"Not offered pain control"

I had a hysteroscopy at Hull Women and Children's Hospital last summer.  The consultant explained beforehand that some women can't tolerate it, but I wasn't offered any other options such as gas and air, a general anaesthetic or sedation.

The procedure was horrendously painful. Initially the consultant tried to dilate my cervix without any local anaesthetic, despite my being post menopausal which I understand increases the risk of pain.  The hysteroscopy then went ahead and there was removal of several polyps.  It was the worst pain I have ever experienced. 

There was a young nurse talking to me throughout, but I was largely unable to speak as it hurt so much. The consultant then went on to take a biopsy. I was warned by the nurse that this would be very painful and indeed it was, it was a burning searing pain.

By the time the consultant gave up we were an hour in, they left the room with no explanation about what they had seen or found or what would happen next. The nurses were concerned that I was going to pass out afterwards.

After a couple of weeks I received a letter telling me that the biopsy was unsuccessful and I would need another hysteroscopy, this time under a general anaesthetic. I just cannot understand why I wasn't offered at least gas and air to help.

I still feel upset and traumatised about the whole thing and now I'm struggling to make myself book a long overdue smear test. I now know that it was my right to have pain control and think this should have been offered from the outset rather than the consultant seeing how far they could go without it.