Fungal feet Vs. cervical screening result

[Cherryfloat]

Last month my cervical screening came back HPV positive, but the sample wasn't good enough to test for abnormal cells so I have to repeat the screening in 3 months time. Shocked by the result, considering all 3 previous screens I've had were HPV negative, and I haven't had any new partners for 10 years. (I used to live overseas where women are screened younger and were tested for HPV before the UK btw). Anyway I'm worried about it. DP doesnt really get it, tried to be understanding, but has also been dismissive like 'oh it will be fine, stop worrying.' From what I understand, it's quite likely they will find abnormal cells at some point and I'll need a horrible procedure to get rid of them, or I could even develop cancer.

Anyway, DP has just discovered he has a fungal foot infection - not nice but very common, easily treatable with cream. But my god you'd think the world had ended. He's really down about it, miserable and worried for days. He's expecting vast amounts of sympathy from me (which he has got) but I'm a bit upset he's not offered me much support over my issue to be honest, when it could be more serious. Aibu? How do I approach this with him?

I just wanted to offer a bit of handhold about your smear result.

I got a HPV positive smear, similar to you last couple were clear and had just the one sexual partner for a long time. The following things happened:

• After the smear I went for a colposcopy, this was unpleasant and sore, (they took a biopsy from the cervix and had a look around) but it was just period style cramps for a few hours after and then a bit of discharge.

• They found pre cancerous cells from the colposcopy so I had to go back in for a treatment. They can do either a thermal treatment or one where they kind of scrape the cells off. They did the thermal treatment on me. The worst bit of this was them getting in there, the actual procedure was fine and no after effects.

• I then had to go back for another smear 3 months later, that smear came back all clear and I'm now on my normal smear schedule.

It is a bit of a pain and uncomfortable/unpleasant but you will be fine.

I think to men, they don't see the cervix and you're not physically in pain/unwell and they just don't know how to handle it. In my experience my husband is awful at me being unwell and him being fine, it's almost like something has to happen to him too.

How do I approach this with him?

Ask him whether he notices any difference between his expects you to act and how he acts himself.

I understand the worry OP. I tested positive for HPV with an inadequate sample a few years ago, and I think the system is not well prepared for that particular outcome because the letter I received was very blunt and uninformative.
When I went back in three months time I still tested positive, no cell changes and the letter was so much better. I was still the same a year later and went for colposcopy where they couldn't see any cell changes but did a biopsy to be safe, which came back completely clear so I went back to a three yearly recall.
I'm now awaiting the results of my last smear three years later and the worry had again set in, what if I am still positive etc.
but I take comfort that if I am, any cell changes will be picked up and dealt with quickly.
Because the test is a screening test, we are at the forefront of knowing if there could be a problem in the future and having the option to treat it before it becomes cancer.
I can't comment on the fungal situation - but I do get that DH doesn't understand my feelings fully in being HPV positive because he doesn't have my level of anxiety.
I hope the repeat screen goes smoothly and you get a clearer follow up letter.

Thanks @Juicyj1993 that's really helpful to know, really appreciate your post. Glad your results are now clear. When I looked up the procedure people on forums are saying that it's horrendous, eg. they had an anaesthetic injection which was agonising, then they bled for 6 weeks, and had non-stop pain. Lots of people saying nobody prepared them for it and everyone makes it sound like a typical cervical screening/smear when it's not. There are others saying it didn't bother them at all. So it's hard to tell!

Thank you @zaffa . Exactly that, the results letter for HPV positive but 'inadequate sample' is very blunt and mysterious, just basically says you're high-risk but need to wait 3 months. Very little info provided. To me that's 3 months of anxiety and 3 months for any abnormalities they didn't detect to progress. And 3 months of anticipating another uncomfortable examination. Fingers crossed for your next screening - sounds like you have a sensible and positive attitude towards it, all good points.

