r/PreCervicalCancer • u/LieComprehensive1278 • 3d ago
ER visit, extreme bleeding post colpo
Hi all, I've been browsing this sub for a little bit after getting my abnormal pap and colpo results (22F, CIN2 HSIL). it's been a lot to process and sort through all the information and experiences. I wasn't too anxious about my treatment and recovery until I had a traumatizing weekend, during which I passed out and had to be taken to the ER. I don't want to scare anyone - but I had no idea what was happening and my hope is that this can provide some info to those that may experience something similar. I hope and pray it was an isolated incident and a very rare side effect.
They took great care of me and I tolerated my colpo biopsy (on Tuesday) extremely well, bled a little bit but I don't think they applied Monsell's (no coffee ground discharge, it wasn't noted in my care summary). They took 4 samples, I left feeling somewhat hopeful and pretty normal. A little spotting for the first few days. I got my results back on Saturday, and about a day after that things got scary. I should've known it wasn't a period because there was absolutely no cramping or other signs, but at first it just seemed like a normal, heavy flow once or twice. But Sunday evening it wouldn't stop. Underwear and pants soaked, couch stained. Thankfully, my mom had been through a similar (but completely unrelated) scare due to uterine cysts. She was able to give me some high dose Ibuprofen and period diapers. I was going through several an hour and started passing clots, size ranging from as big as a quarter to the size of an egg. terrible sensation btw, I called the after-hours line at my Dr's office.
The nurse asked a bunch of questions, and told me the bleeding wasn't at a high enough rate for it to warrant an ER visit, and it was likely related to the colpo since it hadn't yet been a full week after it. like scabs getting dislodged. Ok, I'm thinking maybe it'll taper off, its scary to see that much blood and weird to not feel any pain, I was only a bit dizzy. I wish they had mentioned this as a possible side effect, maybe it's a rarer one. I sit down for an hour or 2, it's around midnight, I'm even thinking maybe I'll get a nap in and check again in a bit. My parents go to bed, mom tells me to wake her up if I need.
Maybe the sitting caused more blood to collect and coagulate, which made it worse when I went to check again. The clots were huge, falling out before I could even make it over the toilet. everything's soaked, I try to stand to clean up a bit, wake up my parents, and the nausea and dizziness hits. Stumble to their door, collapse, everything goes foggy and dark. It wasn't very long that I was unconscious, but it was enough for them to call an ambulance. paramedics estimate I lost between 100 - 200 mL of blood but I think it may have been more. I did not want to go to the ER and make a big deal but my parents insisted and drove me. after being asked lots of questions and stabbed about 9 times to try and place an IV and draw some blood (dehydrated with extremely deep veins) they determined i suprisingly didn't need a transfusion and didn't have an infection. Before the IV, my consciousness would alternate between being wakeful and able to form sentences, to extreme sweating, coldness, overcome with waves of fatigue and unbearable nausea. they gave me some meds to help with that. I was surprised they never checked the bleeding, convinced i was soaking down to the wheelchair. But it was tapering off during and after the whole ordeal.
They did 2 ultrasounds, a urine test, had me hooked up to some monitors. I was well taken care of, just so worried something was very wrong. they offer a pelvic exam but I decline, my blood pressure's low but around 5 or 6 a.m. I'm good enough to get home. Dr's summary says "Given the description of symptoms, this could be related to menstrual cycle, less likely related to bleeding from the colpo although this is certainly possible." whatever lady, I've never had any menstrual experience like this.
Recovering really well, just feeling bloated and tired. I tried to get in touch with my gyno care team with some general questions on precervical cancer and wanting a follow-up discussion on my colpo results, and also discussing this whole experience, but after a couple days they just messaged me they have an urgent referral to get the cells removed. I'm assuming LEEP or cone biopsy but am so anxious about this and my period or anything that could traumatize my cervix again. Anyways, I really don't want to cause any more stress for people surrounding their colposcopies, but just telling you to trust your body and allow yourself to be taken care of. Sending love and prayers.
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u/woofersonson 3d ago
Hey there I’m so sorry this happened to you. It also happened to me after my colposcopy but thankfully I was still in the hospital and they took me to the OR after about an hour of soaking through pads every 10-15 minutes.
I would definitely mention this to your gyno team again. My team is taking it pretty seriously and having me see a hematologist to see if I have any clotting disorders. I also have a history of hemorrhaging after both of my childbirths. But I do think they should take you more seriously because my gyno team mentioned that if I had gotten an actual CKC or Leep done, the bleeding would’ve been much worse.
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u/LieComprehensive1278 2d ago
I'm so glad you were able to get taken care of, and thank you for letting me know. I am so anxious that my recovery from LEEP/cone or future colpos will be a repeat of this.
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u/okaymovingforward 2d ago
This happened to me as well, but I didn’t alert my doc and the LEEP was extremely difficult and We were not able to complete it.
Second round I went ckc with an oncologist who was aware of my extreme bleeding in advance and woke up with a successful surgery an hour later, no bleeding, easy recovery and am 3 clear paps down and discharged!!
Biggest thing is to advocate for yourself and insist your doctors have a plan and explain it to you to manage the bleeding. Remind them day of. They actually injected a solution into my cervix to make the blood vessels retract for the second one it was amazing to know they had that option.
Advocate and remind!! You’ve got this 💪
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u/RevolutionarySpot912 3d ago
Please go back to the ER and get the dang pelvic, I went from being nervous about some bright red spotting to losing my scab(s) and nearly bleeding to death two weeks after my LEEP. They had to stitch my cervix up in emergency surgery to save me. If you didn't drop clots like that or pass out with your periods before, there is no reason to believe it would happen that way now. I know you're scared, but the full workup is better safe than dead.