Oh, abaya, I'm glad to hear it went okay. I was worried for you. I'm also glad that results seem good.

Now, rest up and wait for sex...

(Yes, it sucked a lot. :lol:)

But anyway, yay for happier diagnoses! :D

Hehe, you gals are the best. :D Thank you, Sweetpea, for the helpful info. :)

And Owl... dammit, I hate imposed celibacy!! :lol:

It's kind of funny how I feel so normal, even though I just got told that I most likely have an STD. I suppose the fact that I'm monogamous, as well as the fact that it's a relatively benign STD, puts the whole thing in perspective. Not to mention that ktspktsp is extremely supportive :icare: and loves me no matter what my cervix looks like! :lol:

Do you mean how did I have a kid?? - I went through 23 hours of labor and she just wouldn't fit through at all. Ended up having a c-section so I never pushed a baby through there. Now that I'm fixed I'll never know that feeling and honestly I don't covet it. I wasn't a screamer in labor but I bet I would have been while pushing.

I know the feeling about thinking you should feel different after being told you have an STD. Yet - you are still the same person. This will go away, as long as you keep an eye on things there should be no trouble at all. Good luck on it.

Oh and they wouldn't have known for sure if you had HPV from any Pap. If they find abnormal cells they remove all of them during a colposcopy so it removes the virus if there is one. It helps control things so that you don't develop cervical cancer. It's good you got it done. I'm glad it wasn't too bad for you.

I'm going through a similar situation and I am beyond freaked about it all.
Doc called me up a couple weeks after my pap and said there were some abnormal cells growing and that I needed to get a biopsy or a colposcope I guess is the proper term?
Terrified I might have HPV. He said I tested negative for everything, but maybe once they get another look what if they find that I have it?!?!
God, my procedure is scheduled for December 8, a whole month to think about it, sounds like fun. I try to not concentrate on it otherwise I get really upset and start crying, happened twice already.
All the info about HPV is a little comforting if I do infact have it.
I just don't know what I'd do, I'd feel shameful to tell my partner, what would he do? Would be mad? Would he not want to see me anymore? Would there be a grudge? Its just all this stuff, and I'm completely panicked about what could happen.
Doctors appointment is next week where we'll discuss the colposcope before hand so i know all the info before going in.
Any words of advice? I'm so scared, I feel so left in the dark right now. I'll keep posting on my progress about it.
Is HPV a really big deal if I do have it? Besides warts and cancer, I keep up with myself downstairs and i have yet to see any warts, so I'm not concerned about that, but its the whole uncertaintly thing thats looming over my head right now.

ghoastgirl1, check your TFP mailbox.

ghoastgirl, Im curious...are they not doing a 2nd pap before this? SO many things can cause it to come back abnormal, I would think they would do another one before this other test.

I think it depends on the doctor, Shani. After my one abnormal PAP, they were getting me in for a colposcopy too. Ghoastgirl, listen, it won't be that bad. Most of the time, they're just being extra-paranoid. If you've ever had nasty cramps, that's the kind of feeling to expect. It's a pretty brief procedure, thankfully. Take some ibuprofen (advil sorts of things) about 20 minutes before you go in. Maybe a bit more afterwards, if you're sensitive to cramp feelings. You'll be okay.

Hey, I really appreciate all the info y'all have given me regarding my situation, all the information has helped relax my mind in so many ways.
I went to the doctor today to discuss whats going on. Turns out I do have HPV, just one of those strands that could cause cancer out of the other 100 plus that don't, he said about 7 or 8 do and its pretty rare to get them and have a full blown case of cancer cells develope. However he did tell me that this strand in no way at all causes warts or anything of that nature, and once I've beaten it I won't ever have to worry about it again.
He said that guys don't have any signs or symptoms of it at all and that it is impossible to know whom passed what to whom and roughly 1 in 2 people have it or more and that about 70% of sexually active people have it, many without knowing such as myself.
He said my immune system should clear it up on its own but if not then I'll get a LEETprocedure where they manually remove the bad cells if necessary, the down side is that after my procedure I have to get four paps for the next year to be certain everything has cleared up and all is well with Vagina World.
Going to tell my partner tonight.
My main cause for concern was the whole warts thing, but since he cleared that up for me that eased my mind the most because I would feel so bad if I gave something like that to someone I cared about. He said I don't have any and won't develope any from this, so that is VERY good news.
My procedure shouldn't be too bad since he explained everything thoroughly to me, and that makes me feel better.
Thanks again all.

