"Lack of access to pain relief"

I had a hysterscope done yesterday at PRI, NHS Tayside. To say it was utter agony is an understatement. I am not blaming the doctor or nursing staff as they were great with me and explained to me the procedure in detail and were very supportive during the procedure.

I do not understand why this cant be performed under anaesthetic.

I was told at the time it would be painful but my cervix would be numbed but it wasn't the cervix that was the problem, it was when the instruments and camera were being put through the uterus was utter agony. I felt like I was having contractions and was screaming out in pain, crying and was expected to keep my bum and legs down on the table and stay still. This is an impossibility when you are in so much pain. I used the air and gas provided but it did not help the pain at all. I had to get 2 polyps removed and a mirena coil inserted, which may I add, was just as painful. This took around 15 minutes but it was 15 minutes of utter torture to say the least. 

After the procedure was done I went very pale and felt faint. I was told to sit for a bit. I then got changed into my clothes and was put into a room to catch my breath and a cup of tea. I was sick and was given an antiemetic which helped. My daughter had come with me to drive me through to Perth as I knew I would be unable to drive (I had had a endometrial biopsy a few weeks previous which was just as painful but then I'm expected just to get in my car and drive 26 miles home whilst doubling over in pain (I shouldn't have been on the road) but in the NHS hysteroscope leaflet it doesn't say not to drive and that you should be fine afterwards with a bit of cramping (it wasn't just a cramping pain, it was agony). It is now the next day and I am unable to walk upright due to the pains all over my abdomen. I think this is due to the gas that is put into the abdomen to let the consultant see better. 

My point to me telling this story is the fact that women are just expected to get procedures carried out with zero pain relief. Come on NHS this is unacceptable and very traumatic. 

I googled why women are expected to do this and I came across an article that is about fighting for the rights of women to get anaesthetic during very painful procedures. In fact it has been raised in parliament 8 times and still the NHS are doing nothing about this. A perfect example of this is when I had to have a caesarian section (a major operation in itself), when I was back on the ward I was expected to just get on with looking after a baby with a stomach wound, a drain hanging out of said wound and a catheter. How can you possibly just get on with looking after a baby after major surgery?

I am utterly disgusted with this expectation the NHS have for women to have major, painful procedures done with little or no pain relief. There should be more options for women to choose an anaesthetic if they want, but when I asked about this it was said that it would take longer to get done. One thing I now know is that I will refuse point blank to have anything like this being done unless its with anaesthetic. I really hope this is reviewed yet again as we are not living in the dark ages anymore.