abnormal pap smear result

[ms.bella]

hi,
i have just been told that my recent pap smear is abnormal, a grade 2/3 abnormality which requires immediate further examination... im freaking out a bit here and am just wondering if anyone else has had this result before?
i have to have a colposcopy which involves having a camera look at the cell of the cervix to determine to severity of the cell changes which may then then require a further biopsy and then there are a number of treatment options depending on the result.
Just interested to hear from others who may also have been told they have grade 2/3 abnormalities and who underwent this process??
thanks!

[CookiesRYum]

hey love...

i have had this happen to me before - i can't remember the grading though.. sorry..

i freaked out too, but from what I was told it is quite common..

I have the coloscopy with the camera thing - didn't hurt - was a bit weird and uncomfortable but generally fine - take about 10min and you can watch on the screen if you want to..

my results came back as changes and I had to go back and have laser to remove the cells.. that took about 30min and they give you stuff so you can't feel it, but are still awake.. (it was wierd because you can see smoke coming out of your v a g i n a... but it not horrible or anything...

after that i went back for coloscopies every 3mths for the rest of the yr i think? then normal pap smears 6mth monthly and now i go yearly..

have had no more changes since that time - i did have one inconclusive result which they gave me another clyoscopy for but the results of that were fine..

can i ask when you last had a pap smear? have you been exposed to HPV since that time perahps?

generally these test pick up even the earliest cell changes and are 'preventative' of future cancers etc rather then treatments.. it is still really scary though at the beginning//

i remmeber sitting in the waiting room and there were 3 of us and i thought of the 1 in 3 stats and thought 'well one of us probably has cervical cancer'. but when i actually spoke to the dr, it wasn't really the case - cells changes are a BIG BIG step away from anything really serious. Of course for some ppl it is bad news, but really it's few and far between compared to how many ppl have abnormal pap results.

Best of luck
xoxo

[willowtree78]

I had an abnormal scan come back about 7 years ago. It was a cat4 which is pretty bad and it had only been 2 years after a previous normal scan. I really don't think that the previous Dr did it correctly..scary thought !
Well I was admitted for a Lletz procedure (day surgery), which is a biopsy of the cervix but I had to be put under for it. I then had to go back in 2 weeks later coz it had gone so deep into the tissue that I had to have more of my cervix cut out.
I later had to go in for hysteroscopy & a coloscopy to check everything else out (however the hysteroscopy requires you to go under so I can't really tell you what it's like).
The whole experience was extremely scary.
I now know whom I caught HPV from...an ex of 3 years who had cheated on me (numerous times). He admitted later (after we split) that he found out that one of the girls had had an std and he was too scared to tell me as he'd had unprotected sex with her.
Everyday of my life, I fear that one day because of his selfishness, that I might get some kind of cancer, and now I have a DD and am pregnant again, it scares the living cr*p out of me. All I can do is get checked regularly.
So far so good, so don't stress ms bella, you only have a mild case and I'm sure you'll be fine.

[kingyo]

I had a similar result 3 years ago and had laser surgery to remove the abnormal cells. I was very freaked out by the whole thing, especially as I had to sign a form saying I understood that the surgery could increase the chances of an incompetent cervix during pregnancy! Anyway, I didnt have to wait long to have the procedure, I was under general anaesthetic so no smoke!! No dramas, perfect pregnancy the year after and all clear pap tests since.:) We are lucky that our public system is really on the ball with early detection and treatment.
Good luck, 2/3 changes are very treatable . :)

[ms.bella]

thanks for your replies it sounds like whatever it is its been picked up in time and can be treated.

[Ky]

I've had most of my cervix removed via lletz procedure due to HPV (which can apparently be passed on from your mother at birth) and have since had 4 pregnancies. Two with 9lb 8oz and 13lb 2oz babies and two that ended in the second trimester for reasons not at all related to my cervix.

It was uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing going through the colposcopies and lletz, but so worth it in the end. Recovery was incredibly easy and I am now, after 9 years back to 24 monthly pap tests after being consistently clear since the lletz.

I hope all goes well for you ...