Friday, February 27, 2009

We interrupt this blog to bring you my next medical issue.

OB's office had called on Wednesday, the day I was in surgery. My pap had came back w/ abnormal cells. So they tested for HPV and lucky me tested positive for one of the 15 "high-risk" types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer.

A little bit about HPV ...

~HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes.

~ There are about 100 types of HPV. Approximately 30 of those are spread through genital contact (typically sexual intercourse). Around 12 – called "low-risk" types of HPV – can cause genital warts. In addition, there are approximately 15 "high-risk" types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer.

~ It is estimated that 80 percent of all women – and 50 percent of men and women combined – will get one or more types of "genital" HPV at some point in their lives.

Yay me. Abnormal cells + positive high risk type of HPV = colposcopy. (tests my cervical cells).

Apparently, this is what the HPV website says about what is happening to me: "Most women will get one or more types of "high-risk" (potentially cancer-causing) HPV at least once in their lives. The body's immune system usually fights off the infection, and most women with HPV never suffer from any problems as a result. In some women, however, the infection does not go away. When the virus stays active in the body for a long period of time, cervical cells may begin to change and the risk of cervical cancer increases. "

That's me. The cells have begun to change and my risk of cervical cancer is increased. I'm to make an appointment for the test as soon as I can.

Awesome.

45 comments:

Elana Kahn said...

It's too bad Gardasil came out so recently. I'm going to see if my OB will start my course as soon as I give birth so that I can finish it as close to age 26 as possible. It may be too late... :-( Oh well. I'm sorry this is just one more thing on your plate! I really hope it all turns out for the best!!!

MrsDrink said...

OMGsh! (((HUGS))) I'm sorry hun! I promise you that you'll be alright though...trust me. I'll be sending positive thoughts your way and thinking about you! It's just one thing after another, huh?

Sending you my love!
xoxoxo

CanadianMama said...

I've been getting colposcopys for five years now (just finally got discharged last month) and it's quite normal. Almost every woman I've ever talked to about it has had one and none have ever had to have surgery.
It's a pretty easy procedure, just the vinnegar part sucks but i'm sure you've been through way worse that that!
Good luck :)

Tigger said...

Oh nancy - you just can't catch a break, can you. :(

Sending hugs and positive vibes your way..

Mazzy said...

I had this exact same thing happen a few years ago. The colposcopy came back ok, though, and they just watched me close for a few years and I haven't had any abnormal cells since. Hoping your outcome is the same.
Being a girl is such fun, isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Geez Louise, woman! It is like one medical issue after another! Ugh! I'm sending lots of positive vibes your way!!!

Liz said...

Dear Lord, Nancy! I hope everything turns out.

Mrs.Joyner said...

Nancy..gah..wtf is going on? I had abnormal cells 5 years ago and got a hospital stay out of it because the nimrod doctor thought I had PID. So that was fun times. But I've had no issues since (of course I received vomit inducing super extra strength antibiotics and morphine, yay) and my tests have all come back normal. Sending you much love and please keep us updated.

Morgan Owens said...

You've got to be kidding me. Poor Nancy, it always happens to you. Please update us and let us know something else as soon as you know something.

jenn said...

ah crap! I don't want you to go through any more medical shit Nancy!!! I hope that everything checks out fine- even though you have to go through yet another lady-bits procedure. ugh.

love you hon- always thinking the best of thoughts for you!

areyoukiddingme said...

I got to have the fun colposcopy, frequent pap smears (good thing I love my doctor!), and even some cryosurgery. Here's my take on the situation...HPV is an annoying virus that your body normally fights off. But, when an immune-suppressing event is happening in your system (like, say, pregnancy), HPV gets a chance to do some of its magic. When your immune system returns to normal (took me 8 months after having my daughter), the HPV will be beaten back to wherever it came from. The key is early detection to make sure it can't get a good foothold and mutate all your cells. Good luck with the colposcopy - it's not bad (as it was explained to me, they just put some vinegar on your cervix and see what reacts). I hope you need nothing more than some short term monitoring.

