Has anyone ever had a D & C?

[Kat45]

My gyn wants me to have one, and she does them with general anaesthesia (which scares me; I've never had it). If you've had one, was it with general? Was there a lot of bleeding and/or other after-effects? My dr. says I'd have to stay home for a few days after for recovery--does it leave you feeling wiped out? Please tell me about your experiences with it. (I have to get to bed now, so I'll check the answers tomorrow.) Thanks.

[Longhorn]

1. I had one related to a miscarriage about 25 years ago.

I had a general. I don't remember any after-effects, other than depression over the miscarriage. I had a daughter who was just over a year old at the time and I was able to take care of her while I recovered. I seem to recall some bleeding similar to a light period for a couple of days.

I also had a general when I had a tubal ligation four years later. By then, I had four kids (ages 5, 2.5, 2.5, and six months) and I don't recall anyone coming to help me with them after the first day home. No one seemed to think I needed any help and I wasn't very good at asking for it. :shrug: When I told my husband, "I'm okay," after the miscarriage, he believed me and went to work the next day! (He's heard about THAT a few times over the years!) And when I went to have the tubal, I decided I'd just take a cab home rather than keep him from work (he's self-employed and it's taken him YEARS to realize that the world isn't going to end if he takes a few hours off!) -- but the hospital said "no way" to that and called him while I was under and told him to come pick me up!

I'm not saying you should plan on business as usual -- I agree that you should stay home and rest. But I only remember feeling wiped out for the first 8 to 10 hours and then I could actually feel the lethargy "lift" from my body and I felt normal again.

[patricia92243]

2. I've had three, and there was nothing to it. Afterwards felt like I was

having my period - nothing more. That was a million years ago, so with all the new-fangled stuff, it should be even more of a breeze than it was then.

[shimmergal]

3. Yes, many years ago. . .

I'd thought I was pregnant, but turned out not to be--at this time my marriage was breaking up, so it actually came as a relief that I wasn't.

Had a general anaesthetic--bleeding equal to a heavy period before and right afterwards--can't remember any special restrictions when I went home. Had two small children then and I think my mother came to help take care of them for a couple of days.

Good luck!