Hysteroscopy Experiences?

I had mine in outpatients. I followed the instructions on taking ibuprofen and paracetamol beforehand. It wasn't pleasant, but I don't want to put ladies off if they haven't had theirs yet, because I'm sure everyone's experience is different, depending on their problem.

I was told there and then that it was "highly likely" I had endometrial cancer, and that if the biopsies came back negative it would not convince the consultant and I would have to have another one under GA. I was asked how my pain was afterwards and I said - honestly - I don't have any. And I never had any discomfort whatsoever afterwards and minimal bleeding. They put you in a quiet area afterwards and make you a nice cup of tea in a proper cup and saucer, and offer you a biscuit. I went straight back home and gave a singing lesson.

I asked to see the photos of my tumour and it helped me come to terms with it. So I had my results if you like, way before the biopsy results were official. The staff couldn't have been nicer - there was the consultant, a registrar, a staff nurse, a student nurse, an HCA, oh and me! Quite crowded in fact, but I was asked it I minded so many people being present. I think they knew what they were going to look at and used it for training.

For me, I’m a “want to know everything” person. I like to own my health, and wanted to own whatever was wrong with me this time, whatever it turned out to be, from the start, I read up on hysteroscopies beforehand and also asked the ultrasound nurse questions about nth procedure after I had had my external and transvaginal scan. I don’t cope well with smear tests at the GP surgery as I usually find it very painful when the speculum is opened. I once kept putting my smear test off for so long (out of anxiety) that it ended up being nine years… so it was especially important for me to know and be prepared. I took pain relief before my appointment as advised.

Having found out that the hysteroscopy involved a speculum, I talked to the consultant first about my issues, and he was willing to refer me right away to have the procedure under GA - but I said I wanted him to try. The consultant was considerate and kind. He asked me if I was sure He said he’d tell me everything he was going to do before he did it. He also asked me if I’d like to see what he was doing (I said yes) and turned the screen towards me so I could watch. He used a small speculum and expanded it slowly, telling me to tell him if I wanted it to stop. It was all right - it made such a difference someone taking it slowly and talking to me. He asked me if I wanted to continue and that this would involve an injection of local anaesthetic into the cervix. I agreed and honestly didn’t feel it. But when he tried to pass the camera through my cervix, the pain was so extreme  that I cried out. I asked him to try again and he did, very gently, but I cried out again and the consultant said he wasn’t happy continuing as he didn’t want it to be a bad experience for me. I was so disappointed as I just wanted it done. But he explained that with that level of pain I could faint, plus there was a risk of damaging me as the cervix was so firmly closed, plus, even if he got through, the biopsy would likely be even more painful. I cried but knew he was right. He referred me for a GA hysteroscopy; I had my pre-assessment a couple of weeks later, then got my hysteroscopy appointment a couple of weeks after that.

I arrived at the day surgery unit at 7.30am on my hysteroscopy day on my own by taxi (my choice to travel alone), having had nothing to eat since midnight and nothing to drink after 6.30am. There were a few of us in and we were talked to one after another by a nurse, an anaesthetist and then the consultant. All were fabulous and the atmosphere was very relaxed. I walked to theatre at 9.45am, was asleep by 10, and back out in the recovery room by 11. I had a hot drink and a snack, and the consultant came round to tell me that he’d done the hysteroscopy, that he’d removed a polyp and done a biopsy, and that I’d get the result by phone in two weeks. The nurse phoned my husband and walked outside with me when he arrived at 1.30. The whole day was as pleasant as it could be and gave me a lot of confidence in the hospital and the staff. (I received my results by phone 2 weeks 2 days later - the results are all discussed at a meeting on a Friday morning and patients are phoned afterwards. My results had come in the previous Friday afternoon, missing that morning’s meeting, otherwise I’d have had them a week earlier)

if anyone has any questions at all, please feel free to ask!

I'm a want to know person as well, and I don't like waiting to find things out. I didn't feel any injection - she said she was using a numbing gel and that was so cold it was a shock! LOL  By the time I said OOH she said, "I'm in" I was aware I could watch on the screen, and I would have had it been more comfortable, but I think I had my eyes screwed up most of the time and I'm not sure whether the nurse has the feeling back in her hand yet  But,as I said, I asked to see the photos  - about 10.

