Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Calm me down....abnormal smear result.

16 replies

tootsweets · 26/06/2013 11:57

Received my result yesterday. Colposcopy booked fir the 18th. Anyone else been through this?

OP posts:
fancyanamechange · 26/06/2013 12:04

Yes. Painless colposcopy, no treatment required at the time, told to return for another colposcopy in six months. When I did the abnormal cells had gone back to normal. If you do need treatment, it's very straightforward and other MNetters will be along to advise you.

You're in good hands {hugs}

Conina · 26/06/2013 12:04

yep! went, expecting it to be awful. much easier than normal smear. I was lucky, there was nothing they wanted to do then n there and said I should have another smear in six months.

there were three ladies in the room. one held my hand the whole time which concerned me as I was worried there was a reason - that it would get painful or something but it was much less than a normal smear.

SuperConfused · 26/06/2013 12:05

I have. Actually just had my second colopscopy a few weeks ago. I'm sure it depends somewhat on where you are, but I couldn't speak highly enough of the nhs team who did mine. They were great at keeping me relaxed, I tense up a lot with anything internal, and I think I felt it less than most smears, presumably because that's all they do all day.

First results came back as minor changes, had a second colopscopy six months later, this time they took a biopsy. I actually didn't even feel the bit where they took the biopsy (they said it would be a brief scratch), I was much more relaxed this time though as it had gone so well the first time which definitely helped. I brought DP to the first one and held his hand, the second one I just kept singing on to the music they had playing in my head!

I was told if its gone back to normal, I'll be back to the gp for regular smears, if it stays the same they'll wait another year for a follow-up colopscopy. Still haven't got results.

Its worth remembering that while its essential to get checked, cervical cancer moves relatively slowly in terms of cells that are a bit off - obviously its totally different when they've actually become cancerous, that's why the need to keep getting checked. But I feel totally confident that I'm being monitored, and that in a worse case scenario I should only need a slightly more unpleasant invasive procedue to nip it in the bud. I know two friends who've had the lasering off procedure done (excuse the totally incorrect terminology), and while its unpleasant, its not the worst thing in the world.

So in short: don't worry. It honestly won't be that bad.

Mabelface · 26/06/2013 12:10

I had one years ago. Seeing my cervix on a screen was quite fascinating. I had loop diathermy to zap off my rogue cells and they've not been back since. I'm now back onto 3 yearly smears.

tootsweets · 26/06/2013 12:11

Thank you all so much.
It's not the sort of thing I feel like talking to friends about at this stage.

You have laid my fears to rest. Much better than any NHS leaflet Smile

OP posts:
eurozammo · 26/06/2013 12:13

Yes. In the past year I have had:

Abnormal smear (mild changes)-colposcopy (no abnormality observed but pushed to have lletz treatment anyway, I declined - I didn't see why I should have bits sliced off my cervix when they couldn't see a problem)
Next smear (6 months later) was normal
Most recent smear was mildly abnormal again - colposcopy (very small area of possible abnormality observed, biopsy taken, mild abnormality confirmed)
I'll be called back for another smear in 6 months.

The colposcopy is really fine - it's just a speculum in and then they peer up with a microscope. One gynae used equipment that meant the cervix appeared on a tv screen, which was quite fascinating. I also found the biopsy ok. I was asked to cough while he did it and didn't feel much at all. Afterwards I had some period-type cramps for a few hours.

lollylaughs · 26/06/2013 12:22

Yes I had my done in April. I was called back due to my abnormal smear result after 6 wks. The results indicated HSIL2 which is not great but not as bad as HSIL3. The biopsy showed no serious changes within the 6 weeks so I am on 3 monthly checks now.

The biggest thing for me was waiting the week to get the test results back. The colposcopy wasn't any worse than a smear.

Best of luck. As Super said, cervical cancer moves slowly, can take years and year but this is why we have our check ups so we know if we are at risk or not.

tootsweets · 26/06/2013 16:17

Thank you.
It isn't a nice subject but is comforting to talk to those who have been through it.
Appointment booked for 18 July.

OP posts:
cravingcake · 26/06/2013 18:46

Just want to add one other thing to comfort you having been there myself.

They will have a comfortable purpose designed chair that you sit in and are tilted back and I was given a nice big blanket to cover myself with.

Much nicer experience than the hard table and bit of blue paper towel that is never big enough you usually have at the gp surgery.

tootsweets · 26/06/2013 19:45

That does make it better somehow. Thank you so much. Envy

OP posts:
Copthallresident · 26/06/2013 19:58

Yes, 26 years ago Smile, as said above chances are that it will be something that is monitored or dealt with by lazer treatment. I did have some abnormalities inside my cervix they couldn't zap but I had a cone biopsy which was a very small operation under GA. They then zapped a few more abnormalities they found on the margins. Even though that all seemed pretty traumatic at the time, I can hardly remember it two decades and two children later...............

DonutForMyself · 26/06/2013 20:16

Yes, had one about 13 years ago (loop diathermy), all the smears since then have been totally normal and it means I've had them more regularly than I would otherwise have done, so quite reassuring.

Colposcopy itself was no worse than a smear, although nurse was a little Confused when the very proud Dr doing the procedure asked me to admire his handiwork on the screen - think he was quite new to it and had impressed himself with how well he'd done it!

Please don't worry, its a good thing that it has been flagged up and treated. The Dr who informed me of my test results said that it doesn't mean anything IS wrong, it means that if left untreated it could lead to something being wrong many years in the future, which is reassuring.

GW297 · 26/06/2013 21:04

Colposcopy is fine, actual procedure nothing to worry about. You'll get the results pretty quickly afterwards too. I appreciate it's a very worrying time for you. Try to stay positive. I refused to read the leaflets until I knew whether I needed to or not (and thankfully I didn't.) Good luck!

Happiestinwellybobs · 26/06/2013 21:12

Colposcopies are fine - had CIN3 (severe) 6 years ago. Biopsy and loop excision - all fine :) And I see my annual smears as a really positive thing. Good luck.

lucyfluff · 04/07/2013 19:26

Yes!! Had a thread on here and colposcopy was fine! Didnt even feel biopsy and they did two. Im still waiting for my results with fingers crossed!! Good luck :)

digerd · 04/07/2013 19:48

How things have changed - for the better. In 1982 I was in hospital the night before the biopsy under GA and stayed in 8 days. The GAs were then very sick causing and remember throwing up hours later at evening visiting time Blush.

My DD had an abnormal smear but went back 6 months later and all was back to normal, which they said happens quite often . Her smears have been fine since.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page