Hysteroscopy Pain

[Jo162]

I went for my hysteroscopy yesterday, i found this group & read some of your responses to the procedure that i took on board, the consultant said to take to ibuprofen the night before & 2 an hour before the procedure although i'd asked for General anesthetic, he said it was quicker if i had local. i had the painkillers also 1 diazipam as i was nervous. i went into the room they didnt put Local anesthetic in & started the procedure, Only my experience as everyone is different!!!! it was horrendous, the pain was excruciating & they had to stop although the Doctor didnt want to and asked if she could still remove the polyp & i would have to go back for the rest of the procedure under GA. I told her no and to stop!!! the same day they booked me to have a pre op in the afternoon, when i went the nurse said its a brutal procedure!!!! for me it definately was, so im on an urgent appointment wait within 2 weeks for General anesthesia. Please note everyone is not the same,there was a lady before me come out & she said it was just cramping & she'd had local, so i was fine going in then, but i'd advise asking for a GA from the start.

im Having one of Thursday - I was told local would be fine - its to remove a polyp as well. Oh god - I was told it's not painful just take paracetamol before

AmusedGoose, not a stupid thing to say at all but thanks for your opinion we all have 1, i came on here weeks before the day i was due to go in, & i saw quite a few women had put it was just mild cramps like period pain, but i also saw the painful posts too, I am so pleased it went well for you i really am but yes it was barbaric for me!!! and thats putting it lightly so if it helps others to ask for GA then thats good. I'm certainly not soft ive had pain,3 kids and other ops but i was just stating it was awful. So yours was good & my was immense pain

bingocard , i was thankful for this group as i looked every night just to see others experiences, Everyone is different, a lady went in before me and she was fine had local, they told me i'd have local but didnt i had nothing !!! then when i couldnt take anymore the doctor said well if i give you local now it will be like the pain your getting and once i asked her to stop she still asked if she could at least take the polyp out!!! and i could finish the rest under GA, i said no stop & im now waiting for an appointment, i certainly havent come on here to worry anyone it was just my experience, everyones different. I wish you all the best & i hope your experience is better than mine as theres a lot that find it easy, they told me it was like having a smear!! well ive had loads of them & was fine, good luck & hope your results are good too

I had one six weeks ago - still in pain from it! It’s made things worse not better. Asked GP for another ultra sound and informed them re pain…. Heard nothing back and that was over a week ago ffs 🤷🏽‍♀️

And, behold - the minimising of women’s experiences that we have been talking about.

It takes a special kind of ignorance to ignore all the recent media coverage about this procedure and declare that people who don’t have the same experience as you are stupid.

I'm glad people are open about these things so I know to ask for GA if I ever need this. I find even smears sore so there is no way I'd do it without GA given what people are saying.

What a stupid message above assuming that we all have the same identical anatomy and sensitivity and that posters are lying about pain. Extreme misogyny and denial of others experience. . So ignorant.

Having had painless smears for years, I found them very painful following menopause and vaginal atrophy. I can only imagine that this is one reason why some people might find vaginal procedures painful. There are numerous others no doubt.

Surely the best answer is for medical professionals to assure the patient that they will stop immediately if the patient finds it painful and wishes them to stop - when they’ll then look at anaesthetic options.

Otherwise - if there’s no trust in the medics acceding to the patient’s wishes ( and avoiding committing a criminal act of assault!) - women who might otherwise wish to give it a go without anaesthetic (and many will find it painless or tolerable) will ask for general anaesthetic up front.

I had a uterine biopsy done without anaesthetic. I found it tolerable - unpleasant for a couple of minutes, rather than painful - but on saying ow mildly the doctor asked immediately if I wanted to stop - that’s what’s needed!

Ive now been re booked for hysteroscopy with GA next tuesday

@AmusedGoose it’s well publicised and there’s a campaign at the moment for this procedure to be carried out under at least local anaesthetic with gas and air. Do not minimise others experiences - you sound just like my consultant who said they don’t like to give a local as it takes too long and it’s not dignified sitting with legs in stirrups waiting for it to take effect - I advised it wasn’t an option and wanted LA. Dr really had a face on him but I wanted a successful procedure and didn’t want to be passing out or unable to complete it.

Afterwards I did a bit of reading and discovered the campaign. How many men have vasectomies with nothing but two ibuprofen to help with the pain?

Healthcare for women is shit.

