Please tell me positive stories about your Colposcopy

[Eastie77]

I'm bricking it (slightly). Went for my smear test this week. The nurse saw some kind of growth on my cervix and immediately went to find a doctor to take a look. She said she has seen 'a lot bigger' but needed the doctor's opinion.

The doctor said she couldn't see anything that really concerned her but they had to refer me for a Colposcopy. I've turned to Dr Google and have been reassured by some positive stories about this procedure but I'm still worried. I have what I have always assumed to be diastastis recti after two C-Sections and so still look a few months pregnant in certain clothes. I've been doing MUTU which has helped but I'm now worried this is in fact a sign of a cancerous growth in my stomach. I've been replaying a terrible scenario in my head where the doctor gravely tells me it's stage 4 and I have a few weeks left:(

During my 2nd pregnancy the doctors said they were able to see a very large fibroid but couldn't do anything about it during my pregnancy. Post-birth no-one mentioned it again. I do not have painful periods or any bleeding between periods and they are as regular as clockwork so I've assumed the fibroid has reduced in size but maybe not. Could the growth on the cervix be connected to that..?

Waiting for my appointment date (it could take up to 2 weeks and I'm on holiday next week which doesn't help) so in the interim would be grateful for any positive RL experiences where all ended well after a Colposcopy. Thank you

I’ve had a couple of colposcopies for abnormal cells and have been fine afterwards. Quite severe CIN111 but went on to have two children.

It could be anything but most likely scenario is nothing serious. Best thing is to step away from google (it’s not your friend). The waiting is so hard, I know. Just try to distract yourself. You’re doing the right thing by going for regular smears and getting everything checked out.

Try not to worry and don't google!!!

I've had a few colposcopy and they were fine. Just don't rush back to having sex as I got an infection.

It didn't hurt and I had the results pretty soon after. I hope you'll be fine.

Thank you both. Yes, time to step away from Google! The smear test yesterday was painful (it always is for me) so I was dreading the idea of the Colposcopy being either more painful. Helpful to know it isn't that bad.

Well II'm going around in circles with this.

After my smear my GP sent me a letter confirming she had referred me to me my local hospital who will contact me to arrange a date for the Colopscopy. I was to contact the hospital if I hadn't heard from them by September 2nd.

Haven't heard from them so I've contacted the hospital twice and they say they have no record of the referral so cannot book me in. Called my GP and the receptionist said she doesn't know what has happened and someone will call me back from the surgey.

I asked if I can make another appointment with the GP so I can get a referral letter from her in order get this done privately. However the GP's new appointment process is: 1) I have to call the surgery at 8am to book a phone appointment. 2) During the phone appointment the person I speak to will decide if I need a GP's appointment. 3) I can then book a GP appointment which is likely to be in 2-3 weeks.

I know we shouldn't criticise the NHS, we are lucky to have this service etc but this is ridiculous.

Can you perhaps ask the receptionist to forward the existing referral letter to the hospital again? Save you going privately?

(I have no idea whether this works).

That's shit service OP sorry for your added stress. I've had a colposcopy and it was fine. Results straight away and mild cramping afterwards as they took a biopsy. I've also had the same situation as you were a nurse has seen something and called in a doctor. That too turned out fine. Avoid google at all costs. If you have an itch on your elbow it says you have cancer.

The receptionist cannot forward the letter again because it can only be sent from the GP's secretary..who was not available when I called

Floss- yes I had to swiftly step away from Google as I was reading every generic symptom from constipation to feeling tired could be a sign of Cancer. And the "I had no symptoms at all before my diagnosis" stories are a different level of terrifying.

I've had a few smears that were sore - but my colposcopy wasn't.

It was even more undignified because there was a student as well and they took turns peering up there (I could have said no to the student but... in for a penny, in for a pound, so to speak). The doc was helpful and comforting.

Results were clear.

Worst bit was the worry in the run-up to it.

Sorry you're getting the runaround with your referral though, hope you get it sorted.

I would really try not to worry. I’ve had two colposcopies. Neither a big deal to have done. I know I have HPV so am high risk for cervical cancer. One showed abnormal cells, but nothing they were concerned about. 2nd one was normal (about 6 years between them).

I didn’t live in the U.K. at the time of the first one and I had an abnormal smear. I couldn’t afford the colposcopy on my private health insurance, so I had to wait a year to be able to afford it. If you’ve been having your smears and they are normal and you’re having no symptoms, you are very likely fine. A visible lump sounds more like a polyp or fibroid and not obviously cancer, particularly if your smears have been normal. If they were very concerned, you would have been rushed in a bit quicker, I expect.

Definitely follow up with the secretary when they are next in, but I’d really not panic in the meantime. Easier said than done though.

I had my first one in April then had to have another in august.Ive just had a letter saying all ok so can now have smears yearly then move onto normal

I have had one after an abnormal smear, I didn't find it uncomfortable at all and the nurses were lovely, really relaxed me. Mine came back totally clear. I understand you are feeling concerned, find some ways to keep your mind off it if you can and I hope all goes well

Thank you all for all the tips. Sounds like mixing and matching would work quite well. Maybe I need to invest in some nice smart flats to go with the dresses- currently I just wear heels at work and casual trainers on weekends. And I tend to wear navy or black at work with a "statement" necklace, and the brightest or deepest colours I can find on weekends. Complete opposite. As a pp said it feels weird to wear weekend clothes to work- I feel like my worlds collide!

@ohgawdno - I think you've posted on the wrong thread

Thanks for all the advice which has calmed me down! I was told I had an extremely large fibroid when I was pg with DS so perhaps it is that. The doctor at the time said they couldn't do anything about it whilst I was pregnant. After I gave birth it wasn't mentioned again and I actually forgot about it.

The GP's secretary called me in the end. She has spoken to the hospital herself and they have no appointments available at the moment so they will contact me in the next 3-4 weeks with a date as the Colposcopy is a routine one rather than an urgent referral

She also let me know that my smear test results will take up to 3 months. There is apparently only one testing lab still open in London, all the rest closed due to budget cuts

It's over! Just left the hospital. My cervix looks normal and I've been discharged. So relieved. The whole procedure was nowhere near as painful as I was expecting and seeing my cervix up on the screen was actually fascinating (until one of the Doctor's swabs made me bleed and the nurse advised me to look away!). It turns out my GP referred me as she thought she saw a Polyp but the doctor said she couldn't see one at all and showed me the print out of a healthy cervix, explaining that a small visible lump was probably what the GP thought was the Polyp. that I think I will book future cervical smears at this hospital if possible as the whole experience was much more positive.

Great news OP