LEEP procedure COMPLETE!

Okay...so I had my LEEP done this morning.  I have had just about enough of people doing things to me in that area.  It's more mental than anything I think but as for my LEEP today...I hated it.  I was lucky enough to explain to my dr how anxious and nervous I was prior to the LEEP and she called me in one Valium to take before I went today.  That helped calm me and let me relax my muscles easier but then came the injection of the anesthetic.  It pinched, cramped and then, just when I thought I was in the clear for the heart racing, it began.  Everything began to get dim around me and I couldn't hear much of anything other than my heart pounding. I began to shake all over and subsequently started hyperventilating and bursting into tears.  My dr tried to calm me and, being a nurse, I knew that I needed to take deep breaths to stop the hyperventilation.  I knew what I needed to do and I tried however, I couldn't stop.  It seemed like forever for me but it was only a matter of seconds in reality.  I finally got that taken care of and I felt some pretty good cramping while she was cutting out the transformation zone.  It didn't feel sharp or hot but just crampy and I could feel the pressure.  It was an emotional rush and it didn't quit right away.  The whole procedure took only about 10 minutes and then it was done and everyone left the room...after I was handed a pad.  I consider myself pretty tuff and handled the colposcopy and biopsy rather well.  But this was way different.  I think the main thing is that I am just tired of things being messed with down there.  It's taking a toll on me.  Now, 7 hours afterwards and a few Vicodin later, I am feeling better but still crampy.  I haven't had a lot of bleeding yet.  I'm hoping I don't.  So, all in all, I can't say it was the worst experience ever but I definitely was not expecting that.  It was really weird...dull achy, crampy pain and a huge rush of emotion.  I'm tired of it and if it is needed again, I will demand a hysterectomy.  I won't do it again.  If any of you are having this done in the office with a local, be sure to ask for an antianxiety medicine to take prior.  It helped a ton...if I hadn't had that I think the rush of emotion/adrenaline/heart racing would have been 10x's worse.  I will update again on my recovery in a few days if anyone would like to know...God bless you all!!

Wow, well I am glad to hear that you are okay.

Sounds like it was a horrible experience. By reading this...just made me 100x more nervous...

 I find it odd that the MD gave you a pain killer. Wouldn't that have a counter-reaction with the injection?

 I inquired about anti-anxiety and pain killers to my MD, and she said that it is not necessary. I am trusting her, because the last thing I need to do is drug my body up more on top of all this trauma.

 Anyhows, I am glad to hear that you are doing alright, and that everything is okay. Wishing you a fast recovery.

 

On 10/21/2009 BlissfulYoga wrote:

Wow, well I am glad to hear that you are okay.

Sounds like it was a horrible experience. By reading this...just made me 100x more nervous...

 I find it odd that the MD gave you a pain killer. Wouldn't that have a counter-reaction with the injection?

 I inquired about anti-anxiety and pain killers to my MD, and she said that it is not necessary. I am trusting her, because the last thing I need to do is drug my body up more on top of all this trauma.

 Anyhows, I am glad to hear that you are doing alright, and that everything is okay. Wishing you a fast recovery.

I'm sorry for making you more nervous...it wasn't intentional.  Just want to be honest.  It wasn' the worst thing I've ever experienced but it certainly wasn't pleasant.  I guess it depends a lot on how you deal with anxiety and pain.  I'm usually pretty good with that stuff but I think this just pulled my last straw.  I'm just fed up with all of this.  I've never had much of a medical history and am not use to it.  I would definitely trust your doctor but I'm telling you that the Valium I took before really helped my nerves.  I was very nervous/anxious and it helped a ton.  I only got one.  The pain pills afterwards really helped the cramping/achy feeling and to relax.  I was instructed to take it easy for 24 hours and that helped.  I did take Ibuprofen before also to help with the pain.  Today, I'm feeling fine...no pain and no discharge.  I really never had any bleeding (a little streaking) but nothing enough to even wear a pad.  Still recoveriing well and anxious to hear my pathology results.  If they are good, she said I don't have to have a PAP/pelvic for 6 months!  So I'm happy for that.  I know your procedure is tomorrow so good luck and I'll be praying for you.  Like I said, the worst thing was the heart racing after the anesthetic was injected.  Just try not to panic when it happens...take deep breaths...slowly.  Please let me know how it goes for you...I hope it all goes well.

 

On 10/21/2009 mle3999 wrote:

 

On 10/21/2009 BlissfulYoga wrote:

Wow, well I am glad to hear that you are okay.

Sounds like it was a horrible experience. By reading this...just made me 100x more nervous...

 I find it odd that the MD gave you a pain killer. Wouldn't that have a counter-reaction with the injection?

 I inquired about anti-anxiety and pain killers to my MD, and she said that it is not necessary. I am trusting her, because the last thing I need to do is drug my body up more on top of all this trauma.

 Anyhows, I am glad to hear that you are doing alright, and that everything is okay. Wishing you a fast recovery.

OhI'm sorry for making you more nervous...it wasn't intentional.  Just want to be honest.  It wasn' the worst thing I've ever experienced but it certainly wasn't pleasant.  I guess it depends a lot on how you deal with anxiety and pain.  I'm usually pretty good with that stuff but I think this just pulled my last straw.  I'm just fed up with all of this.  I've never had much of a medical history and am not use to it.  I would definitely trust your doctor but I'm telling you that the Valium I took before really helped my nerves.  I was very nervous/anxious and it helped a ton.  I only got one.  The pain pills afterwards really helped the cramping/achy feeling and to relax.  I was instructed to take it easy for 24 hours and that helped.  I did take Ibuprofen before also to help with the pain.  Today, I'm feeling fine...no pain and no discharge.  I really never had any bleeding (a little streaking) but nothing enough to even wear a pad.  Still recoveriing well and anxious to hear my pathology results.  If they are good, she said I don't have to have a PAP/pelvic for 6 months!  So I'm happy for that.  I know your procedure is tomorrow so good luck and I'll be praying for you.  Like I said, the worst thing was the heart racing after the anesthetic was injected.  Just try not to panic when it happens...take deep breaths...slowly.  Please let me know how it goes for you...I hope it all goes well. 

Oh!  Also, the pain pills do not counter react with the injection.  The injection is just a local anesthetic...like at the dentist...it just numbs the area that they are cutting on.  The heart racing is caused because the numbing medication has lidocaine and epinephrine in it.  The lidocaine is what numbs you and the epinephrine helps to constrict the blood vessels so they don't bleed profusely.  But, since the cervix is very vascular, some of the epinephrine and lidocaine get into the blood stream which causes the heart racing (epinephrine is like adrenaline in the body--fight or flight response).  It doesn't last that long though.