Please help me stop freaking out about an abnormal pap.
December 10, 2015 12:17 PM Subscribe
I just had an email from my doctor that a Pap test was abnormal. I know that the problems are not uncommon (I tested positive for HPV for the first time, and had atypical squamous cells). They told me to schedule a colposcopy. I'm 36, and my mother had uterine cancer when she was fairly young (though unrelated to HPV or cervical cancer). I'm feeling freaked out, though I know rationally I shouldn't yet. Need some tips on how to focus on work and not stress out too much about this...I'm already anxious and having a lot of trouble sleeping for other reasons.
Additional detail: I actually had another Pap earlier this year with a different clinic (and forgot about it, which is why I had another) and that was normal. So any changes must be recent. I also had only one partner since then (now broken up), and I'm wondering if I should tell him.
Additional detail: I actually had another Pap earlier this year with a different clinic (and forgot about it, which is why I had another) and that was normal. So any changes must be recent. I also had only one partner since then (now broken up), and I'm wondering if I should tell him.
Super common. The most important thing is to get the paps and whatever followup your doc recommends. You're doing everything right.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:30 PM on December 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:30 PM on December 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
Perhaps reminding yourself that you can't do anything about it until you have an idea of what you're dealing with might be helpful. I did that when I was told to schedule a test recently for something I honestly wish I didn't have to deal with and it made me feel a lot more empowered.
posted by discopolo at 12:31 PM on December 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by discopolo at 12:31 PM on December 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
I'm already anxious and having a lot of trouble sleeping for other reasons.
Gently, have you considered asking your doctor about this? Sometimes when you're going through a particularly anxious period, drugs can help smooth things out. Especially the trouble sleeping -- that will make everything else harder.
You're doing all the right things and you can't do anything else right now. Be kind to yourself. <3
posted by fiercecupcake at 12:34 PM on December 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
Gently, have you considered asking your doctor about this? Sometimes when you're going through a particularly anxious period, drugs can help smooth things out. Especially the trouble sleeping -- that will make everything else harder.
You're doing all the right things and you can't do anything else right now. Be kind to yourself. <3
posted by fiercecupcake at 12:34 PM on December 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
Oh, wow. Sorry they are doing this to you. I had an abnormal pap in my twenties due to an ongoing yeast infection. They treated me for the yeast infection and then I guess redid the pap. I don't really recall. I just thought it was rather dickish of them to have me freaked out. Uterine cancer runs in the family and I was beside myself about dying in my twenties with small kids and then they were all "Oh, yeah, yeast infection. No big." And I was like "WHAT THE HELL?!! You people couldn't TELL me that instead of scaring the hell out of me?"
For now, I suggest you just swear a lot about what dicks medical professionals are and assume it is a yeast infection.
(HUGS) (if you want them)
posted by Michele in California at 12:41 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
For now, I suggest you just swear a lot about what dicks medical professionals are and assume it is a yeast infection.
(HUGS) (if you want them)
posted by Michele in California at 12:41 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
A couple of techniques for dealing with worry/anxiety that have helped me in the past:
Write down your fears and anxieties on a piece of paper, then fold it up, put it in your pocket, and tell yourself "okay, I don't need to worry about that right now. The paper's got it covered for me. I can worry later when I'm done work."
Alternately, schedule worry-time into your calendar. Make an appointment with your worry in which you can fully embrace the anxiety and really sit with it. When you find anxiety popping up throughout the rest of the day, remind yourself that you've got that appointment later in which to hang out with it.
posted by burntflowers at 12:42 PM on December 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
Write down your fears and anxieties on a piece of paper, then fold it up, put it in your pocket, and tell yourself "okay, I don't need to worry about that right now. The paper's got it covered for me. I can worry later when I'm done work."
Alternately, schedule worry-time into your calendar. Make an appointment with your worry in which you can fully embrace the anxiety and really sit with it. When you find anxiety popping up throughout the rest of the day, remind yourself that you've got that appointment later in which to hang out with it.
posted by burntflowers at 12:42 PM on December 10, 2015 [4 favorites]
My mantra in these cases: Whatever will be, already is. There's nothing you can do about it.
There's nothing you can do except what you're doing, which is going in for a follow up. There's nothing you can do to make it better or worse now. The answer to your question already exists, you're just waiting to hear it.
