anyone had a vulval biopsy? Really scared

[kjd]

Hi

I suffer with vulvodyina and my doctor has decided he wants to do a vulval biopsy under local anesthetic. I didnt really say anything to him but when I got home I realised I was really nervous and dont know what to expect.

can anyone please give me some advise as I am in tears here and so terrified.

thanks all x

[jen74]

I had 4 biopsies taken of my vulva. They did it while I was sedated though after they did my cystoscopy. I believe they will give you a shot to numb you and you wont feel a thing. As far as afterwards, it is not so bad. It just will be sore down there for a few days.
Jen

[kjd]

did he leave a huge hole? Dont mean to sound so horrible but I dont have a clue how much skin they will take from me.
How much did they take from you and how long did it take to heal?

sorry to ask so many questions but getting my self so upset and worried I will scare down there and leave me with a huge hole which my boyfriend will find disgusting.

thanks so much

[ihurttoo]

I have had vulvur biopsies too. Mine were done during my vulvar vestibulectomy. I am not sure what size sample they biopsied, since I had several places removed during the surgery. But, I also had several stitches down there, so there were no gaping holes or anything. The stitches disolved in a few weeks, and you'd never notice those places.

My surgery was done under general anesthesia. So, I cant tell you really much about how it would go under local. But, I have had a lump removed from my breast and they just used local for that. I was seriously worked up before that, and terrified, but it truly wasnt bad at all. Hopefully, the biopsy will be the same for you.

I wish I could be of more help. Hopefully, someone that has had it done under local will write and tell you about her experiance.

Hope things go well for you!

Hugs,
Amy

[Briza]

Hi K
I had one with just local anesthesia. It wasn't fun, being awake for it. The shots hurt a lot. I wasn't prepared for how bad it was going to hurt, I wish I had known and would have had someone take me to the appt. and drive me home and wish I had planned for a few days off from work because it hurt a lot to sit and walk. Took a long painful time to heal and only showed what we already knew, that I had a lot of inflammation in the area. I did not show my boyfriend. When I got the nerve to look at it myself with a mirror, it wasn't pretty. It did not leave a hole when it finally healed but a small knot of scar tissue (not visible, but I can feel it, esp. during sex) that still sometimes is sensitive and easily irritated, and I had the biopsy done 3 or 4 years ago. I wish I hadn't had it done and wouldn't do it again. It can rule out cancer, but it doesn't diagnose vulvodynia. I knew I had vulvodynia, but couldn't find a dr to admit to it and treat it. I was naive about it all (the biopsy) but didn't know what else to do when the dr said I needed to have it done. And I still didn't get any sort of treatment afterwards. This was during the beginning of my dx process when the drs were saying it was all in my head, and for the drs I was seeing at the time, the results just confirmed to them that it WAS all in my head. If I could turn back time I would have continued on my dr search until I received dx and treatment. And my vulvodynia and VV did finally get dxd and with time and treatment have gotten much better. Sorry for the bad report, but that was my experience. Is there some particular reason that your dr wants to do it, since I'm guessing you've already been dxd with vulvodynia? I especially wouldn't have it done while in a flare.

[kjd]

Oh god now I am worried! Well he said he wanted to do it as I have a lot of itching....is a biopsy the norm???

I am so scared and worried and dont know what to do. The doctor didnt give me any info so I assumed it wasnt a big deal at all. When you say you feel is during sex what do you mean? Do you mean you can feel the scar and that it causes pain?

Was it a huge cut? I guess they would be looking for any skin allergies etc for me?

anybody have any good experiences or not too bad?
x

[Zygala87]

I don't understand. Why does a Doctor do a biopsy. Are they looking for cancer? If we for sure have IC they must know what is wrong already. I know there is much I have to learn. Kjd if you decide not to have this done maybe you could ask the Doctor if there is another test as this is not something you are comfortable about at all. I always let my Doctors think I am cooperating with them but in the end I decide what will be done to my body. It's mine. Wishing you the best. Ziggy

[kjd]

Hi Ziggy
My doc said it was just to check for allagies and skin problems. Didnt say anything about cancer.