You poor thing, I think you and your dh both deserve some sympathy and I'm sorry that you aren't getting any. My then 9 year old had a benign tumour removed from his ear last year and my dh's family were really dismissive. Meanwhile BIL got a splinter and so much sympathy.

AIBU is such an awful place to post these days!

YANBU. I had a 3 positive HPV test before i got an abnormal cells positive too. I had a colposcopy and it didn't need treatment, just normal changes.

I had to wait 16 weeks for a colposcopy.

There is a huge vacuum of information about HPV. I tried to find out the likelihood of it going in a year/2/progressing etc and couldn't find the stats.

Men are such saps.

From what I understand, it's quite likely they will find abnormal cells at some point and I'll need a horrible procedure to get rid of them

Then, with respect, you don't understand much. It's actually very unlikely that will be the outcome. It's far more likely that if you do develop abnormal cells your body will clear them all by itself. And I can say that as someone who has had persistent high risk HPV for 10+ years, as well as a previous LLETZ procedure, I'm very much in the minority.

I actually saw the results for that first one on my online doctor portal, so I had already rung the doctor and asked for more info. Then I got the letter and it made me worry all over again! I just think that this specific outcome is really badly managed. The letter I got the next time was so informative.
It is hugely unlikely anything would progress in the three months, it takes 15-20 years in almost all cases to progress from nothing to cancer, and in immuno compromised individuals (such as HIV positive) still at least five years. I guess that's why they are comfortable with the gaps between screening.
The colposcopy itself is just a light and microscope that allows the gynae a closer look, I didn't have a screen to see which was just as well as she did the biopsy just to be safe and I had a bleed that had to be cauterised. She told me that was really unusual which made me super paranoid but it really was all ok and there was nothing at all detected.
I'd personally have preferred yearly tests until I was negative but I have to trust that they know what they are doing.
I understand the actual treatment is quick and very safe (and probably much less traumatic than my bleed!) but the doctors and nurses at the gynae clinic are so very knowledgeable and supportive that if you did need anything you will feel very well informed.
Good luck OP (and to your DH with his foot infection!)

I have had LLetz done 3 times OP and I do remember the awful fear of the first dodgy smear result 20 years ago. I only went to having smears done every 3 years in the past 6 years, prior to that it was every year. The Lletz procedure wasn't pleasant but it's not that bad either. I had two pregnancies within the 14 year period it was happening. It was all pretty routine.

Thank you for saying that - I hate how much misinformation is on this post! Saying things like its most likely to lead to changes, along with saying there must have been cheating and the DH is trying to deflect etc flags how much is misunderstood about this, and it coming from other women is worrying because this is women's health and we should all be better informed.
They really need to launch a high priority campaign on this - I personally didn't even go for screening for the first five years because I just didn't understand what it was or why I needed it - i had it randomly whilst trying to get the pill from a nurse and for the first two it was completely normal (although they didn't test for HPV then) but had it not been for that one nurse I doubt I would have realised the importance of going or understood exactly what it was screening for and how important this sort of preventative screening is.
I hope everyone on this thread leaves a bit better informed about this hugely important aspect of women's health.

the results letter for HPV positive but 'inadequate sample' is very blunt and mysterious, just basically says you're high-risk but need to wait 3 months. Very little info provided. To me that's 3 months of anxiety and 3 months for any abnormalities they didn't detect to progress. And 3 months of anticipating another uncomfortable examination

I hear you. Back in the days when they routinely checked for cell changes I regularly got "inadequate sample" results. One time it took six attempts to get an adequate sample, 3 smears at GP surgery and 3 at the coloposcopy clinic with a minimum of 3 months between each attempt. No fun at all. That's not typical though, most people will only need one repeat test. Hopefully that's the case for you too.

To add to this, mine was inadequate because some gel got onto the brush, so it was a really mundane reason (for the three month panic!)

I'm in this field of work. One is a virus, the other is a fungal infection, completely different things and one will not impact the other.

My god I'm sorry OP I misread, glass of wine in the sun will be to blame.