If the news is bad, you know what you'll do? Deal with it. You'll discuss next steps with the doctor and make a plan and then follow the plan.
If the news is good, you'll be glad and there will be nothing else to do except what you're obviously doing, which is keep up with your routine maintenance.
To banish the obsessive thoughts, I ask: Is this going to help? Is it going to fix anything? If not, let it go. Visualize letting it go, shaking it off, blowing it away. Schedule 5 minutes a day to freak out if you must so you can put it off until then, but when you're done let it go.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:45 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's nothing you can do except what you're doing, which is going in for a follow up. There's nothing you can do to make it better or worse now. The answer to your question already exists, you're just waiting to hear it.
If the news is bad, you know what you'll do? Deal with it. You'll discuss next steps with the doctor and make a plan and then follow the plan.
If the news is good, you'll be glad and there will be nothing else to do except what you're obviously doing, which is keep up with your routine maintenance.
To banish the obsessive thoughts, I ask: Is this going to help? Is it going to fix anything? If not, let it go. Visualize letting it go, shaking it off, blowing it away. Schedule 5 minutes a day to freak out if you must so you can put it off until then, but when you're done let it go.
posted by Lyn Never at 12:45 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I know that this is scary, but try to remember that worrying will not change anything. It will just make you feel worse. Picture your thoughts about this as a bubble and whenever they intrude, take a deep breath and let them float away.
No, I don't think you need to tell your ex about this. Pretty much anyone who is sexually active will be exposed to HPV at some point.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 12:48 PM on December 10, 2015
No, I don't think you need to tell your ex about this. Pretty much anyone who is sexually active will be exposed to HPV at some point.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 12:48 PM on December 10, 2015
I got one of these 10 years into my
Marriage, had no idea why, pretty much blew off the advice to get the coloscopy (not saying that was 'smart' but just didn't want to do it.
when I got pregnant, and was forced into going back into the obgyn my pap was totally normal. Not saying you should blow it off, but also, like, it's ok if you want to wait to do it and see if it clears up day after 6 months or so. Doctors are great at what they do, and also tend to be more reactionary than needed, at times.
posted by Rocket26 at 12:55 PM on December 10, 2015
Marriage, had no idea why, pretty much blew off the advice to get the coloscopy (not saying that was 'smart' but just didn't want to do it.
when I got pregnant, and was forced into going back into the obgyn my pap was totally normal. Not saying you should blow it off, but also, like, it's ok if you want to wait to do it and see if it clears up day after 6 months or so. Doctors are great at what they do, and also tend to be more reactionary than needed, at times.
posted by Rocket26 at 12:55 PM on December 10, 2015
If you want some more anecdata, I have literally never had a normal result, and I've never had cancer; basically when they've done further testing they haven't found problems so I just get the big shrug from the doctor.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 12:57 PM on December 10, 2015
posted by goodbyewaffles at 12:57 PM on December 10, 2015
I also have a rule about worrying between the hours of 10p-5a, which is that if it's something I can fix in under 15 minutes (an email I need to send, make lunch for tomorrow so I'm not so busy in the morning, wait for the washer to finish), fine.
If not, too bad, it's gotta wait until after 5am. If I need to take half a sleeping pill or have some chamomile tea or a nice hot shower, whatever I have to do to "treat" the anxiety for now and deal with it in the morning.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:00 PM on December 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
If not, too bad, it's gotta wait until after 5am. If I need to take half a sleeping pill or have some chamomile tea or a nice hot shower, whatever I have to do to "treat" the anxiety for now and deal with it in the morning.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:00 PM on December 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm so sorry you're stressed. I totally understand.
I get checked like clockwork every year, and last year I got an abnormal result (atypical squamous cells). My GYN was so not worried she told me to just get rechecked in six months. HA!
Like you, I was stressed and there was no way I was going to wait that long. I went to another GYN and she explained to me that it's not inappropriate to wait several months for a re-check because -- and here's the point I'm leading up to -- the scary things I was thinking (same thing you are) take years to develop. On the other hand, even something like a stressed immune system, bacterial vaginosis, or minor infection can throw off pap results. Waiting a few months gives those kinds of situations time to clear up without risking your health. She also mentioned that it could be something as simple as a diagnostic error in the lab.
