False passage

I had a hysteroscopy on Wednesday to remove a possible polyp and to get a better look at my uterus. What an interesting experience. It’s done with conscious sedation, so while I was awake and watching what was going on on the camera, I felt nothing and I don’t really remember most of the procedure. It was pretty cool to watch and I wish I was more with it to comprehend!

Before it started, a resident Doctor came over to introduce herself. She was nice enough, but in the back of my mind I wanted to ask if my RE would be the one to do my procedure since we were also going to confirm if I had funky anatomy (more on that in another post). I am a nurse and I watch residents do procedures a lot, and while usually they go well, I’ve seen several end up in a less desirable manner. However, I did not speak up. Everything seemed to go fine but I was so out of it afterward.

So you can imagine my surprise when my husband and I went in for a “next steps” consult on Friday and the medical assistant put us in an exam room. I was confused and protested that it was just a follow up appointment. She insisted we were to be in there. Then my RE comes in and asks if I need an exam. I said no, and then he asks I’ve had foul, yellow discharge, unrelieved pain, or copious amounts of bleeding. I told him no and that I’d started my period since I had stopped the birth control pills. He said ok and we moved into his office.

He proceeds to tell us that his resident has dilated my cervix for the procedure and had poked a hole in an incorrect spot and then she tried to insert the camera, causing him to have to take over from her before she caused further damage (thank goodness). He informed me this is called a false passage and he was very glad I wasn’t having symptoms of an infection.

Suddenly it made sense why I was taking antibiotics post procedure when that normally doesn’t happen. Even the nurse that discharged me from the procedure was confused what “false passage” was and why I would go home on antibiotics. I was too out of it to ask intelligent questions. Apparently, aside from risk of infection, as long as they stopped poking early enough there should be no complications.

My husband was way more pissed than I was. I just kept kicking myself for not going with my gut and asking that the resident not perform the procedure. I will always speak up from now on and I encourage all of you to never let a resident do any procedure on you. Obviously they have to learn somewhere but it certainly won’t be on my body from now on.

I am gearing up for a big post about some additional diagnoses and recommendations but I’m still processing the information and trying to figure out the next steps.

I also want to say that I am so thankful for all of you out there in blog land. Your stories are so heartfelt and raw and I am honored that you are willing to share them with others. Thank you!