First check up since hyster, abnormal cells, now what??

Long story: Diagnosed with CIN III in 2002, had laser surgery, everything fine until last year. Went in for pap on my birthday, told NP that sex was VERY painful. Sent me to OB/GYN, took biopsy, came back CIN II-III. Had hyster in June of 2007. Recovery went very well, no problems at all. Was suppose to go for 6 month pap, in January, NP couldn't do it then, call back in March (couldn't get in to see OB/GYN as he has left the area). Called back in March, NP can't do pap they have moved the office to local hospital, no privacy to do it. Made appointment in April with another NP in another town, NP did pap said everything looked OK, except "it looks like you have a bunch of skin tags in there and I can see alittle hole", any idea what that's about?? Anyway, called today to get results of pap, abnormal cells, come back in 6 months for another check up. So now I'm freaking out a little (a lot). Told secretary had hyster for dysplasia and she didn't seem concerned about it. I have an appointment with local NP to discuss this with her and to see if she can refer me to OB/GYN, if she doesn't refer me what do I do? Wait and pray that it doesn't get any worse. It hasn't even been a year since my hyster and cells are abnormal already? First thing I thought of when I got off the the phone was to jump on hystersisters and get some advice, and calm down. It was so helpful when I had my hyster to share my concerns and questions with everyone and get such positive feedback. Any advice or help would be great. Thanks sisters.

I don't know that I have any suggestions right now, especially since I don't know about the health care system in Canada. I *would* like to offer you some support, thought! The waiting is so difficult some times!

I pray for your peace, understanding, and health! Please let uw know whether you change doctors or not.

I don't know how things work in the canadian system either, but sounds like to me that you need a referral to a gyn/onc., not an ob/gyn.

hello, strongredhead. so sorry to hear you've got an abnormal pap - do you know more specifically the results? is the pap indicating hgsil or lgsil or ascus? that would give you more of an indication as to what's going on. hopefully they also did an hpv test to see if the infection is currently active. i would think that the next step should be a colposcopy and biopsies as needed....now vs. later. if it's mild dysplasia, then they may just watch and wait, but you want to know if it's mild or something more serious. and, yes, it's a gyn/oncologist that should be seeing you next.

Definately get a referral to an gyn-onc. In Missouri ( usually county based) we have a women's wellness program that will do your initial exam and promptly refer you to an oncologist need be. I was in within the week and diagnosed definatively 5 days later. The Women's Wellness program also pays for any and all treatments deemed necessary that one is not able to pay for. So far because of our income guidelines and the cost of treatments, I am only out of pocket but a few hundred dollars. Without this program and because we are under insured, and middle income, I would have been one waiting in the midst hoping and praying I would somehow recieved the much needed treatmants that I needed to save my life. I don't know if canada has such a program, because it is my understanding you have a united healthcare program, but it would be worth checking into. This type of program has funds put back by the state to asist women with breast and gyn cancers that are otherwise unable tp pay for themselves.

catwoman000-she didn't say what the abnormal cells were and I was too stunned to ask. Hopefully next week the local NP will have the results, so I can ask her. They've (all the different NP and OB/GYN I have seen) have never tested me for HPV, they're assuming thats what was causing the dysplasia in the first place. I don't even know if they test for HPV in the maritimes. I'll have to ask when I go see the NP.
jabberjawz-we use to have well women's clinics down here (very, very rural place, don't even have an ATM down here) but that was waaayy before we had NP. The last well women's clinic was in 2002. If I can get a referal to someone, then that would be a big help. I'm just concerned the NP is going to tell me to wait the six months and have the pap redone and the cells are worse (she's the one that wouldn't do the check-up pap in the first place, had to go to another town to have it done-1 1/2 drive away, not that the drive bothered me, I'd drive as far as I have to to get this looked after.) I'd rather deal with it now while it's still in the "just starting stage" then later. I'm one of those people who want to know what it is and deal with it, ASAP.
PS-anyone have any idea about the "bunch on skin tags and hole" the NP was taking about when she was doing my pap. She said they looked like they could get very "raw"??Any ideas what they are?? I have appointment with NP on Monday afternoon. I'll check in through the week and see what you guys have to say. Any questions you can think of besides what kind of abnormal cells? thanks.

i would suggest that a colposcopy is needed to take a look at those 'skin tags', etc.! i hope you're able to get someone to do a more detailed exam, terri. and the value of having the hpv test is that it would tell you whether the hpv infection is currently active or not....and that would be indicative of risk. if you've had cervical dysplasia, you know you have hpv, and when the hpv infection is active, you're more likely to be developing dysplasia, and need to be even more vigilant with exams. it would also allow you to 'watch' the hpv infection, so that you can work on doing everything you can to clear the hpv, along with the dysplasia (by getting enough sleep, eating well, lowering stress, etc.).

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Originally Posted by strongredhead catwoman000-she didn't say what the abnormal cells were and I was too stunned to ask. Hopefully next week the local NP will have the results, so I can ask her. They've (all the different NP and OB/GYN I have seen) have never tested me for HPV, they're assuming thats what was causing the dysplasia in the first place. I don't even know if they test for HPV in the maritimes. I'll have to ask when I go see the NP. jabberjawz-we use to have well women's clinics down here (very, very rural place, don't even have an ATM down here) but that was waaayy before we had NP. The last well women's clinic was in 2002. If I can get a referal to someone, then that would be a big help. I'm just concerned the NP is going to tell me to wait the six months and have the pap redone and the cells are worse (she's the one that wouldn't do the check-up pap in the first place, had to go to another town to have it done-1 1/2 drive away, not that the drive bothered me, I'd drive as far as I have to to get this looked after.) I'd rather deal with it now while it's still in the "just starting stage" then later. I'm one of those people who want to know what it is and deal with it, ASAP. PS-anyone have any idea about the "bunch on skin tags and hole" the NP was taking about when she was doing my pap. She said they looked like they could get very "raw"??Any ideas what they are?? I have appointment with NP on Monday afternoon. I'll check in through the week and see what you guys have to say. Any questions you can think of besides what kind of abnormal cells? thanks.

I agree that you need to see a GYN/ONC too. I would like you to know that you may be alright. I was told by my gyn/onc that I will probably have abnormal cells for up to 6-9 months because the area is still healing(maybe longer if you are a slow healer). The tags may also be granulation tissue if this is where the cuff is sewn shut. My Gyn/onc said they could tell the difference with the cells abnormality in path. I am just saying this so maybe you won't worry too much. I do agree that a NP is not who I would want treating me. I don't know how things work in the Canadian health care system, but do they have some sort of patient advocacy in place to voice concerns about your treatment? I will be praying everything is alright. Please let us know how you are doing.
Janelle

Thanks for your replies.
Janelle9876-The NP is just my "first line of defence". I have to go see her first to get her to make a referal to an OB/GYN. I've never been to an gyn/onc yet so I doubt they'll send me to one now. I didn't know that you could have abnormal cells 6-9 months after surgery so that's good to know. Knowing that calmed me down already. Thanks for all the advice and I'll let you know how I make out on Monday. If she, NP, doesn't refer me to someone, I'll go to the other NP (who has been there for me right from the first, she is no longer practicing in the area, but I know were she is so I can get an appointment to see her). I'll let you on Monday how I made out. Thanks again everyone.