The doctor went on to tell me that, in her opinion, women die needlessly from cervical cancer because they don't get regular paps. She said it's such a slow-moving disease that if it's caught at the beginning, it's pretty much curable. Fatal cases are typically due to lack of preventative reproductive care. (Again, this is only what she told me. I can't verify it's validity but I do trust her.)
Despite all that, she did go ahead and do a retest and it came back fine.
I understand your worry and fear, I was the same way. I'm chiming in to agree with other commenters that abnormal paps are quite common and neither of my doctors batted an eye to hear my initial one came back with that result.
Oh! One other thing. The second doc did tell me that if it continued to come back abnormal then a colposcopy was in my future but she wanted to do another pap or two first, spaced out over a few months, to give the situation a chance to resolve on its own. It did. :)
Best of luck to you.
posted by _Mona_ at 1:02 PM on December 10, 2015 [3 favorites]
I get checked like clockwork every year, and last year I got an abnormal result (atypical squamous cells). My GYN was so not worried she told me to just get rechecked in six months. HA!
Like you, I was stressed and there was no way I was going to wait that long. I went to another GYN and she explained to me that it's not inappropriate to wait several months for a re-check because -- and here's the point I'm leading up to -- the scary things I was thinking (same thing you are) take years to develop. On the other hand, even something like a stressed immune system, bacterial vaginosis, or minor infection can throw off pap results. Waiting a few months gives those kinds of situations time to clear up without risking your health. She also mentioned that it could be something as simple as a diagnostic error in the lab.
The doctor went on to tell me that, in her opinion, women die needlessly from cervical cancer because they don't get regular paps. She said it's such a slow-moving disease that if it's caught at the beginning, it's pretty much curable. Fatal cases are typically due to lack of preventative reproductive care. (Again, this is only what she told me. I can't verify it's validity but I do trust her.)
Despite all that, she did go ahead and do a retest and it came back fine.
I understand your worry and fear, I was the same way. I'm chiming in to agree with other commenters that abnormal paps are quite common and neither of my doctors batted an eye to hear my initial one came back with that result.
Oh! One other thing. The second doc did tell me that if it continued to come back abnormal then a colposcopy was in my future but she wanted to do another pap or two first, spaced out over a few months, to give the situation a chance to resolve on its own. It did. :)
Best of luck to you.
posted by _Mona_ at 1:02 PM on December 10, 2015 [3 favorites]
Yeah, so common, from another person whose been freaked out by this and the colposcopy and waiting for results and it was totally fine and normal and really the worst part was the anxiety.
I don't know, I just tried to remind myself how common it is and be super kind to myself. Like I took myself out for some Indulgent lunches at work during that time period, and let some other adulting slide. Now I think I'd be tempted to get more of those little adult things Done to help channel the anxiety into something useful. But, mostly, what helps your anxiety? Yoga? Meditation? A drink? Cheesy TV? Rocking the To Do list? Do whatever is helpful (and not harmful) for you in the short term.
posted by ldthomps at 1:02 PM on December 10, 2015
I don't know, I just tried to remind myself how common it is and be super kind to myself. Like I took myself out for some Indulgent lunches at work during that time period, and let some other adulting slide. Now I think I'd be tempted to get more of those little adult things Done to help channel the anxiety into something useful. But, mostly, what helps your anxiety? Yoga? Meditation? A drink? Cheesy TV? Rocking the To Do list? Do whatever is helpful (and not harmful) for you in the short term.
posted by ldthomps at 1:02 PM on December 10, 2015
I'm kind of sad and disappointed to see comments saying that your doctors are making these recommendations because they are just "dicks" or being "too reactionary".
There are very specific guidelines as to what steps should be taken after abnormal pap smears, depending on exactly what the results of the Pap show and what age you are. These are the guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. They are designed to prevent cancer and they are not just done based on the whims or feelings of your doctor and how laid back they are. And not because we are dicks or enjoy putting patients through needless procedures. If what your doctor has recommended does not seem to adhere to these guidelines, feel free to ask them why.
