LEEP PROCEDURE-DOES IT HURT

I wished I had come here before attempting my LEEP today. I say "attempt" because I couldnt bear the attempt at the 5th lidocaine shot. I was very anxious about this whole procedure due to the little and somewhat painful scrape during my latest colposcopy; it was bearable but it didn't feel good and certainly made me jump a little. The dr did tell me that the lidocaine shots do hurt (I had asked; these are for numbing) so naturally no one wants to feel pain. When I asked how most women do I was told by a different dr that about 80% of women go without anesthesia. I was told I would receive 4 shots. Well due to my intense anxiousness, my husband believes I was getting 8 to really help numb me up. Now I know I have a high tolerance for pain so thought I'd be fine. The first 4 shots I was only a little uncomfortable but no pain at all. The 5th attempt was an awful shot of pain and she didnt even get to do an injection. I asked if she'd have to do it again and she said yes. We said forget it I'm going under, we'll reschedule this! So we are! The great part of this is that upon arrival, my dr realized my anxiety over this and said we don't have to do this today. We can get this scheduled with anesthesia. She said if it's too unbearable tell me and we stop. Of course with me not knowing what to expect wanted to get it done. (already been dealing with a prior incompetent dr office- and thank God I switched when I did.). When we hit that 5th shot she was completely ok with stopping. So the point is that we should not EVER allow a dr's feeling to override our own! We have to be advocates for ourselves!! And I pray you move on and find the dr that will be respectful of YOU! For any type of visit!! I stayed with the prior office way too long. I can only imagine this if I was with the other office. And of course I haven't had the LEEP yet but after experiencing that awful pain (I feel for those of you that did the entire procedure or had dr's that were condescending), I will absolutely get anesthesia. I ask that all of you share with other women so they too know. I normally research these things but didn't this time. So please let others know so they can be spared the pain. And why the dr's don't just automatically give anesthesia.....well I believe we can thank insurance for that one. Thank you all for sharing and I now know what to expect for the recovery of this procedure. God Bless you all and may your procedures have been able to get rid of your problems.

I just my LEEP done today. I feel some discomfort but overall the procedure was smooth. The only thing that was discomforting was the apparatus and the small camera the doctor inserts and the anesthesia injection. Other than, I did not feel anything. I'm so happy to have such a great doctor that listens to my concerns and tries his best not to hurt me or have me feeling any discomfort. I'm sorry to hear about all the other ladies who have experience such horrific pain. I know it has a lot to do with how much area needs to be burned-off from your cervix. I thankfully, only had a small area. My doctor did mention that it all depends on how much he needs to remove and sometimes he has had patients with a lot of bleeding and discomfort. Best of luck to any other lady that will be having this procedure. I know its somewhat discomforting and painful but the small trauma is worth not having to deal with other worse illnesses, such as cancer.

I just had my leep completed today, and contrary to popular opinion it did not hurt at all. I AM A HUGE BABY with a very low threshold for pain as a side note. I was very scared because of the posts I had read, and also because I had already had a biopsy and that was painful. However before going to the doctors office, I was given a valium, and a loretab, then at the start of the procedure i was given another valium. My doctor then rubbed some numbing agent on my cervix, then proceeded with the local. I did not feel the needle at all. Additionally he did not use epinephrine, which I understood to be cause for some others discomfort. My mom was allowed to come in with me, which was a huge comfort, I could not have done it with out her or with out God's mercy and the prayer of all my friends. I am so happy it is over. But if I had to do it again I would, with much less anxiety. Hope this helps someone.

I agree! Had it done today. Heart racing was strange and my ears were ringing but it literally lasted less than five minutes. The cramping I had afterwards today was Miles's than regular menstrual cramps. I worried for weeks over this procedure. All for nothing.

