Colposcopy??

shoppaholic_returns

Hi all, after the joys of the large stomach abcess I,ve had over the last few weeks,with operation to come, I've just been contacted by my GP to say my smear test has come back with mild cell changes,GP says nothing cancerous, but they want me to have a colposcopy, just to be sure.:eek:

I'm REALLY,REALLY nervous about having smear tests at the best of times,as they always manage to really hurt me, what I would like to know is if any one has had this proceedure and was it worse/better/the same as a smear test?

I know its a camera to look at the abnormal cells, and doc says its nothing,what does he know!! Men dont have any of these issues, but was just guaging opinion! Its really strange I've got to be in hospital for 4 days with a top to bottom wound and im more concerned about this colposcapy, bizarre I know, but they'll knock me out, its just im smear phobic, why cant they invent anything better to take smears I dont know.

I'M really cheesed of this year, I've even asked doc if they can do it whilst im under for the op, but he says I need to be awake! I'd certainly be more relaxed for the proceedure if I was asleep!

Ive seemed to live at the docs, and im never normally ill. I seem to have had nothing for 10yrs+, and now all this!

Anyone who can help?, thanks

ema_o

Hello
I had a colposcopy and this wasn't much worse than a smear test. It is quite a similar procedure in terms of what happens to you (I hate them too, I fix my eyes on the ceiling and take deep breaths and that helps me to relax a bit).
I am not sure if they had already planned it or they decided at the time, but they also did a biopsy of the cells. I was told this could feel like a pin p r i c k, but the nurse told me to cough as she took it and I didn't feel a thing?!

If you eventually need to have the cells removed (I think they give you 6 months and a re test as they sometimes go away of their own accord) that isn't very painful either. I was really really worried about it but it was over very quickly and barely felt a thing.

windswept

I found it fascinating, you don't have many chances to look inside yourself like that! It was weird seeing my cervix on tv though.
Relaxing and deep breathing definitely help, I'm much more scared of the dentist.

shoppaholic_returns

I didnt realise it was on tv!:rotfl: :rotfl:

ema_o

Ooh, mine wasn't on TV - feel like I have missed out!!

little_miss_moneysaver_3

I had one last year. Mine was also on the TV!
I think they take biopsies with everyone, but it didn't hurt.
But they use white vinegar on the cervix as apparently it changes abnormal cells to a different colour. I did ask the doc to explain how we know this, but he didn't know!!! Very interesting!

JAM1376

I had a colposcopy about 12 years ago. The colposcopy bit was fine - when she was taking the bioposy she told me to cough but I had a broken rib at the time so the biopsy was the less painful option (didn't hurt at all). Then had to have some cells lasered off (all during the same few minutes) which felt a bit like sunburn inside for perhaps 5 seconds and then I was done. Really nothing to worry about - I just held the nurses hand! :rotfl:

HTH

lucyhope

I had one done some time ago, i was having an examination for something else and wasn't even aware they'd done it!!!

bright_side

I'm the world's biggest wimp when it comes to smear tests!! Work myself into such a state that I almost pass out when it's over. I had to have a colposcopy about 11 years ago and they found I needed to have cells removed but because I was in such a state about it all they decided to do it under a general. From what I recall the colposcopy wasn't too different to the smear test - just longer. I'm much better with the smear test now - I always take paracetomol beforehand to fend off the after pains I used to suffer and a nice nurse found I only need them to use the smaller clamp thing (they have different sizes!) so I always ask for the small one when I go now and it is much more comfortable.
Hope all goes well for you.

shoppaholic_returns

I think I'll make sure they use the small one too, the doctor this time used one that was bigger than me!!!!:eek: I'm ONLY LITTLE and it scared me to death!!

Thanks for your responses, they have helped me greatly!

Krystaltips

Have you had 1 abnormal smear or two?

A couple of years ago I got an abnormal result and was sent for a colposcopy, when I got there and was lying with my cervix nice and pink on the TV, the consultant told me it was fine and the result was just from normal changes and I should of had a 2nd smear before the colposcopy... They sent me for a 2nd smear at the hospital rather than the Dr's and it was fantastic, the nurse was in and out before I even noticed... And the 2nd results came back normal...