Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: linz57 on May 03, 2016, 05:47:41 PM
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I have a pelvic ultrasound and transvaginal scan scheduled for Thursday morning and my doctor has intimated that I may well need a hysteroscopy too.
I realise I'm getting ahead of myself but I want to be as prepared as I can be, so, I would like to ask you ladies whether you would advise biting the bullet and having it done there and then, or booking an appointment to have at least some anaesthetic. I have had an endometrial biopsy done there and then , but I'm imagining a hysteroscopy is a more invasive procedure that takes awhile.
Roughly how long does the procedure take? ( dreading it)😖
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I thought a endometrial biopsy was a hysterscopy :-\
We have a new clinic doing them at our local hospital without anaesthetic, but a gynaecologist, from the same hospital, I saw a few months back only did them under general.
Sorry I am not much help am I ::)
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Ooh, I'm not certain , but I thought a hysteroscopy was having a camera put up inside the womb and liquid being put in to make the images clearer on a monitor. Brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it eek!😖
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Off for my scans this morning, wish me luck please ladies. I've had gynae scans before but I'm finding the older I get, the more anxious and fearing the worst I get.
Oh well, big girl panties on and deep breaths, I just hope to god I can hold a full bladder of water long enough this time it it could be embarrassing 🙄
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How it all goes well, I think the full bladder is the worst bit!
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I had a hysteroacopy about three weeks ago where womb biopsies were taken, its my second one ,the first time was uncomfortable but the more recent one was very very painful no anaesthetic at all , however , consultant did say afterwards irs unusual to feel that level of pain ? I normally have a high pain threshold so maybe I was having a bad day. Id not want to have it again minus anaesthetic so if you can have son kind of local one id go for it 😊
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After my scans showed an endometrial thickness of 5.6mm, the doctor said she wants to do the hysteroscopy and biopsy. Anyway, I'd already made up my mind I wasn't having the hysteroscopy done without anaesthetic , I want s general, so she has suggested I get both procedures done at the same time when I'm under. Part of me wishes I'd just gone ahead and had it done today but then again I'm glad I'll be out of it, even more so now you've said how painful it was wtd. I do hope your results came back fine.
Something to look forward to after my upcoming holiday.....😖
Tinkerbell, it's not easy the older we get is it? Think I had three trips to the loo while I was there .....
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Hi linz57
There are several threads about this! I've posted about my experience elsewhere as have others. I certainly would not have a GA - but that's because I've never had one and this is a very minor procedure not an operation. I had a thickened lining (not surprising because I'm on cyclical HRT) and an irregularity - shown up by US and TVS so had to go for hysteroscopy and biopsy. The main city hospital do not do it under GA - it really should not be necessary. It's really quick. All they said (in the letter/instructions) was take a couple of Ibuprofen and a couple of paracetamol an hour before the procedure. I did that and barely felt anything. A little cramping later on but nothing to worry about. I don't remember anything about liquid. I had my legs in stirrups ( very undignified!) but was able to watch the whole thing on the screen. The biopsy is just a little nick of tissue. It was all done in about 15 mins I would say. The irregularity turned out to be a small fibroid and the biopsy was clear. 5.6 mm is not very thick - are you on HRT or have you been - and if so cyclical or not?
Really no need to worry - if you have an experienced gynae all should be well!
Hurdity x
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I'm on Conti hrt Hurdity and yes, 5.6mm isn't very thick but I have had some bleeding. I did ask the doctor if the procedure was really necessary but of course she has to follow protocol.
I have had a biopsy done before without painkillers and it wasn't too bad but a nurse friend of mine advised me against having the hysteroscopy without anaesthetic. Maybe I could ask for sedation like they provide for colonoscopies or endoscopies? Hmm...
I have had general anaesthetic three times in the past and although it's not ideal, this procedure is only about 30 minutes so hopefully I shouldn't need too much anaesthetic. Mind you, I do always say I need horse tranquillisers to knock me out haha.
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The advice is all a bit conflicting :-\
At my local hospital the gynae
I saw wanted to do a hysterscopy under a general but the female consultant who ran a special clinic doing them didn't, just the suggested painkillers before hand advice.
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Hello Linz57, Mine was done with a light GA and I felt fine almost straight away afterwards. General Anaesthetics are so safe these days and I would not have wanted a hysteroscopy done without it. I too had an endometrial biopsy done without any painkillers or anaesthetic and that was ok.
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Yes it is all so confusing so I think we each just have to go with what we feel most comfortable doing. I feel I've been prodded about so much over the past year or two that I now think if I can avoid any pain, I'll plump for that route.
Thanks so much everyone, it's interesting to read different experiences
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I had a hysteroscopy about 2 years ago and endometrial biopsy after a failed pipelle biopsy attempt and didn't need anything beyond the recommended standard over the counter painkillers they advise about an hour before. I had no discomfort or pain during the procedure but everyone is different. Prior to that I'd had 3 inner and outer ultrasounds which showed thickened lining and possible fibroid and/or cyst which they obviously needed to check out. All was well, just a fibroid and hormones causing the thickened lining in my case. Had a further scan last year just to check things after one very heavy period but lining was totally normal. Hormones are finally dipping away.
