abnormal smear

[peanuts36]

hello. feeling a bit scared. abnormal smear telling me that i have severe dyskaryosis. just had a baby six months ago and never had an abnormal smear ever! got to go for a colposcopy. anyone been here before? any advice? thanks.

Sorry no advice but bumping for you. Good luck x

peanuts - i had an abnormal smear when i was 21, first one i'd had. i went for colposcopy, didnt hurt as such but was abit uncomfortable. i went on to have laser treatment - quick and painless, and no further problems since then. i went for further smears at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 year and then back onto the 3 year cycle. now 32 and touch wood, all ok.
good luck.

I remember thinking it was curtains when I was told aged 25 as I hadn't a clue what it was and nothing was explained to me just told pre-cancerous cells. I had laser treatment and then yearly smear tests. It's painless and you just go to hospital, get zapped, then leave when you feel ok. It's - ahem - a few years on and, touchwood, all has been okay. Many of my friends have had it too. They have developed a vaccine against the virus that is the major cause of it now, sorry can't remember name at mo. Don't worry!

thanks for telling me what happened to you both. kinda nice to know that other people have been through it to. it is just really frightening when they call it severe dyskaryosis. i think the other name is cn3. i will be glad when i get an appointment and get things over with. do you think its odd that you can go from no abnormal results to a cn3, just like that?!!!

Yes peanuts, that is exactly what happened to me and why I think we should have smear tests every year and not every three. So much can happen in that time. It is frightening but don't worry, I think it's quite common and easily treated .

I agree castleintheair. I think they do have smears every year in America. Maybe this country will follow on soon. I will sleep a bit easier tonight i think!! keep you informed! peanuts

I had CINII/moderate dysplasia. I am from the US, although now married to a Scotsman and a naturalised British citizen.

I had TWELVE normal smear tests, as yes, women are screened yearly in the States.

At age 30, however, I had developed CINII in one year.

I am so glad they don't do every three years there. I may have gone on to have cancer by then!

I, too, had a laser procedure.

I have insisted on being screened EVERY YEAR SINCE and I don't care if I have to pay for it myself.

I volunteered my biopsy sample, done at the time of my colposcopy, to medical research for the vaccine, and I know I have HPV.

Most of the time, a person can live w/this and never had any abnormal smears.

But no one knows why, in some people, it goes on to dysplasia or worse - although it is known that smoking can increase the risk.

Until then, I'm going to insist on yearly smears and encourage both my daughters to be vaccinated when the time comes.

Smear tests are cheap and save lives.

Hi Peanuts - it is scarey hun, but i had this over 12 years ago and was very frightened.
It ended up ok, it was better than i thought it would be.

However, be warned, they tell you not to lift anything heavy for a fortnight after. Well stupid me, i carried 2 sacks of clothes to the laundrette and the next morning was woken with teabag sized clots dropping out of me every 15 minutes. Awful, i was taken back in and everything i did was measured and weighed and after 2 days they said if it didn't stop very soon, they would have to put a stitch in my cervix. Luckily it stopped after some treatment, but that was by far the worst part about it. I am now on 3 yearly smears.

Don't worry - they can do something about it and you will be fine. Let us know how you get on though please. xx

Hi, I had an abnormal smear (as yours CN3) 2.5 years ago and was really upset and worried esp as we were thinking about going for pg3. The appt I got from the hospital was months after the smear so I ended up going private (got cover from DH's work policy although had to pay £150 excess). Colposcopy was fairly unpleasant but not overly painful at the time - didn't feel so hot afterwards but only needed one day off work. Was worried that it may affect my cervix and prevent normal births but have had 2 babies since with no probs.
All my smears have been normal since although it still worries me every time I go. Hope things go well for you Peanut xx

Is it fairly easy to arrange an annual smear test then. I would also be happy to pay for this myself. Would my gp arrange this and does anyone know how much it will cost?

thanks

thanks all for letting me know your experiences. Just wish i could switch off thinking about it. I have nerves in my tummy all the time. I have to try to stop worrying and just carry on being a mum to my 3 children. Hopefully i will get an appointment soon, if not i think i will consider getting it sorted out privately. I did ask my doc about going priavtely and she said there was no need. peanuts x

Peanut, i would think that if she said there is no hurry, that it is not an emergency. Remember, alot of people get CN1, 2 and 3 - as i had, but the docs can deal with it. It is not the most pleasant thing to have but at least it can be dealt with. Even though my cervix ended up very battle scarred, i still had my ds a few years later and no problems since then.

