Just Came From The Obgyn.....

On 12/19/2007 Heather1971 wrote:

I'm scared. I am 36. I have all the symptoms.  Missed periods.  Heavy periods.  Spotting.  Discharge.  HPV. I had a biopsy last year, that I passed.  So, during my exam, my doc says that my cervix looks very irritated.  She ordered some blood tests.  She scheduled an ultrasound.  Waiting on the pap results.  What's next?  She kept saying for me to stop worrying, that I probably did not have cancer. She was SO CALM!  I keep feeling that she could have done more?? Maybe like I wanted her to just be more honest?  Am I wrong, or just very worried?  Can someone tell me what to expect next, or maybe tell me if I am over reacting? One more stupid thing.  Can we sense that things are wrong?  I mean, I have this nagging feeling that I need to, well, really LIVE. Like, this is IT.  Oh, maybe I am feeding into too much thinking, and too much research into the subject.  But truly, I have every symtpom, and then some.(But not late stage symptoms.)  I have fainted, had pleuracy, (sp), and a wicked lung infection for months that I can't get over.  Could I have cancer that has spread?? See what I mean?  I am off the deep end.  I think that I have gone and written a death sentence for myself!  I am in panic mode. I need some other perspectives here.  My doctor, I think, didn't really know what to do with me.  She just kept saying to calm down.  And when is this pap test result coming back? Any help?  Thanks.  H.

Take a deep breath, Heather.  Worrying and making yourself crazy about this won't do anything to change whatever the results of your pap smear are.  Most cervical cancers grow slowly and you said you checked out fine last year, so even IF you do have cancer, chances are that it was caught very early and is treatable and curable.  The ultrasound might show fibroids, which could be what are causing some of your menstrual problems (the heavy periods, etc.). 

Do not go off the deep end until you have reason to.  You should be thrilled that your doctor noticed the irritation to your cervix and is ordering tests.  Some doctors wouldn't even bother to do that or wouldn't have even noticed it.  Pap results, in my experience, take about one week to come back.  It's a holiday week and it might take a bit longer.  Whatever the outcome, there are many steps between irritation of the cervix and full-blown cervical cancer. 

You say you wanted your doctor to do more or be more honest but she can only tell you what she knows.  The tests will give her some more information that she can pass on to you.  It would be extremely unprofessional for her to give you a diagnosis without further testing. 

Just take each day as it comes.  I had and was treated for cervical cancer and it taught me to control the things I can control and not worry too much about the rest.  Easy to say, I know.  Good luck and please tell us how things go.