Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Rosebush on June 04, 2013, 03:34:40 PM
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Hi Ladies,
Has anyone recently had hysteroscopy/biopsy without sedation, had one booked for tomorrow, but cancelled cannot face it at the moment, re booked for July 1st..had external & internal scan last week for unexplained bleeds in March & April, both scans we okay but womb linning was 5.3 should be 5 so thay wanted to do hysto & biopsy just as a final check, the internal scan was quite painful as i have a very small cervix :-\ the gyno said just take a good painkiller 1 hr before procedure to help with pain, but it will be quick..i have a broken foot at the moment after a fall last week, and cannot face any more pain just yet..so wondered what your experience was of the above..
Had same op 3yrs ago, plus D&C with GA but made me soooo sick for 5days, have been on HRT for 3.5yrs and will be 64 in August..xxx
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Yes I have and I'm glad I did. The other patients in that day who opted for a general had to be in for their appointment much earlier and when I saw them afterwards in the waiting room they looked really poorly with the effects of the anaesthetic.
I found it a bit like having a smear, uncomfortable but not painful. Good advice to take pain relief first though just in case - something with codeine or similar in it for extra relaxation!
I had a small bleed afterwards but felt well enough to pop into the travel agents to book a holiday before I went home!
Hope all goes well x
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I had this done too Rosebush - it wasn't that bad at all. You will probably feel it a bit when they actually take the biopsies - it is only momentary - a matter of a few seconds for each biopsy. The rest is like KatieLiz said - just about the same discomfort as a smear. Good idea to take some painkillers beforehand - no-one told me that. It is nothing to be scared of though so good luck.
Hannah
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Thanks Ladies i just cannot take GA...keep telling myself it will be quick..can you remember how long your procedure took..Smear tests are painful for me but i was also told to ask for a small speculum.. ??? x
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Hi Rosebush
I think it was about 20 mins from memory. There was a nurse in there with me and she talked to me all the time which takes your mind off the procedure. I have heard others say that you can have some local anaesthetic 'down there' but I never got offered anything. Maybe that would be worth mentioning if you feel it may be too much.
Keep us posted.
Hannah
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I can't quite remember how long mine took but I do remember the nurse with me as well - she kept me talking the whole time which took my mind off the procedure.
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Hi Rosebush
I had this done a few years ago, mainly because I have a phobia about being put to sleep, it was brilliant, in and out within 30 mins, whereas the ladies who were having a GA were in for at least 4 hours.
The only pain I felt was when the doctor has to go back in, and apparently because of the gas they use, it can cause some kind of vaccum. The pain then thought only feels like period pain, nothing worse than that. I found it really interesting, he turned the screen so I could watch, and he showed me the opening to my fallopin tubes, and my scar from my c.section.
I had a little spotting afterwards, but that was all.
Joyce x
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I think it depends on you pain threshold, mine is low and she had to abandon it and do it under GA, however everyone is different, I would advice a strong painkiller , not just paracetamol beforehand.
charlie!!
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Charlie my pain threshold is also very low, and Gyno did say, " see how we go" so expect if it gets to painful i too will have to say stop, and re book for GA :'( will take 2x 500mgs co-codamol before i go, try and leave time in between each one...x
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I've got to have this done next Wednesday & I am not looking forward to it either Rosebush.
I am hoping to have my mirena coil removed at the same time so there is even more to be done. The last time they tried to change my coil (4 years ago) they abandoned it because it hurt me so much, & they booked me in to have a GA.
I am hoping I can be a bit braver this time around. They say in the leaflet I will be given a local anaesthetic so hopefully that will take the edge off a bit.
It don't get any easier does it Rosebush.
Cazikins xxx
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Could they not do it for you under an epidural/spinal, I had a fairly big op done that way as I am also phobic with GA's had hysterscopy, cyst removal, D&C and they lifted my sagging uterus a bit. Was a doddle, the obviously also gave me something to sedate me lightly so that I was not nervous but no after effects or anything was wide awke and felt great after had a big lunch and went home 2 days later, had to say in as they had had to cut me to remove the cyst.
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Hi Charlie,
I had yhis done about 3 weeks ago. Yes i found it painful, but it does not last long and with no after effects. They did say i could ask them to stop at any point but i just wanted it over with. The girls are right in saying the pain ia akin to a very bad period pain. I am just a wimp at the end of the day. Good luck, be brave. x
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Cazikins will you post how things go for you, no-one mentioned l.a or sedation, think i may send a letter to Consultant next week to ask for something to help, rather than wait and maybe not be able to cope with pain, and then have to wait for appt with GA..i am thinking la and/or sediation will cost less the using operating threatre.. ???
