A question from a newbie
Oct. 19th, 2006 04:59 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
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I need some advice and perhaps some support and a lj community is perhaps the closest I have. I am the most scared I have been in my life.
Has anyone ever had a coloscopy and biopsy done? I am facing one in a week and I am well terrified and frightening. I was kind of in shock when the doctor told me when I was having a pap test done, that she was going to schedule one for me, because when doing the examination she had found a spot that had just started to bleed around my cervix. There was also some whitish areas around the same area, along with tenderness.
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Background, I am 23, and have been in a committed relationship for 4 years now. Penetration sex has always been kind of on the painful side, but I had thought it was normal. I had a few previous partners but we always used condoms, and hardly had sex.
I am on the birthcontrol pill and have been for about 9 years now and at the time of my pap test my period was due in a week and i have never had spotting.
I've also never had any other problems.
I've only ever had two pap tests done ever, one last year and one in september, the actual tests have always come back fine, this one through a new doctor, she found this area.
I am just kind of scared, I don't really know what to expect. I was kind of in shock when the doctor told me so I didn't really ask any questions, I couldn't think of any, as its a lot of absorb. I am just wondering if anyone else has had this. My family also has a history of ovarian and cervical cancer.
I would like to know what to expect during the test, and what kind of results they could tell me.
Has anyone ever had a coloscopy and biopsy done? I am facing one in a week and I am well terrified and frightening. I was kind of in shock when the doctor told me when I was having a pap test done, that she was going to schedule one for me, because when doing the examination she had found a spot that had just started to bleed around my cervix. There was also some whitish areas around the same area, along with tenderness.
<lj-cut>
Background, I am 23, and have been in a committed relationship for 4 years now. Penetration sex has always been kind of on the painful side, but I had thought it was normal. I had a few previous partners but we always used condoms, and hardly had sex.
I am on the birthcontrol pill and have been for about 9 years now and at the time of my pap test my period was due in a week and i have never had spotting.
I've also never had any other problems.
I've only ever had two pap tests done ever, one last year and one in september, the actual tests have always come back fine, this one through a new doctor, she found this area.
I am just kind of scared, I don't really know what to expect. I was kind of in shock when the doctor told me so I didn't really ask any questions, I couldn't think of any, as its a lot of absorb. I am just wondering if anyone else has had this. My family also has a history of ovarian and cervical cancer.
I would like to know what to expect during the test, and what kind of results they could tell me.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-19 08:25 pm (UTC)The biggest thing is to take a few deep breaths and try to keep busy. Its very possible that you will have a negative result but even if you do come back with a positive result, there are *lots* of options that can be explored then.
There are some other posts about the actual procedure if you have questions.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-19 08:28 pm (UTC)Just remember to relax and make sure you are in a comfortable position before she starts. And try not to worry, I know its scary, but stressing over it wont do any good, kwim?
Positive Thoughts!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-19 08:32 pm (UTC)A colposcopy is basically what they do if something with your pap looked funny and they want to get a closer look. It will be like a pap, but longer and maybe a little more pinchy. The doc will take this big machine with a light and a scope-type thing on it and look at your cervix. She will probably brush the cervix with a solution to make any abnormal cells stand out better. If there seem to be a lot of abnormal cells, she will take a biopsy or two of those areas and have them tested.
Basically, paps are done to check for something that may be pre-pre-pre-cancer. They can catch it very early this way. If the colp and biopsy show that there may be a chance the abnormal cells could turn into pre-cancer, you will likely either have cryotherapy or a LEEP. These are quick and generally not too painful procedures. In cryotherapy they'll freeze off the bad cells, and with a LEEP they'll electrify them off. This keeps anything bad from developing. As long as you return for regular paps, nothing bad will ever happen.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-19 08:48 pm (UTC)VaginaPagina has tagged entries on coloscopies that you might find helpful here (http://community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/tag/colposcopy) also.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-19 09:08 pm (UTC)Just wanted to let you know you're not alone. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-10-19 10:04 pm (UTC)I've had cryosurgery three times and LEEP once, and while none of it has ever been pleasant, it's not nearly as scary as it seems, once you've gone through it.
As far as what results will tell you, they could indicate that you have HPV, or they could indicate pre-cancerous cells. The good thing about even pre-cancerous cells is that they're PRE-cancerous, and the fact that they get caught in the PRE stage means chances are very great that they'll never progress past there. So as scary as it seems, keeping up with the visits and not just ignoring it is so very important.
Good luck and try to relax! I hope your experiences with the biopsy/colpo mirror mine in the good ways.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-19 10:30 pm (UTC)Other owmen I know have said very similar things. It was not a painful exoerience even though it is never a comfortable one. I suspect you will be just fine and hopefully everything will turn out for the best. :)
no subject
Date: 2006-10-20 02:32 am (UTC)they determined that the cells they scraped off during the procedure were enough and no further treatment to destroy the cells was necessary; this may be the case with you as well. you will have to have frequent pap smears for the next year as they will want to monitor the area closely--this is a good thing!
try not to worry so much. it's great that they found this now and can do something about it. it might be all that ends up happening.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-20 05:14 am (UTC)Like others have said, it is alot like getting a pap smear done, but more time consuming. The big machine with ligfhts, is called a colposcope, which will give the Dr a lighted, magnified view of your cervix. The speculum is placed the same way as it id for a pap, but they may have to move it around to get the best view of your cervix. They will apply a solution to your cervix, which is just a dilute mixture of vinegar and water. Since vinegar is acidic, it will cause any external areas of abnormal cells to become more visible by turning them white. If everything looks ok on the surface of the cervix, then they will do the endocervical sampling, which is done with a currette to the inside of the cervix. Often, our doctors will use the same type of brush that they use for the regualr pap smears. Its usually a little more gentle than the currette. Another poster had suggested Ibuprofen, and thats what we reccomend to our patients as well. Usually about 800mg.
You'll do fine. Every girl that we talk to after the procedure always say it wasnt as bad as they thought. Just mild discomfort, and spotting afterwards. I hope everything goes great, and I hope I helped!!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-20 08:23 pm (UTC)