I was diagnosed with severe pre-cancerous cells in August of 2012.  I felt the need to post this post after reading so many posts regarding the Leep procedure prior to having it.  I was scared as I am sure that many of you are.  Its our nature to be scared of the unknown.  I dont know the results of my leep procedure yet, and im at peace with that.  I was so terrified going into the leap procedure, so much so that i called my Dr. office begging them to put me out for the procedure.  She assured me that the polcospocy (sp?) was the same feeling I would have for the procedure. She was not only correct, but it was easier.

I went in on August 29, 2012 for the Leep Procedure.  I was so scared. I read so many messages online in hopes to put my mind at ease, only to find that reading the boards only made my anxiety go another level.  I was terrified.   I called to ask my Dr. to put me under but realized that it would cost me 2x as much as my actual procedure to have anesthesia.  So, I asked the nurse if they could give me something prior to surgery to help with my nerves.  

They prescribed me the lowest dose of xan0ax possible for the day of surgery.  Mind you I have never taken that before in my entire life.  I read online about that as well.  I read posts about Dental people prescribing 2mgs prior to a dental surgery. I got up the next morning and took one to see how it would affect me.  To be honest it didtnt, so i took another one.  I ended up taking the 2mg prior to surgery and it seemed to help.  I also took 2 aleive about 30 minutes prior to going in.  All the boards said to take Tylenol orior to going in, and i knew aleive helped me more during menstrual cycle.

I walked in, and the nurse soon came in to tell me to remove everything from the waiste down.  I was terrified, every limb shaking (yes, even with xanax in my system and my mind was in a fog).  I went in the bathroom and did as they said.   I sat on the Dr. Table not knowing what to expect other than the scary posts that were posted all over the internet.

The nurse came back in after I was dressed appropriately, and she said I'm going to get you ready.   She pasted a medical square on the outside of the right side of my leg.   I explained to her that I was so scared.  She looked at me and said you have nothing to worry about.  Her words soothed me.  Sometimes bedside manners from Drs. and their assistants greatly sooth the soul.  So, if your Dr. does not have a great bedside manner. THEN LOOK FOR A NEW ONE.  My Dr. is a girl.  I find it hard to trust a male to help with a femal problem.  They dont know anything about it.  A woman knows a womans body more than any other.

Anyways the Dr. came in and I could have sworn that my heart was going to beat right out of my chest.  Message boards swarming through my head, xanax making my head that much more confused, and then I told her Im really nervous.  She said that everything will be just fine in a sweet tone and at that point I knew it would be.  She walked me verbally through the entire procedure.  To begin with, she said she was going to numb the area.  She explained the side effects that may occur from it.  Ringing in the ears, cramps, anxiety...  The only side effect that I had was a rapid heartbeat.  I felt like my heart was going to come out of my chest, but I know that is only because I ready so many posts about how bad it hurt..  From my experience, and not to downplay anyone who has had experiences that were painful, it was a peace of cake.  She said, "I am going to numb the area, I want you to take a deep breath and cough"  so I did.  I had a slight bit of cramping with the first injection, but no pain, and it was no worse than a VERY mild cramp.  At that point, she asked me to repeat like 5 times, in order to make sure the site was numb.  Let me restate, there was no "Pain"  only cramps that we experience with each period. (mind you the cramps were much less than an actual period cramps.)  After the shots, my heart started beating real fast.  I did a double check of reassurance that that was normal, and it was.

After I was numb,  she proceeded to tell me exactly what she was going to do.  She was going to cut out the part that showed pre-cancerous cells, and then told me she was going to cauterize the outer area to make sure that in case she missed any that it was taken care of.  Then she told me that the procedure was over and asked if I wanted to see what was removed.  This is the part I was not prepared for.  I thought it was going to be small pieces, but it was one hug peice. That scared me because I was not expecting it. 

After the procedure i did not bleed much.  I had discharge as expected, small things coming out that I did not expect.  I am on day 19 of my cycle, and I started to bleed (5 days after procedure).  I am still not certain that it is bleeding from procedure or if it is from my period, but its not bad.

