I'm looking for advice, last week I had my yearly exam as I do every year even though I'm only 27. 2 days ago the dr called me back and told me that my pap was abnormal and that a HPV test came back positive for high risk HPV. Now the problem is that I'm a photojournalist and I'm leaving the country next week for my very first book project. The Dr seemed really admit that I come in before I leave on Tuesday or Wednesday for a Colposcopy and possibly a biopsy and they even rescheduled some other appointments to get me in tomorrow. My Dr is leaving town on Saturday and won't be back until after I leave. I will be in the 3rd world until August shooting for a nonprofit. Well my period started this evening so I called and left a message for my physicians assistant and her nurse called me back and told me that they can't do it if they can't see the cervix. She told me it's not a big deal and to just wait until I come back in 2 or 3 months and come in then. However I don't know that I can live 2 or 3 months with that hanging over my head. Even if the test results were not good I would rather know while I'm working or be free from the concern. My question now is I didn't cancel the anointment since it was just the assistants nurse that called me. I think that tomorrow I will instead take a bath or clean up really well right before I go and since it's only day 2 the bleeding shouldn't be much at all. Is there any reason that they can't simply rinse it off when they apply the solution to the cervix if I show up and there is any blood on it? If that just won't work maybe I can get in with another Dr before I go or something. Can anyone tell me if you guys think it's urgent to get this done before I go or if it's not a big deal and 3 months time won't make a difference anyway as the nurse said. Also are there going to be changes in my cervix because on menstruation that will make the test impossible anyway? Any info anyone can give me would be great! Thanks
Did your Dr. tell you what kind of abnormal pap smear you had? I had a leep in April 2007 and my pap in april came back with ACSUS and HPV Positive - high risk, my doctor is waiting four months to do another pap smear, it all depends on what they actually seen on your pap smear, you might want to ask that question. I myself would not wait if your doctor is wanting to do this before you leave.
I called the clinic and they told me they can't do it when I'm having my period. The Dr who is leaving town in the only dr at that clinic (small town) that can preform the coloscopy and she is leaving tomorrow so there was nothing I could do until July 8th.
I called another local clinic and they set me up with an appointment for Monday evening and my periods are short it should be done by tomorrow so Monday evening is great. They needed a referal so I called me Dr and she faxed one to me to take with me. That sheet also said that I had ASCH pap and high risk HPV. The clinic also said that they can email me my test results since I will be out of the country when they come back. I intend to go back to my regular Dr when I return but I wanted at least this test done before I go so I know something, anything, about what's going on.
I'll update on Monday night or Tuesday about what they say at the coloscopy, who knows maybe I'll get good new while I'm gone instead of bad news.
In any case, make sure you're eating well (or as well as you can in a third world country), have had all the necessary vaccines before you go, etc. Your immune system at your age should be able to fight off the virus, but if your immune system is compromised, it's more likely to get worse.
ASC-H is an ASCUS (Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance) result that can not exclude HSIL (High grade dysplasia or CIN II or III). The PAP is only a screening. The colposcopy is diagnostic which is why they want to do it. The results of the colpo determine which corrective measures are necessary...wait/watch, leep/loop, cryo etc.. Dysplasia usually progresses slowly but there are cases, even on this board, where it has progressed quickly. The urgency of a procedure really depends on what the colpo shows. Obviously no one can tell you the "right" way to go but I hope this information helps somewhat.
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