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Re: Hi (Reply to this comment)
by Candice923
Thank you, Jen. I do appreciate it.
Can
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Jun 14 '05
7:55 am PDT
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Hi (Reply to this comment)
by jchapkovich
I hope you feel better soon and the pain subsides.
:-)Jen
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Jun 13 '05
9:03 am PDT
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Re: wow (Reply to this comment)
by Candice923
Thanks, Jan.
Unfortunately, I'm still in a bit of pain, but that could be due to the other test that I went through. And, since Craig and I aren't going to try for kids for at least a year, we won't know that for sure, either...
Candice
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Jun 13 '05
6:25 am PDT
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wow (Reply to this comment)
by jankp
Hope the pain's gone now and you'll be able to have a child. Check your hormone levels. I've read that a saliva test is more accurate. Best to you.
Jan
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Jun 12 '05
11:58 pm PDT
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Re: I understand (Reply to this comment)
by Candice923
Hey, Suzi-
Don't you dare apologize for "dragging on." Do you have any idea how much better it makes me feel to know that there are women that I converse with who went through the same thing as me? Good grief.
Unfortunately, I'm still in a little pain. That's probably from some other tests I've had over the past couple of days. Ugh. Not fun.
Thank you so much for sharing with me.
Candice
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Jun 12 '05
6:09 pm PDT
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Re: Abnornal Pap Smears (Reply to this comment)
by Candice923
I totally agree with you, Shiela. It's frightening how women just aren't familiar with what can go on with their bodies. They should teach this in Health or something in high school.
Can
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Jun 12 '05
6:02 pm PDT
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Re: The dreaded "abnormal"... (Reply to this comment)
by Candice923
Feel free to write all you want, Mrs. J. Truly. I appreciate you sharing your experiences with me.
Love,
Can
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Jun 12 '05
5:57 pm PDT
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Re: Good News (Reply to this comment)
by Candice923
Thanks, Bru. I appreciate it. It really makes one wonder what it takes to get a medical license these days. Ugh.
Candice
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Jun 12 '05
5:55 pm PDT
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I understand (Reply to this comment)
by Suzer
and I went through something similar except that the doctor was reasonably gentle. Let me explain first though that I had no unusual symptoms just had an "abnormal" pap. That can also mean you have a slight infection, and you know how many pap smears and so forth labs go through-and they are bound to make some mistakes. This doctor I went to was a close friend of the doctor for whom I worked at the time. He told me it was just a slight problem, but needed to do surgery the next day. If memory serves me there are 4 stages with 4 being the worse. He said mine was 1 or 2 or something like that. I was in tears, and tearfully went to my parents and got them all upset. He gave me a mixed message-it's probably nothing, but we are doing this tomorrow.
What I didn't realize was that this doctor wanted to operate for the money. Yes, unfortunately there are a few doctors like that. I cancelled the surgery (he hadn't even done a preop or sent me for one), and went to another doctor. She was a winner too. Screamed at me that I needed to be on HRT-I was in my early 40's, to prevent osteoporosis. Anyway, to attempt to now speed this "comment" up, she redid the pap. It was normal. It was redone in three months. Yes, normal again, and normal continuously since then. It has been years.
Always ask for a repeat pap, or repeat test when they are suggesting there may be a problem. And never hesitate to get a second opinion!
Sorry Candice. Didn't mean to drag on. It just touched a nerve.
Hope you are all better now!
Suzi
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Jun 12 '05
8:07 am PDT
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Re: re: pretty scary..... (Reply to this comment)
by Candice923
Thanks a lot. I do appreciate it. I've been going through all sorts of tests. Believe me, I've got enough stuff to write for the next 17 years. Ugh.
Love,
Can
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Jun 12 '05
8:01 am PDT
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Abnornal Pap Smears (Reply to this comment)
by skbreese
I've had abnormal pap smears for years, unless there is displasia, (suggestive of cancer cells) there is nothing to worry about. "Abnormal pap smear" is a very misleading term, and I wish doctors would stop using it. I appreciate your willingness to share your experience on this delicate subject. Sheila
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Jun 12 '05
7:32 am PDT
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The dreaded "abnormal"... (Reply to this comment)
by mrs-j
Heh, I keep deleting and reposting because I'm finding things I want to add. Sorry this comment is so long.
First I am thrilled that yours turned out normal. But speaking as someone who has had an abnormal PAP smear... I can definitely say I know what you went through and I'm sorry you had to go through that kind of fear.
But I ended up with a doc who did a great job conveying what the possibilities were with me, and what it all meant. He did do a re-test before we went any further with the whole thing, and it wasn't merely a false positive. He explained to me that abnormal PAP smears do not mean cancer automatically. Pre-cancerous, perhaps, but there is a difference. And all abnormal cells are not caused by HPV, though a great many of them are. The way my doc explained it to me is thusly: My cells were "abnormal"... Not cancerous. If left untreated, he said, in 15-20 years I could be looking at cervical cancer. So as he put it, it made sense to take care of the problem as soon as possible.
I went through the colposcopy and eventually a cone biopsy. None of it was fun. I didn't think I'd die, but mind you I didn't think period. For a week or two I didn't eat. I was too numb with fear to do anything. I leaned on my best friends (ironically, all of them male) and in the end, it all came out fine.
I then started having pap smears taken every 3 months (for the first 6 months) then at the 6 month point, then back to annuals. Everything was fine. Now I even do that Thin Prep test, which is supposedly more comprehensive & accurate, and I pay the extra if my (stupid) insurance company won't. Again (knocking on wood, well, okay cheap wood veneer) all is fine. It's been 13 years since that scare. Just to let you and others know - an abnormal result isn't a death sentence. They do these things annually now so that if and when they do get an abnormal result it won't be a death sentence... Merely a medical inconvenience (in almost all cases) where they can deal with the problem and then closely monitor you.
By the way, did you know that there's a vaccine that's been developed that, if given to girls before they're sexually active, will prevent them from ever getting HPV? Conservative groups are against distributing this vaccine to young girls, claiming that it will "give them a license" and "encourage" them to become sexually active because they'll be immune to one (of many) STDs. This vaccine could save lives and eliminate a huge chunk of cervical cancer deaths, but it's running into that kind of sick resistance. Sad. - mrs-j
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Jun 12 '05
5:49 am PDT
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Good News (Reply to this comment)
by Bruguru
I am very glad that you got the good news. But your advice is sound, and I think a second opinion is always a wise choice. Barbara has suffered for years from a misdiagnosis on a heart condition. Recently, she switched to my health insurance, got a new doctor who gave her a completely new description of her problem-and recommended a procedure that ultimately cured her.
Best regards,
John
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Jun 12 '05
4:40 am PDT
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re: pretty scary..... (Reply to this comment)
by cntaur5
Although I am concerned, I don't have any specific questions, as I've heard my wife talk about her yearly PAP smears. I'm just glad every thing worked out and hope your doctors will continue to provide the best care possible for you.
cntaur5
Thanks for sharing, this seemed like an extremely tough thing to go through.
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Jun 11 '05
10:16 pm PDT
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