Routine appt-turned-internal has scared the life out of me.

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

I had a standard drs appt this morning. Had a long wait, and then saw a new female doctor rather than my usual guy.

She asked if, given my symptoms (which have gone on for a few months at least now, but are worsening) I'd been put forward for an early smear, or had at least had an internal. I haven't.

She talked me into having one. She's done a lot of swabs, including STI swabs, although I've been with my partner for over 5 years. She then had a look, and said my cervix looks 'unusual' and I'll need an urgent referral.

I have to go into work now. I'm later than I thought I'd be, so they'll probably be angry. I'm petrified. It hurts to pee since the internal. I can't stop shaking.

I should have said, she mentioned seeing a growth, and that I'd need a bit of that taken for testing, too.

I'm awaiting a phone call for my next steps, and test results should be back next week...it'd usually be a lot sooner, but it's the weekend.

I don't have anything useful to add really but didn't want your thread to go unanswered! What a horrible shock you've had. I hope your work were sympathetic. I had a high vaginal swab last year and it stung when I went for a wee and I also had a little bit of bleeding afterwards. So that in itself is not something to worry about, just unpleasant. I hope you've had the phone call by now so you know what's happening next. No words of wisdom but I'll hold your hand if you'd like :)

When was your previous smear test?

I haven't had a previous smear. I'm only just 23...

Thanks for the replies, though. The phone call was just as cryptic, really. I'll need to see a gynaecologist urgently, and have a biopsy taken.

Googling hasn't helped my worries...

Thanks for the hand-holding, Goodbye Ruby

Don't worry ONE SECOND about your work! Health is so much more important.

Well done for being brave and having the internal. Try not to rehearse disaster, it could be something easily fixable. How scary for you though. Holding your hand here too.

Oh and stop with the googling and leave investigating to the experts! Have you got a DP/friend to spend this evening with? I think lots of chocolate and shit tv is in order.

This is horrible for you but thank god you saw the gp and agreed to a test. Whatever it is, in a worst case scenario it is much much better that you know now. Hopefully it isn't, and you can be assured. Well done for agreeing.

I do have DP. I think I've annoyed him, though...he was being so blase and not caring, so I said I needed him to take it seriously because I'm petrified. So he made a document saying how they occur in 4% of women, are usually symptomless unless cancerous, and you can have them removed in a doctors surgery with only minor pain.

Which hasn't exactly helped, given that I have symptoms, and the internal really hurt, let alone having them removed.

God I'm so scared. I'd do anything for a mum to call about this...Thank you all for being here.

Hm DP doesn't sound like he is being particularly helpful, I expect he is worried too but didn't want to freak you out.

I don't blame you for being scared. Do you have any relatives you could call instead?

Have you been given an appointment for the gynaecologist? The unknown is always much scarier, once you know what's going on you can get it sorted :)

Arghhhh men can be so tactless! Sometimes a logical document isn't what you need. Sure he is trying to help though.

Internals are often v uncomfortable, especially if you are nervous so that doesn't mean anything, and if you needed anything done I'm sure you would have pain relief.

I'm so sorry you don't have your mum there. I know it's not the same, but there are lots of mums on here rooting for you.

How old were you when you first had sex?

Usually, precancerous cells go up one step every 2-3 years in this scale:

Normal
CIN I
CIN II
CIN III
Cancer-in-situ

... and even that last one is easily dealt with. So you will probably be OK in terms of cervical cancer even if you have contracted HPV at the age of 15.

Please try not to worry. I had a polyp (growth) when I was your age which I had to have removed and it was sent off for testing despite nearly always being benign. I also had endometriosis which was what what causing the pain and bleeding. 25 years and two children later I still have the endo but I have never had the polyp reoccur.
There are so many things that can go wrong with the female reproductive system but there is so much than can be put right with often very simple treatment.

Yes, as cote said, even if it is the worse case scenario - which it probably isn't - then cervical cancer has a brilliant cure rate. I've just had to have a radical hysterectomy because of it. I don't need chemo and once I've recovered from the op, then that should be the end of it. They didn't find it earlier because mine is up the cervix, rather than as it is more commonly, at the bottom of the cervix.

It is extremely rare so don't jump to conclusions. The worse case is the waiting. I worried just as much waiting for the diagnosis, as I did when I knew i actually had it.

Try not to panic. I know it's difficult not to, but realistically it's probably ok and even if its not, the cure rate is great.

Stay away from google.

Hi I used to assist in gynae and quite often these growths were just polyps, easily removed then sent away for testing.
Try not to worry.

Op I just wanted to send you hugs & best wishes.

I have a ds your age...

Take care. Hope everything works out.

Still holding your hand if you need it. Hopefully it's just one of the harmless polyps :) it's impossible not to imagine the worst when you're stuck waiting for results though.

Thanks for the hand holding. I appreciate it :)

Doctor finally looked at the swab results today, they are all clear. I don't know what we swabbed for, other than STIs, but that has to be good.

I'm still waiting for a gynea appt. I'm so worried that I'll need a hysterectomy. I've never had period problems, I don't bleed heavily or get painful cramps... I've had one bad period, and it was last month, and very, very heavy. I was hospitalised for a night with it, but it stopped eventually.

I'm so, so scared.

That's good news then. I've been thinking of you all weekend :) (hope that doesn't sound creepy, just that I'm 22 and sort of know the position you're in so this really stuck in my mind)

I haven't had any gynae problems myself but know a couple of people who have. Hysterectomy really is a last resort. They are not keen to do them, especially in young women who haven't had children. So I'm sure they will have other treatment options first! Hopefully it is just a polyp and can be easily removed.

Your last period sounds horrible, you poor thing! At least hopefully they'll be able to stop that happening again :)

I'll carry on holding your hand as long as you need. Have you heard any more from the appointment people? If you feel up to it, it might be worth chasing them up tomorrow in the hope of getting an appointment sooner.

Still thinking of you. One down ( the results) one to go.

My GP saw something similar on my cervix and it was an ectropian. V common and benign. I was also having weird symptoms with it and I think I had thrush too. At the time I felt CERTAIN I had cervical cancer but I didn't... Hand holding here.

Hello, just wondering how you're getting on? I hope you've had your follow up appointments now and all is well :)