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Posted 2/14/2008 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
I was only on 6mp for 4 weeks (the month of December) - having then developed hives - and not been on anything since. Adjusted diet etc and feel more or less ok. I have good days and I have bad days - mostly in limbo unsure of what to do or how.

I had my yearly OBGYN appt - pap smear etc (worst two words to put together EVER) and received abnormal results. :( I've never had abnormal results before, it's moderate dysplasia and next week I'm going in for a colpolscopy. I'm wondering if anyone else has received abnormal results while on, or having been on immune lowering medications.. etc.?? I read that it's a possibility that it would affect the cells of the cervix.

I'm really upset and frustrated because I honestly don't want another thing to deal with. I'm tired of going to the doctor and I hate that I get this news on valentine's day. I'd just like ONE normal valentine's day. Last year I had a colonoscopy ON valentine's day - and now I have to deal with a stupid cervix. I don't want to worry because I'm making an effort to not, but I am SO angry.

I do have a nice evening planned with my boyfriend making dinner and going out for ice cream :) so I will have to hold on and look forward to that. I hope everyone has a great v-day!

@--->---
Posted 2/14/2008 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure about the meds, but working at a hospital, I am pretty sure that you have to have had sex with someone who had HPV to have an abnormal Pap-meds or not. The meds may lower your immune and it may become a problem faster-but you still have to be exposed to the virus either way.

Posted 2/14/2008 5:06 PM (GMT 0)
i dont think thats true that u have to have sex with someone with hpv to have an abnormal pap. a female could develop cancerous cells that cause an abnormal pap and they could have not ever had sex. Also, i have read on some other forums here that alot of females on certain meds have later had abnormal paps. Mayb u could check in the archives and see what u find.
Posted 2/14/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't been on immune lowering medications, but I did recently have an abnormal pap. My gyno then insisted on a colposcopy. I told her I'd had an abnormal pap about 10 years ago and all we did was a repeat pap 6 months later which was perfectly clear. (And my paps have been normal every year since--until this year) She said that's the way they *used* to do it, but now they do the colposcopy. I really, really questioned the need for the procedure, but went ahead with it.

Now, I know they're trying to offer the earliest detection possible, but she was able to tell me *before* the colposcopy that my abnormal cells were a "level one on a scale of 10 ", meaning they weren't of much concern. I still wonder why a repeat pap in a few months wouldn't have sufficed, given that information.

The colposcopy wasn't a big deal. Minor discomfort for a half day and discharge for about 5 days. It was an "in the office" procedure. I was in and out in about 30 minutes. Oddly, it's been 6 weeks now, and I haven't heard a thing from my gyno. Surely they have the results by now....

I'm not sure that what EmmyT said is necessarily true, either. I've been married for 23 years and in a relationship with my husband for 6 years prior to getting married. What's that? Some 29 years of a monogamous relationship? I REALLY don't think I've been exposed to HPV. That said, I'm sure the main concern with an abnormal pap is HPV, but I don't think it's the ONLY thing that can cause abnormal cells. Please ask your doc. I'd like to know!

Anyway, I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this on top of everything else. You're right that you don't need one more thing to deal with. I hope it is nothing. I think it usually is. They are trying to err on the side of caution, and that's probably a good thing.

Have a wonderful, wonderful Valentine's evening with your boyfriend and put it out of your mind!
Posted 2/14/2008 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
I had an abnormal pap back in 2002 while on 6mp and remicade. The only person I've ever slept with is my husband (sorry for the tmi) and let's just say, he's "clean" too. So, you CAN have an abnormal pap and not have HPV from someone else. The results came back "negative" from the colposcopy and all is well. The colposcopy left me with a little scar tissue on the cervix, but other than that, I'm fine. These immunosuppressants CAN cause changes or weakness in the body. I'm sorry you have to have a colposcopy. ((((HUGS)))) Keep your chin up! I hope all is well with you too!

Stef
Posted 2/14/2008 5:15 PM (GMT 0)

I hear you Heavly! With everything we have to deal with the last thing we want is to hear "abnormal pap". I had two abnormal paps in a row that could not be explained. So they sent me for a colposcopy every three months last year. Each colposcopy was normal so they are stumped. They think I may have been exposed to someone with HPV at some point but they are not sure. My only other theory is that I have a tiny recto-vaginal fistula forming that nobody has picked up on. That can also cause abnormal results.  

Try not to worry about the colposcopy. I was freaking out because it looks scary but it really isn't anything special. It's basically like a pap test except they have a big camera sitting in between your legs so they can look at your cervix on a screen.......magnified! And you sit on a chair that tilts backwards. So other than it being slightly embarrassing to have certain parts of you dangling up in the air with a camera pointed at you, it's easy!! Good luck!

Posted 2/14/2008 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry if I was wrong, it wasn't accusational. I just remembered my OBGYN saying to get a vaccine for HPV to prevent abnormal paps. Just FYI-my friend has only had sex with 1 man in her whole life and happened to get HPV from him (her husband-who only had sex with 1 other person ever). Sometimes, luck just sucks. Doesn't mean it is someone's fault-that wasn't what I met. Sorry if it came across that way.

Posted 2/15/2008 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
I've only been with my current boyfriend and not had any problems before, so I'm hoping that HPV isn't the case.. thanks for all your posts. I just wanted to see if my hopeful hypothesis could be a possibility heh. I'll keep you all updated. I really really appreciate the time you took to post <3

I do have to admit it'll be a bit awkward to lay back and have a camera down there! eep! I took the rest of the day off from work so I'll get to go home afterwards. I'm going to see if my boyfriend will pick up some coldstone for me as a treat :P glad that I made the appt for a friday :)
Posted 2/15/2008 6:17 PM (GMT 0)
unfortunately, the vaccine will not work against all strains of HPV, nor will it prevent all cervical cancers. its just a "help", if you will.

that said, one can have abnormal pap results without having HPV. i wish you the best cause i hate those kind of tests. some part of our bum is always in the air somewhere!

Posted 2/15/2008 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
i just had an abnormal pap too. i was told that i have hpv and it is a strain that can cause cervical cancer. im haveing a colposcopy on march 4th. my gyn tols me that the abnormal cells were rare and showed a good chance that there woll be cancerous or pre cancerous cells. she said she wants me to be prepared. needless to say im completly freaked out. i understand how you are feeling. it is scary to think that you might have cancer, even though it is completly treatable. im also mad about the hpv. never in my life have i not been "safe". she said with my comprimised immune system the chances of me getting hpv were high as well as developing cancer.

oh well, hang in there. i know its tough.

bunny

Posted 2/18/2008 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
sorry to hear that you also had an abnormal pap :( i hope that your colposcopy goes well on the 4th - keep us updated. i'm not sure how they knew based off the pap that you had HPV and that it was rare. my doc told me that my cells were abnormal but theyd have to run more tests to know for sure if i had hpv and more details. i hope your biopsy results will be better than your doc thinks. i understand the need to be prepared, but it's not good for us to worry! (or fun)
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