HPV +

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

I just found out that I'm HPV+, I'm kind on the verge of craziness because I'm so scared. I feel so helpless. I've been researching like crazy but it just won't process in my mind. I had an abnormal pap smear a couple of months ago, I just had a follow up and they said I'm HPV+. I'm an emotional wreck. I'm scheduled to see an OBGYN for a colposcopy December so the anticipation is killing me. Any advice? Has anyone ever gone through this?

Anything will help, thanks.

Comments

[temptationwins.livejournal.com]

I was told I was HPV+ about 3 years ago. Not to frighten you, but my body still has not been able to suppress the infection. However, that's not typical so it's totally possible it will go dormant. You will always have it but it may not always be active.

That being said, I have had my fair share of colposcopies all showing spots of precancerous cells on my cervix. If she tells you that don't freak the fuck out. They can also go away or be removed if it gets worse.

I lost my insurance for a couple years so I hadn't been able to get my biopsies and I'm just not going back in for my next one in December.

The procedure itself isn't unbearably painful. It's just some pressure and discomfort.

If you have any questions you can certainly ask :)

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, it is always comforting knowing that I'm not alone..it is said that HPV is very common but regardless you know, no one wants this. I'm just scared, I try to think of the positive light thinking that our body will be able to get rid of it but it's so scary. I've been on an emotional rollercaster since I got the call from my doctor today. I keep thinking to myself how and why did it get to this?

[temptationwins.livejournal.com]

Don't beat yourself up over it too much. As long as you keep up with your appointments the risk is low and your life will be largely normal other than going to the gyn more often.

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

It's hard not to, but I'm sure everybody can relate when they find out things like this..I'm just glad that I got to find out this early.. it's crazy because I got the HPV vaccine, I had 2 shots but I didn't get the 3rd one cause my clinic stopped giving them and I just put if off. It's always the what ifs.

[archangelbeth]

Remember, the Gardasil vaccine only protects against 2 strains of cervical-cell-affecting HPV. Unless they culture and identify the strain you have, it's entirely possible that you simply have one of the other dozens-or-hundreds of strains that can cause the cervical cells to misbehave.

Try not to dwell -- stress hurts your immune system, and your immune system is what is most likely to smack the virus to the curb.

Luck!

[nickelshoe.livejournal.com]

Also, a recent study showed that 2 doses was still quite effective.

[dudewhatthefuuu.livejournal.com]

I was told I was HPV+ about 3 years ago as well and it had cleared itself up within a year. It's possible...don't freak out, OP. <3

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope it'll be the same case for me

[gryphonwing.livejournal.com]

Breathe!

HPV is really common. Most people who are sexually active have been exposed to it at some point. It's opportunistic and can spread by skin contact - the common cold of the genitals, I think Beth always says. :)

So while it's not something to feel good about having, it's also not a huge-scary-awful thing. There are different strains, some nastier than others. Hopefully someone who's had an abnormal pap (which I haven't) can chime in now and give you some reassurance on that end. :)

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

I'm trying, I really am. I try to find comfort that it IS common, but it doesn't help at all. I'm scare shitless (excuse my language) because it can lead to cervical cancer and no one wants that.. I'm trying to have crazy amount babies later on life, I feel having this is stripping away my chances..I know forgive me for being over dramatic.. Thank you so much it really has helped reading you guys responses to this and and this community alone.

[nickelshoe.livejournal.com]

If you do want to carry pregnancies to term, make sure you are very involved in your care. Treatments do carry risk of damaging your cervix. Obviously avoiding cancer is top priority in this case, but if a doctor is eager to treat aggressively when it could still clear on its own, you might seek a second opinion.

Best of luck.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Deep breaths. :) This probably will not turn out to be a big deal. I had a series of colposcopies following some abnormal paps and a positive HPV test...maybe 3 colpos total? With low grade, and then later high grade abnormalities. The high grade abnormalities, I had removed in a LEEP procedure. None of the procedures were terribly painful, although I was sore for a few days after the LEEP. (I did at one point have a frighteningly heavy period. Several weeks after the LEEP if I'm remembering right, but the gyno chalked it up to stressed and angry uterus/cervix, rather than a direct consequence of the procedure.)

After the LEEP, I had one more abnormal pap, ASCUS (which is a very slight abnormality). The pap after that was normal, and tested HPV negative!

It is a scary experience. I was frightened too..but in retrospect, I can say that there was absolutely no reason for me to be scared. It's more like a cavity than anything else. You might have to have a sort of squicky procedure or two. And then you'll be ok.