It is possible for abnormal Paps to clear up on their own but of course you need to take the steps recommended to prevent cancer. To other commenters, it seems to me that the asker wants to know how to deal with the anxiety rather than whether her treatment plan is a good one, so I think we should keep our answers in line with that.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:17 PM on December 10, 2015 [16 favorites]
There are very specific guidelines as to what steps should be taken after abnormal pap smears, depending on exactly what the results of the Pap show and what age you are. These are the guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. They are designed to prevent cancer and they are not just done based on the whims or feelings of your doctor and how laid back they are. And not because we are dicks or enjoy putting patients through needless procedures. If what your doctor has recommended does not seem to adhere to these guidelines, feel free to ask them why.
It is possible for abnormal Paps to clear up on their own but of course you need to take the steps recommended to prevent cancer. To other commenters, it seems to me that the asker wants to know how to deal with the anxiety rather than whether her treatment plan is a good one, so I think we should keep our answers in line with that.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:17 PM on December 10, 2015 [16 favorites]
I have to run to take care of some babies, but I know there have been multiple similar questions in the past - perhaps someone has time to search and link them for you? There has been better advice in prior threads, although some of this advice is good too.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:19 PM on December 10, 2015
posted by treehorn+bunny at 1:19 PM on December 10, 2015
So, when I begin to stress out about something, what helps me is to play everything out to its worst possible conclusion, pick that apart, and then check my reasoning against reality. To that end, let me offer you some worst-case reality to check against.
IANAD, but I've had cervical cancer, and it was, IMHO, the cancer to get if you absolutely must get cancer. Non-life-critical body part? Check. Slow-moving? Check. Easily cured with surgery if caught early? Check. Okay, the colposcopies and biopsies are not fun by any stretch of the imagination, but this is why painkillers exist. It was a major hassle, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't life-ruining.
You should tell your ex-partner, as they might unwittingly transmit the HPV to someone else (men don't always exhibit visible symptoms of HPV, so they think they're totally fine).
Feel free to MeMail me if you have specific questions about the colposcopy, etc.
posted by culfinglin at 1:25 PM on December 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
IANAD, but I've had cervical cancer, and it was, IMHO, the cancer to get if you absolutely must get cancer. Non-life-critical body part? Check. Slow-moving? Check. Easily cured with surgery if caught early? Check. Okay, the colposcopies and biopsies are not fun by any stretch of the imagination, but this is why painkillers exist. It was a major hassle, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't life-ruining.
You should tell your ex-partner, as they might unwittingly transmit the HPV to someone else (men don't always exhibit visible symptoms of HPV, so they think they're totally fine).
Feel free to MeMail me if you have specific questions about the colposcopy, etc.
posted by culfinglin at 1:25 PM on December 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
I threw the first abnormal pap of my life in spring of 2013. By July of 2013 it was normal again and still normal. Worrying actually decreases your immunity so relax. If you have the procedure it is not too anything.
Regardless what the establishment says I think the HPV vaccination should be given, even in this situation to alert the immune system. I read that if you pick up HPV from a partner close to you genetically, like same genetic stock, your immune system has a harder time detecting the virus. But just wait for the next result.
Me mail me if you are interested in a meditation to combat it. I went through a process with a pediatrician regarding a wart on my kid's foot. She had a patient with warts all over her face. She read everything she could find and before resorting to surgery she sent the girl to a hypnotist. Within a month the warts fell off. Before we did the wart b gone or surgery, we did this meditative ritual. Three weeks later I heard this big ouch from the kitchen, and I called out asking what is up and my daughter said that she had stepped on something. It was the wart, on the floor, and on her foot was a smooth concavity. Some of this is letting your body know it is there and unwanted.
posted by Oyéah at 1:52 PM on December 10, 2015
Regardless what the establishment says I think the HPV vaccination should be given, even in this situation to alert the immune system. I read that if you pick up HPV from a partner close to you genetically, like same genetic stock, your immune system has a harder time detecting the virus. But just wait for the next result.
Me mail me if you are interested in a meditation to combat it. I went through a process with a pediatrician regarding a wart on my kid's foot. She had a patient with warts all over her face. She read everything she could find and before resorting to surgery she sent the girl to a hypnotist. Within a month the warts fell off. Before we did the wart b gone or surgery, we did this meditative ritual. Three weeks later I heard this big ouch from the kitchen, and I called out asking what is up and my daughter said that she had stepped on something. It was the wart, on the floor, and on her foot was a smooth concavity. Some of this is letting your body know it is there and unwanted.
posted by Oyéah at 1:52 PM on December 10, 2015
I was just as freaked out about you when I had my first abnormal pap and my first "we need to give you a colposcopy" talk. And what helped me was just some cold hard facts.