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Cazikins will you post how things go for you, no-one mentioned l.a or sedation, think i may send a letter to Consultant next week to ask for something to help, rather than wait and maybe not be able to cope with pain, and then have to wait for appt with GA..i am thinking la and/or sediation will cost less the using operating threatre.. ???
Rosebush, I have just re-read the leaflet & I got it wrong. :bang:.
It is not a local anaesthetic at all, it only mentions a warm antiseptic solution will be used to wash the cervix. I am now in the same state of panic as you.
I am a numpty.
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Honestly Catkins it's not bad at all, I;m the worse person in the world for getting in a state over things, but I would go back for one, without anesthetic, in a flash. As I've said the pain is no worse than a period pain, and no-where near labour pain, and we've got through both of those :)
xx
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Cazi are you home yet, how did things go. :-*
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Hi Joyce - that's the problem I have not ever been in labour , or pregnant ... Period pains I've not had for over 5 years so that is where my pain threshold is... ZERO, ZILCH. I just dont do pain very well. The dentist is my limit. ;D ;D ;D & if he says Open Wide.....
OK Rosebush, I am back & it wasn't too bad, honest.
Yes I was "bricking" it but the girls at the hospital were great.
I told the lady gynae that ideally I would like the coil removed, a full investigation done & any biopsys taken as necessary. However, I did not want to go through too much pain, & if I shouted STOP, I bl**dy well meant it.
I had already told her about my previous experiences of having this type of procedures done, & she was fully supportive. She did say that if it got too much for me then she would refer me for a GA. However I must say I think this was more because of the coil removal rather than the hysterectomy, so I gritted my teeth & said "let's do it".
Outcome:
1 - I had the coil removed.. :bounce: not too bad in the end,, says she who was squuezing the nurses hand & talking about a load of drivel at the time.
2 - They took 2 photos.
3 - They found a 0.5cm polyp & 2 biopsys were taken.... now that was the worse bit as it did stung but it soon sub-sided.
4 - Wait for the results.
Now Rosebush - it wasn't the best experience of my life, but it certainly wasn't the worse, & that is what you have to focus on. Believe me I now feel so much more relaxed & happy now that it is over.
No more sleepless nights lying awake wondering, I have taken the big step & done the right thing.
Now Rosebush, you can follow my lead - we are all behind you & will be holding your hand.
Love Cazi xx
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Hi Cazikins. So pleased that you have had it done and that it was better than you thought! Well done. I had forgotten it was today - not so "well done" me - sorry.
Taz x :foryou:
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Well done Cazi :bighug: I have another 2.5wks to wait, but feel better after reading your post, sooo pleased you coped with the coil removal as well. :foryou: What are you using instead of m.coil? xxx
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Hi Cazi
I bet you feel so much better now, and you should feel really proud of yourself, sometimes the expectation of things is so much worse than the actual event.
Joyce x
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Thanks Taz & Joyce, yes I do feal pretty chuffed & very brave meno chick... :valkyrie:
Well done Cazi :bighug: I have another 2.5wks to wait, but feel better after reading your post, sooo pleased you coped with the coil removal as well. :foryou: What are you using instead of m.coil? xxx
Now you know Rosebush what it's like (& you know I told it like it actually was), you will be fine. It's the not knowing how we will cope that gets me, our imagination runs riot.
I have had a bit of spotting today but no more than a panty liner can deal with, & no pain.
"What am I using instead of mirena coil?". Do you mean HRT or contraceptive wise RB?
Cazi xx
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HRT Cazi ..just remembered I was told they would pump air into the cervix to enlarge it , did they use this during your procedure? x
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I have made an appointment with my GP to review my HRT a week on Monday.
I was on mirena coil for prog' & 1mg climavel for estr'.
The Gynae told me yesterday that it is ok to carry on using climavel on its own for 1 month only, but after that I must either stop using HRT or go onto a combined (hopefully a continuous type as I don't want to have peiods again).
If they did pump air into my cervix Rosebush I was not told or even aware of it.
Love Cazi xx
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Cazi, hope you don't mind me asking, but was the procedure done with just legs dropped to the side are were stirrups used ??? x
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I don't mind you asking Rosebush at all. It is the little bits of extra info that can put us at ease.
Neither as it happens :o :o
I sat on this chair (a bit like a dentists chair), I was then asked to bring my knees up & place my heels in a support - not a stirrup, more like a sandle/shoe type contraption if that makes sense. When I was comfortable the chair was pushed back & I laid back, not flat but a bit like on a settee/armchair lounger. It was very comfy & if I wanted to I could see the lady gynae's face, doing what she had to do (I chose not to), I could also watch on the screen the findings of the camera lense (again I chose not to).
