Ok-this might be long so bear with me. I found out in July that I have HPV. I felt a few bumps around the opening of my vagina while washing in the shower so went to see my doc. All my doc had to do was look and tell me that I had it. The one I love gave it to me. When we 1st met (Dec 2001) I noticed a couple of bumps on his pee-pee-I asked him about them, he said they never bothered him-they had popped up a couple of years ago so he never gave it a 2nd thought. I know what you're all thinking, silly silly girl. But to be honest, I wouldn't have known a venereal wart if it bit me on the nose. In hindsight, it was careless, but alas--what's done is done. He now knows what he has. Mine are mainly located inside my vagina, a few on the cervix, the vaginal opening, and a couple on the inside of my left thigh,(which are an exact match to his). I had to get the mirror out when I got home and have a peek and let out a squeal at what I saw. It almost looks like my vagina is growing; it's awful looking. My doc referred me to a gynocologist-and I was told that the wait would be around 2 months for the appt as they don't view warts as high risk (does this mean cervical cancer isn't bad for a woman either?). Needless to say I'm hurt, frustrated, and worried. I have cramping, an inflamed cervix, an awful, thick smelly discharge that suppositories my doc prescribed didn't cure, and the waiting is killing me. The cherry on my cake is that since the diagnosis, my boyfriend (for whom I'm still carrying a torch) has dumped me, leaving me feeling very alone and very broken. I dunno if I'm just feeling sorry for myself or if this is all normal. And is there ANYANY way to get the ball rolling to begin treatment? My pap came back with an "abnormality" and I have to go back for another once my period is done. I just kinda feel like I'm being made to wait because I have an STD. I live in Canada, and was hoping that someone here (possibly from Ontario) could offer me any advice as to another avenue I can take to start being treated. Whew. Ok, that's all for now. I truly look forward to hearing from you all!!!!!
[This message has been edited by kangafly (edited 09-18-2002).]
[This message has been edited by kangafly (edited 09-18-2002).]
Hi Kangafly. I don't know if you've read my post, but I'm waiting to find out if I have HPV, or whatever is wrong that caused my pap smear to be abnormal. Anyway, I've been doing a LOT of searching online about HPV and from what I've read it is the most common STD. Don't feel like you're the only one, because you definitely are not. It's very frustrating to wait for a doctor appointment. I was going through the same thing, with about a month to wait for an appointment. I couldn't wait that long. It was driving me crazy! You don't necessarily have to see the gynecologist that your doctor recommended. I was recommended to one, but she wasn't taking new patients, so I found another. Since that appointment was so far in the future, I kept searching and searching for gynecologists who took my health insurance that had earlier appointments. I had almost given up because the doctors I called had even later appointments, but finally I found a doctor who could take me sooner. Maybe you can even see a nurse practitioner? I think it's crazy that doctors are so booked up that you have to wait. I know how that is.
Another option would be to call your gynecologist back and ask to be put on a waiting list in case someone cancels, then they can call you right away for the cancellation. Good luck!
If only it were so easy!!! I don't even have an appt set to see one yet. What my doc did was make a referral for me, and what I'm doing is waiting, very very impatiently for my doctor's office to call back to tell me who the gynecologist is that I'll be seeing and when. And I've been waiting since mid July. Apparently the gynecologist I've seen in the past doesn't deal with HPV, so they had to move on to another one. I begged to be put on any cancellation list, which is what my doc did. I don't know exactly how the health care system works in the States, but up here in Canada if you need to see a specialist, it has to be done thru your family physician, and sometimes the wait is forever. To top things off, I've started spotting again, I don't know whether its stress or something else causing it, but my doc is fully aware of what's going on. I'd switch family doctors. but yet again, I'd need a referral and Lord only knows how much longer I'd be waiting for that to come thru. My doc hasn't really told me much of what to expect with having HPV, so everything I've learned has been on the internet, and alot of the info differs from site to site. What I do know is that like herpes, the virus can be present without any visible warts, 80% of all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, oral sex(at least receiving) is(much to my dismay) now a big no-no for me, and it's for life. So many questions, no reassuring answers. How long does it take to treat a woman infected with HPV? Can they get rid of all the warts present in one treatment? Or will I have to keep going back for more? Grrrr, I don't mean to come off sounding like a sadsack, but I'm kinda having a hard time dealing with this. It just amazes me how this one visit to the doctor's has completely changed my life and the rules I must abide by from here on in.
Wow, I can't believe that since July your doctor has still not called you! That's messed up! Some insurance companies make you get referrals before seeing specialists, or at least some seem to be more strict than others. That's always a pain. I have tons of questions as well (about HPV). Since it's so difficult to even get a doctor appointment, maybe you should start making a list of all your questions to take with you so that when you do see the doctor you don't forget to ask anything. I usually have so many questions for doctors that I can't even pay attention to the answers because I'm afraid I'll forget my other questions! I don't know how long it takes to be treated for HPV. I've read that if you have warts you have to see a doctor to get them removed and it seems like you have to go back to the doctor each time you get them. There may be something you can use to help prevent them...? I'm not sure. I don't want to give you the wrong information. Is there anyway your doctor could at least give you an estimated guess of when your gynecologist appointment could be? Hopefully they're doing their best in trying. I wish I could help more. Hang in there!
Ok!!! I'm feeling a little bit better now. My doc's office FINALLY called with my 1st app't with the gynecologist. That's the good news. The bad news is that my app't is set for Nov. 15th (the day after my birthday :P what a slightly belated gift ). I'm thrilled that it's been set, but that's still 2 months away. I asked the nurse at my doc's office about the waiting list, she said it wouldn't hurt to call, which of course I did, and they said that they would put me on it. Apparently, according to the nurse at the gynecologist's, they're just now booking for app't's in the new year. Wow. I think up here in Ontario we need a serious reform to our Health care system. So all I can do for now is keep my fingers and toes crossed, inform my doc of any changes, be it good or bad, and just wait I guess. I do have a question tho; has anyone here who has been diagnosed with HPV ever found someone understanding enough to have a relationship with? I'm kinda feeling like all hope is lost as far as finding love again goes, and I'm just looking for positive feedback that won't make me feel like I'll be alone forever. Oh god, I'm such a suck.
new to the wonderful world of HPV 
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