Hysteroscopy and polyp removal (pain relief)

[Fearfulsaints]

Has anyone had one of these, did you do it under a general or with the paracetamol and gas and air option?

Im nervous.

I had a general for a hysteroscopy over 20yrs ago. I had no desire to grit my teeth through the pain. It didn't take long, less than an hour.

I had one with local and paracetamol, felt like a smear but I know it's not the same for everyone. Go for a general if you're worried . I was prepared to tell them to stop if I needed to.

I was prescribed one diazepam to take half an hour before, from the GP. No pain relief. It was absolutely fine and pain free, just like a smear but obviously took a bit longer. I was dreading it but it really wasn’t bad at all. Good luck and try not to worry x

From what I have read it is really varied

I had a local and it was horrific - nothing touched the pain, worst thing I’ve ever experienced. However, I have a posterior cervix which never dilated in pregnancies, so that may be why.

I would not do it again without a general

I had a local and paracetamol. General would mean I couldn’t go straight home and I’m a single parent.

I was supposed to have one - to have a fibroid that was playing up removed. But when I arrived very nervous and dosed up to the max with ibuprofen and paracetamol the gynecologist said no we can't do it as actually its too big, we have to do it with a General. So I had that done and can honestly say - apart from bleeding slightly for a four or five days after I wouldn't know I had had it done. -Apart from the faff of all things General Anesthetic, I am so glad that I had it that way.

Its very difficult as obviously everyone is different.

I had a hysteroscopy with no pain relief and on my period. It was horrendous. I didn’t even know you could have any

Thank you for all the replies. It seems a mixed bag.

I had one earlier this year. I took lots of painkillers beforehand but it was still the most horrendous thing I’ve been through. I didn’t get gas and air though, I think that might have helped. I lost all feeling in my hands and feet, the nurse said it was a survival response, my body sent all blood to my organs to preserve life. But, I did get through it and had 2 polyps removed, and then got pregnant a week later after over 2 years of trying unsuccessfully. I did stop for a break for 10 mins half way through but honestly I would do it again and suffer through it if I knew it was going to help me get pregnant so quickly. I felt crampy the next day but was fine and went to work, and the procedure was over and done with in under half an hour. I bled for maybe 5 days.

I had this recently and was told to take paracetamol an hour before. I would not do this again without a general anaesthetic. But when you Google etc, some people don’t find it too painful and some people (like me) find it very painful. But on the bright side, it did mean they scheduled me in very quickly and found polyps rather than cancer.

I had one done, no one said anything about pain relief. The hysteroscopy gave me a period-like pain, I was told I had a polyp and did I want it removed then or with a general. Decided to just go for it and the pain was awful but didn’t last long. Thought I’d be fine, but was taken into a recovery room and offered a cup of tea. In the time it took the nurse to go for the milk, I thought I was going to faint and/or throw up. The nurse said it was shock and made me stay for a while as I’d driven myself there.
I’d have it done again but would take pain relief beforehand

I had one done ( no polyp removal) with out anything- as I didn’t know I needed any - it was ok but not pleasant

second one - with biopsy, under general as I reacted when they used local. Overnight stay as a single parent - eldest two at uni - youngest 16 so considered an adult - it was quite nice!

I had one last month and almost passed out. The hysteroscopy was for polyp removal. I had a local anaesthetic and took two paracetamol and two ibuprofen an hour before. I could bear it whilst the cervix was dilated enough to put the camera in, however when they had to open it more to put the instrument in to remove the polyp that was my limit. They were continuously asking me if I wanted to stop and at that point I asked them to. The sensation of the saline water going in was unpleasant and gave me period like pains, however I did seem to go into shock like a previous poster because my blood pressure fell very low and I was fainting.
To be fair, many women seem to get on with it OK, so if I were you, I would go in forewarned and with the doctor’s understanding that if it is too much they will stop and you can go for the general anaesthetic which is what I had and which was fine.

I had one under general, the hospital I was in only offered that option for polyp removal and they were pretty sure that was going to be needed. It was straightforward but I did book a day off work the following day and was glad I had as I was wiped out from the anaesthetic. No pain from the procedure and not much bleeding.

I had one last year, it was barbaric!! I have a high pain threshold, had no medication whilst giving birth twice . Hypothetically, if a male consultant had one - GA would be offered every single time.

Thanks again. Those that had to switch to a general, was it there and then or did you have to come back a different day.

I wouldn't have one without a GA.

I had one years ago, with a GA. No way would I have had one without.

I had one, took paracetamol before hand. It was about 3 minutes of pain but it’s over very quickly. I then walked home on a very hot day ( 40 mins). The staff are great. They try so hard to distract you. You are in chair rather than a bed which I felt better about.

I had one with gas and air. I didn't use gas and air to start with as I had a polyp removed from my cervix previously and that was just like a smear test. The hysteroscopy was for a polyp removal as well but was so different in terms of pain - suddenly I remembered what labour pain was like, it was like the worst part of labour - plus the discomfort of the water. Gas and air did help but if I need another it will be a general anaesthetic all the way for me.

It was about a week later, you’ll need a pre-op (an appointment to check blood pressure, medications, blood tests etc) first. If you’re on the two week wait for possible cancer they will prioritise you and my hospital got me in when there was a cancellation.
You’ll be on a day ward and may have to wait some time for your slot. I didn’t have any pain though, the GA was actually very nice and just some bleeding and some discomfort afterwards. Can’t drive or operate machinery etc for 24-48 hours.

Thank you. This is very helpful.

I just had one under general and had very little pain and cramping in the days after but then the mood swings and period from hell started a week later and lasted for over a fortnight. I’m still not back to myself a month later. I also had a mirena coil and am on HRT so both of those might also have contributed to my hormonal havoc but past experience for me is that general anaesthetic really messes my hormones up for at least a cycle. I would have preferred to get it done right away without the GA but my gynaecologist said because my uterus is tilted she couldn’t even get in for the biopsy when she tried so I didn’t have that choice.

General and stayed in overnight as fitted with a catheter although the original plan was same day discharge. The after pain wasn't too bad.

I have a retroverted uterus and the polyps are 3cm each, so reading these is making me lean towards a GA. Maybe I won't get a choice?

The person who did the ultrasound was nice but just said it maybe with or without a ga and the gynea team would tell me more but I was impatient.

My uterus is retroverted, I had one polyp of 1cm. I would ask about a GA, different trusts have different policies I gather. When I rang to book my gynaecology appointment for the hysteroscopy they got a bit ‘sighy’ when I asked for a GA and advised that it would delay the process, so I went along with it without. The nurses were happy to stop at any time during the process which they did and the gynaecologist then put me down for a GA.