Leep Procedure

 

On 2/1/2008 BabyGirl77 wrote:

Was your doctor against putting you to sleep? I op for that but my mother is totally against it. I don't handle pain well and I think this is the best option. Could you please give me some advice?

My doctor...like the woman who posted before me, didn't give me the option to receive general anesthesia. She told me I would receive a local anesthesia that would numb the area...and it absolutely did.

I did ask my doc before the procedure why some woman get the local and others are offered general and she told me that it mostly depends on the severity (for lack of a better term) of your condition.  I think because I only had a mild case of dysplasia she didn't think it was necessary for me to receive general anesthesia.  Honestly I am glad I only received the local because the procedure was really quick and I felt nothing but a little pressure.  

Your situation may be a little more serious than mine but regardless...if you're concerned about being awake during the procedure you should talk to your doc about it and find out what your options are.

Hope this helps.  Good luck! :-)

I am having the Leep procedure done next Thursday and I am completely freaking out about it!! I have had a few colposcopy's and thought they were pretty uncomfortable which is scaring me even more to have the Leep. How long was the actual procedure? I just cant wait to get it over with because it is the only thing I can think about!!!

I just had the LEEP done today.  I took a valium and some ibuprofin prior to the procedure.  I felt very calm and the procedure took roughly 30 minutes.  They took 2 good sized pieces of tissue and it was very minimal pressure with the exception of the cervical block.  I am at home now and feeling great.  I have not even had so much as period cramping and no bleeding.  Either I had a great doctor or I just responded well so far.  I was told that this will not effect me being able to conceive children but in the future to let any doctor that I visit with know that I have had this done.  The only thing I was told was nothing in the vagina for 4 weeks.  I look at this as such a blessing.  Look at the great strides in medicine that they have made not to have a hysterectomy when this happens.  I am glad that I have had it done and am praying that the tests came back that they removed it all.  Good luck to any and all having this done.  I was very very scared as my grandmother died from cervical cancer.

 

I just had The Leep Procedure done Friday, March 28.  The procedure appeared to be a success.  I didn't experience any discomfort at all.  I was given valium to relax me, and I was then put to sleep, so I really don't remember anything from the time I was taken to surgery, until the time I was in the recovery room.  I went in at 11:00 & U woke up about 1:00.  The only thing that I experience that was discomforting was that my tongue was numb from the tubes that at they used to administer my anesthestics.  Overall I feel fine, and I was given pain pills, which I have  them just in case, however I have not experienced any cramps or pains.  I am very thankful, my Doctor and the staff were wonderful.  I will know what the outcome will be in 3 weeks.

In speaking with my doc, she indicated she only uses general anesthetic (puts patients to sleep) for more extensive procedures - when using a  procedure called a cold knife biopsy (they could pick a nicer name, huh?). I believe this procedure is used when a larger area is affected or an area deeper in the cervix that a laser leep can't reach. I'd actually prefer the in-office visit b/c I don't like having to fast for procedures! Not eating in the morning would make me really cranky:)

After going through the leep, I honestly believe 90-95% of the "pain" is mental anguish. Same with the colpo. There is some discomfort, but that's as extreme as I'd call it - discomfort, not pain. But, I personally find pap smears uncomfortable. The needle used to anesthetize felt like a slight pinch. I have a low pain tolerance. If I stub my toe, I'm on the floor. When I got the first needle, I barely winced. I brought my ipod in with me and told my doc, I'd be turning it up and closing my eyes and to let me know when it was over. I wanted to try to disassociate myself from the experience as much as possible b/c I knew if thought about it, it would make it much worse than it actually physically was. I think I got through about 4-5 songs on my ipod when she tapped me and said, "ok, one more minute and we're all done". The actual procedure itself takes about 1 minute, as she explained it. It's the prep and wrap up that take the bulk of the time.

When the procedure finished and I was walking out, I got quite emotional. I wasn't in pain. I think it was pent up stress from the experience. I tried very hard to not think about the procedure in advance so as not to psych  myself out. So when it was over, it felt like a huge burden had been lifted. I really believe this is a psychologically traumatic experience. If you can try to manage that, then the entire process won't be so bad - b/c the physical pain for me, was probably maybe a 2 or 3 on a 10 pt scale. I took 1 midol when I got home just in case I had cramping (that's the only sort of meds I took the entire time - and I really don't think I even needed that). I started to go to the gym on a regular basis after learning my paps were abnormal to improve both my physical and mental health; upped my intake of vitamin C (helps fight cancers) and other cancer fighting antioxidants; I thought through the benefits of these procedures - basically you're proactively ridding your body of something that is harmful; I all around felt better and mentally prepared for the procedure. 

i had the LEEP done yesterday, i was so scared i cant even tell you. I was a CIN 3, which was scary enough, i was an out patient and they gave me general anestesia (sorry i have horrible spelling)   i didnt feel any pain, just bad cramps after the surgery and some normal bleeding. i'm nervous about the results of the tissue that they took. i'm scared they didnt get it all, or that its more serious then they thought. ughh i've been an emotional wreck, i have an STD and its so hard for me to deal with that, i'm scared and i dk if what i'm feeling is normal. I'm just hoping that this is it and i wont have to go through anymore, its been a really rough few weeks. i just dont know how to feel about all this..... 

