"Painful, traumatic, hysteroscopy"

I was referred to Care UK via the GP for an external ultrasound scan.  A few weeks following this I received a telephone call to arrange for me to return to see the consultant. I questioned why I was being recalled but the person who called to book the appointment reported she did not have that information. I asked for someone to call me back to discuss as I would need to arrange childcare, time off work etc. I was then called by a nurse who explained that "it was probably for an internal scan". I asked how long this procedure would be as I would need to book time off work and they replied that "women usually take the day off as it could be a few hours in the clinic". This was all the information I was given. 

On the day of the appointment, I drove to the clinic. I spoke to the consultant who advised that they wished to perform an internal scan. Having looked up "internal scans" I assumed this was a transvaginal ultrasound. The consultant advised that the camera was the size of a pencil and offered me pain relief. I was offered local anaesthetic or a sedative. I was advised that if I was to have the local it would be a longer wait and that given it numbs the same area as the procedure it would be like having it twice. On asking about the pain I was told that "you've had children so you should be fine". I explained that actually I'd had a cesarean section but the consultant informed me that they'd "gone back to work straight after having the procedure". I was still under the impression I was having a procedure similar to the Transvaginal ultrasound so happily signed the consent form and requested some diazepam which had been offered. I was then taken to a ward where I stripped off into a dressing gown and shoeless. After about 10 minutes I was called through back to the consultant's room for the procedure. I had to walk back to the consultant's room in just a dressing gown. Once in there I explained I'd still had not had the pain relief I requested. Everyone was waiting to do the procedure and I was told I'd have to wait longer if I had it now as it would take time to work. I decided to just go ahead after all I was still thinking I was having an "internal scan like a transvaginal ultrasound!". 

I have never in my life experienced such a horrific procedure where I felt exposed and vulnerable. I would say I have a high pain threshold but this was something barbaric! Not once was I asked about a pain score. Towards the end of the procedure as I was shaking with tears running down my face I was met with disbelief and hostility by the consultant who reported that she couldn't believe it was hurting as she took a biopsy. I realize now that my body had actually gone into shock. I felt faint, dizzy, nauseous and was shaking. 

The nurse helped me stand up as saline and blood ran down my legs. They helped me to the back of the room where they pulled a curtain round for me to change back into my clothes. I then heard the consultant tell the nurse off for allowing me to change in the same room. The consultant told the nurse I should have gone back to the ward. How on earth it is acceptable for a woman in shock to walk back along a hospital corridor in a dressing gown with saline and blood running down their legs after having what I now know was a "hysteroscopy" is just shocking! I quickly got dressed and was then taken to a "recovery" area where I was offered biscuits and a cup of tea and then left alone. My biscuits and tea came and after ten minutes I just left. There was no chance to talk to a nurse about what had happened. No leaflet provided on aftercare, no pain relief offered, just absolutely NOTHING. How I drove home, tears running down my face, in shock, I have no idea. 

I got home curled up in a ball on my bed and just sobbed. Thankfully I had taken the day off work. I felt violated, vulnerable and scared. Later I had a bath but as I sat in the bath I suddenly thought "should I be having a bath?" after all I had no idea as I was given NO information!

Its taken me 9 months to be able to write this. I now have panic attacks and a fear of any medical procedures. I'm too scared to go to the dentist and I'm dreading my routine smear. I have a total lack of trust after what happened to me. I  now know I had a hysteroscopy. I now know I should have been given a leaflet to inform me of the procedure before the procedure! I now know I SHOULD have had full written information about the hysteroscopy/biopsy procedure including the risk of severe pain. I now know its common to be advised to take pain relief before the appointment. I now know I should have been offered and given proper pain relief. I now know I could have asked for the procedure under a general anesthetic. I now know what I was actually having done! I now know its advised to take someone with you as you shouldn't drive home alone. I now know I did not give "informed consent" as I was not INFORMED. I now know I should NOT have been made to feel this way. I now know that a sizeable minority (5%-25%) of UK hysteroscopy patients have reported severe pain during these outpatient procedures.

I would never have this procedure again and I feel it is totally unacceptable to put women through this in an outpatient clinic.