Ladies, tell me about your colposcopy

[pbbth]

A couple of weeks ago I went to the lady-bits doctor. I had the world's fastest gyn exam (it seriously took like 4 minutes for the whole of the exam) with a doctor that made me more than a little uncomfortable and was pushed out of the office with a mumbling of, "If you are fine we will mail you something. If there is something wrong we will call you."

Well, yesterday I got a call from Dr. Bedside-manner-of-a-dead-horse's office. It turns out my pap returned a low grade something or other (my internet research returns the phrase low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, which is more than a little unsettling) and they want to perform a colposcopy to gather more information. My research also says that the colposcopy shouldn't hurt at all, unless of course they go cutting pieces out of my cervix to biopsy that shit. Apparently this could cause significant pain and bleeding and I've found online at other message boards reports of women saying it felt like flaming hot razor wire being forced up their vaginas. I asked the nurse who called me if there were needles involved in this process and she advised that there were not but I don't know how they plan to take out part of my cervix if need be without a needle of some kind.

I don't do pain well and I don't do needles at all. I freak out about them in a screaming, crying, punching people to try and get out of the office kind of way. I've been calling and calling the doctor's office to try and get a prescription for a single ativan or valium or something so I can remain calm through the process but I haven't gotten through yet. My appointment is Tuesday so I'm starting to get nervous about not being able to reach someone and I'm already freaked out at the potenial cancer in my cervix. While I wait for them to call me back I thought I would come here and see if anyone can tell me stories about their colposcopy and how it was no big deal. Anyone?

[Rebo]

I've never had one, but I'll offer up a big hug!

{{{pbbth}}}

[hilarity n. suze]

It was not a big deal, but neither was it a particularly small deal.

First of all the gyno explained that she had possibly taken a piece from the wrong part of the cervix for the Pap. But rather than just do another Pap, she wanted to do a colpo "just to be sure."

So in I went. They suggested that I have an Advil or two before coming in. At a certain point I mentioned that that wasn't enough--and I admit it, I'm a total wuss. So they gave me a prescription for Vicodin on the way out. They said if I had warned them about what a wuss I was, they would have given it to me for before (but then I don't know how I would have driven myself there).

Let's just say that I let out a yelp or two. It wasn't excruciating, but it was what they call "uncomfortable." Like really bad cramps. During my reproductive life I hardly ever had bad cramps, or ANY camps, and it definitely wasn't as bad as late-stage labor, but it was more than uncomfortable to me.

ETA: As to how they get the tissue out, they basically have these pincer things and they just rip it out. Little pieces...but still...

But it was pretty quick. Then it was over. I still had cramps. I almost got arrested I was so nasty to the attendant in the parking garage, and I was kind of mean to the pharmacist, too, but basically, by the time I actually got the prescription filled, I was feeling much better so I never actually took the Vicodin.

And then I had spotting for about half the day. And then of course, the worry. Took them about a week to call me and say there was nothing to worry about.

[pbbth]

Originally Posted by hilarity n. suze

ETA: As to how they get the tissue out, they basically have these pincer things and they just rip it out. Little pieces...but still...

Oh my god, I am going to need dramatic amounts of drugs to be able to handle that.

[teela brown]

Tell me that they numb you good with novocaine or something before proceeding.

[Xploder]

Let me just say that I never, ever want to read the phrase "flaming hot razor wire being forced up their vaginas" again in my life.

Why do I open these things?

[severe delays]

I have no experience pbbth but I strongly suggest telling whoever is doing it about your concerns as soon as you go in. They will be able to either give you something to deal with your anxiety and any pain/swelling or they will be able to reschedule and give you a prescription to take before the next appointment.

From what I can gather from checking the NHS information site a certain proportion of women do return an abnormal test each time. This does not mean they have cancer or even that they will go on to develop cancer. Bearing in mind your troubles with your hoohah last year, it may be that the lesion is from that time. Remember to tell your doctor about the symptoms you experienced then as it will help them with diagnosis now.

*hugs*

keep us updated

[Dragonlady]

Originally Posted by teela brown

Tell me that they numb you good with novocaine or something before proceeding.

Nope. No anesthesia, because "it's all over so fast".
Yeah, I dare them to have it done.

[eleanorigby]

I've never had one. I've been told that the cervix is very similar to the cartilage at the end of your nose in terms of nerve endings, so there is that (I was told that in nursing school, FWIW).

That said, I'd for sure take a few ibuprofen prior to going--no harm in being preemptive about possible painful twinges or outright pain. RE the anxiety: you may well need something: increased anxiety will increase your perception of pain (and therefore your actual pain). Life is too short.

Can you find a nicer Girly Bits doctor? He sounds like a jerk.

IME (as a nurse in Same Day Surgery), female procedures tend to be UNDERmedicated for pain. Man comes in for a vasectomy: gets a script for Vicodin, no problem, no asking. Woman comes in for endometrial ablation: goes home with script for Motrin (this has happened to me). I had to plead for Tylenol with codeine.

All of that is not to say that you need major pain meds (or anesthesia--anesthesia is not risk free) for a colposcopy. IMO (not that that is worth much here--I'm not you and don't know your pain response etc) you would probably do fine with one Xanax and some Motrin. Let us know how it goes. And I am sorry you have this worry.

[shamrock]

After what I have been through the past year with the cervical cancer I am hoping and praying for you that this procedure is going to be the worst of it and the results are a big, fat "meh, it was nothing".

[pbbth]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Can you find a nicer Girly Bits doctor? He sounds like a jerk.

