(no subject)

[twisted888.livejournal.com]

Hey ladies. I've posted here once or twice before, and I have some more concerns now. It's not really about my period, but it's related and this was the only place I could think of to go.

I had a pap test done in early February, and the results were abnormal. So my doc sent me to the gynecologist for a more thorough exam, and a colposcopy to check for HPV. Not a genital warts-causing HPV, a cervical cancer-causing HPV (there are over 100 kinds and only about 30 are the STDs that cause genital warts).

So I finally got into the gyno on Friday (yeah, it took that long to get in, geeze). The gyno showed me this paper with pictures of three different cervixes on it. The top one was normal, pink. The middle one was pink with some white on it, and she said it was an example of "mild changes." The bottom one had a lot of white on it and she said it was a cervix with "severe changes." Then we got to the colposcopy. In case you don't know what it is, it's when they use the duckbill thing to open your vagina and put a microscope in front of you to see your cervix. So, I got to see mine on the screen. It looked like it was between the "mild changes" picture and the "severe changes" picture. She swabbed my cervix (ouch) a few times, then clipped off a couple areas of tissue (HOLY OUCH) for testing.

So the thing is, I don't know what these "changes" are. Changes in what?

So anyway, she said they'd call me and tell me what's up when they heard back from the lab in about two weeks.

Oh, also, for those of you who've had a colposopy: The gyno said she put something on my cervix so it wouldn't bleed... at least I think that's what she said, I was in a lot of pain at that point and might have heard her wrong! But she said that this stuff would cause some dark brown or black discharge-type stuff. But I haven't had any at all. Was that supposed to happen that day, or when I get my next period, or in a week or what? I haven't been able to find anything about it online since I don't know what it's called.

Anyway, I know it's not probable that I have or will get cervical cancer, but I'm still having a freakout about it.

Comments

[stripling.livejournal.com]

I just had a colposcopy recently as well. Basically, the changes are just the swab of cells from your pap were different from the typical "normal" cells they find on cervixes, and thus it was a "change". the increase of white areas on your cervix is a change.

I always find that in these types of procedures the worst part is just the speculum (ducklips). mine mostly just felt weird when she extracted the tissue, and i went "ohhhh so THAT's my cervix you're poking at!" I didn't get to see mine on a screen.

My doc said they'd put in a tampon after they took the tissue, so you might want to check to make sure you don't have one floating around in there. I found the black discharge from the clotting agent was very minimal, so it's also possible that you won't even notice it.

mine came back mildly abnormal, which just means I have to go back for another pap in six months. hope yours comes back clear!

[twisted888.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're lucky. Mine hurt like the dickens when they clipped the tissue!

Haha, I'm sure I don't have a tampon in there. Thanks for the warning, though! Yeah, maybe she just didn't put much of the clotting agent, or maybe I just haven't noticed it.

Thanks. =)

[daisybones.livejournal.com]

I had one (colpo) and never had bleeding or discharge either. Don't worry too much, sweetie- this is really common & they caught the weird cells early. You're doing fine:) Good luck!

[twisted888.livejournal.com]

Thanks. =)

[maidenmorticia.livejournal.com]

I've had what feels like millions of colopscopies, but my dr. doesn't have the fancy one like yours does so I've never actually seen my own cervix. Lucky you. You at least know what you look like! :-) I did not get that stuff put on the cervix, though I know what you're talking about because plenty of people talk about it at hpv. It seems to be standard procedure in the US. Basically that stuff eventually comes out on it's own. You are not supposed to pull it out yourself. Just leave it.

I can't really sympathise with all that pain you're talking about, as I had none & continue to have none during colposcopies and biopsies.

Now, the changes she's talking about are changes in the cells in your cervix. That's what she's looking for. The changes in general are called cervical dysplasia. Cervical dysplasia is also called precancerous changes in the cells of the cervix and can either be mild or moderate or servre.

Have you considered joining hpv? If you want a community where just about everyone's had a colposcopy at least once, that's the place for you. Plus you can read all about all the stuff you're asking about in their memories, even if you choose not to join it. And regardless of whether or not you eventually test positive for HPV, remember that the treatment protocol for you and for the people with HPV is exactly the same.

Monsel's Solution

[maidenmorticia.livejournal.com]

This post from the hpv memories discusses that stuff you're talking about which she put on the cervix.

http://community.livejournal.com/hpv/220882.html

[twisted888.livejournal.com]

Haha, I think you're luckier for having no pain, even though seeing my cervix was pretty cool.

I didn't even think about looking for an HPV community, duh! Thanks a lot!

[lady-amorika.livejournal.com]

I was diagnosed with cervical cancer following a procedure very similar to yours. I got to see my cervix as well, lots of pain, ect. Except there was a gasp from the gyno. It wasn't "sorta in between" or just mildly weird. It was completely f*cked up. So, I sympathize with you, but you are by no means *that* at risk. I don't say this to take away from your right to worry or whatever, but just from my personal experiences, there is a very definite response to cervical cancer, and you didn't get it.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, and know that I *beat* cervical cancer in 5 months, basically. Of course, it takes 5 years before I can actually say that, but my check-up Wednesday was all clear, so I'm pretty damn happy :)
Right, so this turned into being more about me than you, but I just wanted to let you know others have gone through the EXACT same thing, and your results sounded MUCH better than mine.
Keep us updated, if you don't mind :)

[twisted888.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it. I'm glad you beat it, and from what you said, I'm not as worried now as I have been. =)

[t4-flirt.livejournal.com]

i just had a colop done at the end of Feb. I had a brownish discharge for about 3 days(my gyno said it could last a week or so). I've been diagnosed with severe dysplasia(which leads to cervical cancer if untreated), and am having a LEEP procedure done in sometime in late May-early June.

i would recommend you doing some research on WebMD (www.webmd.com) --a friend recommended it to me and it's been wonderfully helpful.

Also, I wrote a related post on this board last week when I'd gotten my results. I'm sure if you look for it, it'll help too(I'd link but I have my 4 month old in my lap and am lucky to have typed this).

[t4-flirt.livejournal.com]

here it is!!
http://community.livejournal.com/menstrualhut/2003726.html

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

Changes = growth of abnormal cells

The goo would have caused discharge that day (the goo is a gross yellowy-brown color... I had a teeny little streak of it like an hour later and that's it).

My colposcopy came back abnormal as well, but she just said that I'm at RISK for cervical cancer and instead of every 12 months we'll do PAPs every 6. She was a bitch and didn't tell me this, but cancer may never pop up and even the abnormal PAPs may stop happening.

[twisted888.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she did tell me that. Don't you hate when doctors do the bare minimum to finish the job? I went through four family practice docs before I found one I liked.

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

This lady never told me anything except one time she did say, "you can look it up online" so I'll never see her again.

[twisted888.livejournal.com]

What a bitch. Especially when you're dealing with such a serious subject, it's terrible practice to just be like, "Uh, you can look it up online."

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

Yeah she was not helpful at all except to make me very worried and uncomfortable. Oh well, just gotta find the right doc.