Hysteroscopy

[Rainagainandagain]

Been referred for hysteroscopy straight after ultrasound for hysteroscopy for thickened womb lining and polyp after ultrasound where a massive internal probe was used for imaging. It was huge and she waved it about hard inside me. . Lower tummy pain now. There was no consultant available so spoke to harsh junior General doctor who said I need hysteroscopy and dismissed my concerns when I said I was worried about pain. I asked if there was an alternative and he frowned at me like I was an idiot! I'm 47 no children but dss and dsd's asked if had periods and he was shocked when I said yes! Said it could be cancer. I am scared of hysteroscopy as it can tear cervical tissue. Any alternative? /advice?

You can have a hysteroscopy done under general anaesthetic. My first one was, and didn't bother me at all.

My second one was done while I was conscious, but had taken ibuprofen about an hour and a half beforehand. It was slightly uncomfortable, but fine.

I've had three children so that could make a difference. In your shoes I would be considering asking for a general anaesthetic at least the first time.

The doctor you saw sounds dismissive and not the best at explaining themselves. I really don't see why they thought it unusual that you are still having periods at 47. It really isn't. 51 is the average age of menopause and many of us still continue for some time after that. I was almost 57 before mine finally stopped (59 now so definitely through it).

Perhaps wait until your ultrasound report is back with your GP and then make an appointment to go and discuss both that and your concerns about hysteroscopy.

Insist on local anaesthetic or general..
Ive had 4. 1st one done by a man was absolutely fine.
Second one painful . 3rd mire painful so on 4th I insisted on local. Take pain killers before you have it done too x

My advice is to ask for a general anaesthetic. Tell them.you have not given birth and you are very afraid and anxious You may need to lay it on thick depending how they respond. I actually have a proper phobia of gynaecological examinations so I majored on that. I also had very painful periods which is an indication that a hysteroscopy can be painful.

I phoned the hospital ( the consultant's secretary) also phoned my GP surgery to ask them to refer me for a GA. You do need to be persistent and stand up for yourself. I refused to allow them to do a biopsy, really stood my ground.

Not all women find them painful, some women find it to be similar to a smear. I wasn't willing to take the risk with my history. There is no alternative, it's the only way to see inside your womb properly.

I had mine under GA and it was fine- you aren't under for that long. It turned our I had a massive fibroid.

Can you refuse them to do a biopsy? I'm scared as I have thick lining and a polyp? I'm scared of cervical tear and biopsy burning/ bleeding

I had a horrible experience a few years ago with the ultrasound when the consultant - a man, not the woman I was supposed to see - informed me that she was off and he'd do the examination and remove 'the polyp' if that was okay with me.

No local anaesthetic. Horrendous. Not even in a theatre and he used a ruddy scalpel on me. The consultant and one nurse.

I was referred for a D&C under GA and the woman that I should have seen removed a few - some in the vagina, some in the uterus.

Ergo, I was horrified when the symptoms reappeared a couple of yrs later.

This time, thank God, the woman did the ultrasound and a biopsy and that was fine. (I STR she gave me a local.)

The consultant who did the follow-up hysteroscopy, biopsy and mirena coil insertion was a very experienced male. When I told him how astonished I was at the lack of pain (given my previous experience with a man) he said "I'd be very worried indeed if I hurt you after all my years of experience."

This was in a theatre with a full team of female nurses.

He gave me a local and it was fine. I was 64 at the time, had vaginismus and have never given birth.

A year later, the same chap gave me another biopsy. Again, it was fine. (BTW I did get a Diazepam - lowest dose - from my GP to help me.)

What I'm taking from my experiences is that it's a good idea to ask how long your consultant has been doing the job and also demand anaesthetic.

Can you refuse them to do a biopsy? I'm scared as I have thick lining and a polyp? I'm scared of cervical tear and biopsy burning/ bleeding bowel perforation

I would rather have a hysterectomy do you think I could suggest and pay for one private instead? Get rid of the problem instead. Now I got two weeks to wait and can't think straight as dsd has sensory issues and have important meeting next week at work and my head is totally spiralling with it all

Sorry if I sound ignorant of the facts, but is there a huge difference between the smear test and a hysteroscopy? I suppose with a hysteroscopy they will be rooting around somewhat. No wonder it sounds awful.

Anyway I'm guessing I might need one at some point soon but I haven't seen gynae yet. Would anyone know if twilight sleep sedation, similar to that given for endoscopy is ever used instead of GA.?

I don't think I'd cope with one of these without some sort of knockout! I'm older now and things down there are not as lubricated as they once were, hence my fear. Sorry if TMI.

