Sorry if I’m Going Against the Rules
I am very very new to Reddit and really have barely a clue how it works. I tried to find the rules but no luck.
I would love some insight.
I’m an almost 40 year old woman. I tested positive for HPV back in my teens and then a pre cancerous result on an exam (can’t remember if PAP or HPV test) in my very early 20s.
After that happened I had extremely intensely painful sec for 2-3 years. It was so bad, and so persistent at times I went to the hospital I was bleeding so severely. I ended up getting a laparoscopy done because the doctor thought there must be something wrong internally. That test was clear. After several years those pains and the bleeding tapered off. Any testing near my cervix for PAP was extremely painful for me.
I didn’t follow up on that whatsoever. The next PAP I had was when I was trying to conceive around 27 years old. It was clear and I remember saying “oh wow I don’t have HPV anymore?” And the doctor saying “I guess not! It goes away sometimes”. What I wish he’d said was, “you need a test for that specifically”.
After my daughter was born, I had another PAP, all clear. Again, I told that doctor I had HPV way back, and she shrugged it off. I had NO clue PAPs don’t test for HPV.
Fast forward to five months ago I saw a brochure in the mail for “at home cervical cancer test”. I ignored it threw it away. Another month later, same brochure. Ok, I’ll order it. I receive the kit and it sits for a month.
Finally, I take it thinking how stupid the whole process is. A few weeks later I get a call - you have HPV 18 we’re booking a colposcopy. How bad can this be? I go in thinking no way there’s a problem they won’t even do a biopsy I bet. Procedure absolutely sucked for me (sensitive cervix, tons of anxiety). I feel toms of pokes, what the hell is going on?
Four biopsies including whatever one goes inside the cervix, “I found something I don’t like.” Doctor says. It’ll be 6-8 weeks for results.
Don’t follow whatever timelines I gave above. I’m fairly certain I got those all wrong because I’m so stressed today. In any case, today, 1.5 weeks later I get a letter. They rushed the results because “high grade Squamish dysplasia extensive CIN 3 HGSIL”
They want to book a LEEP right away. Said nothing “in” the cervical canal thing ….. not sure what that means.
I guess I’m hoping for some insight here. I’m absolutely freaked out about the LEEP because of the pain other procedures have caused. I’m COVERED in tattoos, but I’ve had a lot of trauma around my cervix and it hurts so severely. I’m also scared of this whole freezing the cervix thing that causes an adrenaline rush. I have a heart valve issue where I can actually feel my heart struggle at certain times (skipping beats or tripping on itself), and that causes a TON of fear.
Has anyone gone through this before? What does all of this mean? Give it to me straight. I’m someone who can handle it and process. The more info I have the better ❤️