LEEP Recovery
It’s been almost four months since my LEEP procedure to remove abnormal cells from my cervix. I haven’t written about my recovery since about a week afterward, when I got the results that the margins were clear and the cells were not cancerous, but I’ve thought about this area of my body every single day for the last four months.
I’ve thought about it daily because I’ve felt it daily. It’s not pain but definite discomfort through my groin and pubic bone area that comes and goes with no apparent triggers. I talked to my doctor about it the week after surgery and he had no clue but told me to come in if it got worse. It didn’t get worse but has stayed persistent.
On Valentines Day I went in for my three month follow up (delayed a few weeks because of my trip to Portland). The doc again said that he saw no reason that I should have this irritation and that everything looked good to him.
The doctor-patient relationship is a hard one! On one hand I like that he is really positive and acts like none of this is a big deal at all. On the other hand I detest that he acts like none of this is a big deal!
I experienced a lot of anxiety leading up to that appointment. I suppose I feel a little better knowing that the daily discomfort isn’t a symptom of anything scary but at the same time it’s a constant reminder that my organs aren’t perfect and I had my reproductive parts scraped with an electric wire.
At this point the best thing for me is to be grounded and satisfied with my choice to have the LEEP but it was a really hard decision. It is not my place to give medical advice to anyone else but I hope that by sharing my experience I can help encourage women in a similar situation to do their homework before making a decision. The LEEP, for me, was a very painful procedure that took over a month to recover from the most noticeable side effects and I am still waiting for this nagging discomfort to dissipate, not to mention that my cervix will, literally, be forever scarred.
If you’ve had a LEEP, cone, or cryotherepy I would really appreciate hearing about your experience!