And those facts are: even if this is the VERY WORST case scenario, and those cells are "something we need to do something about," you are still, like, TEN YEARS from them turning into cancer, and the only way they would do so is if you literally do nothing to stop them for the next ten years.
Think of it like this - when you get onto Interstate 95 North just outside New York, you'll see signs that say
What also helped was, a friend's co-worker had the "freezing the thing off" thing done, and she told me that all that happened was the co-worker took a day off work and just felt crampy and sore after the procedure, but was back in work the next day, and was fine. So if you do need to get treated, that is the only thing that you're looking at, most likely. And you may not even need to get treated (I didn't). But as far as "worst case scenarios" go, that one ain't bad.
So in a sense, all that this result means is that there's a chance you got onto I-95-North, but there's still plenty of time to get off in Westchester or New Rochelle and turn around and go back to New York. It potentially may be annoying, but you're not lost.
Good luck.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:11 PM on December 10, 2015 [8 favorites]
And those facts are: even if this is the VERY WORST case scenario, and those cells are "something we need to do something about," you are still, like, TEN YEARS from them turning into cancer, and the only way they would do so is if you literally do nothing to stop them for the next ten years.
Think of it like this - when you get onto Interstate 95 North just outside New York, you'll see signs that say
I-95-N:But that doesn't mean that New Haven and Boston are the next exits. You still have about three hours and dozens of chances to get off the highway before you get to Boston. Similarly, there is PLENTY of time to stop and/or treat whatever you have going on before it gets deadly.
New Haven
Boston
What also helped was, a friend's co-worker had the "freezing the thing off" thing done, and she told me that all that happened was the co-worker took a day off work and just felt crampy and sore after the procedure, but was back in work the next day, and was fine. So if you do need to get treated, that is the only thing that you're looking at, most likely. And you may not even need to get treated (I didn't). But as far as "worst case scenarios" go, that one ain't bad.
So in a sense, all that this result means is that there's a chance you got onto I-95-North, but there's still plenty of time to get off in Westchester or New Rochelle and turn around and go back to New York. It potentially may be annoying, but you're not lost.
Good luck.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:11 PM on December 10, 2015 [8 favorites]
Yeah I'm 25 and a few years ago had whole round of this crap. Abnormal pap, biopsies, almost had a leep (didn't!) more biopsies, another pap, then another pap, all within about 2 years. I've now had 3 clear paps in a row. I skipped this last year's due to other health things but will get one in the next few months. My new OB is fine doing them every year or every other year when a couple other doctors told me I could wait for up to 3 years because I had three in a row clean.
This is something your body can just take care of, hence why I didn't need a leep. It's also why my new doctor told me they have stretched the recommendations for every 3 years because bodies will heal and may not need as invasive treatment. I like to be more cautious, personally. But yeah, it's fine. I had moderate to severe changes and just had to get some biopsies and it went away on its own.
And yeah, there's tons of similar questions on here if you want more backup.
posted by Crystalinne at 2:32 PM on December 10, 2015
This is something your body can just take care of, hence why I didn't need a leep. It's also why my new doctor told me they have stretched the recommendations for every 3 years because bodies will heal and may not need as invasive treatment. I like to be more cautious, personally. But yeah, it's fine. I had moderate to severe changes and just had to get some biopsies and it went away on its own.
And yeah, there's tons of similar questions on here if you want more backup.
posted by Crystalinne at 2:32 PM on December 10, 2015
Burntflowers de-worrying solution is very similar to mine (my worries go into a mental suitcase and get drowned in the river I pass on my way home). As a fellow anxiety person I know that if I am already anxious ANYTHING can make me feel out of control and then I worry about even more things and I feel worse.
So to get through the anxious waiting, say to yourself "I don't need to think of this right now, future me will deal with it calmly when the time comes". And future you will do just fine because as so many people have said (and it happened to me too) abnormal test results are so very often false alarms. Plus future you will have the benefit of the nurturing you will give yourself now.
