abnormal pap

Has anyone ever had a regular yearly exam to find out they have abnormal cells and have to go back for a test?  My ob/gyn nurse told me not to worry about it because it is fairly common.  But my appointment to have it looked at more closely is a week away and I am extremely nervous, as I have always had normal pap smear results in the past.  Also, I am ttc so I am a bit freaked out.  Any comments/experiences would be great to hear.

[timework]

Hi,

Many times there's nothing to worry about.  This has happened to me a few times.  The first and most serious was 10 years ago.  I ended up having a cone biopsy where they surgically remove the dysplasia from your cervix.  The other 2 times my pap came back abnormal there was in fact nothing wrong.  At your next visit they will probably do a type of vinegar swab test to see if there are any abnormal cells (dysplasia) If they do see something of concern they will take a tiny snip of tissue and send it out to the lab.  After that test comes back you will then know if anything further has to be done.  If you are ttc it's best to have everything in tip top shape.  Try not to stress out about it too much...I know, easier said than done but there may be nothing at all to worry about :)
Good Luck

[Sews]

Thank you for your comments.  That is exactly what the nurse said to me "NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT" but you just never know!  It is the waiting game now that is hard.  I wish I could go in to have the vinegar swab test thing done immediately so I dont have this "waiting" period.  I miscarried in May and then had a very long first period after the miscarriage.  So my cycles have been all screwed up which has been frusterating because before the miscarriage I was a regular 28 day cycle.  So to then hear I have abnormal cells really sort of scared me.  

Thanks again for your post!

[Berny]

I had an abnormal pap after my son was born and they said that was pretty common so nothing to worry about. Hope everything is ok.

[Sews]

Wow, I hope that is the case with me.....the part about after a trauma your body may be a little out of whack!  I had a miscarriage in May and I bled for quite some time but never needed a d&c.  Then my first period following the miscarriage lasted close to three weeks and the cramping was worse then the miscarriage.  My ob/gyn then put me on progesterone for two weeks which stopped the bleeding.  However, the idea was once I went off the progesterone I would get a more normal period.  However, it took three weeks for a period to come and it was so light I dont even know if I should consider it a period?!  Anyway, my yearly exam was about seven days after this light period.  So that is why I am a bit concerned becuase it seems that my body has just been screwy since the miscarriage.  

Anyway, I so appreciate your comments and kind words.  I am sorry for your loss last December.  I was only six weeks when I miscarried but it was still very hard.  Are you pregnant again?  I wish you the best.

[timework]

I really know exactly how you feel.  I had an abnormal pap this past May and that's right when my husband and I were wanting to start trying again to have a baby.  We lost our son in December so when the pap came back abnormal I was a mess.  What next??? I thought.  But when I went in for the vinegar test the doc said there was no reason for her to even do a biopsy that everything looked fine.  She said sometimes after internal trauma...preganacy (pregnancy), c-section, as I had, or a miscarriage things just take awhile to settle down.  Good luck :)

[Still_AndiJ]

I wouldn't stress too much about it. I had a few "abnormal" paps that turned out to be nothing. But then I had 1 that did turn out to be cancer. I found out when I was pg with my son, but didn't do the colposcopy until after i delivered. When the results came back I was scheduled ASAP for a LEEP to remove the cancerous tissue and found out that they got it all! That was March of 2002 and every pap has been normal since : )

Abnormal paps can be caused by many things. Don't stress too bad. I am sure everything will be fine.

Andrea

[Sews]

Thanks everyone!  It is helpful to hear this is not an uncommon occurance (having an abnormal pap).  It is just nerve racking, especially knowing I want to get pregnant.  

Thanks again for your thoughts!

[timework]

Hi again,
Yep...I'm 15 1/2 weeks pregnant again and so far so good.  It was funny...the day after I had that vinegar test and my doc said there was nothing wrong we started trying for another baby.  It happened right away.  Even surprised me how fast we got pregnant.  Since I had that cone biopsy though 10 years ago and lost my son from an apparent incompetent cervix, I'm with a high risk group now and they are seeing me every 2 weeks to measure my cervix. Better safe than sorry :)
Good Luck

[Sews]

Well, congratulations!  I hope it all works out positively for you this time. I appreciate all your comments. It helps to hear others have been in a similar situation and it has turned out ok.  Best of luck with your pregnancy.
Sarah

[Suze-ee]

How's this for nerve-wracking?  I actually got a bad pap when I was in early pregnancy with my first child.  Right there in the stirrups, the doctor tried to frighten me into doing a biopsy.  I asked if there was a risk of miscarriage and she said, "Yes.  But if this is cancer, you won't live to see your child's fifth birthday."  Well I was in an awkward "position", literally, and felt very intimidated.  But I stood my ground.  ANY risk of miscarriage and I wasn't doing anything.  I immediately switched doctors, and the new doctor said "We would NEVER, EVER biopsy a pregnant woman."  I had the biopsy immediately after I delivered.  There was a problem, dysplasia - it was brought on by my pregnancy hormones, and the doctor did a proceedure to clear everything up.  It's been NINE years of perfect pap smears.  I waited nine months to check out my abnormal pap, so please don't worry about it.  It could be ANYTHING.  It doesn't have to be cancer!

[Still_AndiJ]

I agree and the mortality rate for cervical cancer is less than 5000 per year and that a majority of those cases are women who go completely undetected. I waited through my pg and actually had cervical cancer, so don't stress about it too much.

Andrea

[Sews]

Thanks everyone!  You are helping to calm my nerves.  I dont know if I am pregnant this month or not yet.  My cycle has been so screwy since my miscarriage.  That was my other fear...what if I am pregnant now and then they find cancerous cells, etc.  I am assumming it is ok to have this vinegar swab test even if you are pregnant?  I will have to test before I go on  MOnday or have the doctor test before the procedure.  

ANyway, again thanks for your comments.

Andrea, how are you feeling?

[Still_AndiJ]

The vinegar swab won't cause any harm while you are pg. All they do it literally swab your cervix with vinegar and look are it to see if it reacts with the cells.

I am okay, still sick : ( I go into my OB tomorrow, so hopefully she will help me out. Thanks for asking!!

Andrea