very personal question

Anyone ever have a colposcopy?

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what is that???

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its a test they do after they find out you have an abnormal pap smear. its a biopsy.

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I know a couple of people that have had them (including my sister). All of them came back negative or normal - whatever the good news is.

Sorry you're going through this - but chin up! Its just an extra precaution - doesn't mean anything's wrong. Don't stress until you have reason to.

I can understand the anxiety though. My husband just had a biopsy done on his tounge (talk about uncomfortable and painful). I was nervous awaiting the results. They came back as pre-cancerous cells(lots of big medical terms for it). He'll have to have it removed but at least they caught it before it developed into cancer.

Good luck Jenn!

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Awww Jen, Im praying for you!. I know somewhat how you feel. I had to be tested for a brain tumor, and the waiting is terrible, Your in my thoughts sweetie.

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Jenn - My friend just had this done. She said it wasn't bad at all -as she thought is would be. It was pretty fast too. good luck!!

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Jenn, I just sent you a forum mail

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jenn, my cousin is going through this same exact thing as we speak! She had the colposcopy yesterday and has been a mess waiting for the results. I had one maybe 10 years ago, I had some abnormal cells, and then I had cryotherapy (now they use lasers) to remove them and I have been fine ever since. HPV virus is the most common thing that causes this - it's the virus that can cause genital warts (ew, I know), but when the virus is on the inside instead it can cause irregular cells. Unfortunately in long island 1 in 3 girls has this, do you believe that! Out of my 4 closest friends and myself - 4 of us have had it. That's why it is so important to get your yearly paps. Sorry to get on a soap box, but figured i'd take the opportunity to spread the word about yearly paps. I think you will be fine, try not to worry, I went through this and I am totally fine now.

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I know it must be very scary to have to go through this, but I am sure that everything will be FINE. My thoughts are with you.... please feel free to email me if you want to talk to a fellow 'gyno nightmare' sufferer.

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I also had this procedure about 7 years ago for the same reasons as jpgirl. Everything was fine. And it's better to know if something is wrong so it can be fixed or get better.

You are not alone.

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I just had all this done in March. Mine actually came back positive, so they took me for the next step which was what they call 'coneing' or the Leep procedure. They actually go in and cut the affected area out. They call it an extra biopsy/cure because they cut the entire area, plus some of the surrounding area out, and send it in for additional biopsies. By cutting the additional surrounding area, they biopsy that as well to make sure that is all negative. This means that they got all the abnormal cells out. It was an outpatient procedure. They can do it with or without anestesia (sp), I chose to have it b/c the original test in the gynos office hure like he**. This did not hurt at all, the worst part was having to wait a month to have sex.. lol
Afterweards, you go for paps more often. I have to go every 3 months for the next 2 years. So far, no additional bad paps since then. It was so hard waiting for the results, but from what I understand and have found out from talking to other people, it seems to be fairly common. If you need to talk at all, forum mail me and I will be glad to answer any questions you have. I know it is easier said than done, but don't worry. I am sure everything will be fine. Also, I want to say that I am glad you posted to ask. The best thing for womend to do is to talk about these things. It is a lot less scary when you know others have been there, and can answer your questions like real people and not like doctors. Us women need to talk about all these things and be there for each other .

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I need to thank each and every lady who responded to this thread, and to those who forum emailed me (you know who you are )

i have never met a nicer and more caring group of ladies in my life. i mean that sincerely. you all mean alot to me.


every time i have had a problem or question, this one being the worst yet, you ladies have been like the sisters i have never had. everyone is so nice and caring. i have only met one 'lady' so far who i thought was very mean on this site.

i feel as if you ladies are my friends. to take time out to read and respond to something as personal as this, to me, is outstanding.

i will post my results as soon as i get them.
thanks again, i feel much more at ease now,
jennifer

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I had an abnormal pap the day after intercourse and they just went and did it again instead of that painful test. Then it was normal. they just flagged my chart to have one every six months for 2 years.

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My mother had one and she was anxious going into it but someone told her it's not as bad as you think - and they were right. She said it wasn't too horrible, the thought of it was worse.

I doubt anyone looks forward to one though so hang in there!

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I had same procedure as Decbride 02, about ten years ago. I wish that this website or something like it was around then! I felt so alone, and so yucky. It's really not the kind of thing you want to bring up in conversation. The friend or two that I felt close enough to talk about it with just didn't understand. Thankfully, they had not gone through it!

I am surprised to hear so many have gone through this!!

Jennbaby, everything has been normal for me since then...thank goodness. Like someone else said, I also had to go for frequent pap smears. After everything was OK for a year or so, I went back to once a year. I hope the same for you.

Ladies-just can't stress this enough-if you haven't had a pap smear in the past year, make an appointment RIGHT NOW! It's so important. These things are very, very treatable if caught early.

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Jenn-

Is the waiting over? Have you gotten the results? I've been thinking of you today.

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results tomorrow
lisa you are too sweet.
i'll let you know

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A friend of mine at work had the freezing procedure done 4 years ago, and she is doing fine now. Please don't be nervous or scared!
I'll be thinking of you on Monday...

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I am sorry you have to deal with this right now. I have not had this procedure done myself but I do have a friend who had it done and has been fine ever since, without any precancerous cells returning. Just remember something a doctor once told a friend of mine, this is only a bump in the road of life and after it is over you will go on and have a wonderful life and it will be only a distant annoying memory. I will be thinking of you on Monday.