Jen said...

Man you can't catch a break can you?

Please know as always i will be thinking good/happy/healthy thoughts for you.

Oh, by the way I love the picture you put at the top of your blog.

(((((HUGS HUGS HUGS)))) coming your way!

Erin said...

That is just ridiculous - I think all these issues that you have been having will just mean that once they are over, you will have REALLY good health for a REALLY long time.

Sarah said...

My goodness, woman!!!

Yep, you need to write a book.

Anonymous said...

I was told I had HPV when I was pregnant with Jase. About 8 weeks after I had Jase I had cancerous cells removed from my cervix. It wasn't too bad. A couple years of bi-yearly paps and then I was all clear.

I tested positive for abnormal cells when I was pregnant with Cale also but they fixed themselves after I had him.

Sara said...

Hey Nancy. I have had this happen to me - I have actually had two colposcopys, about three years apart. It wasn't terrible, but not the most pleasant thing either.

I am sorry that you can't seem to get a clean bill of health! I am sure this will turn out to be nothing - you have to have faith. So, on that note, I will say a little prayer for you and keep you in my thoughts.

Hugs...

Kate said...

totally sucks we all missed guardasil...(sigh). sorry you're dealing with this too, but hopefully it will be an easy fix.. i've been down the colposcopy/LEEP/frequent paps road a few times myself, & while it sucks, it has a great success rate. so will be hoping for once you catch a break & all goes well!! fingers crossed & good luck!

~*JaYmE*~ said...

Aww I'm sorry! I've had a copolscopy done and it really wasn't bad. I too had abnormal cells... turned out to be nothing but good luck to you and I hope your's turns out to be nothing too!

Tricia said...

Oh Nancy.. I had/have HPV also. I am still not clear on if it ever really goes away. The good news. I had one negative Pap.. No warts... and it's been fine since then.

The bad news... It caused me SOOO much worry. There is A LOT of scary stuff about it on the web. I would step away from Dr. Google for a while. I know it's hard. The stupid Dr.'s office gave me zero info on it so I googled myself insane.

It will be fine. The colposcopy sucks but, you'll recover. Hang in there... How many hits can one girl take?

Motel Manager said...

So many of my friends have had regular colposcopies and have been fine (ie, no cervical cancer, and the cells often turn back to normal, I believe). One possible issue is that they can incline you to an incompetent cervix, but you don't need to worry about that now!

I had one abnormal pap for HPV and had to get tested 2x a year for the next couple of years, and they normalized, so I'm back to once a year.

Good luck!!

Christina said...

I hope the cells haven't started changing. I've had to get a colposcopy done too for abnormal cells and then 12 months later they were gone.

Em said...

Big bummer!!

Anonymous said...

I've had a handful of colposcopys with biopsies(the biopsies were more painful than the colposcopy alone) and even a LEEP. Now, 6 years later, I'm getting normal pap smears. Good Luck, I'm sure everything will work out just fine!

Geohde said...

Ah Nancy,

I'm sorry, mate. But on the bright side, you had your pap and it got picked up. On the brighter side, most low grade dysplasia goes away over time, too. Only a minority end up as the big C.

xx

J

emilythehopeless said...

{HUGS}

Anonymous said...

Lordy Nancy, has someone put a hex on you or what!?

Keep us in touch!

HUGS

Crunchy Green Mom - Suzanne said...

~sighs~ Honey.... Wow... Mucho hugs!

Kari said...

