Intuition

I am a 23 year old african american college student.  For the last year and a half, I can only describe my state as "not feeling right."  In november of 2007, I had my very first abnormal menstuel period at age 21 after ten years of NO abnormalities.  Two months later I woke up to find my stomach abnormally distended in a way that I have never seen and its stayed that way. I have gained weight in my abdomen continuously since then. I saw my doctor and he put me on the pill (OTC LO).  Ever since then I have felt CONSTANT bloating, a dull aching lower pelvic pain and there are times when the urge to urinate is unbelievably strong all of a sudden.  My bowels habits have changed..my stools look different and afterwards I feel and overwhelming decrease in pelvic pressure.  I can't even sleep lay on my stomach anymore without extreme discomfort.  I also experienced episodes of an excruciating lower pelvic pain following bowel movements.  I dont know what to do anymore. I have been to my gynocologist over and over.  I recently had yet another pelvic exam and my doctor said that he felt something on my left ovary, he said it might be a cyst and began to question my family history regaurding cancer.  I told him that both my paternal grandparent died of cancer.  I dont know how significant that is.  Last week I revieved news that the pap smear I had that very day was abnormal and I am scheduled for a coloscopy.  This is only the third pap smear i have ever had, as I did not become sexually active until I turned 22. Is this the normal routine for abnormalities?  The only information I've was given is that the abnormality was "kind of a low grade." What can you make of this?  I know in my heart that something is there and I have for a very long time. I am scared.

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi There
low grade usually means there is a mild change on the pap smear. It is important to repeat the pap smear and look by colposcopy.
This is not a cancer
It is great that you are going for check ups
best wishes