Honestly Rosebush it all went so well & was over quicker than I expected.
But I must stress that having a good nurse holding your hand & chatting to you about work, holidays, the weather, your favourite food, your favourite drink, your family, went a hell of a long way to keeping my mind off what was going on between my legs.
Cazi xx
:cat48: :cat48:
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Thanks Cazi :-* I still have on my leg/ foot cast, which will be changed to a full cast on Monday, its really hard to bend legs at the knee as the cast ends there... last vaginal scan, was just legs dropped to the side, but I did read you need to keep very still, so stirrups or a fixture of some kind was used, I am already getting very bad hip/groin pain due to constantly having to keep my foot raised high...how long from lying back to finish did it take?
Have you still got any cramp or back pain? xx
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I would give the hospital a ring Rosebush about your cast as I can't really help with that, but I'm sure they will be able to accomodate you in some way.
The time it took from lying back to sitting up was probably about 15 minutes or so, & 5 mins was probably getting in & removing the coil then going back in again.
You will be ok Rosebush so long as you say to yourself..
"I am in control & this is my choice. Nothing will harm me as these people know what they are doing"
I know it sounds bl**dy daft but it worked for me because it was true.
xx
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Thanks Cazi :) I am going to ask if they can possible use a small speculum, this was used for vaginal scan, and although really uncomfortable it was bearable, not sure if cervix needs to be more open though for Hysto/Biopsy but maybe the pumping of air will be enough, my smear tests always feel like they are trying to get a square into a round hole :o so pleased yours is all done, roll on July 1st, my apt is 2pm..xx
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Good luck for the 1st July Rosebush, we'll all be thinking of you & holding your hand.
Have you phoned them up yet to ask any questions? I would def do so just so that you can get your head round it all before the day.
My bleeding has stopped now, I only had a bit of light spotting for the first few days & all gone now.
Cazi xx
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Good luck for tomorrow Rosebush, let us know how it all goes.
My biopsy was all clear & normal. :)
I've got my new HRT Femoston Conti, I must admit I couldn't believe how awful I was without it for 2 weeks, miserable as sin, crying at the drop of a hat etc, snapping at OH. It has settled down a bit now thank goodness.
Cazi xx
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Hi Cazi :)
So pleased your biopsy was all clear and you are back on HRT.. :bighug:
I contacted the Gyno out patients spoke to a very nice Nurse, who explained that as long as my cast fitted okay in the foot rest and I was comfy I should be okay, but the Consultant would have the final say :-\
Tried not to think about it but was so anxious on Thursday I contacted the Consultants Sec, asking about some form of sedation, the Consultant was on holiday, but she said she would see what she could find out and get back to me, she rang back about 15mins later, after speaking to the Sister and I was told sedation is not used in out patients, only in theatre via IV :'( but if i felt pain was too much i can stop the procedure and the Consultant would re-book for sedation, not sure how open the cervix as to be for hysto, but even 1minute for smear tests is painful, but going to give it a try..will post when i get back..xx
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Good luck, I hope it all goes well for you.
I do know it's easy for me to say but the more tense you are the harder it becomes. I have not had this procedure done but I have had some pretty big procedures done without sedation.
I had fetal cord blood sampling done with the biggest needle you have ever seen. A year later I had an amniocentesis done. I was never offered any sedation but I found if I really tried to relax my muscles it did not hurt so much.
Deep breath and get it over with if you can. Then you don't have to go through it all over again.
Honeyb
X
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Well I did it, took 15mins and was painful, just about to say stop when I felt a whoosh, and spec was out :o nothing found, have to wait though for biopsy results, Consultant said he feels my bleeds were due to a hormonal blip, and to ensure I keep to HRT instructions, must admit I do sometimes forget to change my patch by 1 or 2 days, then I get day sweat and that reminds me ::) but after yesterdays procedure will not forget again! still bleeding and have period & low back ache, but sooooo glad its over :)
My hip/groin pain was quite sharp when getting help from bed to wheel chair, but legs held in a V shape for 15mins didn't help...the Sn Sister advised me to go round to A&E to get it checked out, but I was not up to being messed about anymore , and I have to go back to hospital again tomorrow for shoulder scan, so will go to A&E then, just taking extra pain killers, so fed up at the mo, and weather is as dull as dish water :( x
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well done at least its over and done with now.
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Oh well done Rosebush, I knew you could do it :valkyrie: It's such a relief when it is all over isn't it.
I hope you are feeling better now, & your aches & pains have subsided a bit.
Cazi xx