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If a patient is anxious and tense then they are likely to suffer pain through association. If a GA is available I would go with it. As long as you have someone to drive you home afterwards ;)
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Oh yes, now hubby is retired he can't get out of chauffeuring me to appointments 😉
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I had my mirena coil removed & a Hysteroscopy done about 3 years ago without a GA.
I too was dreading it but in the end it wasn't too bad. A nurse held my hand & chatted to me, they put a CD on of Xmas songs (& this was in June which made me laugh).
It took about 25 minutes & I was fine afterwards, but everyone is different so go with what YOU are comfortable with.
Cazi x
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That's very true Cazikins, when I've had the general I might well wish I'd gone for it with just painkillers but hey ho, I'll be nervous however I have it done. I can't understand it, years ago I was never like this, I've turned into a wimp hahaha
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Hi linz57
I had an aborted attempt at polypectomy and endometrial biopsy by hysteroscopy without anaesthesia a couple of months ago. Too much scar tissue (from nightmare 1st labour 28years ago) and they couldn't get through the cervix. This was not a pleasant experience! i was told by the consultant that it is impossible to do this procedure with some women but they have not worked out yet why. Interestingly, follow up conversations indicated that little (or no) research had been done to discover why this differs from woman to woman. The advice of 'take a couple of otc tabs an hour before hand' was frankly ridiculous in my case. I was forced to leave the room and vomit.
I have just had a repeat of this procedure under GA. They couldn't get through the cervix, too much scar tissue, and had to dilate it in the end. The GA left me pooped yesterday but feeling absolutely fine today.
It's great that some women don't suffer any problems having this procedure without anaesthetic BUT many women do. Found this youtube video showing MP Lyn Brown taking the question of this subject to the House of Commons.
Good luck to you, don't be afraid to stop them if you find it impossible to proceed - they are apparently accustomed to this happening!
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Sorry forgot to post link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUOxoXx2VTE
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Oh god, Elizabethrose, that sounds like torture for you and I'm so sorry you had to endure it.
Reading your account and listening to the video you kindly posted, I am now more comfortable about my decision to have a general. Yes, I could have taken the chance and been ok with just painkillers but, I also could have been one who had a bad experience. I ended up having a cesarean section when I had my son, due to my pelvis being tilted out of line ( or something like that) so knowing my luck, the hysteroscopy would have been awful.
Thank you for your post and making me feel I've made the right decision for me..... And if I turn up on the day and they say I can't have a general ( as has happened before with dental surgery) , then I shall come home without the procedure being done. Thank you again🙂
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Could I ask, were you on any hrt when you had the procedure done?
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No, I'm seriously sensitive to hormone change and any HRT just exacerbates my migraine and causes other problems. So cold turkey for me!
I'm almost 57 and still menstruating although my last period was in Dec so fingers crossed (everything crossed!). The belief is that my migraine will calm when I hit a natural menopause, though it will obviously not happen immediately. Unfortunately, the perimenopause has dragged on for so long, and I am obviously unovulatory much of the time now, which results in high levels of unopposed oestrogen. My endometrium has thickened as a result and that's what they are investigating. My Granny used to say that in her next life she was going to come back as a man - I can understand why now!
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Hope your results come through quickly and you get the all clear. It's bad enough awaiting a procedure but having to wait two weeks or more for results just adds to the anxiety.
Oh yes, I've uttered that phrase about coming back as a man many a time since being post menopausal, I sailed through peri but then the you know what hit the fan big time once I was a couple of years post meno.
My endo thickness showed 5.6mm, what was yours? I know 5mm is the cut off , but I am still struggling to get my head around needing a hysteroscopy with my endo thickness being just above what is acceptable. Still, I suppose it's best to get it done especially as I had a slight bleed.
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I have absolutely no idea what the thickness was: the consultant started discussing the results with me just as I was coming to from the GA. I was completely out of it, wondering who all these people were in my bedroom! The nurse in the ward was just giving me the detail from sketchy notes. I'll have to wait for the results which they've said could take between 4-6 wks.
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Wow, that's a long wait!
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A few weeks ago I was due to have an endometrial biopsy and like you I was incredibly anxious. I was told to take some painkillers half an hour beforehand. Had a nice discussion with the pharmacist on the best painkillers money could buy !!! as well as going to the doctor to see if she could prescribe something (I was that panicked about it). I went for the procedure, but was told that they couldn't do it as it would be too uncomfortable for me (consultant said he would have to knock me out), so they just did a smear test - which was what I was meant to be going for in the first place (colposcopy) but the first consultant changed it to an endometrial biopsy.
Never been so relieved, also a negative result :)
Personally if I had the choice I would want a general if they wanted to do a biopsy again. The anxiety I had pretty much had me in tears everyday.
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Still waiting for my hyseroscopy result 4 weeks now. My womb linings 9 mm
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Hi walking the dog
Waiting is the pits! I always think though that bad news will creep through faster.
I wish you well x
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I wish you well with your results too wtd, why the hell do they make people wait so long? I know there must be so many women having investigations done but even so, 4 weeks is a long time to suffer that awful anxiety .
Kew, so glad you got a negative result, what a relief eh?
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Have you called your dr regarding the results. For my recent smear test they didn't send the results to me but sent them to my dr. I just asked upon the off chance after waiting for 3 weeks. 😕
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I asked for copys of any letters sent to my GP and normally get them, I have to have bloods taken this week to check on the raised prolactin situation so will ask then