Everyone was so nice all the way through. I was glad I went alone (no choice until you get your diagnosis). I'm perhaps not as brave as I come across sometimes, but I find it easier to process on my own, otherwise I'm too wrapped up in considering other people's feelings. Initially I see everything in an detached, academic sort of way, and it doesn't hit me until days, even weeks later. People say think of yourself now, not others, but I can't help it.

I went home and told my immediate family straight away. No softening the blow - I'm home and it looks like I have cancer. When a consultant says I'm so sorry, describes a laparoscopal hysterectomy before getting biopsy results and tells you to bring a family member next time, you can be pretty sure of the diagnosis. 

Hi there

My first attempt at a hysteroscopy failed as the nurse couldn't easily get a "virginal speculum" into my vagina (always found smear tests painful due to a stenosed cervix.0

I was then referred to have it under a general anaesthetic at a "green hospital - covid free" I was persuaded to have it done by epidural which I didn't want, terrified of possible paralysis. By the anaesthetist was very kind and very persuasive outlying the benefits so I went for it in the end.

Having read some of the horror stories some ladies here have experienced I think I'd always opt for being "out of it". I've not experienced childbirth so it would have been hard for me.

Hugs, Barb xx

I had my first hysteroscopy in Outpatients.  I knew nothing about them as it had been arranged the day before by telephone and I had no information beforehand except for a quick Google where I noted that it might be a good idea to take painkillers before I went, so I did.  The Consultant was very kind, as was the nurse who was holding my hand and trying to make conversation!  Unfortunately he told me he had seen nothing untoward (having been told when I had the TV scan that I had a fibroid) but that he didn't think he had been able to take enough of a biopsy and I might get called back for another one under GA.  Pain wise it was more discomfort really, not helped by my nervousness, but I wouldn't particularly want to have another one! I was given a cup of tea and biscuits afterwards in a little room, with my daughter, and told I could sit there as long as I needed.  Unfortunately a couple of weeks later I was phoned with an appointment for another one under GA as there was 'insufficient sample for testing'.  Sadly, the staff at the Day centre were abrupt and unpleasant, including the surgeon, in fact the only person who was nice to me was the nurse in recovery.  Afterwards the surgeon put her head round the door and said she had seen a 'mass' , I said should I be worried - thinking we were still talking about a possible fibroid - and she said, it's not normal and off she went.  I was told I could go home but had to ask several times for the cannula to be removed - my daughter had to go and find someone in the end as they were closing up for the day, and I was left with the bed pumped up too high for me to comfortably get off.  This whole experience had upset me a lot as they were so uncaring, even calling me by my surname as the nurse wasn't English speaking first language and didn't seem to understand I found that a bit rude!

My experience in hospital following my hysterectomy were not good either, and 4 years on I still go over it all in my head.  I do wonder why some people become nurses sometimes.

Hi Poppysmum, I’m so sorry that you have had difficult and unpleasant experiences that still trouble you to this day. It’s really not nice at all to feel like a case, a statistic, a surname, rather than as an autonomous woman who is treated like she matters. What you experienced was not good enough and I’m sorry that it has affected you so deeply,

I didn't realise there could be issues with this until I joined this forum, well after I'd had the hysteroscopy. I was asked if I'd had children vaginally and I had had two, and a late miscarriage. I also knew that I had a weak neck of the womb, because I had to have both children stitched in. Maybe my history helped me as I found it not bad at all, with just two paracetamols.

I’m really glad it was okay for you NannyAnny. I’ve had two children but am 8 years past the menopause so I think that’s why it was difficult. I know stenosis can happen after menopause but don’t know if that was a factor for me. I’m pleased for the women for whom the procedure is not an issue. My consultant was very caring about it all and would have happily put me down for a GA one at the start, but I wanted to try, for the sake of time and wanting to know ASAP what was wrong. But from reading online I can see that some women have not been treated well, felt helpless, with no control over what was happening to them and have been left feeling traumatised. So I think it’s important for women to know it’s okay to talk about it, ask questions and feel more involved/in control.

I was 20 years post menopause!!! I was 72 when diagnosed. Maybe things are looser then, anyway!!! I had also had so much poking and prodding down there over the years I was more than used to it. I tore badly with my first child and had 100 stitches in. I can see that it would be more of an unpleasant experience for someone who had never had children.

Hiya

I had mine at outpatients,  like you I need to research everything and so watched a YouTube video,  so I knew what to expect. It was uncomfortable for short while and I did feel a little scratch when they gave the cervix local anaesthetic. The nurses were all lovely and talkative trying to distract me. I also took paracetamol beforehand as recommended and maybe it helped.