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

Thank you <3333 when I had my abnormal pap they said that they found ascus. I honestly thought that after that my body would work itself and get rid of it. I really am thankful and comforted by everybody's response..it's the waiting that's killing me cause I feel so helpless, I have no way helping my body because I have no idea what to do. I'm trying to stay calm in every way but I think it's cause I just found out today that I'm still trying to process in my mind that I am HPV+

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Well...I'm not sure if you've read this, but another perfectly appropriate follow up for an ASCUS result is another pap smear in three to six months, NOT a colpo. You might want to seek a second option. As Nickleshoe said above, if you are concerned about impacts on your ability to carry pregnancies, it is important not to have repeated LEEP procedures if you don't really need them. Given that your doc is recommending a colpo based on an ASCUS result (which is on the aggressive end of the aggressive-conservative continuum), you may want to especially give a lot of consideration to further recommended procedures.

If it helps, HPV+ doesn't really mean a lot more than catching a cold means. You've been exposed to a virus. Your body will likely fight it off. You can even test HPV- at some point in the future!

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

I read it all! I try to get as much information from all of you (which has been very helpful). This is actually a follow up from my abnormal pap smear 6 months ago, I had another pap smear last week and found out today that I am HPV+..I am taking everything that is being said here with an open heart, I was so freaked out and almost scared myself when I wrote posted this post, but after reading everybody's response it gave a lot of reassurance, though I will not know for sure till I go to my appointment this Dec.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

Ah, a colpo after two abnormal paps makes more sense.

[in-my-pjs.livejournal.com]

i just found out i have it & while part of me is kicking myself about it, i have been pretty calm about it. the truth is it is SUPER common & often clears up in time. my office has been super cool with me about it & reassuring to me about how common it is & while i should be cautious, i do not need to panic about anything, in my case it was caught very early & i did gardisil. the colpo & biopsy were certainly uncomfortable, but not the worst experience ever. grant i have had a child (most of labor without meds) & i have an IUD so ive experienced an uncomfortable insertion. motrin is your friend in that situation. i have had friends with HPV, so i was kinda familiar with it & as soon as i learned my pap was abnormal i started researching it because i was pretty sure i had HPV. it was recommended to me to keep my immune system healthy, so i have been taking some vitamins, but my only actual orders from the office is to have a PAP every 6 months. for me personally, it was a blow to the ego, but at the same time, its not the worst thing that's happened to me. my biggest concern has been the whole how do i tell people who need to know & so far those who ive told have been really respectful about the situation. this community is a wonderful safe place to express your thoughts & concerns about things like this.

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

Thank you, this community truly has helped A LOT. Once I had my abnormal pap, I just kept thinking "oh it will go away" but that didn't happen. Did you Dr. recommend you to get gardisil? My doctor just told me to make an appointment for a colposcopy and nothing else..I feel like I'm at a dead end with what to do, I guess just till my colposcopy. Thank you for responding, I really do appreciate it!

[in-my-pjs.livejournal.com]

well i had started gardisil a few years ago & then stopped due to an insurance glitch, so i only had the first 2 doses & just got the third when i went in for my pap. i was the one who originally brought it up with my CNM when i was like 20 & she said if i was her daughter she'd encourage it but i knew whats best for me. if i had gotten the full dose at the right time would i have HPV now? i dunno cause theres so many strains but whats happened has happened. does your office send you the lab reports? mine did an initial call when they saw abnormality but they also send the lab reports with a letter explaining them (whether its within normal limits or not). in the letter it gave me tips like using motrin & stuff.

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

When I found out I had an abnormal pap, I was called in the office for my Dr. to talk to me. She basically just told me that it would normally go away on it's own and that I would just follow up 6 months later. I didn't get to follow with her since she went on leave so I had a diff. Dr. who told me that I had HPV+. But I never got any letter or explanation on what I should do or take..but it may be different with the OBGYN that I made an appt. today since they told me they told me that they were going to send me some papers - -that may be it that's what you're talking about??

[in-my-pjs.livejournal.com]

i wasn't sure how standard the letter is. in my OBGYN office everything is done in letter form, so when i got a letter saying i had an abnormal pap, it briefly described what to expect with the colpo, when i got the results it had both the lab report & a letter explaining in every day words what the report said. i found it helpful because i wasn't having to interpret the lab sheets & it also reassured me to not freak out.

[hotcement.livejournal.com]

I had the same sort of experience in September. My pap came back abnormal and I went in expecting to get another pap, had the news sprung on me that it was actually a colp that I was scheduled for because they'd found a miniscule number of HPV cells. I freaked out for over a week before my doctor called and told me that it wasn't any of the pre-cancerous strains and that I'd just need another pap in a few months to make sure it had cleared up.

The colp itself was only a little more unpleasant than a regular pap but taking some Midol/Pamprin/Ibuprofin/whatever it is you take if you have cramps about 40 minutes beforehand helps greatly. I cramped for a few days but had no bleeding of any sort.

