Colposcopy anyone?

Oh boy - another test I can't spell! Anyway, I have had yet another abnormal PAP smear and so I took Difulcan (sp?). I just had a follow-up PAP and the nurse told me my GYN wants to see me to do a Colposcopy. She said it was to examine my cervix, at which point I reminded her I no longer had this particular body part. She said then the doctor must want to examine something else. When I asked if it had come back with a yeast infection again, she said no, but the doctor wants to do this procedure. I am wondering what did show up this time, but find it even stranger that I am having this done without having my cervix any longer. Have any of you had this procedure? It doesn't sound too awful, but still...I am supposed to see an Immunologist for possible yeast allergies on 10/23/01, but first another hurdle to jump I guess.

Love, Hugs and Prayers.

Lisa

I had a colposcopy done and it was no big deal at all. They look at your cervix through a colposcope which is a magnifying instrument so they can see the abnormal cells. My doc took a sample of the abnormal looking areas. Now...good question about your missing body part. Hummmmm...Maybe he'll be looking at the cuff. You would have to ask him about that. It was not a painful procedure for me at all, but they do tell you that you may cramp and have light spotting. I had neither.

Did they tell you what class your pap smear came back as? My paps came back either ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) and a couple came back SIL(squamous intraepithelial lesion). Geez...I had my TVH on 8-20-01. My paps were almost always abnormal. I guess I hadn't thought that far ahead. You mean the paps can still be abnormal after the hyster??? Oh my!

It seems I have always had abnormal paps, but they either didn't treat them (yeast) or they did treat them and never did any further testing. That is why I asked the nurse about it coming back with the yeast infection still there. When she said "No", I started to wonder what was going on. She didn't tell me anything else, so I guess I'll have to ask the doctor about all of this on Monday.

I definitely don't have my cervix, so maybe the cuff is what they are looking at. The Immunologist came up after yeast kept showing up in my Pap Smears, but maybe the gyn thinks this is more than yeast allergies now. Hmmmm..... Anyway, thanks for your kind advice and information. I really appreciate it. Every time I think I have had every test done known to man, they come up with a new one. Guess you can still have abnormal paps after a hyst. I had a LAVH, but still have one ovary.



Lisa

Hi momof1,
I didn't have that procedure but I just want to offer you some support. The other sister makes sense in thinking maybe it's a look at the cuff... I hope you are doing better with the yeast thing. I seem to be much better after several weeks of my herbal regimine and acidophilus. Before totally committing to that regimine, I broke down and took Difulcan and experienced the worst migraine nightmare I've ever had.I just have to accept that most prescription meds bother me, but that can be scary because then I worry what if the herbals don't work. So far so good anyway. Keep me posted on how you are doing with the allergy appointment. I hope this procedure brings you some insight. I keep you in my prayers.
Love, Light, Blessings
Druid

It's so nice to hear from you. I am so very sorry you experienced that horrible migraine after you took Difulcan. I know my abdominal/pelvic region hurt something awful, but I know sometimes that happens if it is killing off the bad guys - your poor body pays a big price with some of these meds.

I will let you know about the allergy appt. if my gyn doesn't do something drastic with this latest development and cause me to postpone it. You almost feel like saying "what now???" I sincerely hope your more natural approach works for you sweetie. I hate taking meds too since they cause more side effects than the illness I took them for!

Love & Prayers!

Lisa

Hi!
I had one of those before my hyst because of a level 3 pap smear. Then, they went on a couple of weeks later and did what they call a "Leep" procedure, to remove part of the cervix. The colposcopy is a biopsy I think, and since you do not have your cervix, and we still need pap smears, it must be of the cuff. Don't know what else is there! It wasn't bad for me. I didn't like the Leep procedure though. They used a local anasthetic which didn't work! I got the shakes and everything, just like I was in labor! But, we don't have to worry about those things now without a cervix anyway! Did they tell you what level your pap was?
Sincerely,
Carole

Ok girls, this is an area I am well informed on. I have had probably 6 colposcopies, amaybe more. In colposcopies the doctor uses a colposcope. It is a magnifying machine like a microscope, just sitting up so they can look at or into your genital area. I had 3 colposcopies before hysterectomy for pap smears that came back as class 3 showing HPV cells. This was not why I had my TVH in '94, but it sealed the deal! The doctor that did the TVH told me that I still needed to get yearly pap smears and would probably have to fight with most doctors to get them. Doctors don't all agree with this theory: If one microscopic cervical cell is left during surgery, it could be the one to become cancerous. So every year since then I have fought doctors to get a yearly pap smear of my vaginal cuff. They have all but one come back normal.

Other gynecological cancers are very rare. Ovarian, cervical and uterine are the biggest. I never thought about any other "parts" having trouble. I have been one of those women that gets yeast infections often. I have had plenty of bacterial infections too. Last year I thought I had a yeast infection and I couldn't get rid of it. They swabbed and never saw yeast or bacteria and my gp tried for a while just to balance the bacteria and yeast that are naturally present in the vagina. Nothing helped and she sent my to the gynegologist.

I took her the bag of things we had tried and either failed or made it worse. She did a colposcopy on the vulva (outter tissue). She took 3 biopsies. Let me tell you, biopsies of the cervix or vaginal cuff pinch and hurt a little bit, but vulvar biopsies are HELL. Think of the nerves you have in your genital region. She was surprised at the result. I had VIN 3, which means abnormal cells that are not yet cancer, but if left alone can and probably will be. I had a vulvectomy on Valentine's day. I have no inner labia left and the entire perinium was cut out. It was pretty bad and part of me felt mutilated for a very long time. Now I am ok, but I have to have vulvar biopsies, with the aid of colposcopy every three months for a while. My last one was CLEAN! (yay!) By the way, HPV has symptoms much like yeast or bacteria; itching and burning, etc.

I don't want to scare anyone, I just want to educate a little. I never knew that other part could become cancerous. I thought when I had a hysterectomy, I had no more "parts" to have trouble with.

Have your pap smear done every year without fail. Be aware of any changes you may feel in any other parts. If you are having a colposcopy the chances are good that you will have a biopsy as well. In the vaginal cuff they are not so bad. I am glad your doctor is following up and checking.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions or help in any way. As I said, other cancers are really very rare and I don't want to frighten anyone.

Debbie :dragon:

{{{{Lisa}}}}

While I have not had this test...I wanted to wish you all the best my dear 'S

Please let us know how you are doing sweet-pea...

{{Lisa}},
I dont have any experience with this procedure either but did want to send some s. Please keep us posted

Debbie: Thanks for sharing that very important info! It seems there is so much our Docs dont let us know