Abnormal smear test

[Lovetogarden555]

Sorry I know I haven't posted in right place, I did but didn't hear anything back so I am just hoping for some advice as I don't have anyone personally I can ask or speak to

I haven't been for a smear for a long time I know it's bad and I already feel the worst for it

I am 34 had one 3 weeks ago and I got a txt to say I'm referred for a colposcopy - no letter in post yet when I called the team they said I have abnormal cells HPV I then did googling of course and was beside myself, I called again and she said you get mild moderate and severe my results were in the moderate and that I'll get a letter soon on how to prepare for the appointment

I have kids 2 year old and 4 year old so of course I am thinking all sorts cried most of the day and just all negative thoughts

If anyone has had something similar with Thier results or can give any advice I'd really appreciate it

You have treatment that lasts just a few minutes, and then you're fine because they zap the dodgy cells. That's the whole point. Someone else had a similar post earlier today.
It's all very straightforward - all I did at the time was take half a day off work for the appointment. It's a bit tedious, but really not something to worry about.

I had this when I was in my 20s (I’m in my 40s now). Colposcopy is just a way of looking at your cervix really closely and then like the PP has said they zap anything that looks dodgy. I remember being in a “compromising” position for quite a while while a female consultant peered beteeen my legs with what looked like huge binoculars on a stand. She zapped (it was called loop treatment back then) quite a few cells. I seem to remember being advised to take some paracetamol about 20 mins before the treatment. I then went home and (stupidly) went to work my shift in a pub. I had horrible cramps throughout my shift and lost a few clots of blood/ small lumps of what I assume was the tissue they had zapped away. It wasn’t the best 24 hours but then it was over. I had to have a smear test every year for 10 years after that (I’m told they don’t do this anymore) but I quite liked the extra comfort it brought me to be honest.

Fast forward 20 years and I’ve never had another abnormal smear test since so that uncomfortable 24 hours was well worth it in my eyes.

Hope this helps OP and that you get your appt soon. Deffo book the day off if you can.

This is good news. Honestly. They've found abnormal cells, and they will remove them. Then they will keep monitoring you until they are sure those abnormal cells are gone and haven't come back.

It would be infinitely worse to not have found them now.

I had a Severe diagnosis about 8-9 years ago, had the colposcopy and biopsy, back later for the procedure to remove the cells, then a couple of follow ups. Had several normal smears since. Honestly - don't panic!

@Cynic17 @LemurLederhosen @LordEmsworth

Thank you all for your quick replies I really appreciate it, I am honestly beside myself so the words of reassurance help

I wish I could just not get so worked up, I have a presentation to do at work next week I need to prepare for and I just can't focus on anything but thinking all the worst

Do not panic (I panicked when it happened to me 😳). They have found them and will zap them. I had CIN3 twice almost twenty years ago, had a hysterectomy second time round as I'd finished having kids.
They will look after you and get it sorted.

Don't worry OP, I know it's easy for me to say, (I panicked too), but having been through it myself, I can honestly say that you'll be fine. Like a previous poster, I had a dodgy one 20 odd years ago, and have been fine ever since. Far better to have the smear and find anything iffy so it can be dealt with.

I had the exact same thing - and by the time I went there were no abnormal cells left. I went to pieces too - and like you I hadn't had a smear for years and years. I had to go again 6 months later - and they found nothing then too.

This was 2 abnormal results 6 months apart - about 20 years ago - and nothing found - and nothing since.

I hope this reassures you a bit.

I had one a few months ago, and they said after there was nothing to worry about. I'll be offered annual smears for a wh8le,but that's all. Had similar in my 30s.

I once had mildly abnormal smears, so had annual smears for about 3 years

Good luck

I have been to colposcopy twice. My abnormal cells were biopsied and they left them to see if they went on their own and they did.

