"Traumatic hysteroscopy experience"

I had a hysteroscopy at The Whittington Hospital in March.  When the appointment was booked I was asked if I wanted a local anaesthetic, sedation, nothing or a general anaesthetic.  I wrongly thought that because I was being offered a choice that it couldn't be that painful and asked the registrar if it would be painful, she said it was unlikely.  The registrar that I saw did not take into account that I had previously had an ablation for adenomyosis, which was a huge mistake, apparently, you should always have a general if you have had an ablation and the registrar should have known this.  

I opted for local anaesthetic, it was a huge mistake.  I have never experienced pain like it, I was sobbing during the procedure. It was more painful than when I gave birth without any painkillers/anaesthesia (for various reasons). The pain was horrendous and it took days to recover. When the procedure was over the person performing it said they'd get me some painkillers but they didn't even bother to do that, even though they knew how painful it was and could see that I was shaking. This staff member also just gave me a piece of paper for my GP, didn't bother sending the report to them.

My GP was horrified, as was the consultant I went to see privately. Today I have just been for a smear test and the nurse was similarly horrified.  I was extremely anxious about the smear test (have never been previously) as I was so worried it was going to be painful.   

I was completely traumatised by the hysteroscopy, it took me days to recover physically and emotionally I am traumatised by it. I believe it was completely negligent of the team at the Whittington to not tell me to have a general and to not know that I should have had a general because of the ablation.