/2025 22:50

I've had 2, including biopsies, polyp removal, bursting a cyst and having a coil fitted. With both I had a local anaesthetic that was not mentioned beforehand but was offered to me on the day. It was absolutely fine both times - a little uncomfortable and a bit tender afterwards, but not painful. The most uncomfortable bit was the coil fitting, but I felt very well looked after throughout.

When I got home I did sit in bed reading for a few hours while DH brought me cups of tea. Nurses orders 😁. I'm due another next month and I'm no longer worried about them. The first time I also took paracetamol before but forgot the second time.

jackstini · 05/01/2025 22:57

I had one under LA including a biopsy and it was the most horrifically painful experience I have ever had

I do have a backwards facing cervix and failed to dilate in labour (many years previously, had 2 c-sections) so fully accept that may have contributed

I was in for over an hour and couldn't walk for a little while after. Involuntary shaking and tears pouring

No painkillers touched the sides - it took 2 very large glasses of wine to take the edge off (bang went dry January)

I ever need another one I would go for spinal if possible, GA if not

pinkteddy · 05/01/2025 23:20

I’ve had two without and one GA. The first one was extremely painful but bearable. The 2nd one was horrendous - I’ve never been in so much pain - childbirth was much easier. No offer of pain relief. There were two women in the waiting room that had fainted. The GA was really easy. No problem at all and I recovered very quickly afterwards. I wouldn’t even consider without GA going forward.

Sugarnspicenallthingsnaice · 05/01/2025 23:37

adviceplease1238 · 05/01/2025 22:31

I guess the problem is that you never know how it's going to affect you until it's happening. It's such a hard decision!

I'm hoping I can talk it through on the day with the anethesist on the day, but then I'm scared I'll make a rash decision and regret it

I live in Australia so the system may be completely different, but it might be worth double checking whether you have the option to choose on the day.

At my hospital LA and GA options were streamed as 2 very different procedures with two different waiting lists and carried out in different theatres. If I'd turned up with a booking for a procedure under LA and declined, I would have been put on the GA waiting list rather than them just changing tack and going ahead on the same day.

smallsilvercloud · 05/01/2025 23:46

I had mine done by LA last year, so glad I didn't read about bad experiences on here, I guess some will find it more painful than others but my was fine, perhaps I had a particularly careful consultant and the nurses chatted away throughout to keep my mind off it, I'd do again without hesitation over GA, I drove myself home and carried on working, but with. GA that's going take most of the day waiting around and feeling groggy after.

Sinkintotheswamp · 06/01/2025 00:00

Mine was under GA. I wanted them to get on with it without me getting upset. I was only under for just over 30 mins, really fast, felt like I'd had an amazing power nap.

Itsasintokillamockingbird · 06/01/2025 00:22

I had mine recently under GA. I wouldn't have it any other way because two family members had already told me how incredibly painful it was for them. The GA was a breeze and I was home within a few hours. No pain at all.

newyearnewme2025 · 06/01/2025 00:25

I've had 2 now, with both i was advised to take 2 paracetamol prior to the procedure, and on both occasions it was perfecrtly fine, a little uncomfortable with a little prodding and poking. Biopsies were taken on both occasions, again with no pain relief and yes it was uncomfortable, but nothing worse than a bad period pain.

I genuinely do not understant why a GA or spinal block would be needed for this procedure, but i guess everyones pain tolerances are different.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 06/01/2025 00:29

I was meant to have one a couple of years ago. I say meant because it was so painful they had to stop. They have put GA required if I need to have it done again.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 06/01/2025 00:31

I guess it depends on your cervix. As mine refused to dilate in birth it was never going to let anything in! The procedure was completely impossible for me. The only way they'd be able to perform the procedure is under GA.

Original poster
adviceplease1238 · 07/01/2025 11:32

Thank you all so much for sharing your experience, I really do appreciate it!

I just had a pre-op consultation and it is now booked in as GA, but I can discuss with the anethesist (sorry I can never seem to spell that word!) on the day. The procedure is booked at midday, but I have to arrive at 10am, and they anticipate discharge for 5:30/6pm 😱 which kind of makes me more nervous because that's 5+ hours of recovery time after the procedure itself!

