About my original message about my pap smear

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I wanted to tell a little bit of my history

and any words of encouragement is greatly appreciated.

 

In spring 2003, I started spotting blood, it really wasn't anything unusual. I

have never been regular. But it was late one night and I had spotted for about

2 weeks and I decided to look in a medical book to see what the problem could

be. Well, you guessed it....it said " cervical cancer " . I freaked out! I

cried, I shook, I passed out, I called my sister at 1 in the morning asking her

if she had ever experienced spotting. I made an appt. the next morning with my

ob/gyn and it was 2 weeks before they could see me. In the meantime, I sat and

cried...all day and all night. I was 29 years old. I had 2 babies whom I

homeschooled. I couldn't function, I couldn't do anything. Finally I had a pap

smear. The ob/gyn, while he was down there, asked me if I just finished my

period....so....I had to go through the WHOLE reason I was there in the first

place was because I was spotting and blah, blah, blah. He said it would be

another 2 weeks before my results came back. I cried and shook and he asked my

hubby if I was always this neurotic. I felt silly, but I was soo scared. He

said if the results showed anything he would " get rid of it " . Ok, so I call

constantly with every little problem in the meantime. I had diarrhea and I

called, I had a sore throat and I called. Thinking these were all signs of the

" c " word. Finally he tells me to come in and have a uterine biopsy to ease my

mind. About a week later, they call and tell me all the results were fine. I

felt so relieved. BUT...in one of my visits he told me to be worried about

breast cancer. And guess what...I went straight into being anxious about breast

cancer. In the meantime, I am put on paxil. It didn't work. So December 2003,

I MAKE the Dr. order me a mammogram. At 30 years old. And I waited for those

results, which came back fine. I had been fine for the past couple of years.

Now, last month I thought I felt some thickness in one breast...so I go have it

checked out the next day. They tell me since it has been so long since a pap I

had to have one done. It was 1 week to the day of my beginning my period. She

tells me she thought she felt some thickness, to wait and see if it goes away

after my period. Well, it went down...it is hard to tell if it went away. I am

very large breasted and it makes it so hard to tell. Then exactly 1 month

later, I get my pap results back that says it is normal but with partial obscure

inflammation. Then it goes on and says.... " this does not mean you pap is

abnormal and to return in 6 months to recheck, due to my test history. I guess

that means because I have only had about 5 paps since the age of 18 and I am 32.

I am hoping that is why they want me back that soon. Surely it would HAVE top

say the results were abnormal if something was wrong. I have always been

healthy. Hardly ever even get a cold. Since 2002, I take garlic, vit c and e.

A multivitamin, vit D, folic acid, b-12, vit A. And I eat salmon 2 times a week

and eat many more cruciferous veggies and fruits than I use to. My pap results

have me shaken again...like I felt in 2003. All of my ancestors have lived to

be a ripe old age. I am the youngest of 6 kids...the oldest being 48. No

cancer is in our family. I am overweight but am working on losing. I try to

eat right and get more exercise. How can I get past the " what if I get it " and

not worry about what tomorrow will bring? I am so afraid I will not live to

raise my 10 and 12 year old. I even told my hubby, that I only needed to live 8

more years. He thinks I am going crazy and wants me back on paxil. The Dr.

refuses to write mammogram orders for me unless something definite is felt this

time because it has been less than 2 years since my last one and I am only 32.

I had another Dr. tell me that since I was still in my 30's I was still pretty

invincible and shouldn't worry, just to take precautions. I just wanted to add

to my original post and ask for any words of encouragement or any ways I can

calm down and enjoy life not fear it. Please help.

 

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Dear Sharon,

 

First of all, I want to say to try and relax. Cervical

cancer is usually a slower growing cancer and much

easier to treat than many out there. I am glad your

test results are okay; you seem to pay good attention

to your health and shouldn't worry so much. Things do

happen for reasons, so if something does happen, you

can handle it, just feel assured Plus...stress can

cause weakened illness and problems down the road lol

 

Actually I am piping up too because my thoughts have

been similar to your original ones years back. Last

month I spotted for like 2 weeks and I've never

spotted before. My period last month was several days

late - IF I had the 32 or whatever cycle, not the 28.

I'd say 40 day cycle that month lol.

 

The month before was a heavy period and came EARLY,

this one right on time, so who knows. ALso have been

having bowel problems for like 6 months. I think this

is related to all the stress of a child custody issue,

however. Think it's maybe giving me IBS or something,

not sure. I will feel a sudden griping pain and have

to go, this keeps going on and on. I am not

constipated and am regular, but alas, I seem to have

nervous bowels now. Sometimse this happens many times

a day. I thougth cervical cancer too and wish to be

checked out soon, a little over a year late in tests.

 

My reasoning, though, is - even though they say it's

NOT a hereditary cancer - my mom had it in her mid

20's bad, then later in life. Her sister had it in her

20's or early 30's. Our great grandmother had it but

don't know her age. AND my cousin Sandy - my mother's

brothers daughter - had it BADLy at FOURTEEN! Highly

unusual there by the way. So..I am 25 now. Not

expecting cervical cancer really but would it surprise

me? Maybe not. Again, they claim it's not hereditary

so it figures. Seems from my family history though,

and strikes relatively young. I dont know any other

relatives so can't trace the cancer back farther than

that.

 

Cheers and try not to worry, I am sure you will be

fine

 

Hugs

Erin

 

 

 

 

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