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Biopsy needed

Posted , 11 users are following.

sarah11452
sarah11452

I now have a date for a vulval biopsy as the specialist thinks it may be LS. There is a white patch there - which amazed me because two GPs told me that there were no white patches.

Anyway I need to have this biopsy done mid July - my GP told me that if it does show LS then in all likelihood they would want to remove the white patch (vulval surgery scares me to bits!).  He said the steriod creams are not much good and they prefer to take the bit away in the hope that it will remove the risk of cancer developing.  I am left wondering a) how painful is that op, has anyone had it done? It will be under a local anaesthetic I think. and b) would LS come back and I need to have it all done again?

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70 Replies

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  • honeyduck74
    honeyduck74 sarah11452

    Posted

    Hi Sarah,

    Just wanted to say I had a biopsy this time last year, and whilst uncomfortable, it was no where near as awful as I imagined, if you can, call them and get some numbing cream for before your appointment, it needs to be on your skin at least 30 minutes before it really starts to work, that really helped me a lot.

    Hope it goes ok for you

    Rachel :-)

    • sarah11452
      sarah11452 honeyduck74

      Posted

      Thanks Rachel! I hope they'll be using some local anaesthetic though.
  • honeyduck74
    honeyduck74 sarah11452

    Posted

    Hi,

    yes they will use a numbing cream (probably lidocaine) before the injection, but i got myself in such a state 2 weeks before I made a call to speak to the doctor who was carrying out the op, she calmed my fears slightly and thats when she suggested coming in and collecting a small tube of numbing cream prior to the op so I could be fully numb when i arrived, they do put numbing cream on prior to the biopsy but its only left for 10 mins or so, so may not feel completely numb before they inject anaesthetic.

    Hope that all makes sense :-) am actually off for my 6 monthly check today with my LS specialist - although am reporting back with another failed smear test :-( will try again in a few months

    Wishing you lots of luck

    Rachel :-)

    • ChrissyC
      ChrissyC honeyduck74

      Posted

      Oh Rachel best of luck today AND with the smear stuff. DO let us know, just out of concern for you x
    • honeyduck74
      honeyduck74 sarah11452

      Posted

      Hi Sarah & Chrissy,

      |Just to give you an update, my appoinment was kind of proactive, the doctor has increased my steroid cream usage to every day for a month, to work on white patches.

      They are referring me to a surgeon to have a chat about a possible operation where they cut the skin a bit to release it (shudder) :-O so have agreed to discuss it

      and they are also sending me to a physiotherapist to see if they can stretch my tight pelvic muscles - i think part of my problem is now mental as well as physical, so i am not allowing my body to release the muscles

      So lets see if this helps :-)

      Hope you are both well

      Rachel x

    • ChrissyC
      ChrissyC honeyduck74

      Posted

      So when you mentioned a failed smear test you didn't mean failed as in the results from it but to actually complete the test? ! I think I misunderstood. I completely understand the mental problems around having a smear though. This can happen for people even without the added problems of LS sufferers. The first time I had a smear post LS diagnosis I mentioned it and they went straight off to find the smallest speculum they could find, and were just very understanding which helped in relaxing. But goodness everyone experienced on here advocates keeping away from anything surgical. Have you considered dilation, starting off very small indeed? Hugs to you, you sound like you need them! Xx
    • honeyduck74
      honeyduck74 ChrissyC

      Posted

      Sorry, I didn't really explain myself LOL I used to be fine with smear tests, uncomfortable yes, but manageable, its been the last 6 years that the problems have got worse, they cant even use the smallest speculum either??? I had a laparoscopy 2 years ago, and whilst I was under the anaesthetic they decided to do a smear, I woke up in agony, and since then the pain is constant :-( I am perservering with dilation, but its so frustrating, also it's finding the time (i have a very busy life, with 2 jobs and a family to look after) I have had a chat with myself that I need to make the time, more time to relax and hopefully get somewhere with dilation.

      Hmmm I am relunctantly going to talk to the person about surgery, but i'm already dead set against it! :-O

      Do you know if anyone that has had surgery to help with their LS, shrinking etc?

      Thanks for the hugs :-) much appreciated

      Rachel xx

    • ChrissyC
      ChrissyC honeyduck74

      Posted

      Ah bless you, you sound like you are really going through the mill and also like you are trying all that you possibly can. I only know of Hanny who went into hospital (not actually a surgical procedure now I think of it) to have dilation begun under (I think) general anaesthetic. I've read her stuff lots of times and yet now it comes to it I'm not sure exactly what was involved so don't take my word for it. Why don't you start a new thread asking just that question to attract relevant people as they might miss it in the middle of this current thread. X
    • rosemary82613
      rosemary82613 honeyduck74

      Posted

      I don't understand that LS can be cut out, you need to do more research it could cause you more (worse) problems

    • caroline16811
      caroline16811 honeyduck74

      Posted

      Re surgery for shrinkage -there seems to be a mixed result of the few I've read . Some it has helped others have had worse problems with scarring or just reoccurred again.

      I had an excruciating smear test in January I was in tears and I have a very high pain threshold so I started dilation in Feb, (every day initially which was painful at first but by the end of the week was greatly improved . I now use the biggest dilator a few times a week for 15mins each session . I was so relieved and happy when I went for my annual check up at the hospital and had NO discomfort at all !

      With a busy life I appreciate its a bind finding time and you do have to get into a relaxed state of mind which needs peace and privacy but I can give you hope that it DOES work if you can manage to find the time to do it regularly. Good luck. Let us know what you decide re surgery and how you get on.

    • caroline16811
      caroline16811

      Posted

      Also, when you can feel the improvement and can go up to next size dilator etc you are not so nervous of it being painful and you are naturally more relaxed, you don't have to WORK at relaxing your muscles if you know what I mean

  • ChrissyC
    ChrissyC sarah11452

    Posted

    Ooh Sarah, Honeyduck is on to something there! As I said to you in your other thread having the anasthetic itself was the worst part for me although I didn't really want to say too much. I'm sure they did try to numb the injection site prior to doing it but it definitely wasn't on for anywhere near 30 mins. If you can do as Honeyduck suggests I reckon that would sort it! All the best x
  • ChrissyC
    ChrissyC sarah11452

    Posted

    I thought I'd just sent you a message Sarah but there's no sign of it so I'll try again. Apologies if it comes through twice. I think Rachel is definitely on to something. I told you in your other thread that the anaesthetic had been the worst part of the whole process for me. I hadn't wanted to say too much but it really was. I'm not actually sure if they attempted to numb the area first but if they did it certainly wasn't on for anywhere near 30 minutes. So if you can do as Rachel suggests and make sure the area is properly numb first I reckon that should sort it. All the best x
    • ChrissyC
      ChrissyC

      Posted

      So there you go I'm over on page 2 so that explains it. Honestly, what am I like?!
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