It freaks me out from time to time when I think about it and potential future partners, eventually pregnancy, etc., but just reading comments around here about it and the reassurances a few close friends and my doctor/the nurses in her office is very helpful.

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

Thank you, they have been very helpful haven't they?? My Dr. did not mention pre-cancerous strains but colpscopy was the next thing in line if my pap smear turned out abnormal again..and here I am HPV+. At this time right now, I don't even want any type of intercourse w/ the opposite sex, I'm just so freaked out about everything but it finally simmered down..it still gets me emotional when I think about it.

[unboundvoice.livejournal.com]

I was hpv positive 3 years ago and had a colposcopy done. It really wasn't a frightening procedure and in my case I just needed to follow up with paps every 6 months. I think within 1 to 1.5 years I had a normal pap and I'm now back to once a year. Try not to stress...it's likely going to be ok!

[unboundvoice.livejournal.com]

Oh and I should mention... I got pregnant about 6 months after the colposcopy and had a normal pregnancy and delivery. My pap after delivery came back negative :)

[kayeyem.livejournal.com]

I've been there.

Really.

In fact, I posted (http://vaginapagina.livejournal.com/17507437.html?mode=reply#add_comment) about it here, after the craziness had settled.

If I can answer any questions for you, I'd be happy to do so. But know this: You are far from alone.

[o0oepiphanyo0o.livejournal.com]

I got it too. i was terrified. so scared and felt so fucking dirty. Turns out my b/f at the time had lied about not sleeping with someone before and cheated on me tons and had warts. luckily i never got worts. i have a few years of having to get colposcopys done and getting checked out every 6 months. it became a normal thing to do. I quit smoking at that time and ate right and took folic acid. actually my doctor told me to take prenatal vitamins becuase it had everything i needed. after a year and half i started to get clean paps. after so long of good paps then you just go every year or two (however much they advise people without to go) and i've had no flare ups or returning of anything. i used to get checked after a new partner too. i admit ive been slacking on the paps. but all in all it went away. and im totally healthy in the vagina area.

and also the colposcopy i got didnt hurt or bleed either time. it just was more emotionally damaging.

i know someone who had it bad and she had to get a portion of her servix removed, but she's now healthy down there too.

i think as long as you take care of yourself as best you can and go to your check ups regularly you'll be fine.

good luck!

[archangelbeth]

It's great that you got normal paps, but in the future, could you not use "clean" for that? HPV doesn't care about your hygiene. (Virtually no virus or bacteria does!) You weren't dirty when you had active HPV. You aren't dirty now. The OP isn't dirty. The 80% of sexually-active people who get HPV in their lifetimes aren't dirty. Not any more than if you got strep throat from kissing someone with a sore throat. Or if you caught a cold from hugging someone.

It's just a virus, and if I could beat down the totally unnecessary, hurtful stigma that attached itself to the issue once it was known to be a virus (there was never a stigma for getting an abnormal pap before! It was just something that sometimes happened!)... I'd get the biggest stick I could and beat that stigma into the ground and salt over it.

[o0oepiphanyo0o.livejournal.com]

i didnt mean clean, i meant that they came out with nothing on them. not clean as in a dirty context. let alone about hygiene.

I personally dont see it really having a stigma. At the same time its not something i think about.

[archangelbeth]

I know you didn't mean it that way -- most people don't. But it's a VP rule not to use "clean" to mean anything but "scrubbed with soap and water," basically. O:> (Or, in the case of vaginas, which are generally pretty self-cleaning, rinsed with water.) So it's just good to be aware that, even if you didn't mean it that way... It still perpetuates the stigma for other people.

[o0oepiphanyo0o.livejournal.com]

oh good to know.

[sweetchild92.livejournal.com]

For future PIV, condom use can help with clearing the virus: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.11474/abstract

[neumeindil.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've gone through this. You will be Okay. :) It's a hard adjustment for some people, but while it means you have to be consistent with preventative medical care in the future (yearly PaP, consistently protected sex), it is not by any means a death sentence.

[atalanta0jess.livejournal.com]

It doesn't really mean the OP has to consistently use condoms in the future. Plenty of people with HPV don't. And actually, once the infection clears there will be a point at which OP may be able to have less than yearly paps just like someone who never had an abnormal pap smear would.

[ggeeen.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for taking your time to response, I really do appreciate it! I've read every single response and have taken everything in, I feel more assured, I still get emotional when I think about it, but I have a better outlook now. Hope I'll have good news to share when I get through with my appointment <33

[redr0se.livejournal.com]

I just got a call from my doctor and all the lady said was that I had an abnormality on my paps and I needed a colposcopy I'm freaking the fuck out.