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Has anyone had a hysteroscopy?
I am going to have a hysteroscopy tomorrow and I am feeling extremely anxious about it, because even a transvaginal ultrasound is very painful for me. I have asked if I would be given some sort of local anaesthetic to numb the vaginal area before the procedure and I was told I wouldn’t. How much pain is involved with this procedure?
My previous doctor had stopped doing Pap smears on me after I turned 70 because they were always extremely painful. Now at age 77 I am told that for this hysteroscopy the doctor will need to do a Pap smear first before the hysteroscopy which involves filling the uterus with water to do an ultrasound of the uterus.
Could anyone who has had a hysteroscopy done share their experience? What is the pain level, and what are the chances of having any complications during the procedure like the uterus rupturing, as my doctor mentioned to me that results of my transvaginal ultrasound indicated I have a very thin uterine lining.
The transvaginal ultrasound was not enough to get a good picture of the uterus, which is why I am being sent for this hysteroscopy.
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If you have had no instructions for preparation before procedure go somewhere else.
@lizralpol after a failed attempt in a Clinic, my doctor finally found a gynecologist who agreed to see me and do the hysteroscopy at the hospital last October - under anesthesia! It’s all good!
I am scheduled for a Hysterectomy later this month ( March 2025) &
I am 82. I have a pollup on my uterus so the surgeon has suggested the
operation to be sure there is no cancer. I dread it but sounds reasonable.
I will be under anesthesia & stay in the hospital at least until the day after.
Anyone else "old as I am" who has had this procedure. I am in the U.S.
K
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2 Reactionsyou will be fine. Might be slower to recover given age. But to give you confidence, my mum is 86 and just climbed the harbour bridge in Sydney. She too has had hysterectomy.
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1 ReactionAs long as you have the procedure under anaesthesia you will be fine! They give you pain medication after the anaesthesia wears off. When I finally had mine at the hospital under anaesthesia I was sent home within a couple of hours after the procedure!
Really! Thank you for responding.
Well, I will have anesthesia & the surgeon said overnight
in the hospital so that helps. How did your recovery go??
They said 6-8 wks for recovery. I already have asked friends
to borrow a raised toilet seat as I remember that being difficult after my hip replacement. Any other suggestions.
Thank you. How was her health beforehand??
They say that makes a difference. I think with older adults they worry about the anesthesia part. I had a problem coming out of it when I had spinal fusion. I guess one of my main concerns is the 6-8 wks of recovery & the pain afterwards.
I have always wanted to visit Sydney! Maybe I can dream about doing so while I am under the anesthetic..... 🙂 K
@kayraymat Recovery was quick for me. I had bleeding for exactly a week - like a light period and some tenderness around the pelvic area but nothing unbearable. I am glad I bought a small package of sanitary pads before I went in for the procedure because I needed them for a week.
6-8 weeks is just the estimated time they give everyone. I think you will be fine after a week, and pain will be minimal. I only needed Tylenol the first couple of days - didn’t need any pain medication after that. I did not have a hysterectomy though … just a hysteroscopy.
You might feel a little light headed for a couple of days because of the anaesthesia so be careful not to fall.
I hope someone will be driving you to the hospital and back home. You will be given a list of post-op instructions when discharged from the hospital, one of the instructions being not to lift anything heavier than your purse, and not to strain yourself.