"Traumatic hysteroscopy"

I was referred to Southmead Hospital, Cotswold Clinic for a hysteroscopy and biopsy in February 2017.  This is the first time I have actually felt able to share this traumatic experience on here.  I had previously had a failed biopsy at a local clinic in Clevedon, which had been extremely painful, so I was nervous and told the nurse/hysteroscopist I was very worried about being in pain.  I had taken painkillers an hour before the time my procedure was due and my husband had accompanied me, but I had been told by several people, including the consultant's secretary and the booking clerk at the unit that they do a local anaesthetic for hysteroscopies. 

I was not sent a hysteroscopy leaflet before the procedure.  For some reason I was taken from the waiting room where I was with my husband at the allotted time and sat in a corridor on my own for about half an hour.  My husband and I were texting each other as we couldn't believe how long I was having to wait.  The corridor was freezing cold and all I could hear was the sound of women laughing and joking loudly.   Eventually I was taken into the room where the procedure was to be done, asked to sign a consent form (which I would not have signed if I realised how painful it would be) and to undress from the waist downwards.  It was explained that the procedure might be a bit painful, but like period cramps. 

I was sat in a chair and one nurse was holding my hand whilst the other two were dealing with the procedure.  From when they first started pumping water into me it hurt.  It just got worse and worse as time went on.  The pain was unimaginably horrendous.  I was crying out and crying and they kept telling me it was like period cramps, but it was much, much worse.  I have previously suffered from gallstones for more than 6 months and this pain was horrendous, but the hysteroscopy was worse.  Apparently they had to use a speculum in my case, which may have made the pain worse.  I could feel them cutting and pinching me (I think they removed a polyp or polyps with tweezers) and it felt like my insides were being ripped out. 

I have to say that all the staff were lovely, but I honestly don't think they realise just how excruciating this procedure can be.  I was shaking and in tears during and after the procedure.  The lovely nurse who made me a cup of tea afterwards even suggested it was a bit embarrassing and I told her that wasn't the problem, it was the extreme pain I had experienced!  I felt like they didn't believe how bad it actually was.  When I went home I felt traumatised, as if I had been tortured.  I actually felt violated.  I couldn't go out for days and could barely speak to anyone.  I still get flashbacks and it still affects me at time, especially when I read that so many other women have experienced the same thing at other hospitals. 

I complained to the Trust and eventually I got a reply (2 months later) saying they were sorry and they would put in procedures for someone to be able to indicate if they were in too much pain and have the procedure stopped.  My point is I should never have had to experience this amount of pain in the first place.  Sometimes you will carry on with something rather than it have to be done again if you think it's almost over.  I'm supposed to be having further treatment, but they are unable to offer me anything other than a general anaesthetic, which I am nervous of having because of weight issues.  My consultant ignored what had happened to me and didn't discuss it with me, which made me feel even worse.  It might have helped if they had been sympathetic, but instead they made a joke about my weight!  I still feel like I've been a nuisance and people think I'm making a fuss, but it has left me terrified of the thought of having anything similar done and I still have the fibroids that were causing the problem in the first place!