If it makes you feel any better, I am going back in Dec 5th for another pap, woo-hoo... 6 months after my colposcopy where he said I had a tiny tiny amount of HPV in there. I just hope it's cleared up by then, since I'll be out of the country for all of 2007. How I love being a woman.

I was diagnosed with HPV in 1998, I was 21. I'd never had sex, and they never did any straight out testing. I just came up with mild dysplasia in my Pap smear. I refused to go home from a job I was working at the time, so I waited ten weeks to go back. By that time I had moderate-severe dysplasia (precancerous cells). I had a colposcopy and my asinine GYN did cryosurgery which screwed up my acid balance and my cervix was never the same. It still bleeds whenever my partner bumps it. I had three years of Paps done every three months, then every six and they all came back abnormal until about three years ago. I've still had no one test me for HPV, never any bumps or symptoms, but my really good physician now said that it was not likely the cause of the dysplasia.
Just be careful. I was devastated at 21 to be told I had an STD, in front of my mother, when I wouldn't have sex for another 6 years. They kept asking me if I was "sure" that I hadn't had intercourse. I told them to check... everything was still twisted up internally from the car accident I'd had when I was 17, did it look like I was lying? I know that physicians are much more careful about it these days, but, get your Paps. And, choose anything but cryosurgery if you need dysplasia treatment. Every single person I've ever talked to has had some kind of issue with it.

Going in for my Colposcopy on Dec. 8th. I've heard you can't have sex for several weeks afterwords which is a major downer because the following week the semester will end and we'll be off for Christmas break for three plus weeks. It's a major downer moreso because my partner and I won't get to for nearly a month plus.
Whats the info that y'all got regarding sex after the op? I've heard a week, to a month? Goodness! That is certainly alot of waiting!

Ummm, did you hear this from your doctor? Because I've not read this nor heard *anything* like this from a respectable source *anywhere*.

I wouldn't take that kind of advice seriously at all unless it came from a whole bunch of specialists, LOL!

Good to know! I'll be sure to ask before the procedure. I was pretty bummed about hearing that, especially since James and I will be apart for a while about a week and a couple days after, I'd like to get some personal time with him before we leave for break. Thanks!

Edit: Misread, never mind! :p

I just wanted to pipe up with thank you for you ladies here. I found this thread just before my annual exam this past week and despite my fears of having a diagnosis of aggressive HPV or, worse, cancer in my medical chart, I went ahead and asked for the test. There is a very good chance that I was exposed to it, so I should not have waited so long, and I must say, embarrassingly, I was too fearful to walk in and have myself tested (FYI, I haven't had any sexual contact since). Somehow, though I'd done my research on this previously, it was this thread that brought me to terms with having myself tested. I was able to walk in and ask for the test with true confidence and though I have to wait a little while for the results, I'm not feeling any sort of panic.

Anyway, my point is that while I know I'm not incredibly active here, I do read often and you gals get credit for giving me the confidence to ask for this test. You ladies are dealing with it and dealing with it very well. I think that's what I needed to see.

The closer my Calposcopy comes the more nervous I get, I keep worrying than the cells are getting worse and I might have something seriously wrong.
Unfortunately the operation is the same day as my parents Christmas party, which I wanted to go to (Dec. 8th, Friday) I'm just praying its quick and over with soon. I'll keep posting with updates.

ghostgirl:
hey, don't get nervous. i went through the same thing you're going through. i had what they call "severe dysplasia" which just means really bad HPV cells. they can get rid of them easily. the colposcopy is just like a pap smear, except they put a vinegar solution (that only stings slightly) to luminate the papiloma cells. then if they're severe or whatever, they may have to biopsy a small area (which feels like a strong pinch). you can't have sex for 4 weeks generally after a biopsy. dunno about a colpo, i think it's the same. ask your Dr. or do research about any questions you have regarding any of this.

let me just tell you that the colposcopy is not surgery. it's not a procedure to remove or treat the cells or the HPV. it's only to see what cells are where on the cervix. after the results come back, your Dr. will discuss possible procedures for removal of the HPV cells. i had a "LEEP" done, which is a procedure that uses a laser to remove the bad cells from your cervix and they put you under for it. it was easy and only mild pain (which they prescribed pain killers for). can't have sex for 4 weeks after that either. it's considered an outpatient surgery. if you have any questions, you can PM/IM me or ask James for my info.

