I had a pap done on 10/31 and my results came back abnormal yesterday. I have always had normal paps. This pap was done about a year and a half after my last pap. The doctor said it was high grade and scheduled me for a colposcopy on 11/30. I am so very nervous. I want to call the Ob/Gyn to see if I can be called to go in earlier if there are any cancellations.

Will the dr. know from the colposcopy how bad things are? Do they usually do LEEP in the same visit if necessary? I just want this whole thing over. What are the chances of this developing into cancer?

Has someone had a similar story that can help me understand the process? I'm so happy to have found this board. The information is so vague out there.

Btw, I know this is usually caused by the HPV virus. I was a smoker for about 8 years (currently 30) and have been on the pill for about 10 years. I have read both of these items could cause some issues.

Thanks in advance!

I have a story like yours. I had normal paps all my life, and then a few months ago got one that came back abnormal. I had a colposcopy and the doctor actually said, "well it looks ok, I think it'll just be mild or moderate dysplasia." But she did a punch biopsy in a couple of places and an endocervical curettage (Be SURE that your doc does an ECC while you are getting your colposcopy!)

When the results came back they showed carcinoma in situ--cancer that sits on the surface of the skin. How scary is that? I was terrified. Goes to show that they cannot tell from looking, even through the colposcope thing. They must have the biposy read by a pathologist.

I also turned out to have (surprise!) high-risk HPV. I'd never tested positive for that before.

Anyway, in my case they did a LEEP and the margins were unclear, indicating that there might still be some CIS left inside. I'm going back for another cone surgery in two weeks. I did have my pathology read by a gyn/onc who said, all in all, that my situation was well under control and not likely to develop into invasive cancer before the cone, and that the cone would likely remove all of it. So I'm no longer freaking out.

All this to say... get the full ECC and biopsy. Wait for the results from the the path (the waiting will very nearly drive you insane) and try not to worry too much. Even if it is carcinoma in situ or even microinvasive cancer, it is fairly easy to excise. Early detection is key.

Let us know how things turn out and, again, TRY not to worry (I know that's futile, but try! :) )

I just had my coloscopy/biopsy last Thursday. My doctor called two weeks prior to that to tell me my pap was "abnormal", the word they seem to used for everything. Before I had the coloscopy, she told me they would do the coloscopy, and if it looked like something was there, she'd do the biopsy. So she ended up doing the biopsy, and now I have to wait two more weeks to find out the results. I'm not sure if they did the ECC that SippyCup mentions, but my doctor hasn't really told me much. She just told me that we'd discuss treatment options when I go back if we need to.

I hope yours turn out okay and you don't need a biopsy. I've read that they aren't painful, but mine was. Maybe I'm just a wuss, lol. You might want to take some motrin or something just in case though.

While it's terrible that so many of us are going through this, I'm greatful that this message board is here for us to communicate. It is comforting to have people to talk to who are going through similar situations.

Painful indeed!:eek: Must've been a man who types the informational pamphlets for biopsies and ECC's stating "you may feel a little discomfort". BS ! I took a percocet last Friday before I went in for my Col. and ECC because after having it done twice before, I knew there is definetly pain involved! Don't want to scare anyone about the pain but I felt I would've better prepared myself and not been so shocked had I known. Or perhaps it's just that I may be overly sensitive to pain? I didn't think so but who knows. I never had a LEEP only 2 cones, so I don't even know what a LEEP is. For the cone, it is a scheduled surgery with general anesthesia.
Hope some of this helps at least one person.

I agree. I would have prepared a little better if I had known it would be painful. When they were prepping me, they asked if I had taken anything for pain, and when I said no, they offered some Advil. I declined, but then decided they were offering it to me for a reason, lol.

I agree. I would have prepared a little better if I had known it would be painful. When they were prepping me, they asked if I had taken anything for pain, and when I said no, they offered some Advil. I declined, but then decided they were offering it to me for a reason, lol.

Wise decision ! Although with the Advil, it may have been as effective as eating a sweet tart !:D

Thank you all for the great information! I'm feeling a little better about the condition. I guess there's not much I can do except wait until my visit on the 11/30.

I'm glad to have a little support group to come to! I'll let you know how the process goes.

Have a thankful thanksgiving everyone!

what is a Leep procedure?:confused:

I could not agree with you more. I have had it with doctors not using any kind of pain killer. I have had two male doctors and not to say anything against them, but I am going for a female doctor this time. I am sure there are male docs that believe in pain killers, there needs to be more. Seriously, I want to say to the male docs, "This shouldn't hurt but just like a "pinch". :blob_fire Then snip a piece of of his penis!" LOL I sure he would change his tune. I had one tell me that the vagina was not that sensitive of an area. I wanted to reply, "Oh so your a virgin and have never experienced sex, I see.":angel: What's that I hear??? Oh an angel getting HIS wings. It is a WONDERFUL LIFE, isn't it! LOL

oh yes it hurts. The first time it was a man. He said "just a pinch" Next time i told my female Dr. what happened and that i refuse another biopsy. She said That she would use a topical numbing med and she gave me a pill as well. She said my previous doc was a jerk for not numbing me. I really wanted to kick him accross the room when he did the first snip. I went home and curled up in the fetal position for the rest of the day. Maybe men should be gynos!

I've had 3 colposcopies and 9 biopsies. I can't say I really felt pain, but my OB/GYN has me work up a cough, and while I cough, she snips. I'm too busy trying to cough to pay attention to what she is doing. I don't think I could go to a male doctor for this procedure...how can they even have a clue about the stress and fear, (not to mention the lovely position) involved.
It also helps me to have the head of the bed raised so I can make eye contact with my doctor. It makes me feel I have a little more power over the situation. By the way, the last set of biopsies were clear. Hurray!

I have NEVER tried the cough method. I have had the same three procedures with nine biopsies. So I am going to try this. I hope this works, say some prayers for me. I have my next on December 4th! :0) Jules.:wave:

Had the Colposcopy done today. Glad that is over! It wasn't as bad as I thought...still very uncomfortable. The Dr. told me I will have to have the LEEP procedure done. I will have the biopsy results back on Tuesday. I will try to schedule the leep for the following week.

He told me the colposcopy is more painful than the leep (after we finished) - can anyone vouch for this?

He took three snipets of the area. The process took no more than 10 minutes. I'm in a little discomfort right now. I feel I'll be better by morning.

Such a weight is lifted now that it's over. I'm glad to have this support group. Thank you to everyone!

Hi,

I was just searching this board to answers to my own questions about my results, but joined so that I could answer your question.

For me, the LEEP procedure was less painful than the colposcopy with biopsy (which I agree I was not prepared for the pain - advil did not do a thing). For reasons I do not quite understand, however, my gyn did a D&C in addition to the LEEP. I am not sure whether he suspects something more is going on or whether he was just being overly cautious. My biopsy results were "CIN 2-3, HSIL extending into endocervical glands...chronic endocervicitis" and the ECC said "rare strips of benign endocervical glands and mucus."

Anyway, the LEEP/D&C was done in a hospital under general anesthesia, so I did not feel a thing during and after I really felt great. I was a tiny bit sore for a few days after and still have some discharge (a little more than a week later). But I really did prefer the whole experience over the biopsy.

I haven't yet gotten the path results.

I hope that your LEEP goes as well as mine did. Good luck!

Jean