"Hysteroscopy"

I had a hysteroscopy in 2019 at the Royal Oldham Hospital. My initial referral was made back in September 2018. I eventually got an appointment for one in April 2019 but that was cancelled a few days prior.

Upon arrival at the hospital the procedure was briefly discussed with me and I was asked if I'd received a leaflet informing me of the procedure - I hadn't. I have to say it was the worse pain I've ever experienced. In the past I've had a c-section, spinal surgery and a colonoscopy (with gas & air). Speculum insertion was fine however thereon in: biopsies and polyp removal, (which was discovered whilst I was there and they struggled to remove) was absolutely excruciating. I thought I had a high pain tolerance but this was off the scale. I sobbed like a baby and was desperate for it to be over.

Nobody, prior to procedure, or during it,   mentioned any pain relief options, or offered to stop. Without sounding too dramatic, this has to be the most horrific and traumatising thing I've ever been through; utterly barbaric. I was in a state of severe shock afterwards and couldn't quite believe what I had been subjected to. During it they said it was 'normal' for it be cause discomfort (under statement to say the least).  

Fast forward to now (November 2019) I find myself possibly having to face another polypectomy as it appears, from an internal today, that it's still there, despite being told the results were clear. I hope that this impending repeat procedure will be carried out in a more humane way and which reflects modern day medicine practices.

The nurse I've seen today was shocked when I told her what had happened back in May and said I definitely should've been offered some form of pain relief and said I should have formally complained. I really hope hospitals improve the care needed for this procedure and collectively offer the same service across the board, as, since researching it myself, it would appear this is not the case. I now know I had a choice that day; sadly for me, I was not given it.