abnormal pap smear after 4 yrs hyster

Yesterday I got a call from my OB the reports from my last pap came back abnoraml. I have never had an abnormal pap smear ever. My TAH was almost 4 yrs ago, is this something that is happens to most women. I 'm really having a hard time dealing with this right now my mother is a breast cancer survior and my father is dying from colon cancer, prostate cancer,lymphonic cancer.

Did I even post in the correct area...

So sorry to hear about all the sad things going on in your life right now. {{{HUG}}} Of course an abnormal pap test result certainly could be that much more upsetting to you. What I found after my abnormal test was that 20% of all paps potentially can be false positives because of lab or instrument contamination, technicians asleep at their jobs, a number of things. (Before my uterine cancer my pap test was a false positive. My next test came back normal. I then only coincidentally found out about my other trouble.)

So try to think that maybe this is your case, that this is one of the 20%. Find out when your followup test will be and know that at least you will be closely followed for the next few months, which is a good thing. Take care dear. I am sure someone else here has some spot-on words for you as well! -Terri

Bless your heart, I'm sure that was the last thing you needed to hear. It's easier said than done, but I would try very hard not to panic. An abnormal pap does not necessarily mean the worst. I know many women who have had an abnormal result, then 3 months later it came back ok. I would talk to your doctor and follow up, follow up, follow up! Best of luck to you, and let us know how it goes.

I also had false positive tests in previous years. I was told that various things can contribute to false positives (as were listed previously), including having sex a day or two before the pap. I always try to steer clear of sex whenever I know that I have a pap coming up for that very reason.

Try not to worry too much about it at this point. I know that's easier said than done. Will you be going back soon to repeat the pap? I know it's a pain to have to do that, but do be sure to be proactive - just in case.

I'll be thinking about you.

tat2rose, i'm sorry to hear you have the anxieties brought by an abnormal pap, on top of your other worries in life! an abnormal pap can be the result of many things, including benign issues like inflammation, infection, recently having had sex before the pap test, etc. and it can also be a false positive. hopefully the doctor has given you more specifics than just 'abnormal' so that you've got a better idea of what's going on. are you having a repeat pap to be sure the other was accurate? i hope you soon know what's what and can go forward from there!

Yesterday I got am letter from my OB the test that he is going to do is an colposcopy which he is able to do in his office. My appointment in on the 2/23: I'm also really angry at my DH, I asked him if he was concern about this and he no not really. I'm dewelling on this or anything and I not stressing out be. I just cant believe he said that he's not worried about this at all. I could just slap him down

I'm sorry you feel as if your DH is not being supportive. Perhaps he just doesn't want to put any extra pressure on you by appearing to be nervous. You know, sometimes they just need to be the strong silent type .

MY DH never has much to say when I'm in the middle of treatment or waiting on biopsy reports or whatever, but I always know he's there for me if I need him. But he'll never admit that he's worried or ask me how I'm feeling or whatever--I think he prefers that I take the lead and let him know how I feel and how he should be feeling .

Good luck with your coloposcopy! Has your doc explained the procedure to you? The colposcopy itself is not painful (it's just like a regular exam, only they look through a high-powered magnifier so that they can see a little better), but if they find something suspicious looking, there can be a bit of a pinch if he takes a sample. I hope he takes a look and sees nothing significant!

if your doctor is doing a colposcopy rather than just a repeat pap, you may want to find out what your pap test results were, specifically. 'abnormal' can cover a lot of things! and, presumably he also had the lab do an hpv test when the pap came back abnormal. if you're hpv positive, you may want to learn more about hpv (to start with, it's very common!). i hope you don't have to wait to long for the colposcopy, and that nothing unexpected is discovered.

On a serious note, if you did not get an HPV test I would do so, as it's not a routine test. I dealt with abnormal paps on and off for around 14 years and was just diagnosed HPV positive 6 years ago. It gives abnormal paps a whole new perspective and treatment process. It really helped me when I could give my problems a direct name and definition. I've also learned how common it is.

On a lighter note, when talking about your DH I had to laugh. The key word is "him". Sometimes I think "hims" just don't have the comprehension of the feelings that can be associated with female stuff. That's why I love this site! My DH never says much about it, but when push comes to shove he steps up to the plate and takes wonderful care of me. Gotta love 'em!

Good luck to you!

Thanks, for more insight on asking my for questions. Question about getting tested for HPV. I didnt keep my cervix and I know that there could be some barely there is that a possible also then?