No anaesthetic: am I being a wimp?

So how many aborted procedures, where the victim - sorry, patient - has to stop it, thus wasting resources, do there have to be before the bean-counters are over-ridden and anaesthesia is offered as routine? Getting the job done quickly, comfortably and easily first time should be the aim for all concerned. If the patient opts not to take the pain-relief, that's her choice. But it should be an opt-out, not only provided after a plea by the patient.

I had this procedure a few years ago and wouldn't contemplate it again without anaesthetic. It was horrible. I don't remember advice on taking pain killers before hand but I may have done. It was still horrible......I think I would rather have given birth! Yes someone held my hand but I was in tears afterwards and just put in a little room, on my own, with a box of tissues, a tea machine, and an honesty box. By the way, I have had two vaginal deliveries, and have a high pain threshold and not the sort to make a fuss. Hold out for proper pain relief! Even reading these posts have brought it all back to me.

Maybe I was lucky - I had one done in December and biopsies taken. I was given the choice and opted for a GA.
I had previously had issues having a coil inserted as my cervix went into spasm. I have had three vaginal deliveries and one C-Section.
I had also read up on all of the information online and the movement towards offering a choice of pain relief/sedation/GA to all women.

You're all wonderful - I'm very grateful for your kind and helpful comments ?

I should have said, for me this is what happened, I had more pain in the following days than during the procedure which was bad enough...

Having had this procedure, sadly no pain killing was available. It is uncomfortable but not overly painful. Take the tablets suggested, and plan for a lazy day afterwards, Good luck xx

Well said ingrid

Aepgirl

JackK, I have had exactly the same procedure a couple of months ago. There is absolutely no pain, and I didn't need a biopsy. I think you would be offered an anaesthetic if you needed a biopsy, but from my experience the staff were so lovely they will talk you through every step of the way.

I hope your results are as good as mine - no need for further investigation, just a follow-up ultra-sound in August.

You are certainly not being a wimp. It's just fear of the unknown.

Good luck.

I’m sorry but this just isn’t true. The OP has been told they make take a biopsy but she is being told no anaesthetic. The examples on here and in the links demonstrate that women are not routinely offered an anaesthetic, are not give full information and that having awful pain and having to halt the procedure happens. Wouldn’t it be interesting to have actual figures on those two aspects. You posted ‘ there is no pain’. What would have been accurate would have been to say ‘for me there was no pain’
I’ve never had problems with cervical smears, I had the easiest pregnancy and child birth any woman could have had but I don’t discount or minimise the pain, fear and suffering of other women in these circumstances.

Women have every right to full accurate information and sedation of their choice. It doesn’t matter how easy or pain free it was for us. We should stand together on this.

JackK, I have had exactly the same procedure a couple of months ago. There is absolutely no pain, and I didn't need a biopsy. I think you would be offered an anaesthetic if you needed a biopsy, but from my experience the staff were so lovely they will talk you through every step of the way.

I hope your results are as good as mine - no need for further investigation, just a follow-up ultra-sound in August.

You are certainly not being a wimp. It's just fear of the unknown.

Good luck.

Calling you a wimp is not acceptable. I had a hysteroscopy and same I was told to take an aspirin. It was excruciating and sent my blood pressure so high I had to stay in hospital. I am due another and they have agreed to general anaesthetic or the very least sedation. Everyone will have different experiences. Mine may be due to endometriosis stage 4. Look on YouTube Lyn Brown talking about it in parliament. Women should not be treated in this dismissive way.

SueDonim

A friend who needed this investigation demanded that she had an anaesthetic or sedation, because she’s had a prior traumatic birth experience. They were very reluctant but she stood her ground and got what she wanted.

I wonder how many men would tolerate such an equivalent invasive procedure without anaesthesia. It’s barbaric, actually, to deny women pain relief/sedation.

As a matter of fact I had some sort of male equivalent a few years ago. A camera was inserted by my urologist - almost without asking - into my bladder via the easy route. No medication offered, nor needed. Mild discomfort would almost be an exaggeration of what I felt.

Women's bodies are totally different from men's in so many respects. And the fact that ladies are far more sensitive to such a procedure is no surprise.

Slightly different body part, but I went for a liver biopsy with dire warnings of pain etc.etc but it hardly hurt at all. May be you could ask for something that will make you a little less anxious.

