"Hysteroscopy and biopsy"

I have just been for a hysteroscopy and biopsy this morning and it was one of the most horrendous and traumatising things I have ever experienced. It was horribly invasive and I had it done with no painkillers. It also did not help that I sensed that the consultant was feeling frustrated as, despite trying with a second, they could not get the camera where it needed to go. The procedure was not successful although they did manage to get a small biopsy which was just excruciating. I was told I would probably have to go back as they would need to repeat the hysteroscopy under a general anaesthetic. In fairness, the consultant did keep saying they could stop and did keep checking I was ok. They had initially suggested I could go back another time to have it done under a general, but I did not want to have to go back again and I am unhappy about having to have a general anaesthetic, so I wanted to try and get it over with.

I inferred from a conversation between the doctor and the nursing staff that I should have been told to take paracetamol beforehand. Paracetamol for that would have been next to useless and under no circumstances would that have helped with the pain. Why is someone not trained to give gas and air at the very least? To do this procedure with no pain relief I feel is diabolical. And it is so horribly invasive. I am in my fifties and have gone through three normal vaginal births - none of those births was any where near as painful as that.

I am angry and upset that I was given no prior warning that I was having a procedure at all today.

I had ended up being referred, initially, for an ultrasound scan after a bleed recently. I stopped having periods over six years ago but I was not particularly concerned about this. I started HRT a year ago and then, due to supply issues, had to change from oestrogen gel to patches. It was after changing to the patches that I had a bleed. All the literature about HRT says that this can be normal but as long as it is not prolonged (mine was slight and lasted only three days) it is not usually something to worry about.

 I did mention it to the Nurse prescriber when I went about something else and they thought it prudent to send me for tests straight away. I received a letter, from my GP practice, explaining I could be having -  blood tests, X-Rays, Scans, Camera tests - and that I would be told in advance if you need a scan or camera test and was advised that I could bring a friend or family member. I thank goodness for this advice as there was no such advice in the letters from the hospital.

Within the week, I received a letter from the hospital telling me to attend for a US pelvis.  There was no warning at all that that would be an internal scan either. This scan I found to be horribly invasive too and I would have appreciated prior warning about that, but at least it was not really painful.

Before I attended for that scan though, I had a phone call from the hospital explaining that they needed to make me an appointment to discuss the results of the scan with a consultant.

Shortly after making that appointment, I received a letter confirming that a new outpatient appointment has been made for me and to prepare for your appointment I should have a list of all medication I currently take. There was no other information.

I really thought I was just getting the results of the scan. No warning that they might then be doing a hysteroscopy and biopsy. No warning of that whatsoever. No warning to bring someone with me who could take me home afterwards. Thank goodness I had asked my husband to accompany me.  There is no way I could or should have driven home after that.

After the procedure I felt so ill I could not leave the consulting/ procedure room for at least half an hour if not longer. I thought I was going to pass out, I felt clammy and sick and dizzy. The nursing staff had to lower the bed right back as they clearly thought I might faint. I have never felt like that before. I actually thought I might need to be admitted to hospital I felt so bad. I could hardly get my clothes back on - the nursing staff had to help me. I felt really self-conscious that I was taking up too much time in the consultant’s room - they were staring at an empty screen by the time they pulled the curtain back. I sat in the recovery room for nearly an hour afterwards with the worst spasms of pain in my abdomen and feeling clammy and sick. I honestly think my body had gone into shock. My husband had to support me downstairs and out of the hospital. I couldn’t have done it alone.

I do want to say that the nursing staff were wonderful and really looked after me but those sorts of procedures should really carry a massive warning before you arrive in the consulting room. It was just the most horrendously horrible, painful and invasive procedure. I still feel traumatised and incredibly weepy. I needed an informed choice before arriving in the consulting room.