All of that is not to say that you need major pain meds (or anesthesia--anesthesia is not risk free) for a colposcopy. IMO (not that that is worth much here--I'm not you and don't know your pain response etc) you would probably do fine with one Xanax and some Motrin. Let us know how it goes. And I am sorry you have this worry.

A xanax and motrin would be more than adequate! I really just need something for the anxiety. I don't do needles well and I have a very low tolerance for pain so if I can just have something to calm me down and make me less "aware" of the terror that awaits in the stirrups that is all I want.

I am really furious with my girly bits doctor and I want to find a new one but it takes a really long time to get an appointment with a new doctor IME. I went to her specifically because of the infection I had that had come back and she ignored my questions about it. I sort of think that what she is seeing on the pap is somehow related to the infection that she didn't acknowledge. I also believe I am getting substandard care because she is judging me for my weight. She berated me about being fat for more than 20 minutes until I started to tear up and then she gave me the world's fastest exam and said she would check my pap smear for signs of infection when it came back. All that being said, I don't dare not go in for this colposcopy and have something cancer-y for a month going unaddressed while I find a new doctor and set a new appointment. Cancer is a time sensitive thing and I would rather have an unnecessary colposcopy and know I'm cancer free than the alternative.

[Euryphaessa]

pbbth, you might find these posts helpful or interesting when dealing with doctors who judge you for your weight.

[Mr. Buttons]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

IME (as a nurse in Same Day Surgery), female procedures tend to be UNDERmedicated for pain. Man comes in for a vasectomy: gets a script for Vicodin, no problem, no asking. Woman comes in for endometrial ablation: goes home with script for Motrin (this has happened to me). I had to plead for Tylenol with codeine.

The one and only time I've been the the ER, I had cut off basically the top of my right index finger (no bone), they chemically cauterized my finger wound and told me to take motrin/tylenol the next couple days.


I'm obviously a dude, and I'm not a painkiller fanatic, but damn. Acetominphen/motrin was not nearly enough those first 3 days. Just adding my bit of knowledge against the men get the better stuff, I (hope) the medical establishment isn't that sexist.

[Auntbeast]

I don't know how old you are and my answer rather depends on that.

I had my first colposcopy at 18 where it was explained that if I did not have the ensuing laser surgery I would get cancer. It was a level 3 or something. They have changed the scale, but my results were severe. I refused the laser surgery. They refused to let me stay on the pill since I was going against doctors orders. Fast forward 20 years of abnormal pap tests and my stubbornness.

I find a doctor who is an educator at the local medical school. She referred to my history as getting on the pap train. After my paps with her, she said if any come back abnormal there is another pap that insurance typically does not pay for, that is far, far more accurate.

Here is the thing about your cervix. It is a place where the cells pretty much join up at a right angle. It is amazingly common for those cells to be abnormal. Now, lets say you get the ensuing surgery. They zap off those cells. The laser surgery does absolutely NOTHING to make sure abnormal cells don't grow back. So, all healed up. boom, more bad cells.

Now, do this neat trick for a few years, as they steadily whack away at your cervix. I did not have a child until 37 and both my gynecologist and obstetrician said that had I followed the course laid out for me at 18, I probably would have not been able to carry my child to term, or would have had the shattered remains of my cervix sewn shut and a shitload of bed rest to make it to term.

FTR: I'm 42, no cancer.


ETA: the first colposcopy I agreed to, sent me to bed for 3 days with horrifying cramping and lumps of god knows what coming out. The second, they knocked my ass out with valium and the recovery was much better. They are yanking out hunks of cervix, ya know.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by Mr. Buttons

The one and only time I've been the the ER, I had cut off basically the top of my right index finger (no bone), they chemically cauterized my finger wound and told me to take motrin/tylenol the next couple days.


I'm obviously a dude, and I'm not a painkiller fanatic, but damn. Acetominphen/motrin was not nearly enough those first 3 days. Just adding my bit of knowledge against the men get the better stuff, I (hope) the medical establishment isn't that sexist.

Couple things: hand or finger surgery is light-years away from a vasectomy or endometrial ablation. The hands and fingers are some of the most ennervated areas of the body. I'd be shocked if T3 or Motrin was sufficient for you in that case.

Yes, the medical establishment is that sexist. It is still common for a female's pain to be dismissed--especially arm, neck or abdominal pain. Thing is, heart disease kills as many women as men, but a "heart attack" doesn't present in women like it does in men, so the symptoms and signs are missed. That's just one example.

Is it as bad as it once was? No. But undermedicating pain is still a huge issue in health care for both genders, and women tend to get the short end of that stick as well.

[severe delays]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Couple things: hand or finger surgery is light-years away from a vasectomy or endometrial ablation. The hands and fingers are some of the most ennervated areas of the body. I'd be shocked if T3 or Motrin was sufficient for you in that case.

Yes, the medical establishment is that sexist. It is still common for a female's pain to be dismissed--especially arm, neck or abdominal pain. Thing is, heart disease kills as many women as men, but a "heart attack" doesn't present in women like it does in men, so the symptoms and signs are missed. That's just one example.

Is it as bad as it once was? No. But undermedicating pain is still a huge issue in health care for both genders, and women tend to get the short end of that stick as well.

I'd concur. While men and women will be treated equally for things like a cut finger or a broken leg it is not the case for gender-specific problems. Women and girls who experience dysmenhorrhea are STILL frequently told that exercising more will help with the pain and that no analgesics are required. This is in spite of there being absolutely no medical evidence for this. It's also in spite of evidence that painful periods can be an indicator of underlying health issues which can effect fertility.