"Hysterscopy"

Nevill Hall Hospital during June 2020 all alone with no support. Advised to take paracetamol and/or ibuprofen before procedure. No option of general or local anaesthetic. Advised some women can’t tolerate or it’s not successful, if that was the case it would be 6months to a year for an in hospital procedure. Obviously I was referred due to possible cancer diagnosis so said ok to proceed.

Male Doctor, female nurse and HCA present. 

Said there would be a little pressure due to water entering womb and surgical tools. It was very uncomfortable, I’m not the sort of person to shout out, I hold my breath, grit my teeth or try to do controlled breathing. 

I first stared to hold my breath and grit teeth, then started panting. The nurse rubbed my hair and said I was doing ok. She’d obviously noticed I was in pain, she calmly spoke to me trying to distract me but I couldn’t speak. I then started puffing out my breath due to pain.

The doctor carried on not asking if I was alright. He stated what he found, not really sure as I couldn’t hear I was in so much pain. He advised he take a biopsy, this was horrendous. I had given birth naturally twice, once with gas and air and pethidine late on and the second time gas and air only.

Once it had finished I was in shock, I sat on the chair for sometime not knowing what to do. The doctor announced he had finished and gave time for results and left. He didn’t ask about my pain or comfort.

Eventually I asked if I should get up, they said yes and offered me a pad and said there would be a little blood. As I got up I noticed the metal tin on the floor full of blood and water with splatters on the floor. It looked like a bloodbath. My legs were wobbly and I felt a bit out of sorts. I dressed and left. Again nobody asked how I was and if I was ok to walk out alone.

I had to walk out of the room, along many corridors to get outside and then across the hospital complex to the car park. I texted my husband to find me, he did after I had walked 3/4 of the way and I had to hold onto him. Not quite sure how I got that far alone. The pain was still there.

I bleed for over 7 days and called their helpline as suggested to be told to see GP.

If I was ever asked to have this procedure again I would insist on a general anaesthetic even if I had to wait. This should be standard practice.

What shocked me the most I’d that men have a local anaesthetic when having a vasectomy but women aren't even offered local anaesthetic or sedation for this procedure.

Being in lockdown and having nobody outside the room to support me made this even worse. This procedure is barbaric!

Please note I didn’t even know this organisation existed for me to share my experience until today.