I have somewhat the same feelings.I go through all kinds of negative feelings and I am also having a hard time dealing with the fact that i have HPV.I am schedualed fort he leep procedure May 9, I feel nervous and anxious.Anxious that this nightmare will finally end.And nervous that it will still continue.I will be put to sleep so I guessing this is the best way,and probaly the best for me.I have noticed more and more through my routine visits and check ups my paps are becoming more and more painful.Physically and emotionally.I would do anything to know what its like to have the results come back "normal".I do not have any kids yet for the reason of finishing my schooling and pursueing my career.I worry that because of the delaying this is my punishment.Can anyone tell me what the success rate is? Or if they have gotten there results?

And has anyone had any issues with conceiving a child afterward? I have asked my dr. but he is male.I would feel better hearing it from women who are in the same boat as me.After my leep I will have to find a new dr. due to the fact mine is retiring so I will switch to a woman more than likely.

I'm so glad I found this board!!  My name is Jennifer, I'm 33 and I just had my second LEEP done May 15th.  Tomorrow it will be two weeks.  I was searching about bloating and frequent urinating after the LEEP and found this site.  I'm really sorry to hear how many others are going through this but am happy to know that I'm not alone in my symptoms.

I'm finally starting to feel "normal" again.  I actually exercised today, that was refreshing!  This is nothing like the first time!!  I haven't had a lot of details from my Dr. yet but I do know she took a lot and went really deep.  I'm just praying this is the last time I'll have to go through a LEEP.  

I was awake both times.  The first time I had valuum to relax me, the second time I didn't.  I wish I had because I was a mess!  I didn't remember much from the first time. The room itself was enough to freak me out.

The last time I felt fine afterwards.  I actually didn't even feel like I had anything done.  There was a little extra discharge but nothing notable.  This time I was an emotional wreck.  I was very uncomfortable the first week or so and was very depressed on top of it.  I am still bloated and am peeing a lot more than usual.  I still have discharge that switches between blood, normal  and brown colored.  And I'm still waiting to find out if my Dr. got it all this time.  The waiting is killing me.  I have moderate and severe dysplasia.  And am scared to death that in the time it's taken from the first LEEP last year to this one things have gotten worse.

I completely understand how some of you guys feel disgusting.  I do too.  I've been married for almost 12 years, so this HPV must've been lingering around for at least that long.  I found out last time that I have that too.

Anyway, before I write a book, I hope everyone who will be having a LEEP has no difficulties and all the other's tests come back perfect and that we can all put this experience behind us!! 

I was so happy to read your message about having your second LEEP.  I'm 32 and had my first one about 5 years ago.  I was wondering if there was anyone else out there who has had to go through this multiple times. 

About a year ago, my paps starting coming back irregular again.  My doctor did a biopsy and even though my results were irregular, the lab they sent it to would never give a definite conclusion on how severe the irregularity was.  After going around and around with this same lab, through more paps and another biospy, I asked my doctor to send the biopsy sample to a lab that specialized in gyno issues, even if that meant my insurance would not cover the bill.  The news came back that it was severe dysplasia. While I'm not happy about having the LEEP again, I am happy to get an answer and to move on.  The scary part is that now I know this can come back at any time in my life, over and over again.

I have no idea if this is due to a recurrance of the old virus or a new virus but going through it all over again is very scary.  5 years ago I was younger and single and now I'm married and would like to start having kids in the next few months.  It just seems so unfair to me that women have to go through this pain while the virus has little if any effect on men.  If I ever have a daugher, she will be getting the shot that prevents HPV!

yes,i feel disgusting and a little violated during my leep procedure,i had it done today and its nothing like they said it would.first off the doctor gave me two shots to numb cervix on the left side only,when burning and cutting i could feel everything,then the clamp got stuck so it clamped down in my cervix pinching it and slammed into my pelvic bone all at once.that jerk asked me if i was hurt,yeah,the tears instantly coming into my eyes should tell him that,he said sometimes that happens when the clamp has been open for too long.hello,i've had these examines since '85 never has that happened. now i would prefer to see another doctor before my next colposcopy.the doctor also cancelled my appointment twice before this visit,now its the end of june and i can't take my 4 year old daughter swimming for four weeks because i can't get in the damn water.other people have said this was virtually painless,yeah right i took 750 milligrams of vicodin and felt everything,if the results are negative i choose the hysterectomy-thank you.if anyone else out there has to have this done i would chose to be put to sleep.i know everyone's tolerance for pain varies,but that hurt on top of all this i have an infected tooth on top of it.anywho you're not alone in how you feel,i have had three children and the first thing i wanted to do when i got home was shower,put some comfortable clothes on,and yes i avoided looking in the mirror for the first couple of hours.i hope some of this has helped in some way,and you'll be back up and feeling good about yourself soon