Thanks all for your replies - I am not going to get a wink of sleep. My appointment feels like a lifetime away, I can handle pain so I am not as scared about the appointment more worried about biopsy results finding something bad. I read that although it's moderate changes it can still be cancerous.. I think I need to get off Google I have two young ones to look after and all I want to do is get under a duvet and hide until the appointment

I’ve had several abnormal smears over the years and subsequent colposcopies. Never needed any treatment and the cells just cleared themselves.
I believe it takes around 10 years for abnormal cells to turn from normal to cancerous- this is why regular smears are encouraged by the NHS. Your smear has simply picked up that there are some cells that COULD turn dodgy IF left untreated for a long time. You’ll be getting them treated in the next few weeks, so you really do not need to worry. You’re all good, honestly!

OP, with all due respect, have you actually read the responses you've got? Every single one has told you that we've been through it, and every single one was fine. What was the point of posting if you're not going to believe what we're telling you, or do you have a history of catastrophising?

I've had 4 colposcopies and subsequent biopsies and lletz procedures over about 12 years, my most recent under general anaesthetic, you'll be fine. They're uncomfortable, the after affects can be uncomfortable, but as others have said they zap anything that looks remotely odd, also sometimes the smear will show abnormal cells but the colposcopy won't

Hello, yes I have and also read very negative stories from people I am definitely someone who thinks worse case scenario with most things, it's hard to shift my mindset, I'm trying as it's exhausting :(

Thank you @alittlequinnie for sharing with me

Its more the thought of them sending the bits off for testing then it comes back that I test positive for cancer, I am in the moderate range but I've left the smear so long that's what's playing on my mind, this is the biggest health issue I've had to date so that's why I'm in full panic mode. I am worrying about something that has not happened yet

Reading other people's stories is reassuring but I always think what if I end up with the opposite experience

But that’s already happened! They’ve already sent the cells off for testing, and they’ve sent you the result. The result shows that you need a minor procedure to remove those cells so that they won’t develop into actual cancer.

OP, you say that you always think worst case scenario, but if that's the case, why on earth did you put off having the smear in the first place? Or did you catastrophise that, and think 'if I go and have a smear, it's bound to come back with a problem, and then I'll have cancer, and then I'll die'?

If that's the case, then I really don't think this is something you can sort out alone, and maybe you need to seek out some counselling of some sort, as living life like that, must be an absolute nightmare.

My final piece of advise:

KEEP AWAY FROM DR GOOGLE!!

OP I've had severe grade dyskarkosis on more than one occasion, still only pre cancerous cell changes. Moderate is really nothing to worry about

I had severe abnormal cells (CIN3) found at my second ever smear test when I was 28, which was 10 years ago. My first result had been normal, and I had been with the same partner for the intervening three years, so no real idea how or why they developed other than "just one of those things".

I remember completely freaking out when I was told, and my GP saying to me the important thing to remember is that these were pre-cancerous cells and not to think of it as cancer.

I had a colposcopy and because the cells were in a slightly weird position they couldn't zap them there and then, so I had to have the cells removed under general anaesthetic a few weeks later. It was completely fine, although it was the only time I've ever had a GA, but the removal procedure itself was fine.

I had light bleeding afterwards for maybe a few weeks but nothing to worry about. I had to have yearly smear tests for a bit and then went back to having them three yearly, and have only ever had normal results since then.

Also, I have had two healthy pregnancies since then. The first time I had a couple of extra scans to check my cervix wasn't too short because of the procedure, it wasn't and I carried both babies to term with no issues.

It was bloody scary getting that abnormal results letter through, but 10 years out, I can honestly say it has been a complete non-issue in my life.

I think its very poor form to let you know by text about a result that is not ok. Also you having to phone twice to have them explain to you about the midl-moderate-severe type of pre-cancer cells is poor. Also not explaining that pre-cancerous cells can dissappear by themselves is a vital piece of information you should have been given.

Anyway, I hope things developed well for you.

@89redballoons I had severe abnormal cells (CIN3) found at my second ever smear test when I was 28, which was 10 years ago. My first result had been normal, and I had been with the same partner for the intervening three years, so no real idea how or why they developed other than "just one of those things".

If your abnormal cells were caused by HPV then you could have caught it before your first smear. HPV can lay dormant for years before it becomes active and causes any changes. You could have also got it from you partner in those three years.