In my experience they really don't like the idea of public transport, especially if you've not got anyone to accompany you. It's the fact that you aren;t necessarily fully compis mentis and could suffer a bad reaction at any point in the 24 hours following a GA, and if you are in a private car, hospital transport or at home with someone they can react quickly and get help if necessary, which isn't necessarily the case if you are on a bus or train. and apparently if you were driving and in an accident your insurance wouldn't cover you and you would be legally liable. 

It might even be worth asking if they can keep you in overnight following the procedure - they've done this for my OH when he's had to have biopsies taken under a GA. 

Oh that's interesting - thank you! 

I’ve had 4 surgeries in the past 4 years under GA and was told I had to be taken home by someone else and have someone with me for the following 24 hours. Public transport wasn’t an option.

Sarah xx

I think it’s best if Firtrees waits to see what her hospital says as they will give full guidance. For my hysteroscopy I was under about 10.15am, awake by 10.45am, eating toast by 11.15am, and ready to go home about midday. Didn’t drive that afternoon but did the next morning. 

Apologies, I meant to say public transport with a friend.

I live alone and had mine under GA.  I had to stay in overnight because no one was able to stay with me.  

Ah thank you, I live alone actually, will bear that in mind.  

Hi Firtree

I had a similar experience. The gynaecologist tried performing the hysteroscopy in the out patients clinic but my blood pressure plummeted so the procedure was stopped. I was then referred to get a hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic as the gynaecologist had seen two polyps. I was on the waiting list for six months. When I got to the hospital the anaesthetist advised me to have a spinal anaesthetic because I’m very overweight. I can honestly say I didn’t feel a thing from the waist down. While I was numb they took the opportunity to insert a Mirena coil. One polyp was fine but the other gave the pathologist and the gynaecologist cause for concern. The gynaecologist decided I should have another biopsy done in six months. I did on 26 Nov and I’m now waiting for the results. I know everyone is an individual and has their own experience, but having the hysteroscopy under anaesthetic (general or spinal) should be offered as the first option rather than after a woman has had a terrible experience. 

SJ

Hello SJ that does sound similar - on a straw poll here, it seems to be quite a common experience to stop the outpatient hysteroscopy biopsy.  I agree it should be the first option to have it done with anaesthesia.  I think it's probably cheaper to do the ambulatory one though.   Thank you for letting me know that it could be six months before the general anaesthetic appointment - I'm half geared up to expect a call anyday soon - but that doesn't seems very likely now.  

 think the gynaecologist I saw must have been very decent because he offered me a booking for a general anaesthetic straight away. But I did cope up to the point he spotted  polyps and said he'd need a larger hysteroscope, and he thought a general would be better for me ( and the pipelle biopsy during the ultrasound was manageable).  I've only had one child by C-section so am probably the very opposite of stretchy though -  I was also being very clear with  the two gynaecologists that I'd had a very bad cervical biopsy a couple of years ago - which I found quite a scary experience.  It does seem weird that they just bang in local anaesthetic and go straight in - if it was the  dentist you'd have to wait for the local anaesthetic to start working before they set to!  

Firtree, my wait for a hysteroscopy under GA was 2 weeks before the pre-op assessment then 4 weeks after that, so 6 weeks in all.