It is the unknown that's doing your head in Peanut and understandably so, but please try not to worry.

Years ago, i read in Marie Claire about the PAPs (HPV?) test which at the time i did privately for nearly £100 as they didn't offer it on NHS then. It was clear, but if i feel i need a smear test, i go to the GUM clinic at the local hospital and can have one there free of charge.

Please try not to worry Peanut - the docs will do whatever they have to do to get you better again.

peanuts - don't worry had abnormal too...
colposcopy and treatment....I was worried
but it's nothing to worry about...
just a bit uncomfortable...
I did at the Hospital...not rush to go private...

peanuts I was where you are last year and equally worried and yes it is a shock but remember

1 in 12 smear tests come back abnormal

a colposcopy is just a big microscope

dyskariosis is NOT cancer .. it is not even pre-cancer .. it is pre-pre-cancer almost ... it is these cells are turning abnormal and in 10 or 20 years could develop into a problem .. so has been caught very early

I had a colposcopy (appt came through for 3 months after abnormal smear but I went private because lucky enough to have insurance) and then a loop diathermy (where they burn the cells away) .. my smear 6 months later (Jan this year) was fine ..all clear I shall have annual smears from now on just to check

stay calm and try not to worry

I've had a colposcopy I was worried but shouldn't have been, in fact I found it fascinating - seeing my cervix on screen!

I felt no discomfort or pain - maybe I was lucky but I wouldn't be concerned if I had to have another.

Good luck and try not to worry.

Thanks all for being lovely and understanding. I would be fibbing if i said i wasn't scared but i feel calmer........i think!!! Has anyone heard of cell changes due to pregnancy or is that a load of nonsense?! peanuts x

Hello all. Just thought i would let you know that an appointment has come through for 7th december. Not too bad then, just over a fortnight. Its going to be the longest fortnight of my life!!

good luck peanuts, and try not to worry.

i'm considered a regular at our colposcopy clinic now (1 abnormal smear and several polyps later). its really not so bad, ime the gynae nurses are very sympathetic and kind. try not to worry in the meantime, this is something you can get sorted out and then it will be over and you'll hopefully never have to think about it again.

You're going to be okay, peanut!

A fortnight is not too long at all!

The lab should have your results back in about 5-6 weeks if they decide to biopsy.

Don't be alarmed! Even the worst case is NOT aggressive unless you also have HIV or compromised immune system.

I don't mean to scare you, but I know how I felt waiting.

Been there!

You did the right thing, you got the smear test.

Well done.

Onwards and upwards.

Thanks all! I am trying to take the attitude of "worrying myself silly isn't going to change anything". I just have to get on with it, even though i have butterflies in my tum constantly!
Read through some old threads and from what i can make out a lot of people have had cni3 and been referred to the colposcopy clinic. I guess i'm not on my own here!

peanuts36 - I had an abnormal smear in late 2004 and a biopsy showed CINII - I went on to have Laser Diathermy (LLETZ procudure) and then, after a 6 month gap, a repeat procedure, because they hadn't quite 'got everything' (although this is meant to be very unusual, they normally get everything first time!) The next check showed I was clear and I'll now have yearly smear tests. It's not fun but the NHS in my area (London) really seemed on top of everything and I had no unduly long waits.

Don't worry, ok not great news but not the worst I was diagnosed CN3 when in my first trimester with my first - lesion too big for laser, continued with pregnancy, had conisation(sp) 3mths later, fell pregnant with 2nd 2mths after that - all well with everyone. Good luck hope all goes well.

Conisation(sp) - op under general anaesthetic!

Thanks aslarry and bovvered. Knowing other folks have been through it helps! Bovvered, did you have a biopsy like Aslarry or did they not bother. I really cant grumble about the length i have to wait for the appointment. Only 2 weeks on thursday! Its tough being female init!