"Hysteroscopy & subsequent endometrial ablation"

Last year I was experiencing very heavy bleeding every 2 weeks. I had an ultrasound which showed uterine polyps. 

I was told I needed a hysteroscopy to have a detailed look. The appointment letter arrived with the details & it advised taking paracetamol as I may experience light cramping pain. 

I did not know what to expect & was very anxious. The consultant explained what would happen & said as I’d given birth to 3 children I would be fine. I was sent to get undressed below the waist , I asked for a gown but told it wasn’t necessary so feeling very exposed & humiliated I made my way to the examination chair with just a blue paper sheet for a bit of dignity!!

The procedure was incredibly painful I had sweat running down my back. I did get a local anaesthetic which in itself was excruciating! I had lots of polyps so the consultant said they would have to remove them in one go. The nurses kept talking nonsense to me to try & take my mind of it. When it was done I was told to get dressed & free to go. No are you ok do you want to wait & see how you are. I felt like a piece of meat. 

Weeks later I was to return for an ablation. I told the consultant I found the first procedure very painful so was even more anxious about the ablation. I was told if I’d managed with the first lengthy procedure I could get thru anything!!!

The appointment was quite early so they said had no pain medication to offer me other than stomach cramp medication that I’ve used for IBS! 

The procedure was by far the worse experience of my life. It was the worse burning pain it was like being 10cm dilated at the final stages of labour. I felt like I was going to pass out. I was offered zero pain relief just yet more nonsense chit chat to attempt to take my mind off it. When it was over I got dressed somehow & again not asked if I was ok or did I feel ok to leave. I was furious I felt yet again like a piece of meat. Angry that I’d been subjected to such a procedure with zero pain relief offered & might  I add made to feel a wimp as I’d given birth previously! By the time I made it home I was in the worse pain ever & fainted on the kitchen floor. My husband wanted to call an ambulance but I couldn’t face what they might subject me to again. For hours I was rolling about in absolute agony. Eventually later that evening the pain subsided but I was left with a very burnt feeling for days. The only positive from 2 horrendous procedures is I no longer have periods. The whole experience has left me with anxiety about having a smear & any other gynae procedures. 

Since my terrible experience I have had two friends who needed the same procedures and they were given general anaesthetics. This has made me even more angry that nothing was offered & I was left to suffer so unnecessarily. I feel in these modern times women should have an informed choice & not subjected the such terrible procedures.