Hi Everyone,
I've posted on here quite a few times since I had LLETZ, back on Feb 1st, but it's finally been 4 weeks and I wanted to share my recovery experience. I hope this helps and reassures any current or future post LLETZ people wondering what to expect. Sorry it's such a long post and feel free to ask any questions.
Days 1-10
On the day of the LLETZ I came away with very mild cramping and just a bit of spotting which continued for 3 more days, only ever needing a panty liner. For days 5-10 I just had liquidy discharge with occasional black bits in it (from the silver nitrate) and no blood at all. I also used panty liners in this time just in case I bled again but also because the discharge was quite heavy, very liquidy, and pungent.
Days 11-15: First Period Post LLETZ (Technically a withdrawal bleed from my usual contraceptive pill cycle)
On the 11th day, I started to have some spotting in the evening which was expected as I was due my period on the following day. I did start my period on day 12 and, usually, the first 2 ish days are my really heavy days (when using a cup I can bleed up to 30mls in 24 hours, average is 35mls for the whole period!) but surprisingly they were relatively light, only needing normal pads and only changing because of long wear rather than becoming fully used, so only about 2 or 3 normal pads a day.
The period itself only lasted 4 days with the same amount of bleeding for each day. Usually, I bleed for 5 days - 2 heavy, 2 regular, 1 light.
Day 16-25
From when my period stopped (day 16), I continued to get spotting everyday for 10 days. It varied from a pinky red to a brown red and slowly got less and less each day. The doctor told me that most women experience bleeding about two weeks after LLETZ so this combined with my period could be a why I had spotting after my period and for so long.
Day 26-28
These last few days were on and off very light spotting which only consisted of a brown discharge but I would still wear a panty liner. On day 26 I actually stopped spotting for a whole day!
Day 29 - this post
So, since day 29 post LLETZ I have since stopped spotting and there is no longer the brown discharge. This has only been for 3 days so far but I feel that my body is healed now and hopefully I will have no issues with any further bleeding or spotting.
Summary:
Overall, I don't think my recovery was that bad at all and it did take the 4 weeks suggested time that the doctor said. I think next time I would take extra pills to avoid having my period during the recovery time so my body can heal quicker. I also received my results at the 4 week mark, again the time the doctor said it would take.
Extra thoughts:
- I found it quite hard to judge how heavy or light my period was as I used Tampons for most of my life and a menstrual cup for the last 2 years. It was also just annoyingly uncomfortable.
- My period during my recovery was definitely more painful regarding cramps and I experienced more trapped wind than usual. Even after my period this bloatedness continued for another week.
- Maybe the heavy periods I was experiencing before could have been cause by the abnormal cells? I look forward to my next period to test this theory.
- Ask the Expert on this website, after contacting them, mentioned that having a period during the recovery can delay the healing process.
That's all folks
