I have recently been told that I have suspected PCOS, and part of this journey involved having a hysteroscopy and a hormonal IUD fitted in the same appointment.
The information leaflet that I was given prior to my appointment told me to expect period like pain, and to take paracetamol 30 minutes before my appointment, which I did. I’d like to mention that I’ve always had a high tolerance for pain, and am not one to make a fuss or cry usually.
My appointment was 6:30pm, and I was not given any medication, local anaesthetic, or gas and air. I was told that the paracetamol I had taken would be all that I need. They had a nurse stand by my head talking to me, I suspect to distract me.
The procedure was very painful, and despite my efforts to stay quiet, I found myself crying out in pain a few times. By the time they were done I was feeling pretty faint and shake, and I was in pain. I mentioned this to the consultant and I was told that I was fine, told to re-dress, and sent home.
As I arrived back to my car, the pain was really ramping up. I was experiencing extreme cramps, and bleeding heavily. On the drive home I experienced pain I had never felt before. It was hitting me in waves, radiating around my back and down my legs, and made me extremely worried about if I would make it home safely. I was crying from the pain, and calling out. When I got home I threw up twice from the pain, could barely stand, and my husband almost called for an ambulance in worry. This intense pain continued for the evening, and into the night.
By the morning, it had reduced to just bad period type cramps, and a week later the pain had gone.
I can’t help but feel that this is another example of women’s pain that is not taken seriously. I do not think that it was safe to send me home when they did, or for me to drive. The letter that the consultant wrote up about the procedure (later sent to both myself and my GP) says that I “handled the procedure well” and “experienced very little pain”, which simply is not the truth and there is no way he reasonably believed that from my behaviour and what I had said.
