"Hysteroscopy Procedure"

I have undergone two Hysteroscopies and after the first I was assured the second one would not be as traumatic.  My first experience was shocking and I wasn't prepared for it.  I went in because a polyp was seen on a smear test.  The doctor who did the procedure did not warn me at all and during the procedure I experienced the most unbearable pain ever and almost fainted, I rose up from the bed that I was on and shouted out.  It felt like my insides were being ripped out. I was not given the option to stop nor was I given any support.  He removed the polyp and took a biopsy. The nurse was behind the doctor throughout the procedure and offered  nothing but just watched as I suffered.  After the procedure my legs were like jelly and I felt faint and in pain and I wasn't even helped off the bed, I wasn't even  given a sanitary towel for the bleeding.  I went to the appointment on my own and left the room and drove myself home in that state, I'm lucky I didn't have an accident.  I felt traumatised after what had happened and I was in a state of disbelief and shock.

At a later date I needed to have the procedure again to remove a polyp and have a biopsy.  I explained to my GP what had happened the first time and she said she would write about it with the referral, I also requested that I see a female doctor after my last experience.

I went to a pre-Hysteroscopy appointment to discuss and was told I could have an injection to numb the area so I felt reassured. The pain was as shocking the second time around.  I was told by the nurse that the injection won't help the pain that the procedure causes but I trusted the female doctor that she would be more careful than the first doctor that performed my first Hysteroscopy.  My god it was shocking, I once again shouted out and raised from the chair this time, the pain was excruciating.  The only difference was the care this time.  The nurse was trying to calm me down and comfort me while the doctor said she would stop at anytime but then when she needed to go in again and take a biopsy I was told that if she didn't that the procedure would be incomplete and I would be left worrying if it could be cancerous.  So I endured more of the excruciating pain so that I could be reassured if I had cancerous changes or not.  I wasn't given the option to come back and have the procedure done under GA, which I have now found out via others that this should have been an option. I felt tricked into the procedure thinking it wouldn't be as bad the second time around.  Shocking to say the least.  My blood pressure which was never checked, nor was I asked if I had a problem with my Blood pressure must have been through the roof. 

I suffered with terrible pain for a week after and mentally I was left traumatised and still am to this day. 

I was sent my routine smear test letter recently and was terrified to go and it took some time to finally talk myself into it because I was scared of the consequences of not going.  Thankfully the nurse at my GP surgery was gentle and caring with the procedure after I explained my fear, but the anxiety I experienced beforehand was terrible.  

I was told I will no doubt have more Polyps develop and need further Hysteroscopies but I will not go through that again.  This awful procedure needs to stop being performed in such a way to cause that much pain and trauma to the patient.