abnormal pap

[xkiller-cupcake.livejournal.com]

so i went for my annual pap and it came back abnormal for the first time, and i am slightly terrified. I know it doesnt automatically mean cancer, but i am still nervous, and i also heard the procedure which i cant even pronounce, let alone spell, is very painful.
anyone go through this before and have any advice/words of encouragement?
thanks!

Comments

[kayeyem.livejournal.com]

Colposcopy?

If that's the case it's not overly painful. Uncomfortable, yes, but very little pain.


And yes, I've been through it--along with Cryotherapy (freezing the cervix/tissue to kill off the abnormal cells). It is terrifying...I remember feeling really on edge and worried. I dragged one of my best friends with me to the appointment. She held my hand while I went through it, and she said I did get a little pale suddenly with one of the biopsy "pinches" (I couldn't feel them, per se, but I knew they were happening, but other than that you couldn't tell. I did spot for 2-3 days after, but it really wasn't terrible.

::hugs::

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Not only does it not automatically mean cancer - the chances are EXTREMELY EXTREMELY high if it does NOT cancer. Cervical cancer takes MANY years to develop, and if you've had normal paps up until now (or really even if you haven't) it's really really unlikely that you would have cancerous cells. More likely they are slightly abnormal cells. Think of them as being like a mole. Yeah, sometimes docs like to cut off our moles because they could turn cancerous, but having a mole is not a OMGGGGG!!! situation.

Colposcopys are NOT extremely painful at least for the majority of people. I've had three, and wouldn't describe any of them as painful, actually. They felt weird, and in that sense were kind of uncomfortable, but nothing really like pain.

[cardinalghost.livejournal.com]

I had an abnormal pap last year, and the first thing the nurse told me was "don't freak yourself out!"... I had to go in for a colposcopy, which I think is what you are referring to. What my OBGYN did during this procedure was take some samples of the cells in my cervix via 3 biopsies. For me, it was uncomfortable (same way as a pap is) and a little painful (a few pinches), but it was over quickly and definitely nothing to be scared of. I had a little cramping the next day. The results came back that it was low grade dysplasia (mildly abnormal cells in the cervix), and the doc wanted to see me for a pap every 6 months instead of 1x/year just to keep an eye on things.

It's totally normal to feel anxious about the colposcopy, but try not to worry about it-- the procedure is a precaution more than anything. Hope this helps :)

[calculatorhater.livejournal.com]

I had the same experience as the poster above me. It was not very painful for me and I didn't have to get biopsies done. You may not have to either depending on what the gyno sees. I had the results come back as mildly abnormal cells and need to be monitored every six months. Being in the community BEFORE this all happened really helped me keep my cool about things.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

How did you get results back if you didn't have any biopsies taken? The biopsies are the thing they analyze to determine what type of changes there are.

[eunicemcgee.livejournal.com]

Maybe their pap yielded a result of ASCUS?

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Perhaps...but an ASCUS result doesn't generally require a colpo. And it sounded like she was talking about the results OF the colpo...and there wouldn't BE any results without a biopsy. Except maybe "normal." Anyway, I'm being picky and pedantic, and it really probably doesn't matter to the OP much...it's just confusing.

[demon-mistress.livejournal.com]

take a friend. i've never had a colposcopy, but i did hold my friend's hand while she had one done. she told me later that having someone in the room that was there solely for her comfort made it less stressful than it would have been otherwise.

[jesusnachos.livejournal.com]

did the doctor say you tested for hpv?

i just had my annual exam in january and also had my first abnormal pap. like you i was terrified when i got the phone message from the doctor saying to call back.. never good when the doctor calls, lol

he told me that after they got the abnormal cells they then tested the sample for hpv and it came back negative. he told me that he would only be concerned if i had hpv and told me to come back for another pap in 6 months. interestingly, i tested positive for hpv back in october 2009 so i guess my system finally suppressed it.

i sometimes wonder if gynos tend to often over do the procedures to get rid of the bad cells on women under 30? not to upset or offend but getting multiple LEEP/colposcopy/etc is sometimes unnecessary and can negatively impact ones chance of getting pregnant. if you had multiple abnormal paps plus hpv then obviously these procedures are necessary and life saving.

[soymakesyougay.livejournal.com]

I had a colposcopy yesterday. My second one in 5 years. They are waaayy more scary than painful, and they are VERY quick. It sucks, but just take some pain killers before you go in and give yourself the rest of the day to rest and you'll be fine.