Hysteroscopy experiences AT MAYO specifically

I’m coming to Mayo tomorrow for the second time since August, though this will be my first appointment with OBGYN dept.
I am scheduled for a vaginal ultrasound and a hysteroscopy as an in-office procedure.
Some background as it may matter…
I’m 42. No pregnancies/fertility anything, never tried to conceive. No history of irregular paps or anything.
I have SEVERE PMDD, for this reason, for the last 10+ years I’ve been on oral BC skipping all periods to prevent hormone fluctuations as much as possible.
In March, I had a heart attack out of nowhere. That means estrogen is now off the table. I was switched to a progesterone only oral bc. I was warned I may have a mild period when switching, which I did. However, I’ve had several periods, all over the place, randomly occurring. Some have even had as little as 5-10 days between the end of one and start of the next.
I do NOT miss or skip pills. Never.
The bleeding is not as heavy as my regular periods were, however, the cramping is awful and now it radiates into my chest, with really screws with you after a heart attack.
There is no placebo week. I should NOT be having periods at all. That’s why I’m being seen.
As I’ve been getting more info on the procedure, it’s come to my attention that this is often extremely painful. They advise taking non-asprin pain relievers even starting the night before. Tylenol does nothing for me and I can’t take NSAIDS due to the cardiac stuff.
I know they will not sedate me, especially as I’m coming to MN alone. I inquired about local anesthetic and honestly was treated pretty rudely. This is not an option. This is an in-office procedure. If I’m “one of the people that is unable to tolerate the pain” it will need to be rescheduled in the OR at a later date. Obviously this isn’t an unusual occurrence. I read a medical journal that talks about women being forced to endure these without any anesthetic when it’s completely unnecessary as there’s no reason local anesthetic can’t be given in office.
I do have Fibromyalgia, but overall, I have a fairly high pain tolerance most of the time. However, when I had my angiogram, for which I was sedated, it was excruciating and I was screaming. I’m told this isn’t normal and most people just feel pressure. They tried to keep telling me it didn’t hurt…like hell it didn’t! Two other cardiologists since then have told me it’s common for patients with Fibro to find the angiogram painful. I’m very worried I will have the same experience with this.
I’m especially worried as my cervix has NEVER dilated or anything.
Obviously it’s not uncommon for people to have issues with the procedure or rescheduling for the OR wouldn’t be so casually mentioned.
I’ve seen lots of people comment on hysteroscopies done elsewhere, elsewhere doesn’t matter, different place, different practices. I want to know specifically about those that have had this procedure AT MAYO (I’ll be in Rochester). Did anyone think it was fairly painless?
If you did find it painful and need to have it rescheduled, were they able to do it within the next day or two? My appointment is Wednesday afternoon. They don’t do appointments on weekends. I CANNOT extend my stay, I’m leaving Saturday morning. So if I need to do it in the OR, it needs to be Weds eve, Thurs or Fri…
I’m worried they won’t do the OR with me being alone though, has anybody done this?
Because of my heart I’m limited in what meds can be used.
It’s also a concern because when I’m in pain my blood pressure spikes…again, recent heart attack, so I need to avoid these spikes as much as possible. I’m also a very anxious person which doesn’t help the matter.
The person I spoke with was very condescending and very dismissive of my concerns. I don’t want to risk going into a huge panic or dealing with intense pain and putting extra strain on my heart. I tried to explain this and she just kept repeating “you must come to your consult, and then the procedure will be done in office”…yes. I get it.
Why don’t they listen to patients?! I’m not asking for like NORCO or something, literally just numb it or something. I can’t handle any additional medical trauma but also need to get to the bottom of the issue I’m having.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Women's Health Support Group.

@mkhogan

Excuse me, that should read patient services. You can reach out to them either concerns you have and ask for responses, clarifications document concerns. It is there for all

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@mkhogan ,
Your are correct about being your own advocate. At Mayo, the department that handles patient's concerns is Patient Experience.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/about-mayo-clinic/patient-experience

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You're right. Thank you. It us patient experience. Thanks for correction. If you're in clinic at tochester, they also have office handy in main building.