The local is stingy - but the best bit is that it passes, fairly quickly, and is then numb. Deep breath in when they tell you a sharp scratch is coming. They may give gas and air too if you ask? When it was numbed I was asking to see what was going on (obvs when I could sit up) and earlier when they did an internal scan I asked to see what was on the screen and the dr was good at explaining what he was looking at. Nurses tried to distract with chatter but I asked them not to do that as I prefer to know what’s happening - that’s what helped me stay calm. But otherwise the nurses will chat and distract.

I hope it goes well x

Isnt it strange how the system in this country is happy to ignore mental competence in this situation but suddenly mental capacity is everything when an elderly relative refuses carers adaptations etc to their own detriment

Im not advocating force in ANY form Just pointing out the blatant hypocrisy and that the powers that be will always choose what suits their agenda. Usually the cheapest option

Oh OP, I'm so sorry to hear this. Something very similar happened to my DM recently. She went for her hysteroscopy recently and, despite having a very pain tolerance, begged for them to stop as it was just too painful. She, like you, was given an appointment to have one under general anaesthetic two weeks later. That was just last week and it was all fine.

Women are made to go through so much without adequate pain relief it is AWFUL. Whereas men will get knocked out just for an ultrasound on their balls 🙄 as my woman-specific experience of life goes on (motherhood, labour, postpartum experience, maternity leaves etc) I increasingly struggle to find too much sympathy for men - their lives are so unproblematic in comparison it seems. Rant over.

I hope all goes ok with your procedure OP.

Shame on you for this shitty remark.

You may have been fine but others were not.

@ChaToilLeam you've said exactly what I tried to say, but way more clearly - thank you.

@EvelynBeatrice in my case I didn't even know they were attempting a hysteroscopy, so no informed consent given by me.
It genuinely was the most painful and traumatising thing I've ever experienced.
And to @AmusedGoose just look up the Campaign Against Painful Hysteroscopy and read some of the horrendous stories on there. At least 1 in 3 women experience severe pain.
Maybe when you're older, needing a hysteroscopy for post menopausal bleeding, unlucky enough to suffer from VA and a prolapse you'll change your tune.

When I started to have heavy bleeding during peri-menopause I went to GP and they attempted to do an internal exam which was agony. They booked me in with a gynaecologist who attempted to do a hysteroscopy and again it was absolute agony and they had to stop. At no point was I offered any pain relief or given any indication it might hurt at all. I felt like I was an inconvenience as they had to book me in to try again under GA.

The gynaecologist also tried to bully me into having a coil fitted and told me it was highly likely I had endometriosis and explained how dangerous this was. I declined as I wanted to see what the hysteroscopy outcome was first. I was told everything was fine (but no explanation given for my symptoms). I asked about whether I needed a coil and was told I couldn’t have one anyway as I had a heart-shaped womb (and the same person who made it sound like my life was at risk without one now seemed disinterested in even discussing it).

I had already had various other tests over several months about the frequent and heavy bleeding I was experiencing and the conclusion was that there was nothing wrong with me and I was offered no further help or advice whatsoever.

Men would not accept this type of treatment.

For me smear tests are also painful and I now realise they are for many women, but of course we are always told they do not hurt.

I’m waiting for my appointment for a GA. When I had my (female) consultant apt, SHE talked through my options and said it was completely my decision. I was so relieved that I didn’t have to beg for the GA, which is just so bloody ridiculous.
I struggle to tolerate smears so there’s not a chance in hell they’re doing this to me when I’m awake!

I've just been talking to a friend who has been referred to gynae on the 2 week pathway. She's always struggled with anything gynae related, had her coil fitted under a GA.
I've got PTSD from my experience, and said that if she needs a hysteroscopy to ask for a GA.
Despite her problems being documented she's been sent an appointment and told to take 4 paracetamol on the day.

my understanding is your friend has the right to say to say she wants it done under GA. She could get PALS involved to help advocate for her if needed.

Dame Kelly Holmes has just been on Loose Women talking about this

@boombasticfantastic I have been advising my friend after my horrific experience at the same hospital (I posted on this thread).
She phoned to ask about the GA, and was told it's a standard letter. But still take the paracetamol as she'll be having an internal.
Sounds like it's going to be a case of "well, while you're here...".

4 paracetamol?? i took 4 painkillers & diazipam, each & everyone is different but to save your friend even trying to cope ,i'd advise GA!!! i had mine yesterday after the failed painkiller route last week, i work nights & worked up until 7.30am yesterday morning then appointment for 11.30am, basically so i didnt think about it, else my mind would take me back to last week. hope your friend requests a GA from the start to save her worrying and good luck to you & her.x

Hope all went well with your experience.xx