Update On Me

[lornarose]

To my dear PE sisters, I have had a traumatic summer. I had an abnormal pap smear in April, I was referred for colposcopy. This exam went okay as the consultant said my cervix looked healthy. There were too tiny areas that she thought were of no significance but she took a biopsy to be on the safe side. The results of the biopsy came back as severe cell changes. I was very frightened. I had to get a lletz procedure to remove the abnormal cells and had to wait five weeks to get the results of that procedure to make sure all cells had been removed and that there was nothing more serious. My heart did not stop beating for those five weeks. I am just so glad that they got all the nasty cells. I haven't cried yet but the stress and all the medical issues I have had in the past year are finally starting to sink in. I am feeling a little sad and also in a weird way feel like I have faced my own mortality again. What is wrong with my body? My immune system? The consultant said that it wouldn't be a disaster if I were to get pregnant in the near future but I do need to get a smear in 6 months time to make sure all is normal. I am just starting to think that I am climbing a bigger mountain than just PE now and don't know if I am strong enough. I am sorry if I upset anyone, I just feel a little defeated and just need to vent. Love to you all. Thankyou for listening.

[riehlism]

My sister and some friends also had cervical dysplasia and went through the same procedure. One of my friends had to do it a couple of times, but she is in the clear now. I don't know how common it is in your part of the world, but I know that it's a pretty common thing that happens to women here of reproductive age. There's also a link between that and HPV, which is why there is such a push to gets teens and young women under 25 vaccinated against it.

Hopefully this was just a speed bump.

[caryn]

There is *nothing* wrong with you. This is why we invented modern medicine. It happens all the time. People just don't talk about it, much like they don't talk about miscarriages.

[holly3372@msn.com]

That's right there is nothing wrong with you. You have every right to feel overwhelmed by it all . You have been through so much. Give yourself that time to heal now . You are stronger then you give yourself credit for.

[audrey s.]

Also, anything you can do to strengthen your immune system: eating right, getting enough sleep (hard to do with a baby, I know!), will really help improve your chances of fighting off the virus that causes dysplasia. I've had several procedures (one after my hysterectomy, which wasn't for that reason) but was finally able to clear the virus from my system and have been clear for ten years now. Good luck with this, and hopefully you will be clear on future smears!

[lornarose]

Thankyou all for your messages of support. I have snapped out of self pity mode and feel strong. I am going to try and put health anxiety issues to bed. I have to live in the moment. Thankyou all so much-fantastic ladies.xxx