I believe an MP started a campaign to ensure all hysteroscopies were performed under GA because for a lot of women the pain can be horrendous.

I had one without GA and couldn't tolerate the pain, so was given another with GA but the consultant couldn't get the camera into my womb. A 3rd attempt with GA by a different consultant was successful.

Some women experience extreme pain with this procedure, it doesn't mean they are weak, it may depend on the position of the uterus, previous birth, scar tissue etc.

You may be fortunate and not experience too much pain, take pain relief beforehand and take someone with you. If I remember rightly I was told not to drive even without a GA. Good luck.

I had this procedure recently and would agree that it's uncomfortable but bearable. A kind nurse talked to me about our favourite books and held my hand. I jumped when the biopsy was taken but had no lasting discomfort other than mild period like pain. I had taken paracetamol and codeine beforehand. The hysteroscopy was mildly uncomfortable but fascinating. It was up on a screen to watch if you want to but you don't have to look.
Ring them beforehand and ask them for decent pain relief or an anaesthetic if you are anxious about the procedure. I hope it all goes well. Best wishes for Thursday.

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Is a 'colonoscopy instead of a 'contrast enema scan' ? or for different reasons.I have had both although the colonoscopy was many years before having the scan. .

I felt exactly the same JackK when I had to have one a few years ago. Despite having 3 children I seem to have become more squeamish & hated the thought of it. A kind friend drove me there & waited with me and it wasn't as bad as I'd feared. I recently had to have another one after a covid related mixup with HRT so no friend/husband allowed in the hospital but it was fine as I knew what to expect. Also the senior nurse who explained the procedure couldn't have been kinder or more sympathetic & the assisting staff (all female) were lovely too. And the results were clear!

You're absolutely not being a wimp. The only thing I would do is to speak to this team NOW to insist that you want a sedative beforehand and that you are happy to remain for a couple of hours to recover. They won't let you drive afterwards for insurance reasons.

I well remember having a tube/camera down my throat. I was sedated & woke feeling wonderful after sleeping it off. A couple of years later I needed the same procedure. Appointment was late afternoon so they only gave a lighter sedative. I woke half way through, automatically trying to pull the tube out but the nurse was stronger than me!

I'm Chief Wimp & always take 2 iboprufen before a dental check up.

Be firm! You can insist!

I would get some pain relief if you can. I had a hysteroscopy with no pain relief six months ago. It did get painful and the procedure was halted because of this. It was thought that they may not have got enough tissue for biopsy and I wasn't happy because I didn't want to have to go through the process again. The labs were able to get a result (normal) fortunately. I accepted the procedure with no pain relief because I was so pleased and relieved to actually get seen during the height of covid-19. I had been suffering horrendous pelvic pain for some months and was told that it would take the best part of a year to be seen. The staff were all excellent, very sympathetic and chatty and held my hand but I would have preferred anaesthesia and think that it should be given/offered routinely.

You’re entitled to a sedative for this procedure so ask for it. You have to be accompanied my someone who can drive you or escort you home afterwards and your stay at the hospital will be a couple of hours longer until you’ve recovered enough to go home.

I had one vaginally birth and found the hysteroscopy excruciating. No pain meds or sedation offered.
IF I'm ever needing another I will know to ask for a waking sedation!!

I don't think this comment is at all helpful!

I’ve recently had a hysteroscopy at age 70, which makes the procedure more difficult according to the doctor attempting it. I’d taken paracetamol as suggested but they were unable to complete the procedure as I found it excruciating and the doctor was having difficulty due to the position of my cervix. I’m certainly not a wimp and consider that I have a high pain threshold. I coped until she attempted to place a clamp on my cervix ?. Had the procedure under general
Anaesthetic two weeks later. Just a few hours in hospital and quick recovery.

Went to gynaecologist a few years ago for initial consultation and he whipped me into an examination room and proceeded to take a biopsy from my womb with no anaesthetic or prior medication. It really was no worse than having a vaccination, perhaps better because I had no expectation/anticipation of what was going to happen.

Having said that, a few years later I had the whole works - a biopsy under general anaesthetic followed 10 days later by a hysterectomy because of cancer of the womb! And the latter was a doddle - key hole surgery , 24 hours in hospital and home!
PS Am a total wimp - on edge at moment of writing as am due at the dentist for a filling this afternoon!!

you could ask for numbing spray or sedation .