I've never had a general before, so I have no idea how to expect to feel afterwards. I also don't know what labour or childbirth feels like because I had an elective CS! But anything comparing the pain to childbirth doesn't sound great to me!

My worry with the general is that I won't wake up again. My worry with the local is that I will be one of the ones in excruciating pain and passing out. I guess if I opt for the general then as long as I can make it to receiving the anaesthetic and then I'll be unaware of anything else Confused

OP posts:
nowtygaffer · 07/01/2025 11:54

I had one in September. I was dreading it and put it off for 3 months. It was painful but only for a few minutes. I didn't want a GA because last time I had one ended up had a weird shakey feeling afterwards. I think everyone seems to have different experiences of it but for me I was glad it was just over and done with. I went back to work the same day and felt fine. Good luck OP.

P00hsticks · 07/01/2025 12:29

Bear in mind that if you have a GA you'll probably be told not to drive for 24 hours afterwards (your insurance would be invalid if you had an accident) and they'll want someone to be with you for those 24 hours in case of any bad after effects.

I've had a one without anaesthetic and it was quite uncomfortable but I didn't find it intolerable (I do have a pretty high pain threshold though)

Original poster
adviceplease1238 · 07/01/2025 12:31

@P00hsticks yes, DH has booked the day off and will drive me there and back. It's not overly an issue if I can't drive Friday. Worried how I'll feel afterwards though 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 07/01/2025 14:19

I haven't had a GA for a long time but I just remember being very sleepy after. It was quite lovely actually! From going to sleep and waking up after the operation I had, it felt about 3 seconds. No problems at all.

SirChenjins · 07/01/2025 14:33

They’ll just monitor you and let you go when you’re ready - chances are you’ll be discharged before 6pm.

I was awake in the recovery area and chatting away to the nurse before I knew it - I felt like I’d only been asleep for minutes and asked the nurse if that was it over as I couldn’t believe it was so quick. I was taken back to the ward soon afterwards and had a cheese sandwich and cup of tea - it was very civilised and easy. The only thing that surprised me was the bleeding - it was heavier than I expected but I was checked over and assured it was perfectly normal.

Original poster
adviceplease1238 · 07/01/2025 16:11

Thank you @JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn & @SirChenjins that's very reassuring and doesn't sound too bad at all.

I'll likely be on my period fairly heavily by Thursday so I dread to think what the blood situation will be like 😱 (they are aware of this!)

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 07/01/2025 16:46

I had a hysteroscopy under GA to remove my mirena coil. I'm sure I was released after the op when I had eaten and had something to drink. I felt OK afterwards but the woman next to me felt quite nauseous.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 07/01/2025 16:46

Don’t worry about having your period. They’ll look after you and treat you with dignity. Let us know how you get on. Try not to worry about it anymore. You’ll be fine.

Chewbecca · 07/01/2025 16:54

I think it is one of the procedures that you don't know until you try, some women are fine, some awful. I think first time I would try without GA in case I found it ok.

Personally I don't handle them very well. I have not given birth vaginally and have trouble with smears so perhaps that is predictable. Even though I have struggled with them in the past, I know I can do it if absolutely necessary.

All the best.

Movinghouseatlast · 07/01/2025 17:06

I had one under GA. I was discharged an hour after I woke up. They give you a longer time frame in case it takes longer for some reason. I felt fine afterwards, they have me a sandwich and a cup of tea. I had to have a wee before they discharged me and then I was picked up and went home. Felt a bit sleepy for the rest of the evening but fine the next day.

I'm a terrible wuss and I'm afraid I would never have one without GA. My consultant won't do them without in any case.

Original poster
adviceplease1238 · 09/01/2025 08:38

Today is the day 😱 I was feeling ok about it yesterday and today I'm so bloody nervous!!!!

They've pushed it back to 2:30pm as well so feels like I'll just be nervously waiting all day

OP posts:
JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 09/01/2025 13:44

Thinking of you and sending positive vibes... you'll be fine! Later today when it's all done, you'll be wondering what you were nervous about.