Hysteroscopy- positive story

[Amammai]

I thought I would write an overview of my experience of having a hysteroscopy today, as when I was looking for positive experiences online, they were hard to find!

Whilst I completely understand that the pretence for some women is very negative, I felt I needed to read more positive experiences to take my fear away. So this recount is personal to me with the aim of supporting others to feel confident about the procedure, but I recognise and acknowledge it’s not the experience of everyone.

I received my treatment as an outpatient at my local hospital. My husband attended with me and drove us there and back. If you use the gas and air, they recommend someone driving you home.

For context of my usual pain threshold, I usually find smear tests uncomfortable, but not painful. I’ve had x2 vaginal births. I have very painful periods. I have a low pain threshold for ‘sudden’ pain (I’ve passed out at a blood test before and when I had my ears pierced as a child!)

Arrival to the outpatients clinic:

Sat in waiting room for less that 5 mins
Height and weight details taken in a side room by a nurse
Directed to go to the toilet to produce a urine sample
Back to waiting room for less than 5 minutes

Consultant meeting:

Consultant went over my notes and took a couple of details about my medical and gynae history
She outlined the procedure (which I had also already received a leaflet about with my appointment letter)
She discussed the availability of gas and air for pain relief
Initially she said I would not require a local anaesthetic. My appointment letter stated the hysteroscopy would be performed with local anaesthetic and a previous consultant who referred me for the procedure had also said he recommended the local cervical anaesthetic, so I said this it what I would prefer and she agreed to it.

Procedure prep:
I was shown to a changing room
Left to strip off bottom half clothing and wear a hospital gown
Then shown to procedure room

The actual procedure:
In the room were the consultant I’d already met with and two nurses.
Everyone introduced themselves
Checked my name/DOB
Seated in reclining chair with footrests (much more comfortable than the metal stirrups I was envisaging!)
One nurse spoke to me throughout to reassure me about each stage of the procedure and at times, distract me when she knew I would be uncomfortable. I found this really comforting.
Most of the procedure felt similar to a smear test in terms of what I could feel
I felt period pain like cramps at a couple of points in the procedure
There was only once when I felt any ‘poking’ type of pain, and it wasn’t unmanageable (I didn’t feel I needed the gas and air, but the nurse said I could ask for it at any point)
For me, I needed a biopsy so there was a pressure sensation whilst cells were collected, followed by period-like stomach cramps.
The team constantly checked in with me and made sure I was happy to continue to proceed
At the end of the procedure, I bled. I often bleed after a smear too. It was like suddenly coming on my period.
The nurses helped me to get back to the changing room, I had to hold a bed pad between my legs but they made sure no one was as in the corridor and ‘covered me’

Post procedure
The changing room had cleansing wipes and sanitary pads available so could get myself sorted
I then went to a recovery rooom and was made a cuppa and had a biscuit. Sat on a nice comfy recliner.
Chatted with a nice nurse for 10-15 mins. I assume they are making sure your not in an extreme pain or feeling faint/sick in this time
Left after that. Total time in the clinic less than 1 hour.

At home
Cramping like period pain in stomach and back but manageable with paracetamol and a heat pad
Blood loss is minimal (like day one of period for me)
I definitely felt quite worn out, but then I’ve been anxious about this for weeks so I think it is the come-down from being so anxious!
Spending the rest of the day on the sofa, I definitely wouldn’t want to rush back to work and would advise taking a day at home if possible.

Overall, I’m glad it’s over and done with but it wasn’t nearly as painful or harrowing as I was expecting.

Absolutely this !!!

I was referred as a matter of urgency,being on the 14 day cancer pathway.
on the morning of the procedure (I’d only been given the appointment on Wednesday tea time and it was for Friday!!) I was bleeding quite heavily so I rang and they said to still go in.
i went in, was called straight away with height and weight check then I went into a little room with a dr and 2 nurses (all female), it was decided that the procedure should go ahead even though I was bleeding quite heavily.
this was like my worst nightmare- bleeding heavily, sat on a high chair reclined with my feet in rests, but …. It was ok they make everything seem ok, tell you what’s going on and you can watch on the screen - I had the camera inserted 4 times and then I had to have 5 individual biopsies and they weren’t painful just uncomfortable (no pain relief whatsoever) the nurses just chat to you !! Afterwards the Dr told me not to worry and gave me her opinion as to what she’d seen - the lovely nurses drew the curtai s around me, I cleaned myself up with wipes, tissue and a pad they provided - by the time I was sorted the chair and area was spotless and the dr gave me a hug and the nurse took me for a coffee and a biscuit.
Went home, chilled all weekend and by Thursday was told all my biopsies were clear and I was ok.

If you ever find yourself in this position do not worry - it’s soon done with and my bleeding was down to my HRT which I’ve stopped and probably didn’t need and I’m fine !!

I think that it’s good to have positive stories, however I also think that each woman’s body and experience is individual. My doctor didn’t say anything about what she was doing- I had to ask her to tell me what was happening, I can see that the practitioners above were much better in this regard which likely reduced anxiety. Likewise, my doctor gave me a local anaesthetic in the cervix but said that it ‘didn’t really do anything.’ Bedside manner makes a big difference.
I would say that women should give it a go as many seem fine with it, however should also have agency to say stop if they are finding it too difficult, which they did in my case and which I was grateful for.
I almost passed out, however read that this can happen due to an involuntary vasovagal response brought about by the procedure.