I'm sure some of our members will share their colposcopy and LLETZ experiences with you soon Ana but if you'd like to find out more about these procedures, just click here.

I hope this helps put you at ease about what's to come but if you think it will help to talk things through with one of our nurses then do give them a call. They're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m.

Wishing you all the best for Friday Ana.

Kind regards,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Ana,

I just wanted to share my experience of Lletz treatment after a routine smear revealed mild abnormal cell changes many years ago. The procedure itiself was mildly uncomfortable, very mild cramping straight after but nothing worse than my monthly period pain, and this soon subsided. Following the treatment, recovery was swift, and I felt able to resume my normal activities pretty much straight away, although I still tried to take it easy in the day or two following. The next smear came back normal, thankfully.

These situations are always stressful and although you're anxiety is understandable, I would say try not to worry too much about the procedure itself, it's a common treatment and it's worth it to prevent any potential issues further down the line.

I wish you well on Friday, in the meantime try to relax, and try not to think too much about it. Be kind to yourself and rest up afterwards.

Hi Amba

Thanks so much for this! I'm not so worried about afterwards because I feel like I will be so relieved it's done! Did you have a local anesthetic for yours? Was any of it very painful or was it just moments of sharp pain and then that's it during the procedure?

My mum usually comes with me to all hospital appointments and obviously with covid she can't so it just adds extra anxiety not having someone there!

Thanks again

Ana 

Hi Ana

I had a similar experience as yours, I am the biggest wimp and worrier in the world and don't bode well with anything pain wise.

I absolutely promise you that it was no where near as bad as I imagined it would be. It's uncomfortable and unpleasant (a bit like the smear test) but the nurses were so so kind and lovely. Something I found helped me was using positive self talk during the procedure (reminding myself how positive it was that I was looking after myself and making sure I got the treatment I needed so I could continue to have a happy life) and trying to focus on something else. The nurses also helped with this. You could even ask if you can ring your mum whilst they are doing it to keep you company 'virtually'? 
 

I was a bit sore for a few days and took some paracetamol and had a hot water bottle for my stomach and had a few 'duvet days'...bit like time of the month! Afterwards I had very light bleeding for a few weeks. Went to see Gp and they tested for infection and gave antibiotics just in case but everything was fine. I was back at the gym about 3 weeks later!

i wish someone had told me that it was going to be OK and that I would get through it because I know exactly how awful you will be feeling right now!

hope this helps x x x 

Thanks so much for this! This really helps make me feel better about it. I think I might try and watch something on my phone with headphones if I have the lletz treatment just so I don't see anything I don't want to see and will hopefully be a distraction! Did you find the biopsies and the local anesthetic okay or were they painful? I didn't feel my smear at all so if it's like that then it's great!

Did you get your results back and they were normal after the lletz? 

Thanks so much again for replying xx

Hi Ana

I had the Lletz treatment some years go and the memory is now a bit hazy, but yes I had a local anaesthetic and don't remember feeling too much during the procedure itself, nothing more than slight discomfort at worse, no worse than I find a smear test. I had slightly stronger more period like cramping after, but this didn't last and I found over the counter painkillers dealt with this effectively.

Your suggestion of watching something on your phone as a distraction, or listening to some relaxing music is a good idea. As is often the case for me, the worst thing is the worry.  

Following years of normal smear results (my last one came back normal in 2018) I'm unfortunately due to return for a colposcopy on the 20th October as I've recently had some discomfort and bleeding after sex. An examination revealed some abnormality (nurse said it's probably a polyp but I'm not too sure if she just didn't want to worry me) and I need to get it checked out. Like you, I'm trying not to stress to much but it's hard not to think of all the worse case scenarios.

Stay positive and all the best for tomorrow xx

Hi Amba

So sorry to hear that! I'm sure everything will be fine though and it's good you've had okay experiences of it all before so you know what to expect. Fingers crossed all goes well for you!

The nerves are definitely creeping in now it's getting closer and closer!

Thanks again

Ana 

So I had my colposcopy appointment yesterday. They did the lletz treatment then and there and it was so much easier than I ever imagined! I was absolutely terrified before hand but the nurses were really sweet. I didn't feel the local anesthetic at all and the procedure was only about 10 minutes long in total. After having it I've felt fine really.. Very mild period pains.

If I had one bit of advice for people going for colposcopy or lletz - don't look at the monitor.. I told them from the start I wasn't going to because I'm very squeamish. I think this massively helped with me not knowing what exactly was going on because it meant I didn't anticipate any pain for any of it!

Thanks so much for everyone that posted before I went! It was a massive help in making me feel slightly more calm about the procedure.

Here's to hoping it's sorted it all out in that one appointment and I don't have anything come back! 

Hi, I am new on this site, looking for some reassurance!! I had a colposcopy in December, they said they thought it was nothing to worry about and took a punch biopsy from me. I will say the procedure was not half as bad as I thought it would be and it was over with in the matter of minutes, no worse than a smear test! However, since then I have had my results back saying its cin 2 and I will need lettz treatment. I am absolutely terrified by this and am looking for some reassurance as to what to expect. I am no good with needles and am a whimp basically! Any guidance appreciated x

Hi Amy

I was exactly the same as you. I got a letter saying I had moderately severe abnormal changes from my smear so had to go straight to colposcopy and had lletz done then and there.. I didn't have a biopsy first.

I would say now you've done the biopsy you'll know what the colposcopy appointments are like. The actual lletz treatment was honestly the easiest thing I ever imagined.. It was more uncomfortable them putting in the funnel thing like they do in a smear then the actual lletz. 

When I went in I was incredibly nervous and made them very aware of this so they would be extra cautious with me. They gave me the local anesthetic when I was talking and I didn't even realise. You only realise because your heart starts to race from it but it's totally fine.

I didn't look at the screen once which really helped because I had no idea what was happening but couldn't feel anything. I think sometimes when you're watching it then it makes you think it's more painful than it is. I put headphones in to drown out a bit of noise and the nurse held my hand and just talked to me the whole time. It was literally 5 minutes.. So quick!

The recovery for me was pretty easy. I didn't really get any cramping just a bit of light bleeding. You also get what looks like black tar about 2/3 weeks in which freaked me out because they hadn't warned me about that but I looked it up and many other people had the same.

Let me know if you have anymore questions. I am the worst person ever with hospitals and all things doctors and needles etc and I can promise you it's 1000x easier then you think it will be.

Ana