Hysteroscopy

[WartOrNot]

I'm having a hysteroscopy under general anaesthesic soon. I'd there anything I should know or be prepared for? (I've had GA before, so I'm prepared to be a bit dopey and loopy afterwards.)

I had one before Christmas. I was first on the list in the morning. Went into theatre at 9.00 am. Woke up at about 45 minutes later in recovery- surgeon came very quickly into recovery to give me initial feedback because I'd had a worrying few weeks. On ward by 10.45am, dressed an hour later and home by 1pm. No pain meds needed at home apart from 2 paracetamol that night. Bit stingy that night but fine the next day. Very light spotting type bleeding for about 10 days. Not allowed a bath for a week but could have a shower. Biopsy results by phone after 7 days.

Mine was 20yrs ago. Tbh it was incredibly quick and I just felt like I'd had a power nap.
I was quite constipated though, needed some movical to wake my bowels up again the next day.

I had one last year under GA and my experience was same as @LuluBlakey1.

I also had one without any pain relief. Horrendous. Glad you are having GA!

Why would it constipate you?

I don't know the exact reason. IIRC your bowel slows right down for a bit and the pain relief can contribute to it too. The nurse said it was common.

Also glad you're having GA. I never had those option and had one after taking just one paracetamol and I was on my period as well. I felt violated.

It's thanks to Mumsnet that I'm forewarned and was able to self-advocate for GA.

Consultant was puzzled: I've had several Mirenas, so why do I have an issue with hysteroscopy? It's exactly because I know my tolerance with Mirena, that I know I would not be able to cope with hysteroscopy!

If you take a while to recover from GA, you might benefit from one of those carbohydrate drinks that are designed to help. Probably need to discuss it with medical staff first.
I had a hysterectomy late last year and was surprised at how well and awake I felt coming out of the anaesthetic.
Hope all goes well.

@WartOrNot I had to argue with the (horrible,useless) consultant to get ga. I had a horrendous experience last year with an in-clinic hysteroscopy and now need another. The conversation went something like this :

'You need a hysteroscopy. We do them in the clinic here'

Me: 'not on me, I've done that and it was horrendous. Ga please"

Her: 'well we recommend in clinic'

Me: 'I know but I don't want that and won't do it again'

Her 'but that's what we recommend. Let's do it in the clinic'

Me "let me be perfect clear. I don't care what you recommend. I'm not doing it in clinic'.

Her (grumpily) 'well we will have to schedule and it takes ages are you sure we can't do it in the clinic?'

Me (looking her straight in the eye) "ga".

Ffs. Why do they do this?

£££

I am currently on the year-long waiting list for a GA hysteroscopy after a horrific experience with an in-clinic one. Totally agree with PP about feeling violated, it was extremely traumatic and painful. Why women are expected to go through this kind of treatment without pain relief (and no, I don’t count a couple of ibuprofen as pain relief) is beyond belief - it’s misogynistic and sadistic.

I recognise that women have had hideous experiences having this procedure while awake, and want to talk about it. I appreciate that it's due to your posts that I have known about and been able to self-advocate for a GA, so am unlikely to suffer the distress you have suffered.

But, please, can we keep this thread to the question I've asked? When someone is about to undergo a medical procedure, horror stories do not help them to prepare.

I had one under GA last year. A polyp was removed. The doctor showed me pictures afterwards and said it all looked ok & biopsy results would follow. It was fine, I think I bled for less than a day, I had no pain afterwards, just the GA after effects. Went in 8am, was collected about 1pm.

My only issue was I waited ages for results, I’d had an MRI as well and was worried. Eventually I emailed the secretaries and it turned out the letter had been lost in the post - when I’d spoken to them I didn’t get any info was just told to wait. All was well.

I had one two years ago with a spinal anaesthetic. Was supposed to be GA but the anaesthetist was worried about my slightly runny nose in case I had a cold (I've since realised I have an annoyingly permanent runny nose, probably a slight allergy to one of my pets).

I was a bit alarmed as I was quite relaxed about a GA, didn't know what a spinal was, etc. Quick text to friend - it was what she had for her c section, it was fine. Anaesthetist talked me thru it.

It really was absolutely fine. It was having the spinal I was most worried about, and actually that was grand. A bit weird but not horrible, kind of funny too. Being wheeled into theatre was quite intimidating but everyone was very calm and kind. Consultant asked if I wanted him to talk thru what he was doing. I said yes but not to expect me to pay attention (awake but floating). Anaesthetist was by my side checking in on me.

Honestly didn't feel a thing. My legs were completely alien, I looked at them in the stirrups and couldn't relate to them at all 😂

Obviously a GA is different. I've not had one for awhile but they usually ask you to count backwards from 10 and you're out by 7. You're a bit loopy coming round (aged 13, I constantly asked what time it was as I couldn't belive it had been so quick). Possibly some nausea.

Recovery time is different. Those who had GA were able to go home much sooner than I was, and advised not to drive for 48hrs. I had to wait until I could walk again (several hours) but was OK to drive the next day.

A spinal would actually be the best of both worlds IMO. I'd like to be able to understand what the gyne is doing. Even to see what are is seeing! I tried to watch the monitor when I had a gastroscopy a few years ago - but although my brain was interested, my body would not co-operate.

Sorry if my previous post was alarming.

I've had one under GA and it was peachy. Easy as pie. Came round, told the results (whilst still groggy which was not ideal). Home within a couple of hours.

The anaesthetic they use these days wears off really quickly I find.

Good luck and hope that the result is a good one too. And week done for advocating for yourself. We need to be doing more of that ☺️