"An uncomfortable experience"

I’ve been very reluctant to leave this feedback but with yet another biopsy looming, I find my anxiety levels are rising so it’s important that every experience is noted.

During my last womb biopsy, I had questions to ask during the consultation part but I was left feeling that I was wasting precious time by seeking clarification/details etc about previous biopsy results - I also had some genuine concerns about ongoing symptoms but I feel these were simply brushed over.

Then, as the tissue sample was being taken from my womb, the consultant passed remarks to the nurse about how notable it was that some women screamed out during the procedure but I hadn’t! As if I was somehow proof that it didn’t hurt - it did hurt, but my hands were pinned underneath me to elevate my pelvis & I was busy trying to stay still, keep calm & not hyperventilate at the time.

I was shocked by these remarks but the nurse made no comment at all so I just lay there praying for it to be over quickly. All I could think of was how I definitely could not cry out or show signs of distress now, lest I be talked about in front of the next patient.

I should have spoken up at the time, as I feel it really was not an appropriate conversation to be having in front of a patient - actually never appropriate to compare one patient to another.

I’m upset that I failed to advocate for myself, the loss of self-agency is weighing heavy on my mind & I’m growing increasingly worried about my next appointment in case it is the same consultant.

Furthermore, I feel the actual layout and facilities within the Gynae department have added to the indignity and distress of the procedures themselves.

When I attended the Gynaecology clinic at Hairmyres for a previous polyp removal, I had to get changed into a hospital gown in the consultation room then walk along to the next door room for the procedure.

It was all very professional & going really well for me until the procedure was finished. I had blood & fluid running out of me & dripping down my legs but there were no sanitary pads available - the nursing staff improvised & placed a bulky bed pad between my legs so that I could shuffle back to the consulting room to get dressed.

This proved to be very embarrassing as there was no privacy in the clinic corridor as I made my way between the rooms. A small folding screen that had been drawn across the entrance to the clinic area had since been pulled back & left open which meant I was now in full view of the busy waiting area - I was wearing just a thin hospital gown & had blood dripping from me! 

I had to then get dressed, go find a toilet to clean myself up. I could feel the blood start to soak right through but the only available toilet was downstairs in the main foyer area near the cafe. At the time I thought that it was just an unlucky, one-off experience & put it behind me seeing as the actual procedure had gone well enough for me.

However, at my most recent appointment I had a womb biopsy done in the consultation room but again there were no pads, wipes or tissue offered or available to soak up the blood that was now flowing from me after the procedure. The clinic was really busy & the nurse had left in a rush to go check if the next patient was there. I had to hurry and ended up just using the tissue bed-roll that I had been lying on to try and do a quick clean up. I was bleeding quite a bit though, so in desperation I also had to resort to folding my underwear into a pad shape in order to get dressed and leave the clinic.

By the time I found the first available toilet the blood had soaked through my improvised pad and my trousers were wet and sticky with it. I cleaned myself up as best as I could but I then had a very uncomfortable & somewhat distressing 2 x bus, 2 hour long journey to face in order to get home - the whole time aware I was leaking through onto my clothes again, & onto the seats. I was a mess, literally & figuratively, by the time I got home.

Given that the Rapid Access Unit is a dedicated Gynaecology department, the lack of basic privacy, lack of absorbent supplies or toilets in a clinic that carries out procedures that can cause patients to bleed and/or leak fluids came as a surprise to me.

I feel that patients should be advised beforehand to always bring their own, sanitary supplies, wipes, change of underwear etc with them - I did have things with me but not enough to fully absorb all of the blood that leaked into my clothing throughout my journey home.

Furthermore, I feel the lack of privacy screens between clinic/waiting area really should be addressed so that the risk of being exposed to people in the waiting area is prevented - the Urology clinic that shares the same waiting area has a built-in, full-length curtain screen that blocks the view from the waiting area, however the Gynaecology side has no such provision, even though the shared waiting area is busy with both male & female patients who can easily see right up the clinic corridor.

*At Wishaw General, the Women’s Health Unit has a procedure room with a built in toilet/changing area that is well stocked with supplies and this really did make my first biopsy appointment there feel like a much more dignified and positive experience.

Also, I received results from my latest biopsy that were reassuring but then, unexpectedly, I received a different/additional result letter about the same biopsy a few weeks later - I did seek clarification but voicemail remains unanswered.