Confused about procedures… hysteroscopy/colpocscopy/laroscopy?

[TheJoyousBlueAnt]

Hi everyone, forgive me if this is an incorrect space/format as this is my first post on here.

I’m basically going through a lot of testing/medical procedures currently but everything has been poorly (if at all) explained to me and I just feel very lost. For context I’m 23 and so had never had a pap/extensive interaction with gynaecologists before. In brief:

• After years of symptoms I had been referred to investigate them with the working diagnosis being PCOS. I had a TV ultrasound around 9 months ago and another this week, with both ovaries showing a ‘polycystic appearance’.
• In my appointment this week, the consultant said in spite of the scan results that doesn’t mean I have PCOS. Immediately after saying that she prescribed me Metformin for suspected insulin resistance… caused by PCOS?
• She has recommended a hysteroscopy but didn’t explain why or what she’s expecting to find. She will also be replacing my current IUD with a different kind (copper to hormonal) because she believes it will help my symptoms.
• She said following this if I still have symptoms (which I’m expecting to as she’s said nothing yet about treatment, just investigation/diagnostics) then in 6 months she’ll ‘consider’ a laroscopy to investigate endometriosis.
• All of this is confusing enough but I also need to make a decision on whether to be awake or under general with this procedure. I’m leaning towards the latter as my mother had one and said it was excruciating - I’ll be having the IUD replaced at the same time and my first one was agony too.
• Last week, I also had a colposcopy in which I had a cervical biopsy. I an awaiting the results for that with suspected ‘low grade changes’ but again literally nothing has been explained to me, the consultant vaguely referred to treatment but I don’t know what or why its necessary.

Although I’m trying to do my own research I’m just so confused with it all. I also feel like I should call and flag that if I’m going to have a laroscopy in 6 months, I might as well have it all at the same time if I’m going to choose to be under general for the other procedures anyway?

Does anyone have any further explanation/experience they can offer me or advice cause I’m finding this quite stressful. Thank you all!

cant you give that department a call & get them to explain or your surgeons secretary. Did the hospital not give you any leaflets to read?
I would op to be put out all day long.
Try not to worry. Good luck 😉

I've had all three of those procedures in my life more than once.

The first time I had a hysteroscopy it was done without any kind of pain relief or sedation and it was awful. I actually passed out from the pain while they were doing it.

The next time I had it done was at the same time as having a mirena coil fitted and this was under a general anaesthetic so all was fine.

The mirena coil was as a treatment for endo and as it worked so well to manage my symptoms ( life changing to be honest ) I've gone on to have this replaced four more times ( each time under general anaesthetic)

The last time I did have to be quite assertive about having the GA.

I found the colposcopy to be no more bother than a routine smear test.

Hope this helps.

Sorry forgot about the laparoscopy.

I've had three , all done under a GA which I assume is the norm. The worst bit is the wind you get afterwards - peppermint essence in boiled water is your friend.

My endo was cleared away during these procedures but was so aggressive it just kept coming back.