"Misinformed during a medical procedure"

After a long period of heavy bleeding I was referred to women’s hospital for a hysteroscopy, due to a long waiting list my issues had gone away properly as I’ve come into the menopause. 

I had an appointment with doctor before gynaecologist, who never explained anything about pain levels. I asked questions & I asked was it as painful as a colposcopy which I had 8 years ago and was painful! Was informed no pain as Local Anaesthetic (LA) will be given and mild painkillers is all you need.  

I asked about sedation and was told I don’t need it and it’s not something they do, asked about gas & air was told yes 🙌 can have this, at this point I was informed about General Anaesthetic (GA)  but after doctor explained that it’s not painful and managed with paracetamol I was made to feel foolish, asking for LA and happy with what I was told - mild pain.

Explained past history and previous Gynaecologist suggested always spray with LA Anaesthetic first with gas & air, reassured wouldn’t need it but was there if I felt I wanted it.

On the day explained all my history and asked for gas & air, explained my back injury. Informed what was discussed with Gynae doctor & 8 years ago what was suggested. Doctor reassured me no pain or mild, they said yes you can have gas & air no problem.

But during the hysteroscopy I was refused gas & air by the doctor, when shouting out in pain nurse tried to give me gas & air and doctor shout at them that it won’t make any difference.

Doctor did not explain what surgical tools they would be using or when they were about to do something (informed me afterwards). Was inappropriate about moving down the bed and made a joke about it.     Was inappropriately laughing with nurse about boyfriends, not sure what the joke was but felt uncomfortable and unprofessional.

No one in the room introduced themselves - didn’t get anyone's name, was told the doctor's name once in reception.

Wasn’t listened to and didn’t consent to what was happening, being touched without being informed beforehand. Handled roughly when doctors moved me on the bed to give LA and then doctor left the area they were injecting stood over me and said do you want to cancel this. I said I just want pain relief or gas & air. They angrily said give me some (gas & air) also told me they'd given me extra LA.

Didn’t ask on a scale of 1-10 where your pain during the process

Didn’t ask if I was comfortable with my back issues

Didn’t care afterwards that I was in a lot of pain confused and in shock, shaking & high blood pressure

Nurse on reception told me that I would not be in pain, mild discomfort, and I could have gas & air also she went and got the doctor to come in to reassure me I could have gas & air but this didn’t happen. 

Nurse informed me any tags or small fibroid would be removed today, never happened. 

Biopsy was taken but no time scale given on results or where to get results - doctor verbally told me you do not have cancer & to be grateful for that, if they informed me I didn’t have cancer then why do a biopsy.

Asked why fibroid was not removed as the nurse had suggested , doctor told it’s like removing a house brick, not that easy. Why was this the medical term for explaining something to me? I understand anatomy and physiology & felt the doctor was being patronising and didn’t explain anything.

I was not helped out of the room or checked on while getting off the table, no extra support was given for my back. Despite me asking the nurses in the room, they watched me in distress & pain, one nurse tried their best to help but was told off. I asked two of the nurses why they didn’t they help, why don’t they give me gas & air, why did they allow me to suffer? (I was in too much shock to ask the doctor to stop). Nurse didn’t answer me just looked down and smiled sadly.

With gas & air and LA I still felt excruciating pain and doctor said no you can’t have felt it, I gave you extra LA, I know pain and I felt pain.

I informed the nurse that checked me in that I was denied gas & air and wanted an explanation as to why, as I was confused with what they agreed to 20 mins ago didn’t happen, they did the opposite. The nurse asked the doctor and in my view the doctor lied with their reason.

Post op 1x A&E 3 x GP, ongoing trauma and back.

Pain & stomach issues and time off from work. 

This doctor informed me I could go the gym & back to work the same day, they also advise that 90% of women feel no pain and the rest mild. 

I felt threatened & scared, doctor standing over me looking angry 😡, I feel abused & misinformed 

I’m not the only person, I have found a support group, I believe there are thousands of women who have the same experience, and it’s going unreported.