What do you suffer with Ziggy? do you have vuvodyina? Have you had a biopsy.

thanks for all your help and support ladies
x

[turnaround]

Hi-I had a vuval biopsy done on three places. It was done under a local. Not going to lie to you, the shot did sting, but it wasn't unbearable. She took a little scrape from three areas. She gave me a salve to put on afterwards. It was definitely sore, but no holes, just like scrapes.

I got mine done to rule out vulvar cancer. It turned out I have Lichens Sclederma, yet another auto-immune disease.

I figure I'd rather have biopsies and be safe.

It hurt, but no worse than anything else we have to go through. Next time I would have taken a pain pill first, and an ibprophen right after to minimize swelling.
Good luck!

[ihurttoo]

My Dr. told me the biopsy was to check for cancer. I dont know if they checked for other things too or not. But, in my case, they were already removing the tissue, so it wasnt a big deal to go ahead and send it to pathology.

[Briza]

Mine was a small chunk of tissue that was cut out, and did require stitches. Took the dr plus 2 nurses to keep me on the table.

Me, personally, yeah, I did it only because he said it would rule out cancer. But like you, I didn't question anything, didn't ask about the procedure, just figured if it was going to be any big deal he would have said so.

Well, it turned out it was a big deal, for ME. And every doctor I've seen (for IC vulovodynia, and VV) since I left that one in the dust, when I've told them I had a vulvar biopsy, has grimaced and asked "WHY?"

I've posted about this before, if you do a search of this site you'll find more posts about this...most women got the same dx they already had: inflammation, possibly mast cells (allergies), too, but not specifically what you're allergic to. I'm sure it's got it's place, but just because something is burning, why do they always have to cut into it? :confused:

That I can still feel it?...I can actually feel the knot with my finger, and I feel it when it becomes irritated.

[kadi]

Mine was not a big deal. Not fun & a little sore for a few days, but no big deal.
No anesthetic, like a small hole punch of my skin. She said it was to check for lichen sclerosis. (which I didn't have)

Frankly, I think the doctor did it to collect a $150 "surgery" fee. She didn't take insurance, so I had to pay the whole thing on top of the office visit fee, which was several hundred dollars. I went to see my regular gynecologist 2 days later & she said she had no idea why that doctor did it.

I'm a big fan now of second opinions...

[Briza]

Mine was not a big deal. Not fun & a little sore for a few days, but no big deal.
No anesthetic, like a small hole punch of my skin. She said it was to check for lichen sclerosis. (which I didn't have)

Frankly, I think the doctor did it to collect a $150 "surgery" fee. She didn't take insurance, so I had to pay the whole thing on top of the office visit fee, which was several hundred dollars. I went to see my regular gynecologist 2 days later & she said she had no idea why that doctor did it.

I'm a big fan now of second opinions...

Kadi, thanks for adding that about the surgery fee. Mine was over $500 (hadn't met my deductible). I feel the same about the dr who did my biopsy. But I've already scared the heck out of KJD (I'm sorry!:grouphug:) so I didn't want to mention that,too, but after all the stuff I've had done to me, I feel it's important to know possible outcomes that the dr never seems to mention. And to get second opinions. Mine didn't say it was to check for lichen sclerosis, said that the symptoms I had would be different (visible) if that is what I had.
I'm glad you're able to give a better report on how it went for you, even if it wasn't a necessary procedure.

[icbop]

I had he dcone done about three weeks ago, but I was under general anesthesia and since Iw as going to be under general anyway, he did a cysto/hydro. Like others, all it showed was inflammation -- duh!

But, I was glad there was no cancer.

As far as the healing goes, the biospy part was not bad (the cysto on the other hand, I would never repeat).

I did have a stitch or two but I already can not feel where is was, except for an occasional deep itch where it's still probably healing a bit.

