My Failed Hysteroscopy Procedure with Surgery To Come

Last week I shared that I had been referred to hospital after a concerning smear test and although the smear came back normal, my consultant wasn’t happy and I was told I needed a colposcopy.  The colposcopy was soon upgraded to a  hysteroscopy and this is what happened next. It’s not a read for the faint-hearted!

After feeling rather euphoric that my smear was clear and the colposcopy was aborted I immediately headed away for a blogging retreat. I spent the weekend laughing, learning, paddle boarding and taking part in some rather inspiring sessions that were designed to get our creative juices flowing.  I had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend with friends and put my worries behind me I managed to ignore the little voice harping on in my head about the hysteroscopy procedure that had been mentioned.

Yet they were quickly brought back to the surface once I got home. Another referral letter arrived, this time for a hysteroscopy procedure and I was surprised it was booked in for just a few days later. I had been led to believe that there was no urgency and this appointment could take a while. It was less than a week.

I attended the appointment on my own and it was a different consultant. She talked me through the hysteroscopy procedure and clarified a few things.  I signed to say I consented and looked forward to getting it all done, well maybe looked forward isn’t exactly the best phrase.  I expected to leave with some reassurance and maybe a polyp or fibroid identified.

It didn’t quite happen like that.

I was positioned for the hysteroscopy and there were three members of the team in the room, who each introduced themselves.  There was the consultant, a nurse to assist her and a nurse to support me. It was explained that I would be able to watch the procedure on the screen and that if required she would talk me through it.  The camera is on the end of a long thin probe that is inserted through the vagina. A bag of water is also running which should inflate the womb for the consultant to get a good view. This would enable them to see any polyps or fibroids.

As the procedure begun I was in a seated position and then the chair was laid horizontal.

As the hysteroscopy procedure started it felt a little uncomfortable but not painful as such. I was expecting the probe to pass through my cervix into the womb to get an idea of what is going on. Remember having a scan when pregnant and how you stare at that screen, it was a lot like that. I expected a black and white view of my womb. I was looking and searching for a polyp or something that could be easily treated not that I know what one looks like! I expected to leave with answers.

Instead, my hysteroscopy failed to give me any answers. It just raised more questions.

As soon as the camera entered my womb the screen went red. I spotted the look between the nurses. They upped the water pressure and added another bag. Still, the screen remained red. They couldn’t see the lining of my womb, they couldn’t get to take a biopsy. They hadn’t even inserted the speculum. My womb is full of blood or something and it wasn’t supposed to be like that.

Suddenly I started to feel very sick and the nurse noticed I had gone very pale. I am a fainter and I was starting to get clammy and feeling very disorientated. I wasn’t really responding to the nurse at this point and I felt a sense of urgency from them as they started talking among themselves. I was then unceremoniously tipped upside down further, in the air with legs akimbo. This was to get my blood flowing again and help my blood pressure which had rapidly dropped. After the chair had been tilted I slowly began to feel a little more with it.

I was then told they were stopping the hysteroscopy procedure as they couldn’t proceed. I was told they would need to take swabs and I was shocked when suddenly a swab was just stuck up my nose. I had assumed vaginal swabs but this was for MRSA as they had decided I needed to be admitted and have another hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic. I had a quick panic, thinking school run and how I was due to pick up Erin.  It was then explained I wasn’t being admitted immediately but would be within the two-week window again.

The consultant explained that I had had a vasovagal response but it didn’t make much sense to me at this point. It wasn’t until I did some reading that I realised this was a direct result of POT’s which is a condition I have had since my teens. However, I don’t tend to have any episodes these days unless I’m ill.

After a chat with the consultant who said she has no answers at this point but I need this sorted ASAP I was sent on my way. I was hoping for answers and a treatment plan.

You can read about the next appointment under general aneestheic here.

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