Hi All,
I just wanted to come on here and share my experiences from Monday. On Monday, I had abnormal cells removed following 2 smears and 2 biopsies showing that I have CIN2. It was explained to me that CIN2 are part of HPV which could potentially, in decades to come, develop into cancer and were less likely to go away. Because of this I decided to get them removed via Lletz which is when they apply anaesthetic and burn the cells away.
Monday arrives, I’m a little nervous but I’m okay – I’m lucky as I have the support of my husband who ensures he attends every hospital appointment. So we get called into the room where there are two nurses. They’re so lovely. Really supportive, and really gentle. They’re very much ‘people people’ (if that makes sense!). They explain my diagnosis and what my options were. Because I had CIN2 I could wait to see if they disappeared on their own. She explained that they would support me, they would monitor me, and see how everything goes. OR I could have them removed today via Lletz and then another smear in 6 months time.
So I go into the en-suite to get changed from the waist down. I always wonder at this point whether I should leave my socks on…Anyway, they provided me with a sheet to cover my bottom half and I get to keep my top and hoody on. I go back into the room where I lay down on the surprisingly comfortable chair and put my legs up onto the holders. The sheet is covering me and the nurse helps me get into position and raises the bed up. My husband is still in the room and is chatting with the nurses. We’re generally just talking about random stuff, we got married in Summer 2018 so we’re chatting about that. They’re very good at distraction chats!
One of the nurses then explains to me that she is going to be using a metal speculum which may be colder than the plastic ones I’m used to. This was probably the most uncomfortable part really. It doesn’t hurt, and it isn’t particularly painful, but its uncomfortable for a couple of seconds. I have a tube going over my leg for suction, and the nurse tells me that she is about to inject anaesthetic. This is more of a dull ache. I don’t know where she’s injecting it as such, but I can feel a dull ache which, again, doesn’t particularly hurt but is uncomfortable. I’m able to keep chatting while it’s still going on.
We keep chatting and the nurse tells me that I will hear a hoovering noise and she’s going to remove the cells. This doesn’t hurt at all. I can’t feel a thing. We are chatting about the fact my favourite relaxation song has just come on, and still about holidays and weddings. Before I know it, the procedure is over. It takes in total around half an hour from entering the room to leaving it. They give me time to sit up, and then stand up (with the sheet around me) and go into the toilet again to redress. Pads are provided just incase you bleed.
Once I’m dressed, I go back into the room and she explains to me what they will do with the cells that have been removed. She also provides me with a leaflet and explains what I can and cannot do over the next month while I’m healing. There are no items to go in my vagina while I am healing, this includes having sex and using tampons/cups. Not the news my husband wanted to hear haha!
When I get home, I rest of the remainder of the day. I’m stinging a little bit, bit my pain is minimal. The procedure was easier than a biopsy and I found it wasn’t as uncomfortable as it first seems. Its super scary receiving that letter, and your mind will always wonder. You’ll probably google it and assume you have cancer, but this is a preventative. You do not have cancer.
I wanted to write this to try and bring comfort to those who many be feeling nervous, or scared about their upcoming appointment or if they wanted more information on the procedure. I had a lot of people telling me ‘oh its fine!’, and it is fine, but also don’t be too hard on yourself. You’re okay to feel nervous or anxious about it, but really it’s nothing to worry about 😊
Mental Health Wins 