The only reason I am writing my post is to let each of you know that the LEEP procedure is not bad AT ALL!  You do not need to be put under for it. Just ask for something to calm your nerves and relax you. I hope this post eases at least one persons mind about the procedure as I was TERRIFIED, so I can sit here and tell you 5 days of the procedure that it was not bad at all! 

 

After looking at several replies, it's pretty apparent that the procedure, without a doubt, is an individual experience.  For those of you that had no pain, what a blessing to you!!  For those of us that did, definitely something to just realize that it does happen. I had replied a couple months ago about almost jumping off the table after one of the lidocaine shots. (the first 4 no problem, didn't feel them- the 5th was awful and didn't even penetrate)  Needless to say, I chose to not continue and go "under" for the procedure on a different day.  For me personally, going under was WAYYYYY easier than not.  It was all over within 15 minutes.  It's only been 4 days after my procedure, I've had no cramping, only slept a lot the first 48 hrs which is always good for the body's healing.  I'm sure bleeding will come but as of now, no problems at all and definitely no pain. 

I feel that if you have a lot of anxiety about this or that you are sensitive down there, if you can afford it, request to receive anasthesia. Of course it's always good to educate yourself.  And as I've seen several times, the most important part of this all is that you have a dr. that values how you feel!

Wishing you no pain and blessings for the future!

I'd just like to say the worst thing I could have done when finding out I had severe dyskariosis and needed a leep was to look on theInternet. Comments about it 'being worse than child birth' 'would rather go through child birth 8 times over', 'barbaric' and, 'worst pain I ever experienced' are not helpful.

I'm sorry for you if your procedure was not nice but do you really think that frightening others who were once in the same boat as you is the right way to go about things? Incidentally two weeks ago I had a biopsy and after working myself up i can confidently tell you that It didn't hurt at all! Slight discomfort of a smear but that was all. Today I had the leep and due to the 'worse than child birth'  I was incredibly worried, and again it didn't hurt either. Needle was a little bit uncomfortable, a little sing that lasted seconds and I'm taking less thaN ten seconds. It made my legs shake a bit but that was it and then the actual leep was done in seconds.

So please everyone that is worrying please don't. I would hate people's posts about negative experiences put people off having these pre cancerous cells removed. 

Thank You so much for writing this! It really helped. I go in tomorrow and was terrified after reading these posts!! Ive calmed down a bit since reading yours and am hoping it wont be too bad. Thanks for being so positive!!

For anyone else worrying about the leep procedure, do not worry! i was very afraid of the experience as well, but actually it did not hurt as much as the biopsy did. yes, it is unpleasant when your cervix is injected with numbing solution, but after that i really didn't feel anything. i had some areas with CINIII but it was not necessary for me to be put under.

try to remember during the surgery that this is getting rid of those nasty cells which could have turned cancerous! thanks, modern medicine. :)

my LEEP procedure hurt like hell!!!!!!! the doctor gave me like 3 injections and i felt like i wanted to die. sorry to make it sound terrible, but it is. i screamed the entire time and then when the 2nd needle went in, i cried. the doctor told me it would be painful, but she was lying because it hurt sooooo much sorry :(

 

Wow.. Sorry to hear that the procedure was so painful for most of you.

I just wanted to let any of you, who are preparing yourselves for the procedure, that it did not hurt me at all.

I had a great doctor, who talked me through all five minutes of it. I did not feel the injection, nor any of the procedure. I was in a out before I knew it.

I promised myself that after all of my panicking and upset before getting it done, that if it was not as bad as most described it to be on the internet, that I would write a simple post to put some of you at ease.

I took an extra strength Advil an hour before, just in case, but I don't know if that was necessary (however, no harm in taking it)

Wish you all the best with your procedure, and with future results.

Seriously, try to relax, and think:

what percentage of people do you think come home for a good meal at a restaurant and think "HEY! I'm going to write the most positive review on that place" ... lets just say it is far less than those who have a horrible meal, and choose to make their experience public. 

