Severe pain at the GP - normal? (TMI)

[sobloodysore]

Had a GP appt today for pelvic pain that I’ve had on and off for years- thought to be endometriosis, I’ve got scarring on my bowel and have had problems since puberty. I’ve also got lifelong bladder issues (some sort of congenital thing, I’ve had a few ops). Been seen by hospital on and off since age 16.

GP said she wanted to do swabs as (pelvic) pain is worse than usual - OMG, I have never felt pain like it. She swabbed the inside of my urethra (I think) with a cotton bud, then took more swabs with speculum etc.

I’ve been catheterised many times before and the pain was exactly like that - except worse as catheters are least designed to glide in! - I was then told to get a sample and almost in tears trying to wee it’s so sore. Blood in my wee which wasn’t there before.

GP told me she isn’t sure what’s wrong, maybe a UTI and BV, said to do more pelvic floor exercises and take cocodamol.

I’m still stinging an hour later, I’m going to get a bath before bed but surely that’s not normal to be so sore? They’ve never done urethral swabs before, I’m half wondering if she even meant to or just did it by accident! - my anatomy is a bit odd so it wouldn’t shock me if she hadn’t meant to, but my God it was/is absolute agony.

I think she’s managed to cut something inside or something like that, in tears trying to wee just now. She twisted the cotton bud round a few times so I don’t know. I did get a couple of texts earlier telling me I’ve got to do another sample, go for a scan and get blood tests done too.

Almost feel like contacting the surgery tomorrow, I work in healthcare myself so I feel bad for complaining but I can’t wee without gripping onto the heated towel rail, it’s so sore. She must have realised she had the wrong hole for goodness sake.

Urethral swabs are done to test for infections such as chlamydia. So it may have been done deliberately but obviously should have been explained. Lots of fluids, pain relief and call surgery or 111 if still suffering

Ooh ouch sounds painful OP! I'm a nurse but not in a GP practice, so I'm not clued up on all the different types of swabs they do, but I have never heard of a urethral swab in my years of nursing. It's possible she did it by accident, but then if she meant to do a vaginal swab, then she would have needed the speculum for that, which she did. I would definitely call them tomorrow for clarification and for advice. I know you won't be wanting to pee as it's painful, but I recommend drinking plenty water to dilute the concentration of your pee, and take some Ibuprofen for inflammation. If it gets worse or you feel that you can't pee, then call 111. Hope it starts to feel better soon.

Thanks, yes the last thing I want to do is wee! I’ve managed to force myself twice as I’ve had retention before and really, really don’t want to go down that route. I don’t know, she did say she was swabbing for STIs along with other stuff, so maybe it was intentional but I near hit the ceiling it was so sore. The whole thing was just massively unpleasant, she reinserted speculum 3-4 times too - she said she was looking for a prolapse or something. Seeing an actual gynae is far far easier and less painful!! I’ve just taken two more cocodamol so hopefully I get a sleep. Work is ‘just’ a 6 hour service development meeting so at least I can sit with a hot bottle at my desk.

I've never had one, but a urethral swab sounds like it would be painful for everyone, let alone someone who's already in pain, like you are, OP.

Surely you'd explain that you were swabbing the urethra (and why), and that it might hurt. And gain consent for that.

And surely you'd NOT swab a urethra by mistake. No one would, let alone a medic.

Pour warm water over from a jug when you're going, it helps massively

Thanks x I’ve had a look at the NHS app and she hasn’t mentioned it - just says high vaginal swabs for chlamydia/gonorrhoea, and that she was checking for a prolapse. It would have been good if she had explained yes, as I likely wouldn’t have consented to it - I have a history of complex UTIs.

It’s slightly less painful this morning - taking ibuprofen and cocodamol regularly, and will try the hot water too. Not looking forward to a very long day at work.