MOL women: resolved, thanks.

Not Emergency Room level, thank goodness! Still, it's highly inconvenient and I'm hoping someone might have some suggestions. 

This has never happened to me before, so it's a little funny. Had a Pap sample taken today, by my experienced GP. She's usually good, but today skin's been torn where it's never been torn before.   Very painful especially at certain times of the day

Any ideas on how to speed healing or stop the stinging/burning?

Thanks!!   

Witch Hazel? It doesn't sting either. 

I'd probably call the doctor's office first and ask what the doctor recommends, but I might also try some of the soothing ointments for babies' diaper areas - not the zinc-based ones as much as the gentle ones that coat the area to minimize irritation from urine. But I would definitely let the doctor know about this. No reason for you to be in pain after a procedure like this.

True. Pap smears are usually uneventful

we knew it happened as it happened, and she was so upset - my cervix is unusually deep, and I'm unusually sensitive. This year is worse than it's ever been. (Not a bad trot, considering I'm not young)

The baby lotions are a great idea, thanks! 

If it's external, cortisone cream or ointment works very well and is prescribed for it.

coconut oil. If you're not allergic. It's soothing and anti bacterial. 

marylago said:

If it's external, cortisone cream or ointment works very well and is prescribed for it.

Be very careful with a cortisone cream. Excessive use risks breakdown of the skin/tissue. Personally, the only advice I'd follow would be the advice of your MD or his/her nurse (no offense to MOL women). And, yes, I'd call them after hours for this. The sooner, the better.

cubby, it's not that kind of issue. Truly. Already much better than yesterday's discomfort (I'm ahead of you in time).

Thank you so much everyone! This isn't due to practitioner neglect: to be indelicate, there's a possibility I'll tear as the speculum opens, due to a genetic skin condition. Plus actually reaching the cervix was difficult. As I mentioned before it's never been as bad as this in over 50-odd years of exams, and this is probably nothing compared to women who've been had babies. 

At the risk of TMI (already gone there, right?), my doctor told me I have a "textbook cervix." Lol!

joanne said:

and this is probably nothing compared to women who've been had babies. 

I know it's resolved, but something you said made me think back to when I had my kids.  I didn't use creams or anything, the hospital sent me home with dermoplast for pain and irritation and also a peri bottle to clean the area off so that less wiping was needed. 

Hopefully this is a one time event, but if it happens again these might help.

I actually already had some medicated baby wipes that I'd recently needed for other reasons, so was using those instead of toilet tissue (since we're going into the TMI areas ). And I suspect the fact that my very knowledgeable family doctor who also specialises in women's health didn't recommend anything, but she had for something else, tells me she figured this was no more than an awkward paper cut. 

I've previously used a baby zinc/castor barrier cream for stopping heavy perspiration creating cracks in my skin in very awkward, and painful, places. Just makes me feel ikky and sticky. But it wouldn't have been as effective here even if I still had some. 

I'm very grateful that my skin is as intact as it is. I empathise with women who have serious ichthyoses, psoriasis, eczema, neurofibromas etc. People never think of these conditions affecting non-visible areas of our bodies.

"Awkward paper cut." Yikes!