pap/ colop/ etc....

[careless-lovex.livejournal.com]

Okay so i have a question.
actually more like i need some advice.

My pap came back abnormal in the middle of june.
SO my OBGYN wanted me to come in for more tests.
so she did a colopscopy...which was not fun. And it came back that i have low-risk HPV.
and now she wants me to come back in for another procedure to freeze the first few layers of cells ff of my cervix.
now the thing is that a few of my friends have the same thing and their OB just said to come back in a few months to see if it had cleared up.
Now she hasnt told me that, and seems to think that this is like of HUGE importance. I put a call into her office today to talk to her about it more, but she hasnt gotten back to me.
any experiences or advice or anything because i feel like she might just be procedure happy and i'm not sure what to do at this point. I mean i know HPV is serious but she said its low risk and its not the kind that causes cancer so i dont see what the huge rush is.
and besides, the procedure sounds a lot like sticking my cervix to a metal pole in the middle of the winter, lol.
so if anyone could help me out, it would be greatly appreciated.

PS: im 19, sexually active and had my period since i was 15 if that makes any difference.

Comments

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

I would encourage you to speak again with your doctor and to get a 2nd opinion. There is lots of newer science which is telling us that we don't necessarily need to treat low-grade dysplasia, that with a healthy immune system (that is, eat well, sleep enough, reduce stress, take a vitamin, exercise, and above all don't smoke), it will heal itself in time. If it were my body, I wouldn't do the procedure without a 2nd opinion and a very good justification.

Take care, be well.

[careless-lovex.livejournal.com]

i do take generally good care of my body, and i am almost NEVER sick so my immune system cant be that bad, considering im in college and i live on top of like 400 people lol.
i do smoke, and she knows that and i asked her if that could be a part of it and she said that its possible but not very likely..even though i know it can cause abnormal cells.
but im definitely gonna get other opinions because i think shes just procedure happy.
thanks for your help :-D

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

You know, I think you're on the right track with other opinions. Cigarette smoking contains carcinogens, which help cells divide and become abnormal. It's surely not the cause of your dysplasia, but is undoubtedly not helping it, and may be keeping it low-grade (and persistent low-grade, like for a few years, is a reason to move to more advanced procedures).

In summary: quit smoking, honest to god. Just do it. Get help however you can, and make that commitment to your health. And see another GYN for a second opinion here.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_last_serenade_/]

i got cryotherapy for low grade dysplasia when i was 20 (i'm 26 now). it's not very fun. that being said, i've had 100% normal paps since then. to be fair, your doctor is probably legitimately trying to cover her own ass to make sure you don't end up with cervical cancer and sue her for not offering you treatment earlier. =/ it sucks that this is what the medical industry has come down to, but it is. do you have insurance? can you go see another doc, get another pap and see what they think? if not, just explain your hesitance to your doctor, and offer to be proactive about making appointments every 3 months or so. good luck...i hope you don't have to have cryotherapy...it's not fun. :(

[careless-lovex.livejournal.com]

yea i had a colop done and that was a circus, to say the least.
and then she described this to me and i figured that this would be a 100 times worse.
my aunt is a doctor so im gonna talk to her about it.
thanks so much for your input
:-)

[symphonyr13.livejournal.com]

I had the same thing with the abnormal pap/colop. My gyno and I waited for a while and my HPV/dysplasia cleared up on its own. I would get a second opinion.

[bare-lady.livejournal.com]

My doctor did it right off the bat too just because she said while it was low risk- it was an obvious spot that she could clearly see with a microscope and that she just wanted to get rid of it. It was uncomfortable (like: painful pms cramps and the freezing leads to melting which meant a little drainage for the day) but not bad and I have been normal ever since. I was happy to just not have to think about it because I didnt always want to go back hoping "this time maybe it went away". Low-risk isn't no risk, so why not do all you can now to eliminate the issue?

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

why not do all you can now to eliminate the issue?

because removing cervical tissue can lead to complications in pregnancy, difficulties obtaining a good sample for a pap smear thereafter, and in some rare cases, trouble menstruating (if the cervical os is affected). it's not a risk-free procedure, and should only be done when it's necessary.

[careless-lovex.livejournal.com]

Because if it could clear up i dont want to put myself through all of this. my insurance isnt that great either so i dont have a lot of money to be spending on procedures that i dont necessarily need.
if it comes to the point where i need it, i will absolutely get it, its no question.
but to do this all within 2 months and not give it time seems a little ridiculous. i mean the percentage of hpv like this is like 75% so, chances are it will clear up.
i dont know, im just confused.