oh one more thing...i know James and i think the best policy would be to talk to him about it. it's not as serious as it may sound. research the internet or talk to your doctor for facts that you can give him to ease his (and your) mind. if you ask, i'm sure he will be there for you as much as he can. but communication is key.
hope all goes well, and don't be nervous, you're just taking care of yourself and that's what women are supposed to do! :)
~aRiE

Follow-Up on my procedure

My colposcopy was this morning and the experience was mentally scarring.
I went in at 9:15 and left about 10:15 so it was overall about an hour. Well to start off I had about three different doctors in the room to help with the procedure and they were people whom I had never met, atleast they were ladies. They asked if a male doctor in training could watch and I immediately said no, more people have seen the goods downstairs more than I wanted already, no extras please. I'm pretty self concious about how I look down there anyway. Continueing, they inserted a metal spectrum but then they couldn't get it to focus on my cervix, resulting in them turning it in several directions and jiggling it trying to find my hiding cervix. I felt like saying to them, well if you were trying to poke me with that thing I'd hide too!
I'm starting to think my pain threshold is really low as the second time they reinserted a plastic, longer spectrum it really hurt and my eyes started tearing up. Of course, the search for my cervix continued. They won't up giggling this one several times again still with no luck. Everytime they giggled it it hurt me and my muscles would tense up. One of the nurses yelled at me and said I was making it more difficult because I kept tensing up everytime they reinserted the damn thing. I felt like yelling at them to take it out and get someone who knows what they're doing to do the job right.
Finally, after seven tries they got a hold of my cervix and put the vinegar on. The vinegar burned like salt in a wound, probably from all that poking they did beforehand. They only found one small part of mild dysplasia on my cervix and took a chunk of it. Of course when they were trying to get a piece the spectrum kept moving and therefore losing track of my cervix yet again so again with the reinserting and jiggling. Ouch. I was crying after the vinegar and the multiple reinsertions. I was also mentally apologizing to my vagina for putting her through this mess.
So they finally almost got a chunk of the cells for a biopsy, then of course it didn't come off, was just hanging on by a thread. The feeling was much more than a pinch, it was an immense amount of pain. Made me cry more, finally the third try they got the piece they needed, then scraped the inside of my damn cervix and pulled out all the instruments.
I wound up crying until I got back to my dorm, it was just really awful. Especially the lady yelling at me during the whole thing.
One said it was one of the hardest she ahd to do because my cervix was a little higher than most womens.
Unfortunately I had to go alone, I had arranged for JS to take make but he needed to study before he went to work and that's more important than sitting in a waiting room. Would of been nice to have the moral support after the procedure as I was pretty shaken up when leaving the office, still crying and such. I felt like everyone was watching me as I was leaving. Got back to my dorm and went to sleep tilll about thirty minutes ago.
I feel a little better but everytime I start thinking about it I feel like crying. Just glad to get it written out.
Also the doctor said i couldn't have sex for three days? Makes me wonder. She said I would bleed most likely for several days but then be fine. She also said it was fine to reinsert my nuvering after the procedure to stay on schedule with my birth control. So I guess three days till sex? Doesn't sound right to me.

Since they took a piece of your cervix, the 3 days doesn't sound off to me.

But yeah, that sounds AWFUL. Clearly they had people in training - they should make that sort of thing clear to you before starting. And I'd be considering talking to the gyn about that nurse. It's not your fault you tensed up - they should be making this as easy as possible on you. You're the patient, dammit. I'm sorry you had such a rough time. I was pretty upset and wiped out after mine, and it wasn't nearly as bad (tho I sure thought it was awful too). You will bleed a bit after this, but don't worry unless you're gushing or something. And did they tell you to take some ibuprofen (advil) or something? That helps with the aches afterwards.

I'm sorry, darlin'. I hope you get some JS hugging time - you need it after all that.

Wow, that sucks. :( I'm so sorry it was so painful for you. :( They sound like total assholes, and incompetent as well.

My doc told me 7 days of no sex after the procedure, though, so I guess you got lucky! (There's always a positive side.)

I just had my colposcopy done, they took 3 chunks out of my cervix... It must have looked pretty bad. No sex for 5 days. More in my journal later.