Stopping an Exam

This question is for the ladies. Do you ever feel the need to have your doctor stop or take a small break during exam? If so, what do you say? Does the doctor comply or simply say “almost done”?

Sometimes a pause can do more harm than good. It makes the procedures longer and puts more stress on the patient than just finishing the process. In some cases stopping isn’t even an option. It’s not like you can just tell the baby being delivered to slow down or give mom a break.

During my initial endometrial biopsy last week, I had a panic attack in the stirrups, speculum insert, tenaculum gripping my cervix and a dilator in my cervix. He immediately pulled the dilator out and in my panic I tried to get out of the stirrups…speculum and tenaculum still inside…him and his nurse got me back in position and he quickly removed both, pulled out the leg extension and moved my feet from the stirrups to the extension and they covered me in blankets. Once my panic attack eased he told me to come back tomorrow and he sent me home with cytotec to help soften/open my cervix and a script for Valium to take before the procedure.

I never have but there have been a few times I probably should have. An endometrial biopsy comes to mind just like the prior poster. I wish I had made her stop and then found another doctor but I powered through. Possibly the most unpleasant/painful medical experience I’ve ever had and I’ve had multiple orthopedic procedures and birthed 3 kids.

Why they don’t use sedation for that procedure is criminal.