Nancy, I have been reading your blog for awhile but have never commented before. I just wanted to tell you that I am going through the same thing. I had a pap come back abnormal last March, I had the coloscopy done in the office and it showed that it was only on the surface of my cervix and not inside, which is a good thing. Mine was already Stage I. I had cryotherapy done, also in the office, where they freeze your cervix to kill the cells. I then waited to "heal" and had another pap 3 months later. It came back again abnormal. I have a very high risk strain of HPV and it sucks. To top it all off, I, who have been infertile and have not once gotten pg not on IF drugs, got pg. I am now 32 weeks pg with a little girl but won't know how things are going with the cervix until after I deliver. I did change dr's before I got pg because the one I was going to made me feel like I was on my death bed. The dr I am going to know does put my mind at ease A LOT. He let me know that this is VERY slow growing and that people who have it caught at this stage are not the ones who die from cervical cancer. But it is scary and all I can think about sometimes! Good luck, everything will be fine! Kari

m said...

JFC. One more thing, right? Really sorry you have yet another thing on your medical plate. I'm hoping this one gets resolved super fast.

Motel Manager said...

For the record, I think it's actually LEEP that causes the risk of incompetent cervix to go up, not the colposcopy (as I said in my above comment). Oops!

~Chel~ said...

Jeez lady! I had a colposcopy a few years back and it turned ok...So hopefully that's what will happen with you girl!!! Let us know! Keeping you in our thoughts!!!

Beautiful Mess said...

I'm sorry, hon. Thinking of you and sending you lots of hugs!

..Soo.See.. said...

oh man nancy! i had this happen to me right before staring my IVF. and i had a repeat pap while pg, and it came back "abnormal" again, so i'm due for another pap in 3 wks or so. hope the colposcopy isn't too bad and that it doesn't come back positive. my colposcopy wasn't terrible and it came back "ok" for me to keep repeating paps for a couple of months to check for any other changes.. positive thoughts your way!!

Jamie said...

I am so sorry Nancy. The medical problem fairy seems to have set up permanent residence in your house.

I hope the testing goes smoothly and there is an easy solution.

HUGS!!!!

Anonymous said...

Crap a doodle. I'm sure all will be fine but scary none the less. Will be thinking of you Nance.

xxx

kjames106 said...

I had the same thing. They did a cryo-freeze (hurts like HELL, like a nonstop contraction!). BUT, it went away, thank God! I have had a normal pap since. Hope the same happens for you!

Anonymous said...

I had HPV when I was in college. It lingered in my abnormal pap smears for a few years and I had something called a Leep (or leap?). Anyway, eventually it just went away.

Anonymous said...

jesus hell!
I am beyond behind over here and am just furious that the shit storm is still raining. fuck.
thinking of you and hoping that normal paps are in your very soon future.
xo

MrsSpock said...

Ugh, that stinks.

nancy said...

Thanks everyone. And while I do know most come out okay, some don't. So I can't just hope I'm one of the "good" ones. I mean, I can hope and that's what I am hoping, but I can't assume it. There has to be the ones who doesn't come out okay. And you know what? I always kinda thought I would end up with cancer as my end. I just was hoping it would be after watching my kids grow up.I can't leave these kids without a mommy.

Shinejil said...

The colpo will be a walk in the park for you, Nancy. I had one last year, and they found what the pap smear said (minimal abnormality) and then my next pap was fine.

These things come in threes. So, by my count, this is the end of the medical shitstorm.

Amanda said...

Sucks major monkey balls that you've got something else on your plate. Hopefully you'll have the colposcopy and the biopsy will come back either fine or not-so-bad.

I had mild to moderate dysplasia a few years back. The doc did a colposcopy and got as much of it as she could. Luckily my body healed the rest of it on its own.

Kaci said...

Damn Nancy. You deserve a break.

Anonymous said...

Nancy, I'm not trying to sound unsympathetic but it's not as serious as it sounds...it's a very common thing that a lot of women have gone through. Don't claim cancer...I had stage 3 of cervical dyspasia...I had to have the LEEP - laser surgery (outpatient)that burned the cells off of my cervix. It wasn't as painful as I thought. 2 weeks later, my cervix had gone back to normal...the doctor told me that I may never conceive...I'm preggers right now...you'll be fine. After speaking with a lot of women, I found that everyone I knew had the same thing just in different stages...you'll be alright. As long as you see your doctor regularly, you'll be fine.

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