Sciatica AND Pap smear questions

[erinmck32]

Hi Ladies,

I have two separate questions for you.

1. I just had my routine pap smear yesterday, and the nurse said it would cause some spotting. It did, and I am still bleeding today, although less than yesterday. Has anyone else had a pap smear while pregnant, and if so, how much blood should there be? (Everything was totally fine with the ultrasound.)

2. I have been experiencing tingling feelings in my left thigh at night when I'm dozing off, or trying to. But let me back up ... a week ago I fell down flat forward out of sheer clumsiness. It didn't hurt AT ALL. But almost immediately my left leg swelled up, right under the knee, and it swelled a lot. I have never had any problems with swelling, anywhere. I iced it, and the swelling went down. It hurt quite a bit after that, and some odd, spotty bruises formed in a large area on my leg. The bottom half of my leg still gets really crampy when I try to lie on my left side. I really can't put that kind of pressure on it. I can't remember for certain, but I'd say I started experiencing the hip tingling at right around the same time as the day I fell. Anyway, the only reason I'm writing about this here is because I've read about your sciatic nerve being pinched by the fullness in the pelvis during pregnancy. Sorry for all the details, but has anyone else had anything like this happen??

[erinmck32]

Thanks, Everyone! Your responses are definitely reassuring.

The bleeding has tapered off.

And as for the leg thing ... I'll probably wait another day, and then give the doc a call if I'm still having pain. Seems like it's getting better, but the thought of possible clotting is scary!

Stay well!!

[slzerbst]

I agree with Nic about a pap smear bleeding lasting around two days after the event.

About the siatica problem, I know for sure that I have a probable right now, right leg kills me when I have to be on my feet for a long amount of time, the pain runs from my right lower hip in the back down to a little above my knee on the back side.  This is how you will know.  Now I have pinched this nerver before, that is why I know for sure the feeling.

Though I have never had the swelling that goes along with the pain, so that might be different than a pinched nerve and possible something that you need to speek with a doctor about.  Any who I hope this helps a little bit.

[NicMom]

I had a pap done at 8 weeks and I had spotting for two days. It's normal. They scrape your cervix with a little like pipe cleaner and it breaks the blood vessels. It's not from inside your uterus it's the outside of the cervix bleeding and should stop after the second day.

Funny I just read your second question... My right leg has been swelling and hurts mostly when it lay down or put it up. The worst is at night. When I was in the er yesterday they did an ultrasound to rule out blood clots and they ended up saying it's a nerve problem. The suggestion was for me to stretch more and maybe lose a few pounds. Also be sure to get up at least once an hour and move around.

Hope this helps.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Well, I have heard of spotting after a pap when pregnant, but it has never happened to me personally.  So, I don't know how long it should last, but I wouldn't think it should last for long.  I would def call your doc on both issues.  I just fell a couple of nights ago.  I was pretty certain that I didn't hurt my baby, but I called the on call number just to help reassure me.

With all of these symptoms, I would def call your doc about all of it.  With your leg...it could be a number of things, but I would want to rule out any type of blood clots or anything like that.  Be careful and keep us posted.