Please do see your doc about your anxiety. After a life time of being at a baseline of say 70% anxiety and so very easily ramping up into meltdown mode at the slightest provocation, zoloft keeps me at a baseline of 5-10% anxiety and it is life changing.
posted by kitten magic at 2:39 PM on December 10, 2015
So to get through the anxious waiting, say to yourself "I don't need to think of this right now, future me will deal with it calmly when the time comes". And future you will do just fine because as so many people have said (and it happened to me too) abnormal test results are so very often false alarms. Plus future you will have the benefit of the nurturing you will give yourself now.
Please do see your doc about your anxiety. After a life time of being at a baseline of say 70% anxiety and so very easily ramping up into meltdown mode at the slightest provocation, zoloft keeps me at a baseline of 5-10% anxiety and it is life changing.
posted by kitten magic at 2:39 PM on December 10, 2015
To clarify, obviously not saying Zoloft is the answer for you but sharing my concerns with my GP led to that being a solution for me and one I wouldn't have had if I kept struggling alone feeling like a failure because the common practical advice wasn't enough to help me.
posted by kitten magic at 2:43 PM on December 10, 2015
posted by kitten magic at 2:43 PM on December 10, 2015
This happened to me about 20 years ago. Dr's office called & said very casually "You need to come in for a new PAP smear because your results 6 months ago were abnormal". They hadn't thought to mention it at the time...
So I thought I had cancer, and when I talked to my Dr., he didn't explain it well and I was quite panicked.
Turns out that if one smear is abnormal, you have another. In my case it was still abnormal, so I had a LEEP. That removed the abnormal cells so they never had a chance to eventually become cancerous.
I do wish medical people would explain things better. To the average laywoman, "abnormal PAP" means "Cancer". What it really means is "take the next steps (re-smear, and LEEP if necessary) and it won't become cancer".
posted by LauraJ at 3:01 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
So I thought I had cancer, and when I talked to my Dr., he didn't explain it well and I was quite panicked.
Turns out that if one smear is abnormal, you have another. In my case it was still abnormal, so I had a LEEP. That removed the abnormal cells so they never had a chance to eventually become cancerous.
I do wish medical people would explain things better. To the average laywoman, "abnormal PAP" means "Cancer". What it really means is "take the next steps (re-smear, and LEEP if necessary) and it won't become cancer".
posted by LauraJ at 3:01 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I read that if you pick up HPV from a partner close to you genetically, like same genetic stock, your immune system has a harder time detecting the virus.
Link please? While it's true that viruses use host cells to replicate, they have their own genetic information, different from the host.
Also: HPV, like many viruses, can exist in the body for a long time before it causes any symptoms (see also: herpes zoster, the virus that causes shingles). A normal Pap earlier this year and an abnormal one now *does not* mean that you were exposed to HPV by the partner you had in between the two tests.
I am a worrier by nature, but I also believe in science. What helps me is to acknowledge the worry, recognize that it is a legitimate fear that I have, and then begin to ask myself about the actual statistical likelihood of whatever it is I'm worrying about. When I start to talk to myself about actual numbers, I get calmer.
posted by jesourie at 3:33 PM on December 10, 2015
Link please? While it's true that viruses use host cells to replicate, they have their own genetic information, different from the host.
Also: HPV, like many viruses, can exist in the body for a long time before it causes any symptoms (see also: herpes zoster, the virus that causes shingles). A normal Pap earlier this year and an abnormal one now *does not* mean that you were exposed to HPV by the partner you had in between the two tests.
I am a worrier by nature, but I also believe in science. What helps me is to acknowledge the worry, recognize that it is a legitimate fear that I have, and then begin to ask myself about the actual statistical likelihood of whatever it is I'm worrying about. When I start to talk to myself about actual numbers, I get calmer.
posted by jesourie at 3:33 PM on December 10, 2015
I do wish medical people would explain things better. To the average laywoman, "abnormal PAP" means "Cancer". What it really means is "take the next steps (re-smear, and LEEP if necessary) and it won't become cancer".
Given that a yeast infection can lead to a notice of abnormal pap, it doesn't necessarily even mean that much. Given the clinic knew mine was abnormal due to a yeast infection, it seems unnecessarily callous to not give a little more info to patients at the time of notification. A test result that is so frequently abnormal without being cancerous yet has quite a lot of people freaking out over it -- there is no reason this process shouldn't be updated in some manner so as to show some sensitivity to the patient.
