No anaesthetic: am I being a wimp?

PS Glad it wasn't too bad for you, JackK.

I've never had this procedure and, having read this thread, rather hope I never do. I never had period cramps so mention of that doesn't tell me much. Mind you, my sister had period cramps at school, and they were bad enough for her to start chewing the library curtains!

I have had a colonoscopy with sedation. I think I fell asleep.

Thank you!

Pleased you managed and are home again. Bet you slept well.
I have had three ops at different times to remove polyps and I have never had to go through what you did.

What a relief for you to have it ‘done’. Glad you are ok.

Glad to hear it wasn't so bad JackK.

JaneJudge That sounds horrendous.

JackK Glad it went well - bet it's a relief it's over!

Pleased it all went well. Have a relaxing evening. Hope you don’t have to wait long for the next stage.

they removed all my polyps on the first Jack x so I'm glad you had gas and air

The first one I had they said take two paracetamol and have a bowl of rice Krispies before I drove there. They had only given me a leaflet about it and I wasn't really explained to me that 5 people would be with me a surgical theatre and it would last two hours fgs, then I would have to drive home

Home now!
They gave me the choice of gas and air or to rebook for a GA. I opted for the former ... it wasn't too bad but I don't think I'd be saying that had I not had the gas and air!
They found a polyps that they want to remove, so when I go in for that I'm opting for a GA.
Thanks again for all your support - it's kept me going this week!

Hope it’s ok JackK

I've no idea how to respond to individual comments, but I'm grateful for all of your contributions! Thank you! They made me laugh, cringe and calmer !
Tonight's the night ... 6.10pm eeeeek. Thank you for all the best wishes; I'll report back when it's all over ???

I hope "local drug pusher" means pharmacy or any legal establishment

Perhaps a local drug pusher could supply you with a couple of spliffs. I certainly wouldn't have anything like that done without something to numb the pain.

I’ve had a total abdominal hysterectomy which was a 6wk recovery. Before this operation was scheduled I had biopsies taken by consultant at an outpatient appointment without anaesthetic. Admittedly wouldn’t wish to have that often but it was ok. However if you wish anaesthetic I would strongly and calmly request it. Best wishes.

I've had 3 hysteroscopies without anaesthetic no problem slight brief discomfort I've not had vaginal deliveries The trick is to relax and let everything go slack All the best

I think basically it's about saving resources (I would imagine it is much more labour intensive and time consuming to have a GA and therefore more costly. Also, to be fair, GAs do carry a higher risk. Probably many patients go along with it because they don't want to make a fuss.

On two occasions I have had procedures that have been so painful that I have asked them to stop. On the first occasion, they abandoned the procedure and booked me in for something similar that required a GA. Some people don't like GAs because of the higher risk but I would take that risk any day.

Oh for goodness sake, JackK, isn’t that ridiculous? I’m angry on your behalf!

2 days to countdown ... took your advice and phoned the hospital for advice. No answer. Left an answerphone message for them to call me back. Nothing.
Phoned my doctor who stated that '"it is a straightforward and easy procedure ... and no sedation is necessary".
Then she (she!) added " but if you find it too painful, the consultant will stop - and book you in for a GA".
Oh dear ?

I have learned really fast to demand politely what is needed from hospitals
I have a hysteroscopy and i find it excruciating. I am somewhat of a wimp though.

Nanatoone,

"^Inject plenty of Lidocaine hydrochloride 2% jelly (Xylocaine) intraurethrally for lubrication and local analgesia.^ "

from Central European Journal of Urology. Local anaesthesia is usually effective for all sort of local work including dentistry. I hope your husband complained at the time that he was uncomfortable or feeling pain as there seems to be no need for anyone to suffer.

I have never known a patient , male of female, made to wait long for catherisation. I hope you complained to the local trust.

I agree it’s horrific to expect women to undergo a biopsy without sedation. Just to say that my husband had a prostate biopsy, which involved 26 snips of the prostate, without sedation or painkillers. He also had several doctors try to insert larger and larger catheters when he couldn’t pee, without any pain relief. It was beyond excruciating. He was also made to wait 24 hours before they put in a supra pubic catheter and his bladder and body held on to five litres of water. It caused so much damage and unbearable pain. So this isn’t a male female issue, it’s a horrible procedure issue that the NHS pretends doesn’t hurt when it usually does. That’s just wrong. By the way I lost my husband from the prostate cancer and was generally grateful foe the treatment, but not all of it is good and not all medics are kind and caring.

My husband had sedation for his colonoscopy and said he remembered virtually nothing. I was allegedly given sedation but felt exactly the same as normal and certainly remembered everything. I had to ask them to stop. They gave me more sedation but it didn't kick in properly until the procedure had finished - then I fell asleep!

I think you should let them know your concerns and that you want at least some sedation or a GA. I would be nervous too. I agree with suziewoozie, it is not being a wimp to want to avoid pain. As she says, bravery is much overrated.

Please don’t assume it will be agony - I’m not the bravest & I had a hysteroscopy & biopsy 2 years ago with no anaesthetic, the consultant and nurse were very kind and I was fine (glad when it was over but also glad that I had it done and all was ok). It was nowhere near as bad as I expected, I wouldn’t worry about having it done again if necessary.