LLETZ- what's it like?

[OnceIWasAnApe]

I'm having a LLETZ loop excision, and am just looking for anyone who'd like to share their experiences. I had an abnormal smear, then a punch biopsy and colposcopy, and was wondering how uncomfortable/painful it will be, how long to take off work etc. I've googled- some women seem to be able to go back to work the next day, and some need a fortnight off!
Also, how long did it take for you to get the results? I appreciate that this will be different in different health authorities, and Covid might mean testing takes longer...
Thank you.

[nerdsville]

I've had two, one with local anaesthetic and one under GA. I took the afternoon off for the local one but really could have gone straight back to work. With the general one, I had the next day off work but only due to the anaesthetic rather than the actual procedure. No worse than a punch biopsy in my experience, so don't worry about it at all.

Can't remember exactly how long results took as was a few years ago now im afraid!

Hope all goes well for you

[TalesTheCat]

I had it done under local anesthetic. It wasn't any more uncomfortable than the coloposcopy. The worst bit was the anesthetic injection on my cervix but I didn't find it any worse than the punch biopsies I've had done with no anesthetic and over much quicker. Afterwards I bled a bit, like watery blood. Apart from cramps similar to period cramps I wasn't in much pain after and was well enough to carry on as normal the next day.
I can't remember how long it took for results as it was a while ago. Afterwards I had 6 monthly smear tests for a while and then yearly for approx 10 years.

[Apileofballyhoo]

I've had 3. It's not comfortable but it's not awful. I was a bit shaky after the local the first time (think I had some kind of reaction or I got up too fast), and the second one was ok and the third one was a dream (done by a midwife). Nobody ever suggested I couldn't drive myself home or anything like that. Light spotting/ bleeding, no cramping or anything like that. I'm in Ireland so it might be different, and pre covid, but I was given plenty of time to recover and sit quietly somewhere after the second two (and after the shakes after the first one).

It's really not too bad. I don't think it's any worse than biopsy and probably the local being injected is the worst thing.

[Mrsdoubtfireswig]

Similar to pps same as colposcopy / biopsies. Could drive there / home etc. I took the next day off work but was ok - some mild cramps, but had some follow up issues afterwards with bleeding for a few weeks

[Mrsdoubtfireswig]

But really nothing to worry about, nurses I had were lovely and it was over surprisingly quickly. Hope it goes ok

[OnceIWasAnApe]

Thank you for the reassurance! The letter said not to drive and that I should take someone with me (in itself a bit of a nightmare with the lockdown rules!) That made me a but nervous! But if it's no worse than the punch incision, I'm not going to worry. Thanks again

[SoggyBiscuitss]

I had two in October and went alone and drove home alone.
Local anestetic both times.
Now have to have a hysterectomy

[Caramel81]

I’ve had one and it wasn’t obviously a pleasant experience but was far less scary than I imagined.
I was terrified about the injection in my cervix but the needle was absolutely tiny and thin so it literally felt like a tiny nip for a couple of seconds. I didn’t feel what was happening after that until 10 mins later when she started to cauterise the area. It wasn’t “painful” but I found it very uncomfortable but it only lasted a couple of minutes (the feeling was like the sensation of spraying something like an aerosol on your skin repeatedly for a couple of mins so it starts to feel like a cold burning).

A couple of hours later when I was at home I had what felt like bad period cramps for a few hours (bad enough to need painkillers and lie in bed but nothing that wasn’t completely manageable). The next few days I felt a bit tender but nothing worse than a standard period. I spotted lightly for a couple of weeks and there was also little black bits coming out on the pad which looked like ash (it’s the burnt off bits of tissue from being cauterised). It did have a bit of a weird smell too.

Period came as normal the following month and my next smear was normal and have been ever since. I do bleed a bit during smears now though which the nurse said can be common in some people who have had lletz.

[OnceIWasAnApe]

Thank you all- I found the colposcopy and punch biopsy quite painful, but I wasn't given any anaesthetic or pain relief for that, so this will be different. I'm thinking of going in on my own and driving, seeing as lockdown makes it very complicated to have someone with me.

[Almostslimjim]

I had local, got signed off work for 2 weeks (no idea why, it wasn't needed!). I didn't feel anything. Smelled a bit a bit like BBQ.

I did get an infection afterwards though - it was foul, smelled like rotting meat when I took my knickers down not envy.

[kerosene20]

Absolutely fine. Went alone, drove alone. Just went home and got on the sofa for a duvet afternoon afterwards. No problems at all working the next day it really wasn’t bad.

[Blankiefan]

Totally fine. I drove myself (altho its only 10 mins drive for me). I didn't even feel the anaesthetic injection much. I had already decided to WFH that day but could've gone into the office. Totally no drama.

[TalesTheCat]

I didn't drive myself as.couldnt drive that time but I had aprox 10 punch biopsies without anesthetic (I didn't need another procedure this time as she got all the abnormal cells out with the biopsies) and I drove home after this. I has stomach cramps but went to bed with painkillers.

[PerfectlyImperfectx]

I’ve had four biopsies and they’re slightly uncomfortable but bearable. But the nurse attempted to do the LLETZ under local and it was unbearable. I went back a couple of weeks later for general anaesthetic. The procedure was fine and I took two days off work. That was mainly due to the effect of the anaesthetic which seems to take a long time to wear off for me and makes me sick. I bled extremely heavily for one day but the next day it was like a normal period. Like a pp said, I had black bits for a couple of weeks. It’s important and if you’re not very sensitive in that area you’ll be fine

[OnceIWasAnApe]

Thanks all for sharing your experiences. I'm still not sure whether to take someone in with me so that I don't have to drive (it's an hour away). I've created a support bubble with someone I just started dating in October, so he's the only one that could... But it feels weird asking someone who I've only known a very short time! If I can get away with driving, I'd rather go by myself.
Your experience sounds scary perfectly - I had the punch biopsy without pain relief and I felt like a proper wuss, I found it unbearable. Did the local anaesthetic not work at all for you?

[Dontknownow86]

I would take someone with you. Pain wise I found the punch worse but it made me very upset and emotional so I needed someone to drive me home. In the end I didn't need it as the punch had removed all the pre cancerous cells which was a bit annoying.

[OnceIWasAnApe]

Thank you DontKnow - The guy I'm dating/bubbling with has offered, so I'll take him up on the offer (and if having my nether regions smelling like bbq doesn't scare him off, I'm onto a keeper)

[PerfectlyImperfectx]

@OnceIWasAnApe in my experience they don’t give pain relief for the punch biopsy. I had some kind of acid applied which shows up the area of concern. After that, my cervix refused any further prodding I couldn’t tolerate the local anaesthetic injection and the nurse didn’t want to force it so they booked me in for a general anaesthetic. In fairness they were very kind to me. I wouldn’t worry about being a ‘wuss’. The medical professionals are there to help. Don’t be afraid to speak up if it’s painful. But for most people it’s completely fine. Good luck!

[gradetoolisted]

My experience was totally fine- great nurses really put my mind at ease. Local anaesthetic. I think results came through in a couple weeks. What a Pp said about the smell whilst healing is true though. I had a baby the year after and had an extra scan to check cervical length just for peace if mind - all was fine.