i am a coward: i hate needles, and put off having a filling at the dentist for two years when younger.

six months ago i had a biopsy at the gyno clinic, after an abnormal smear, and a coloscopy.

the results came back nothing wrong, but then last week i had my review smear (still awaiting results)a nd another coloscopy: the dr said that my cells were still damaged and hadnt cleared themselves, so depending on my smear results i may have to have a furth biopsy in the next 6 months, and possibly a leep.

i know for the leep you have a local anisthetic at my gyno clinic, and i know how that feels as i cried the whole way through my biopsy and even told the dr i couldnt have it done, only to be told i already had! - nt that i actually would of had a say given the position i was sat in and that id already signed the consent papers.

now im reading up on leeps, and im wondering is the needle the worst bit? if it is im sure i can cope, i mean i've done the needle before. i'm just unsure what to expect with the lazor....i know peeps have said you can smell teh skin sometimes...otehr than that can you actually feel it?a nd which feels worse, a biopsy or a leep?

after the leep what happens from tehre? is it just 6 monthly reviews at the hospital still?

i'd so hoped i'd get my first all clear thsi month, but given how teh coloscopy went i'm not holding out for it.

the smear i had last nov was the first tiem i hadnt worried about one, over the 10 years before i'd always got all clears, so i just assumed i woudl again :-(

Please try not to worry! I think the worst part of the LEEP is just laying there, feet in the stirups for so long :eek: The needle hurts a bit, but after that, you just kind of feel pressure, and are aware of lots of prodding going on. There is a smell of buring that is not very nice. Anyway, just try as hard as possible to relax and think how great you'll feel when it's OVER!!

Good luck!

Oh-- as for what happens next, I think it depends on your results. My LEEP biopsy indicated that they may not have gotten all the bad cells (unclear margins) so I elected to go back to the hospital and have a cold knife cone. But if your margins are clear from the LEEP, then they just ask you to have a follow-up check at 6 weeks (I think it's six weeks, maybe 4, I forget) to make sure you're healing. Then it's a pap test at 3 months.

I had a leep done April 30th and was so scared, scared of the dentist as well!
I elected to do the leep proceedure in the hospital and to be asleep for it. That was the best thing I could have done! I went to sleep, they did it and woke up, it was over and got to go home. There wasnt any fear or panic because they give you something to relax you then the anesthesia(sp).
I was groggy afterwards but felt ok, not too much pain, like bad cramping.
The leep proceedure is the easy part, it is the mental pain of waiting for the results to come back that is the worst part.
You will be ok, ask your doctor if she will do it in the hospital under anesthesia. Hope this helps.

pamelka, when you had your leep, wa sit still done as a day patient?

knowing my fear of needles, anmd having nwo realised its three not one, my cousin has suggested i ask to have a general anisthetic instead of a local too. atleast then i only have the one needle to dread,a nd then i wake upa ll dione, just with the cramps, and the wait.

i dont know if my docftor will allow me to have it done under general anisthetic, but no harm me asking i guess. the gyno clinic i'm under is part of teh maternity ward at teh hospital,s o they should have all teh facilities, just not sure as its on teh national health, if tehyw ill agree to it.

Becks,
Yes mine was done as a day patient and I had a general anasthesia. I have really bad anxioties when it comes to hospitals or doctors of any kind, so I do know how you feel. I went to the hospital in the morning, they put an IV in my arm,and gave me something like a valum, I did tell them ahead of time how scared and nervious I was. When it was time for the prceedure the anestesiologist(sp) came in and put me out. I went out so quickly and the next thing I remember was waking up in recovery. Shortly after I went home.

You should really talk to your doctor about this, and if she/he wont give you this option, maybe get a second opinion. There is no reason for you to suffer with fear and anxioty, make an appointment to talk with your doctor about this and have someone go with you.

After I came home I just took tylenol for any discomfort I had. It is not that bad, don't panic.