Colposcopy this Friday. Any advice/reassurance please

[mummyaimz]

Hi my doctor found a lump down there and my referral for a colposcopy came through today and I'm being seen this Friday. I'm very nervous as I've had "downstairs" trouble for four months and my doctor only spotted the lump a few weeks ago. My family history of cancer is horrendous and I have already had a fibroadenoma removed. So yes I am very nervous and was looking for any advice or reassurance from anyone who has bad a colposcopy before. Thanks

[steppyhen]

me too am in same boat got letter today saying needed to go for one for abnormal smear, i am pregnant and worried :( hope everything goes ok x

[EMS23]

Hi, I had a colposcopy two weeks ago following an abnormal smear. Was very nervous beforehand.. Not a big fan of smears and after 2 babies in the last 3 years - one forceps delivery, one manual placenta removal - I mostly prefer to be left alone down there!!

I had mine at the Heath in Cardiff and the clinic was great. The colposcopist was very good, explained the procedure thoroughly and the reasons I'd been referred. She drew me a diagram, explaining outcomes etc..
There was a second nurse in the room.

I was sent into a small ensuite bathroom to take my trousers and knickers off and there was a pile of clean sheets in there, which the nurse told me to wrap round myself, like a towel.

The bed was a half bed, slightly raised at the head end, with stirrups.
With sheet draped over my front, I was asked to sit on bed, lie back and put my legs in the stirrups.

The colposcopist then sat down at that end and lifted the sheet and put the speculum in and I guess followed closely with the camera. The screen was on the wall in front of me so I could watch.

She had a good look and turned the light off, in there, to see it with a uv light, which highlighted that I have cervical ectopy, which had caused the abnormal smear. A harmless condition. Such a relief to find out there and then and she explained that in the majority of cases, the colposcopy gives a good view of the problem and they can tell you what the problem is most likely to be, there and then.

She did take a precautionary biopsy and turned the camera off for that. Afterwards, she very quickly draped the sheet over me.

It was the most dignified "down there" medical procedure I've had in the last 3 years and luxury compared to the indignity I suffered at the hands of the consultant that removed the placenta after I had DC2!

Pain - it was generally painless, although the biopsy pinched a bit and I had some bleeding for a few days.

Going forward, I'm waiting for the biopsy results but if all normal
I'll have to have another colposcopy in 6 months time, as standard.
I can't donate blood etc till I have an all clear smear, so at least 6 months.

I hope that helps and good luck x

[Oddsocksrus]

EMS23 thank you for sharing a positive story, mine is soooo similar to yours (the manual removal of a placenta.... Not something to repeat I hope)
OP it is exactly as EMS has said, I'm in Kent and the team here were just as lovely, they are used to some very scared people and did everything they could to make sure I was ok
It's like a more detailed smear tbh, they do have a bit of a rummage to make sure there is nothing lurking. But it is what it is and there really isn't any pain, just a small nip if you have biopsy material removed

Take a sanitary towel for afterwards just in case they do snip
we'll be thinking of you

[mummyaimz]

Hi sorry I haven't replied as my Internet went down. It was just how you described it ems23. I took a towel and I am so glad I did as i bled quite badly. just had it done and have to wait 6-8 weeks for my results, my doctors says I have pre cancerous cells and so they have done biopsies to see what the CIN grade is. Still a bit nervous as I got told I have pre cancerous cells but even if I do they say the will just operate and get rid of them

[digerd]

I had CIS - called CIN3 now- and got a letter in 10 days to say they had reserved a bed for me on Sunday to have a conebiopsy where they took the whole rim of the cervix and a part above it away to see how far it had gone. But all was well and that was 30 years ago and all smears since then have been normal. We did have GAs in those days and they used a scalpel We stayed in hospital 8 days after an op and the food was uneatable. I remember 3 fish fingers and 1 narrow long leaf of lettuce .
Things are much improved now.

[digerd]

However, waiting 6-8 weeks for the results has not

[mummyaimz]

I know, I am hating this waiting as my partner lost someone close to him through cancer. They got told they only had CIN 2 but they got it wrong and had full blown c. Plus I have been waiting four months for this to get sorted and the doctor who actually spotted it said that she thinks I have had it longer than my problems have been going on for, also I am constantly tired all the time which now I have been told I possibly have CIN 1-2 and with my partners loss, I am terrified

[EstelleGetty]

I've had 2 colposcopies, mummyaimz and they were pretty much as EMS describes them - not fun, but the doctor was very gentle and patient.

Do take a painkiller before the procedure, or have some on hand after to help with any discomfort. Make sure you dedicate the rest of the day to resting and being kind to yourself. Stock up on some mags, get a DVD lined up, and make sure everyone at home knows you're to be looked after and won't be cooking or making tea for anyone. You'll feel more lively in a couple of hours but do be gentle with yourself.

[EstelleGetty]

Ah feck, just realised you've already had it. The time until you get the results will pass quicker than you think - I hope all's well.

[mummyaimz]

Yeah I felt horrendous after having it, though I do have to say the past couple of days haven't been particularly nice with what the doctor told me to expect. Urgh lol