Thanks so much. I may ask for an experienced doctor the hospital here is a university hospital.. so lots of students.

That's what I'm worried about. I'm 5ft 3 and weigh 8st 2 so petite build and the big ultra sound wand was massive going in. Things aren't quite as lubricant and I'm worried about cervix tearing 😢

Good idea I will thanks x

breathe. its better to get a biopsy so you know what you're facing. I had a thickened womb too with hyperplasia. It was pre-cancerous but thankfully didnt develop. I had the hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic and had a mirena coil fitted to naturally thin the lining. I then had to have repeat hysteroscopies every 6 months for 1.5 hears to check that all was well and there was nothing suspicious. It was completely fine. I didnt feel a thing. It's a simple procedure that an experienced surgeon should not have an issue with.

Good idea I will thanks x

You can absolutely ask for a general anaesthetic. I was terrified but tooled up with dihydrocodeine and ibuprofen, and also got prescribed some diazepam from the GP. It was actually fine, and I felt discomfort rather than pain. Look up ‘hysteroscopy action’ who have a lot of resources on advocacy and the NICE guidance. The guidance on hysteroscopy from hospitals is routed in medical misogyny unfortunately. On the leaflet I received it advised mindfulness as pain relief. I doubt that would be given to a man about to have a cystoscopy 🙄

I have recently had to have a hysteroscopy under GA due to womb lining and polyps. It turned into an operation as there were so many of them. I did not have cancer but that is what they are checking you for so I would ask for it to be done under GA, especially as you haven’t had children. You really do need to have it done. It’s not worth the risk of not doing it.

I had to go for a hysteroscopy for the same reasons, OP. I was absolutely bloody terrified but it was actually completely fine in the end - a bit uncomfortable but not horribly painful, and the female doctor/nurses were all absolutely lovely and very sensitive to the fact that it wasn't a very nice experience for me.

And it was worth having the biopsy so that I could stop worrying about a potential cancer diagnosis!

ETA I just took some ibuprofen around an hour before the appointment.

A smear test is where they just scrape a sample of cells from your cervix using a mini spatula type thing and send it away for examination under a microscope on a glass slide.

A hysteroscopy goes deeper into your uterus. A tiny fibrotic camera is passed through your cervix on the end of a narrow rod and the inside of the uterus and its lining can be examined using this. It can also be used to take samples for biopsy, measure fibroids, polyps etc. If you are under general anaesthetic then surgery can also sometimes be done to remove these as necessary.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_health/5477843-hysteroscopy-tomorrow-and-scared?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

This is my thread. I had one last week and compared to the vaginal ultrasound it was a breeze. I did get to use gas and air but there were literally only two moments of pain during the procedure. I’ve had 2 vaginal births though and one emergency section so my cervix has dilated before which makes it easier. The staff were so lovely. I wouldn’t fear it if I had to have another one now that I know what it was like. I hope everything goes well for you.

Yes, I did. I said that as I was booked in to have a hysteroscopy the following week they could do it then, under GA, which they did. They wanted to do it there and then with no pain relief at all.

Maybe I wasn't clear- I refused to do it without a GA.

You sound very worried. Please just advocate for yourself and tell them you want a GA.

Having read back what I wrote in my post, I have had smears and while uncomfortable were not screaming awful either. I think I probably meant to ask the difference between say a Mirena or other coil insertion and a hysteroscopy. Both go through the cervix into the uterus, but I suppose the hysteroscopy is more invasive, hence the rooting around. YIKES!!

I know a GA can be useful if surgery is required, it could be done simultaneously, but I'd imagine only for minor issues like polyp removal. But I don't know!

I'm dreading mine. I hope I am not gaslighted and will insist on something to knock me out. That's why I wondered if sedation (like in colonoscopy) is available instead of a GA.

Apparently sedation is not available for hysteroscopy. I think it should be. Having said that I recovered quicker from the GA I had for a hysteroscopy than a sedation I had. You are not out for very long.

I had a Mirena Coil fitted at the same time. They will give you GA for a hysteroscopy but you need to ask for it, they won't offer it.

Mine took less than 2 minutes to do and they took a biopsy at the same time. One moment of pain going through the cervical canal, the other moment of pain was taking the biopsy. Being cannulated for a GA would be more painful. I’ve had loads of cannulae in my life and all but one was pretty painful. There was no rooting around. A quick in and out and it was done.

It really isn’t like this for everybody though. You were lucky.

I was lucky, yes and of course it won’t be like that for every woman. I was extremely anxious due to past sexual abuse, having endometriosis and finding smears very painful in the past. I was surprised that it wasn’t awful.

I am going to ask for GA and thanks all advice