So, OP, I see no reason for you to blame yourself. The notification process for this test is broken. Recognize that and put the blame where it belongs. Then try to calm down based on the idea that the signal to noise ratio is so bad that you cannot at this point in time draw any conclusions beyond "I need more testing." That's all it means. And it should be handled a lot more sensitively than it typically is.
posted by Michele in California at 3:44 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Given that a yeast infection can lead to a notice of abnormal pap, it doesn't necessarily even mean that much. Given the clinic knew mine was abnormal due to a yeast infection, it seems unnecessarily callous to not give a little more info to patients at the time of notification. A test result that is so frequently abnormal without being cancerous yet has quite a lot of people freaking out over it -- there is no reason this process shouldn't be updated in some manner so as to show some sensitivity to the patient.
So, OP, I see no reason for you to blame yourself. The notification process for this test is broken. Recognize that and put the blame where it belongs. Then try to calm down based on the idea that the signal to noise ratio is so bad that you cannot at this point in time draw any conclusions beyond "I need more testing." That's all it means. And it should be handled a lot more sensitively than it typically is.
posted by Michele in California at 3:44 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
NIMH has 500+ pages about HPV. It doez discuss variances in the virus that split according to geographically distinct populations. I will find the specific study about similarity and immune response.
posted by Oyéah at 5:20 PM on December 10, 2015
posted by Oyéah at 5:20 PM on December 10, 2015
I had one, followed up by a colposcopy that found nothing apparently wrong, and a perfectly normal pap smear one year later. Don't pay this any more mind until your doctor provides colposcopy results. There's literally nothing you can do except go to your colposcopy appointment and take yourself to a splurge lunch afterwards. Take care!
posted by theraflu at 5:34 PM on December 10, 2015
posted by theraflu at 5:34 PM on December 10, 2015
I haven't had an irregular pap smear before but recently tested positive for HPV at the same time as I got a normal pap smear result back. It did kind of inspire a night of worried internet browsing, but most of what I found both about HPV and abnormal pap smears was pretty much what people are saying here - in other words, probably not a huge deal.
Also, I did get in touch with the guy I was seeing most recently to let him know. It was a little bit of an awkward conversation, but he didn't seem too phazed by it, he thanked me for being honest and I felt better about myself having told him. So tell your ex if you want. It's not like he could do much with the information (no test for HPV in guys and they don't have any preventive screening for any of the cancers that seem to be somewhat associated with HPV in men) except maybe alert future partners that he may have been exposed, but it could be nice to have had the conversation.
posted by knownfossils at 12:28 AM on December 11, 2015
Also, I did get in touch with the guy I was seeing most recently to let him know. It was a little bit of an awkward conversation, but he didn't seem too phazed by it, he thanked me for being honest and I felt better about myself having told him. So tell your ex if you want. It's not like he could do much with the information (no test for HPV in guys and they don't have any preventive screening for any of the cancers that seem to be somewhat associated with HPV in men) except maybe alert future partners that he may have been exposed, but it could be nice to have had the conversation.
posted by knownfossils at 12:28 AM on December 11, 2015
Hey, just chiming in as yet another "This happened to me!" story. I had the abnormal pap, the HPV+, the colpo, the LEEP, and when THAT finally came back negative, they had me come back for a follow-up pap in a year. I just had that, and that was clear, and now I don't have to come back for three years. So it's gravy and there's no need to worry. In so many cases, this will be the answer.
Like you, I was terrified, and I told my doctors that I was scared and wanted to be less anxious and not feel any pain, and they prescribed me anti-anxiety drugs and pain medications. I took the pills as I was walking in the door to the clinic, and by the time I was laying down for the procedure with my headphones and my comedy show on netflix I felt extremely relaxed and silly. Everyone was very kind. The gnarliest part was the aftercare stuff they put in to pack the wound, which came out in chunks like a paper/blood period and smelled funky. And the no sex for a week.
Feel free to memail me if you need to talk. I totally understand your stress, I lived it. But you are gonna be FINE :)
posted by woodvine at 10:06 AM on December 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
Like you, I was terrified, and I told my doctors that I was scared and wanted to be less anxious and not feel any pain, and they prescribed me anti-anxiety drugs and pain medications. I took the pills as I was walking in the door to the clinic, and by the time I was laying down for the procedure with my headphones and my comedy show on netflix I felt extremely relaxed and silly. Everyone was very kind. The gnarliest part was the aftercare stuff they put in to pack the wound, which came out in chunks like a paper/blood period and smelled funky. And the no sex for a week.
