I had cold coagulation rather than the leep, but I just wanted to say I’ve had something sort of similar - maybe not exactly the same, but kinda in the ballpark, and I actually rang the Jo’s Trust helpline as I thought it would be quicker than trying to arrange for a phone appointment with my GP.
I wasn’t deeply worried, but I just wanted some reassurance and I was basically told that everyone is different so there’s literally no right or wrong or exact timeframe for the healing process - unless the bleeding is really excessive or there are signs of infection.
I had nothing for a couple of days (make sense as cold coagulation cauterises), then the clear discharge started. Then things get hard to know what was going on - I started bleeding, but my period was due four or so days later, so either it upset my cycle (apparently common) and it came early, or it’s just part of the healing process (also possible). I’m leaning towards it being my period because it was heavy - heavier than normal for me.
But then it stopped after just a couple of days and I didn’t know what to think. But a day or so later, I was bleeding again and I’ve bled ever since (a full week now when my period would normally only be four days max and that’s not counting the two heavy days at the start), albeit sometimes just spotting. It has become more like end of period blood, sometimes dark/rusty, but a couple of times when I’ve thought it was ending, I’ve had like a small “gush”, although I suspect it’s actually the discharge and just tinged with blood.
The Jo’s Trust expert basically told me that a period affects the healing because it disturbs the area, and then the period can be affected just because of the upheaval of it all - the physical treatment and the stress of it all.
I thought I’d get off lighter because I had cold coagulation instead of leep, and maybe in terms of amount of discharge/bleeding I have a little as apart from the first two days, I could have got away with one pad all day if I wasn’t changing them just for hygiene. But that aside, it seems the healing process is actually broadly similar.
I kinda wish the guidance for afterwards was a little more accurate though - I understand everyone is different, but I feel like it was downplayed to me which is why I’ve been very impatient to still have no sign of it all clearing up. The only thing I was actually told at the hospital was no sex for two or three weeks - well, it’s been three weeks and I can assure you there will still be no sex lol. The rest - no baths, swimming, or heavy exercise - I saw online mostly seeming to refer to after leep, but followed it anyway as it made sense and it estimated up to four weeks, but that also seems to be conservative given the common reality. The Jo’s Trust expert said it could be six weeks or longer - I’d rather have known that upfront than worry things are dragging on longer than they should. Plus, just mentally I’d be more prepared for the long haul - it looks like I’m going to miss out on fully enjoying my first ever holiday with my bf which, given that I’ve hated having to put all this on him in a new relationship, really sucks.