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I had an endometrial biopsy done at Mayo Rochester about 10 months ago. I was told that some people can't support the pain and must go to hospital. They also told me to take Tylenol before. It was uncomfortable for a few moments, but it was soon over and I drove myself home.
When I had a colonoscopy, I had general anesthesia and stayed in a hotel next to hospital, so no issue being alone and not being able to drive.
For health concerns, one should make them aware. For me, general anesthesia could offer some risks so I had them talk to my Pulmonolgist about it before my colonoscopy.

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How did your hysteroscopy go? Did they use a speculum? This past week my hysteroscopy ended with just a pipelle biopsy as the huge speculum the Dr tried to use was too painful, I am post menopausal so my tissue is more tender and the pain meds they gave me were not effective. Since my hysteroscopy, I have read that some doctors do the procedure without a speculum, sounds good to me. I was wondering if your procedure was with or without the speculum.
Unfortunately, I will have to have another hysteroscopy even if the biopsy is clear as it was a teeny sample of a teeny area.

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I just had a biopsy done of my uterus in the dr office and it was very painful even after I took an Ativan and Tylenol. Iam 76 years old and didnt have children either so it was even more difficult to do . My gynecologist offered to have me do this procedure in the OR but I declined as I have had so many operations in the last ten years so I didn’t want to have an other general anesthetic . However if i have to have another biopsy again I think I would do it in the OR as it was too painful . Hope that helps .

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Victoria,
Were you given an rx for misoprostol and asked to insert it vaginally the night prior to your biopsy? They had me do that, it is supposed to soften the cervix. Well it did not work for me, when I got home I looked up the drugs they provided and found that misoprostol only works for pre-menopausal women, it actually makes the procedure more painful for post menopausal women. Needless to say the confidence in my Dr has seriously declined.

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@beebe

Victoria,
Were you given an rx for misoprostol and asked to insert it vaginally the night prior to your biopsy? They had me do that, it is supposed to soften the cervix. Well it did not work for me, when I got home I looked up the drugs they provided and found that misoprostol only works for pre-menopausal women, it actually makes the procedure more painful for post menopausal women. Needless to say the confidence in my Dr has seriously declined.

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No they didnt give me anything like that but she did give me a local freezing . Also i had taken an Ativan and Tylenol . So it wasn’t as bad as the one I had 40 years ago .. it took her three try’s before she could get it ..
What we have to go through !
I think the next time this happens i will go under its not worth the anxiety and pain .. cheers merry xmas from Canada !!

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@victoria76

I just had a biopsy done of my uterus in the dr office and it was very painful even after I took an Ativan and Tylenol. Iam 76 years old and didnt have children either so it was even more difficult to do . My gynecologist offered to have me do this procedure in the OR but I declined as I have had so many operations in the last ten years so I didn’t want to have an other general anesthetic . However if i have to have another biopsy again I think I would do it in the OR as it was too painful . Hope that helps .

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Victoria, Wish the Doctors would get on board with the scapula-less technique for hysteroscopy instead of taking the easier (for them) scapula method. Hopefully I will get to talk to the anesthesiologist before my procedure to request "light sedation", I have had too many general anesthesia procedures too and don't seem to wake up very quickly.

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@beebe

Victoria, Wish the Doctors would get on board with the scapula-less technique for hysteroscopy instead of taking the easier (for them) scapula method. Hopefully I will get to talk to the anesthesiologist before my procedure to request "light sedation", I have had too many general anesthesia procedures too and don't seem to wake up very quickly.

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Yes thats what happens to me as well .I dont wake up as easily either ,, well Good luck with it beebe , it would be interested to hear how it went . Cheers victoria

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@victoria76

Yes thats what happens to me as well .I dont wake up as easily either ,, well Good luck with it beebe , it would be interested to hear how it went . Cheers victoria

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Currently I am waiting on the pipelle biopsy results before the hospital hysteroscopy can be scheduled. If it shows atypical cells I will be referred on to an oncologist for the hospital hysteroscopy. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes:)

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