I took nothing but ibuprofin and prosed afterwards, and I still was able to care for my 18 mont old little guy the next day.

As far as local v general my doctor asked me if I thought I could handle doing it while awake, given how much inflammation I had. I said I did not think I could do it, and he respected that. One reason he wanted to do a local though, was that there was no issues with scheduling as it could be done in-office. I figured I'd rather wait. After all, I've lived with this pain for years.

On another note, I'm flying to NYC to see Dr. Glazer and a Dr. Ledger. My ins. will only cover 70%, but at this point I'm willing to fly wherever and put the rest on cc. Evidently, Dr. Ledger has seen that a lot of women with VV (which for me is just an extension of the IC that is only manifested by urethral pain) have a genetic variation that either causes inflammation or makes it difficult to treat.

Of course, even if I find out I HAVE this variant, I'm not sure what they will do. I'll post about the experience though. I hope at least that the biofeedback helps me copre with the pain.

[kjd]

what are the symtoms of vulval cancer? My doctor didnt mention this.

If steriod creams help me does that mean that is more than likely to be a skin problem?
My doctor didnt say anything about taking a scrape but an actual punch biopsy which leaves you with a hole the size of a pea.

Ouch x

[kjd]

Hi Briza

thanks for sharing your storey and I must say it sounds terrible. Well I totally agree with you. Any other doctor I have mentioned about biopsys have looked at me as if I was crazy and others have told me its not necessary as vulval cancer under the age of 40 is practically none existant (I'm 24) so guess I have mixed feelings bout this.

thanks again x

[humpieumpumkin]

My mom had one, local only. She said that the novacane stung(about 3 on pain scale) but not bad. After that she didn't feel a thing. She said a pap was worse. She had 1 stitch and it dissolved in a little over a week. She had no pain after, although some mild itching(she thinks it was due to the healing process.) Her insurace completely covered it. She does not have IC though, but has terrible endometriosis class 4 or something, I don;t know exactly since I dont have it myself. You will be fine!!!

Erika:hi:

[icbop]

I don't know the symptoms, but it is VERY rare and quite treatable. [I] do think you'd see it


I think I had a punch too--but as I said, I can no longer be sure where it was, so he mst have stitched me up quite competently.

I think with a biospy they check for lichen sclerosis, lichen planus, bacteria, and yeast. Evidently some people can have yeast that can sort of hide under the skin and one needs to biopsy for it to see if it grows.

It was very scary for me to do this too -- hence the need for general anesthesia. My doctor said "if you are going to crwal up the table" because of the pain I was in bc I was so inflamed, "we should not do it while you are awake."

You may wish to think about having general anesthesia if you are sscared. Or, if steroid creams really help you a lot (they don't help me much) you may decide it's not worth it for you to do this. My nurse practitioner who works with the doctor thought it would be wise to wait until after 2 months of steroid cream, to see if it helped. I did not want to do this, as I thought they might be able to have a better dea of what was going on if they saw it in its flared condition.

Now, of course, I wish I had waited, but not bc of the pain. It is just that its frustrating to be told that all they could see was inflammation. That was visible to the naked eye! I wish they could know a little more about what one can do about the inflammation.

Best of luck to you!

Best of luck!


what are the symtoms of vulval cancer? My doctor didnt mention this.

If steriod creams help me does that mean that is more than likely to be a skin problem?
My doctor didnt say anything about taking a scrape but an actual punch biopsy which leaves you with a hole the size of a pea.

Ouch x

[cindydi]

I recently had a biopsy done to rule out skin problmes. I am now going through the healing process. I had one stitch put in. Make sure you ask your doc about pain medicine prior to the procedure. I had a bad experience because my doc did not do the procedure it was a new MD. I am now waiting for my results.
You can personal mail me if you'd like. It sounds like were going through the same things. My doctor also did not mention cancer. I have alot of swelling and some sores. Not just itching. He did say I have vestibulitis.

Hope this helps.

Cindy