Feel free to memail me if you need to talk. I totally understand your stress, I lived it. But you are gonna be FINE :)
posted by woodvine at 10:06 AM on December 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
Since you had a normal pap earlier this year, I don't see what there is to be worried about. If it were me I would not do the colposcopy--it's an invasive procedure.
Annual paps are actually no longer recommended because false positives are so common they lead to exactly this kind of pointless anxiety for the patient and unnecessary invasive procedures. Source: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/expert-panel-says-healthy-women-dont-need-yearly-pelvic-exam-201407027250
posted by a strong female character at 10:55 AM on December 11, 2015
Annual paps are actually no longer recommended because false positives are so common they lead to exactly this kind of pointless anxiety for the patient and unnecessary invasive procedures. Source: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/expert-panel-says-healthy-women-dont-need-yearly-pelvic-exam-201407027250
posted by a strong female character at 10:55 AM on December 11, 2015
I had this happen. I had a colposcopy (ouch! take ibuprofen before you go in) and it was not good. I had a cone biopsy with unclear margins. A hysterectomy was suggested, but I got a second opinion and didn't do it. It was almost twenty years ago. Everything has been fine since. So, it's probably nothing, but even if it's something, it's not the end of the world.
Out of all of it, the absolute worst part was what you are doing right now. The waiting between the abnormal pap and the colposcopy results. It just sucks. Some things you just have to get through. You can ask for medicine to help with the anxiety. Remember to breathe deeply into your lungs. It's almost certain to be nothing.
posted by orsonet at 3:50 PM on December 11, 2015
Out of all of it, the absolute worst part was what you are doing right now. The waiting between the abnormal pap and the colposcopy results. It just sucks. Some things you just have to get through. You can ask for medicine to help with the anxiety. Remember to breathe deeply into your lungs. It's almost certain to be nothing.
posted by orsonet at 3:50 PM on December 11, 2015
Three times I have had abnormal paps. The first two times, I went in and did punch biopsies(ouch!) and the doc was all "I'm not even gonna wait for the results to schedule you for a LEEP" and the tests came back negative. The last time, my granola crunchy nurse practitioner had had enough and decided it was worth trying another route. After a month of probiotic-ing my gut and acidifying my vajayjay, my paps came back normal and have stayed normal.
Another take is two of my friends have had cone biopsies. They are totally cancer free after many years. Do not sweat it, babe. You are going to be just fine!
posted by Foam Pants at 11:47 PM on December 11, 2015
Another take is two of my friends have had cone biopsies. They are totally cancer free after many years. Do not sweat it, babe. You are going to be just fine!
posted by Foam Pants at 11:47 PM on December 11, 2015
Same thing happened to me (26, no family cancer history, so I understand your added anxiety there!)
This is one case where frantic googling actually calmed me down! For many HPV strains, even the "high risk" ones, your immune system will take care of it on its own. I had more frequent paps after the colposcopy, for safety and monitoring, but was back to normal within a year.
Your body will likely take care you on this one. Good luck and good vibes!
eta: I do totally agree with everyone who's said that clinics should describe things a bit better. Hearing "abnormal pap" with no breakdown of what that *could* mean vs. what that *likely* meant was totally unhelpful and had me frantic for the month before I got back in for the colposcopy. Just breathe and have statistical hope on this one.
posted by sazerac at 9:09 AM on December 14, 2015
This is one case where frantic googling actually calmed me down! For many HPV strains, even the "high risk" ones, your immune system will take care of it on its own. I had more frequent paps after the colposcopy, for safety and monitoring, but was back to normal within a year.
Your body will likely take care you on this one. Good luck and good vibes!
eta: I do totally agree with everyone who's said that clinics should describe things a bit better. Hearing "abnormal pap" with no breakdown of what that *could* mean vs. what that *likely* meant was totally unhelpful and had me frantic for the month before I got back in for the colposcopy. Just breathe and have statistical hope on this one.
posted by sazerac at 9:09 AM on December 14, 2015
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posted by something something at 12:23 PM on December 10, 2015 [10 favorites]