Hysteroscopy for polyp removal- scared!

[GreenJazz]

Hello,

I'm booked to have a hysteroscopy for polyp removal (and removal/reinsertion of coil...if they do that?!) and haven't been offered a general. In short, I'm scared.

I've read all the horror stories about painful procedures and I'm really apprehensive about this, but at the same time I just want it removed so there's one less thing to worry about (I've been marked urgent by GP so would rather be seen faster really).

Has anyone here had a tolerable hysteroscopy for polyp removal while awake?! I really don't want to hear about difficult ones to be honest, I just want to know if people have had this particular experience and have tolerated it reasonably well.

Thank you!

I had a hysteroscopy earlier this week. It should have had the polyp removed as well but it was too large, so I now need a further appointment with a consultant to remove it.

I was very worried about the pain, but in reality it wasn't too bad. Take painkillers before hand. The local anaesthetic injections in the cervix hurt, but after that the sensation was strange but not painful, even when they took the biopsy from the womb wall.

After I've had period like cramps but controlled with paracetamol and very little bleeding - although there can be some for 2 weeks.

I don't know if that helps, but I'm reassured that the actual polyp removal should hopefully now be okay under the local anaesthetic again.

Yes, it was painless which amazed me as I'm a total wimp, haven't had kids or even a coil so assumed I'd be tight. The nurses were very kind and reassured me, and said if at any point I wasn't happy they would stop and I'd get an appointment for a general anaesthetic.

I think you'll get some saying it's fine, others saying it's not. I wasn't willing to take the risk so I asked for a general and pled my case ( painful periods, never had children, smears are very difficult which are indicators it can be painful)

I wasn’t offered any kind of anaesthesia so I called and asked and they rebooked it with GA.
I thought they might offer sedation like when you have a colonoscopy but no, there’s some kind of issue with consent so the choices were GA or I think local, which is an injection.

You know you have the right to a GA if you want one?

I’ve had 5, all for polyp removals which kept growing back because I refused the Mirena. On reflection that was a stupid decision and I’d wished I’d gone for that option, instead I opted for an ablation which has proven to be the biggest mistake of my life.

I’ve had all of my hysteroscopies without anaesthesia, just numbed and they were all fine but they will give you a GA if you want one.

Hope all goes well op.

Had two - both for removal of polyps/small fibroid and biopsy - one privately under general a number of years ago. One last week without and just took Nuramol an hour before; asked for gas and air during and it was literally painless. Confirm your options ahead of time - my local hospital sent out really good letter with options and staff were amazing. General anaesthetic was pointless in my case and made me feel much worse than needed.

I had one a few weeks ago and was pretty scared after so many horror stories on here. Mine was fine. I didn’t even need a local anaesthetic and I had taken my usual painkillers (cocodamol) about an hour before it. I had gas and air to take during it but that’s all I needed. I had polyps removed, biopsies taken and a Mirena inserted during it.

I've had a hysteroscopy and biopsy without anaesthetic and was absolutely fine. I went back to work straight after it too as I hadn't expected to have the procedure there and then.

Thank you. When I talked to the receptionist, she said to come to this appointment anyway and 'have a go', as they can always book me in for a general after. It does mean more waiting though which is not ideal...am feeling slightly more reassured though, so thank you for your replies.

I had mine under GA and would not do it any other way.
The GA lasts for a day or so after which means no need to dose up on painkillers for after.

I know you are happy to go ahead on this basis and I hope everything goes ok for you, but for anyone else, you don't have to let them 'have a go'. You won't know if you can tolerate it until they start, so for any woman who doesn't want to try and see if she can tolerate it, or who has previous trauma and can't bear the thought of what it entails, you have every right to have a GA. I feel so strongly about this, so don't want anyone to feel unsure about their rights here.

I have a positive story. I had a hysteroscopy for polyp removal and insertion of a Mirena coil a couple of years ago. I'm happy to report that it was pain free, no anaesthesia needed at all.

You may have already been, but I was going to say gas and air was great and the whole process was painless.

I had one this week to remove a large poyp and do a biopsy. The removal was crampy like period pain but it was totally manageable
I’ve had far worse tooth extractions

If you have had vaginal births you should be fine. The local injection does pinch a bit, but everything else is very straightforward

your consultant will tell you to take paracetamol and ibuprofen before and afterwards, it helps

you will be fine 😊

can i ask how it went?

Can I ask why you say that was the biggest mistake of your life? I've been offered one.

I've had a hysteroscopy but was never offered anything other than having it done under a GA, which I did.

Have it at hospital with a GA. Don't be ahero. I had mine done, easy.

I had one recently on the NHS. I was awake for the procedure, and it was painless. I had a couple of small polyps; one was tricky to remove and took several attempts, but I felt no pain whatsoever. My leg got a little tired, but other than that, it was really straightforward.

I had one previously removed under general anesthetic and ended up with a muscle strain from having my legs in stirrups. I would opt for being awake if given the choice.

I had one a few years ago, and it was actually a very positive experience - not least because I was delighted to be rid of the massive polyp that was protruding right down to the entrance of my vagina.
It was uncomfortable at times, and painful at times, but very tolerable. They threatened me with a local anaesthetic into the cervix at one point, but I was a lot less keen on the idea of a needle in the cervix than on putting up with the procedure without, so refused. At one point I started to feel a bit of cramping, but this stopped when I pressed on my lower abdomen. The worst part was the nurse who started prattling at me as soon as they started, presumably to take my mind off it when I was much more interested in knowing what was going on and watching the screen.
Afterwards I drove myself home, stopping for lunch on the way, with zero laying pain.
If I ever need another one, I would definitely opt to have it without anaesthetic or sedation again.