I am by no means trying to say that some people might not have had a bad or painful experience with the LEEP procedure, but maybe those feel more inclined to write about their unpleasant experience.

I would just like to be that small percentage that says "HEY! that was not worth getting worked up about. I'm going to write a positive post on this to try and ease another worried googlers mind"  :)

 

Take care all, and remember to make better choices when it comes to your health. There are so many things in this world we have little or no control over, take control of the things that you do. Eat healthier, exercise, and QUIT SMOKING! 

I promosed to reply if I have a good experience with LEEP and I did. I was nervouse but it was NOT that bad. I didn't even feel the injection. After the the injection there is a little bit of cramp for about two seconds and then feeling of warmth. It was NOT painful at all.

I cried all the way through my LEEP, but I am a sexual assault survivor and that's the largest part of why I cried. The speculum is more painful than the actual procedure (which really wasn't too bad), and I think the worst part for me was when they shot epinephrine into me. That made my anxiety about the situation worse, but it's more than likely not going to be an emotionally scarring experience for everyone - I'm just a weird case.

 

Look at it as they are getting the bad stuff out of you! And most of all don't feel embarassed if you do start to cry/squirm. Docs deal with this all the time, they know it's not pleasant.

I had the LEEP done yesterday and I felt it nesessay to add to the positive post on this site since it was the first one that popped up when I googled "does the LEEP procedure hurt" the night before my procedure. Many of the post really scared me but the positive ones made me feel better. I'm sure some people had bad experiences but that doesn't mean that you will. I was put to sleep, and I definitely recommend it if you are nervous about the procedure. I had an amazing doctor who, after hearing the nervousness in my voice while scheduling the appointment over the phone, agreed to doing it in the OR so that I could be put to sleep. I felt no pain. The worst pain I had was the headache I'd given myself by stressing out and worrying. So far I've had no cramping and no bleeding. I'm so grateful to have gotten through it as easily and pain free as I did. My advice: pray hard and asked to be put to sleep! :) Be blessed.

Everyone is different. For me, I think im either a wimp or just have a low pain threshold generally, plus I get anxious and nervous with things like this easily. 

My smear test came back as abnormal cells which freaked me out as Id always had normal smears. The letter alarmed me and caused me to search the internet which I found just made me more alarmed by reading horror stories. I think what we have to remember is, its normally the negative stories which are written. Anyway I had to have a colposcopy to determine whether the smear was right and sure enough I did have abnormal cells. The colposcopy was a little uncomfortable after a while,  the nurses were great though but that didnt stop me thinking about what they were doing. I didnt feel the biopsy where they take a sample of the area affected which was good! o all in all, not so bad. The doctor said he thought i wouldnt need to come back for treatment as he thought it was lower grade (CIN 1) but he said there was a large area affected. I received my letter, giving me 4 days notice to come in for treatment as it came back with CIN2 unfortunately. I had this done today 13/03/2013 and remained calm and was told the worst part of it would be the numbing of the cervix. I didn't feel this :-) but I did feel the loop precedure (electrosurgical excision precedure which uses thin low voltage electrfied loop to cut out the area). It felt warm - hot I suppose and a strange pain and I didnt like it to be honest. It scared me a bit and made me tearful. The doctor said he was nearly over and was suprised I could feel it. Maybe I wasnt numb enough?! However this procedure was quicker than the colposcopy. Anyway its done and I hope its the end of it. 6-8 wks to wait for more results. What worries me is people are saying its thins the uterus and can cause miscarrages which are very common anyway, and it doesnt give me comfort that im 36 yrs old as well, plus it can cause premature birth. Its just typical that I started trying for a baby the same month I was told I had an abnormal smear!!  bad timing. But at least if it is successful, the timing could be worth it in the end. Im writing this in the hope to give some peace of mind to others about the procedure, I know I said parts of it hurt, but also to remind people that everyone is different and some will find it ok and others not. 

I hope someone can re-assure me now that its ok to try so soon for a baby and that this procedure will not affect the pregnancy and birth??