"Hysteroscopy so painful I began to pass out"

I went for a hysteroscopy last week at Leicester Royal Infirmary and I was not at all worried. The prior information suggested that there would be minimal pain - no local anaesthetic needed. I did however, take 2 Paracetamol 1 hour prior just in case. I have had endometrial biopsies taken previous to the appointment which were also very painful but I know that the procedure for my hysteroscopy was 'just a tiny camera' to look in my uterus.

Well, it was so excruciatingly painful that I began to shout out, my body went into shock and I started to sweat profusely. I came over disorientated and dizzy, I felt heavily nauseous and I began to pass out.

I have never experienced agonising pain like it in all my life. I was unable to sit or stand, I had to be assisted to walk into a recovery room and was only offered ibuprofen and a cup of tea to make me feel better. When walking back to the car I could only take tiny and slow steps as I was in so much pain still.

After getting home I did some research online and found that there are SCORES of other women who have been through the EXACT same thing - again, with NO local anaesthetic. I found an article on the Daily Mail website, campaign groups and MP's who are fighting to make local anaesthetic during this procedure compulsory.

I am horrified that the hospital staff made this procedure out to be 'routine' and side effects noted as 'risk of some cramping'. In my experience, this is a massive understatement.

The use of no local anesthesia in this procedure seriously requires investigation.