Have you had a cone biopsy (cervical)?

[murphys]

My dd who is 21 has to have one done.

She has been through a really traumatic time recently, has the option to wait 6 months, but she has decided she would rather go ahead and have it done now.

She will be having it done under GA privately.

She sees the gynae next week for all the final steps, but is feeling daunted about recovery. From what she has read online (I know, I know) she needs 4 to 6 weeks to heal. The problem is she is very into fitness, gym etc and right now these are a focal point for her. Everything she has read, which to be fair seems to be from the USA, seems to suggest that she shouldn't be doing too much physical exercise for the 4 to 6 weeks.

I also wanted to ask what the general healing time was for you? Did you have a lot of pain after? How long did you bleed for?

I know its all questions to ask the doctor, but she is trying to prepare herself mentally in the meantime.

Bumping my post.

Hi OP
My sister had a LLETZ a few years ago. This seems to be the preferred procedure in the UK now with come biopsies not being as common and even LLETZ is rarely done in women under 25 now

the information given to my sister for a LLETZ was about the same. No baths, sex or tampons for at least 4 weeks. She was cautioned against doing much exercise (she loves to run)
seems that women seem to be at increased risk of really heavy bleeding around the 3 week mark. I have seen posts on mumsnet about it, if you search ‘LLETZ bleeding’ some threads might come up but obviously there is selection bias there, people don’t come back to post about LLETZ recoveries that have gone really well

Jos Trust charity has sadly closed but their information pages are still up and is UK based
www.jostrust.org.uk/information/cervical-cancer/treatments/surgery/cone-biopsy

@TotallyTasha thank you so much, I will search some of the older posts.

We aren't in the UK and LLETZ wasn't mentioned but I will go along with her for the pre-op appointment and ask as I am also wondering why this wasn't suggested.

Ah the 3 weeks risk of bleeding is exactly what I was looking for info on, as the more I look the different the advise is. Some say 4 to 6 weeks and then some say back to normal after a week. So in the back of dd's mind, she is going back to her normal routine after a week, but I think it's not going that way at all.

She is very young for this procedure. The dr also agrees, and has given her the option to wait 6 months and then see. But that means going through the colposcopy and everything once again then and the gynae is quite sure this will not resolve itself during that time.

It's a very sensitive situation as she is a victim of a horrific sexual attack so I think this is why she just wants it over and done with, but the downside is that her exercise and routine is keeping her going mentally right now.

I have to let her decide as she is an adult, although a very young one being in this situation, so it's is a case of physical vs mental health in the mix.

I hope your sister is doing well now 💐

I've had one. I'm not in the UK either and it's standard here to offer a surgical knife cone biopsy (under GA) for certain issues. If that's what she is having then here's my experience:

Procedure is fine. Fast. Very straightforward. Afterwards just minimal discomfort.
Regarding bleeding, for me personally, it was similar to a period amount. I had to move countries FOUR days after i'd had mine - which required 3 flights and 30 hours of travelling. It also saw me heaving/lifting/wheeling a 30kg suitcase and 3 bags along for a lot of time.
Lots and lots of walking and what could be deemed 'exercise'. After a week i suffered a heavier bleed (overnight) and that was my wake up that i'd perhaps pushed it too far. After that i took it easier. Less long walks, carrying bags etc. Within 2 weeks bleeding had stopped and i was totally back to normal.
Hope that helps!

@HeartyBee it does thank you. Yes this is exactly what she is having.

Moving countries and taking it easy are not in the same category I agree, but I am glad you were okay.

The two week recovery time sounds just like what dd has her mind set on, but I guess we will just have to gauge it at the time.

As it happens she just got a call as dr had a cancellation this afternoon, so the pre-op appointment is today. So it sounds like the surgery is being brought forward as well to next week.

Hi murphys
Im so sorry to hear about what happened to your daughter. It’s understandable that she would want to go ahead with the procedure because of this

Thank you my sister is doing well, she had her check up 6 months after the LLETZ and her margins were clear and she was HPV negative. She spoke to some other ladies and some have to have 2x LLETZ to be sure but I think with cone because it is deeper it is a procedure that is just done the once.

Wishing you and your daughter all the best for the pre op x

I had a laser cone biopsy and actually the recovery was really good.. I didn’t get any secondary bleeding and I think I didn’t do gym etc for a few days but went back to it soon and everything was ok

Just to add, when I later got pregnant I was monitored closely for incompetent cervix ( higher risk because of the procedure) because I had had a cone biopsy… but again, it was all fine . If the dr hasn’t covered this be sure to ask ..

Thank you so much, It's been an awful time, and this was just the cherry on the cake really, it's made me angry all over again that she has to now go through this too.

Perhaps this is a factor as to why the loop wasn't suggested, so he can be sure to remove as much as possible the first time.

I will chat with him later though, I have to say I am so very grateful that he has an amazing bed side manner and is treating dd with such care and compassion.

@Kisskiss he did cover this re pregnancy, and from what I took from it, she will be classed as high risk from the outset. I don't know if its laser or knife incision, but its on my list to ask.

I am putting together a little care basket for her, have a microwave heat pack, some nuts and nibbles, a book and thick socks (its winter here), lip balm so far. Oh and pads but she hates using them, but no other option really. If you were 21 and going though this, what else would you like in there?

Just to add, i have had two further pregnancies after my knife cone biopsy and neither were classed as high risk despite this being on my record. Both pregnancies absolutely fine (big babies!) and cervix stayed closed, no issues. I was also in my 20s.

I think your care basket sounds fab. Maybe a carton of sweet juice to help stablisize her sugars after the procedure. First thing i needed was an orange juice.

Best wishes to you and your daughter, i hope her recovery is as speedy as she wishes it to be.

This is very reassuring, not that she is the frame of mine to be thinking about pregnancy right now, but it is definitely something that could be of a concern at some point.

She saw the Gynae yesterday and is having the surgery next week. He once again gave her the option to wait a few months, and the moment she told him she would like to do some travelling and is not sure where she will be in 6 months, he suggested she do it now. I think 6 months was the longest he is willing to wait.

She is having the knife biopsy. The area in the transformation zone is quite large and can go deeper apparently. He said that it is really important that she be up very soon after, I assume to get blood moving, but there was such an information overload I am just assuming this.

The first thing she asked was about when can she go back to gym. Never mind what pain to expect etc, bless her. He will see her again after 2 weeks and said depending on how she heals, she might be able to do some light stuff after then.

Thank you for sharing your experiences, I will post again next week after and then perhaps if someone else is in the same situation, our journey might help someone else finding things daunting.

I have ordered an Owala water bottle for her gift basket, I hope I made the right decision getting the pink one. (I fancy one of these too now ....)

I've had a cone biopsy, recovery is really not too bad. Some cramping and moderate bleeding in the week or so afterward. I did have a heavy 'gush' around 10 days later which is apparently very common, to do with the scab site coming away or something (nobody warned me and I went straight to gynae because it was so heavy!). This was followed by light intermittent bleeding for I think around 4 weeks perhaps? All in all it wasn't a physically horrific experience or anything. Just a bit crampy and miserable for a while.

I was also told to avoid any strenuous activity simply because it delays healing and can cause heavier bleeding = complications and whatnot. I don't remember being told to avoid it for 6 weeks though.