What would you do?

Excuse me for fact I am still dealing with this, I had my hyste for other reasons but the path report after showed CIN ll with hpv background suggestion. The report said the margins were clear so as cervix is no longer with me, the general verdict from my gp and my gyn was to have follow up smears for 3 years and if all clear not to worry any more.

I am concerned because I know my health still isn't great which is a good environment for hpv activation and there is a lot of stress in our lives as since April we have been facing threat of redundancy and won't know till Sept yet. Am I worrying unnecessarily? I decided that I will go for a smear but not in a year's time, I will go at 6 months. My first slight inflammation smear was last year and not much bothered with, but less than 12 months later it was CIN ll so feel a year might be too long.

I would like to kick this issue out and get on with trying to get some energy back and pick up my life again but I find it keeps coming back so thought I would post it here rather than worry my poor DH again. I'll tell ya, it's not been a good winter over here for us. Thanks for all your ideas and support, Linda

Oh, your worrying, I think, is normal. Let me ask, so I have it clear. Your hyst was suggested because of a Dx of CINII with history of HPV. Is that right? Now you had a CINII result form a pap? (actually VAIN smear if you have no cervix). Is that right? If so, what is your dr's plan of treatment for your CINII that just crept back up? I would agree that with a hisotry of HPV and dysplasia, I would definitely feel better with every 6 month checks. Some dr's even go as regularly as every three months. Did your regular gynecologist do your hysterectomy? I think gyne onclolgists tend to be more conservative with the after-care.

So, before you worry yourself too much, just know that it is normal to be worried and confused. I would just go ahead and ask for more frequent checks. You are in control of your future, your body, and it's upkeep! Sending s your way. Write me back and let me know if I got it right. Thanks!

Hi sorry, didn't make it clear. No, I originally saw my gyn after having enough of heavy bleeding, anemia, terrible back pain and menstrual cramps. He found multiple cysts on ovaries and tested me for pcos (negative) then did a hystoscopy which found enlarged uterus, prolapsed and cystocele, retrocele and enterocele andsrecommended Burch repair. After discussing the longer term benefits of pelvic floor repair I decided to have the hyste. I did tell my gyn I had one smear that showed inflammation and had been told that it was probably nothing but to repeat in year. He hadn't done smear during previous exams as I was bleeding too heavily. So i had basically dismissed it. I actually only found out it was CIN ll after getting results from the biopsy taken from bladder for cystitis cystica and I was checking that was not malignant. I was stunned when I saw the other report showing the hpv and cin ll.

Just seemed to me that the treatment I was reading about in u.s seemed to be a bit different. Thanks for your reply, Linda

Hi, Linda!

I think you're doing the right thing. I had my hysterectomy for dysplasia and my follow-up is every 3 months for 2 years, then mine will go to every 6 months for a while. HPV is a tricky virus. It can hang around in your system without symptoms for a very long time. And even though vaginal cancer is rare, it is a possibility, so I would think that even after you've been clear for the 3 years, you might want to consider having regular yearly PAPs anyway. Just to be sure it hasn't spread anywhere else. This is a very important conversation to have with your doctor, so feel free to sit down with him/her and tell him/her your concerns. I figure it's better safe than sorry. Odds are that nothing will ever show up, but it's always nice to have a good night's sleep not worrying about it.