I have been having to get colposcopies intermittently for almost 30 years. Today I had one and for the first time ever, I was offered pain relief. I was able to choose between a lidocaine injection versus spray. I chose the injection as I wasn’t sure the spray would affect things deeply enough.
It seems like just a few days ago someone posted about the injection not working for her. I’m so sorry that was the case for her. I had the opposite experience. I really didn’t even feel the shot and for the first time ever, there was no pain.
I’m so angry with the previous doc that did one a year and a half ago. He said there’s really no effective way to numb the area. Bullshit. I was also told they could do nitrous oxide, though that would require a separate appointment.
The added benefit? I have a surgical consult to have a hysterectomy! I have been trying to get one for decades for a myriad of medical reasons, but always been told it wasn’t enough to justify it.
This time, we talked about how even after menopause, the HPV is obviously not going away because if it were, it would have long ago. Therefore, unless I get my cervix removed, I will be getting colposcopies until I die. Menopause doesn’t stop pre-cancerous cell growth, not that I have even started going through menopause yet.
They will remove my cervix and uterus. I’m going to try and talk them into taking my ovaries, too. I have PMDD and as I said, the menopause fairy has yet to visit and I am 53. When we’re kids, we want the boob fairy to visit. Usually within 15-20 years or if we decide we’re done having kids if that’s what we wanted, we want the menopause fairy to show up.
I have some other reasons to have my ovaries removed like blood filled cysts and getting off bc. I have high blood pressure that’s been difficult to control. BC can raise blood pressure, so anything that helps lower it would be good.
Anyway, I’m really happy considering I had biopsies in three places and am laid up in bed and glued to a hot water bottle today and probably tomorrow. I’m still in less pain than I normally am from this because my abdominal muscles didn’t temporarily turn into abs of steel from having this done with no pain relief.
Comments
This is great to hear!
I recently had my fourth colposcopy, have you done a LEEP? I may need to get one this year. Just wondering if you’d had one and had to continue getting the colposcopies.
Getting a total hysterectomy was one of the best decisions I ever made. And I didn’t realize how easy it is now. My surgeon specialized in laparoscopy and she took the organs out through the vagina. The surgery was less than an hour and a half, i left the hospital the same day, and had recovery of work for only a week.
I have to say the attitude around pain control is really night and day lately in my experience. I’ve had 3 IUDs, no pain relief. My most recent appt for removal I was prescribed an opiate pain reliever and also an anxiety medication. I didn’t end up doing the removal at that appt for reasons but I was very reassured by how seriously they are taking it to make sure I am informed, am ok with what is happening, and am not in unneeded pain or anxiety. I hope this is the start of a turn in women’s medicine