This is bcm's wife. I just got a call from the gyn saying my pap was abnormal. I expected them to say come right back in,let's do another one...something. Instead,the nurse told me to follow up next year during my annual exam and to disregard it. She then said it was safe to ignore since 90% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV and mine was negative. So I said does that mean I sit on this and cross my fingers that I'm not that 10%? And she hesitated and then said it takes 5-7 years to change to cervical cancer and we'd still catch it in time. I want to trust they know what they are talking about but what the hell....I can't imagine knowing this and ignoring it for a year. Seems irresponsible. Anyone else had this happen? And was it handled this way?

The only time I had an abnorma pap, the doctor put me on antibiotics and then had me redo the pap about a month later - and it was ok then. The abnormal cells were caused by a pelvic infection. I don't think I would be able to let it go for a year. No way. You deserve peace of mind.

I would say it is time for a second opinion with a totally different team of doctors. Hugs. Hope everything works out for you.

I was thrown off and didn't ask the questions I wanted to during the call,so I just called them back and said I wanted to know specifically what the report showed,as in what sort of changes. At first they said it would have to wait until Monday but then offered to *try* to get someone to tell me today.

Who is your Dr? I am not sure I would be fine w/ the answer they gave you... Uh yea dont worry we will catch it in time :eyebrow:

Who is your Dr? I am not sure I would be fine w/ the answer they gave you... Uh yea dont worry we will catch it in time :eyebrow:

Well,they never called me back and closed their phone lines for the weekend. I actually drove all the way to Annapolis because I usually see Polko but they couldn't get me in any time soon,and it had been two years since my last pap so I wanted to get it done sooner than later. I went to Women's Gynecology,which is an all female practice right by AAMC. I really was surprised with their handling of it since I *loved* the n.p. I saw and she was so thorough. And yeah,with two children,I can't know about this and just ignore it for a year. Not sure who to see next - I am Wilkinson's pt. for primary care and I very much trust his opinion,and Polko as usual can't see me any time soon.

Well,they never called me back and closed their phone lines for the weekend. I actually drove all the way to Annapolis because I usually see Polko but they couldn't get me in any time soon,and it had been two years since my last pap so I wanted to get it done sooner than later. I went to Women's Gynecology,which is an all female practice right by AAMC. I really was surprised with their handling of it since I *loved* the n.p. I saw and she was so thorough. And yeah,with two children,I can't know about this and just ignore it for a year. Not sure who to see next - I am Wilkinson's pt. for primary care and I very much trust his opinion,and Polko as usual can't see me any time soon.

I would go w/ Polko for sure! I trust her 100%!!! I would explain your situation see if they cant get you in sooner. You could even possibly ask to get on list for cancellations. I would not go to anyone else then Polko. She is wonderful :yay:

I'm not crazy about Polko. I've used them for years because they are close by and there aren't many choices in the area. But they are so eager for business and constantly taking on new patients that they don't leave space in the schedule for current patients when they are having a problem.

A shift in vaginal flora can cause an abnormal Pap result too. I would be in their Office Monday morning, and give them hell for telling you something like that, and then NOT returning your call. The probability is that the person who called you didn't know their butt from a hole in the ground either. It probably is nothing, but I would definitly follow up with the Doctor. If the result was that bad, they would have recomended you do a repeat in 3 months, or as mentioned earlier..medication would have been given, or worse case scenairio..you would have been told to come in right away. It's better safe, than sorry. The Doctor might call you after hours.

I'm not crazy about Polko. I've used them for years because they are close by and there aren't many choices in the area. But they are so eager for business and constantly taking on new patients that they don't leave space in the schedule for current patients when they are having a problem.

Wow I have found her to be nothing but thorough! I've never felt rushed at all. I am not so sure it is them being eager for business but just that she is so reccommended.

I had one years ago, and they had me come back in a week later and retested. When it still came back with the cells they had me come in the next day and talked options. I tried Polko's office and was very displeased with the entire staff. I go to Tilley in Leonardtown, he's great at explaining everything and answering questions.

BCM'S wife. I do not know where you are located but I see Sara Johnson MD. She does it all so to speak. Her card says Internal Medicine & Pediatrics. She is located in the two story brick building in the Leonardtown shopping center. She has been wonderful with me and I have never had to wait for more than a day or two to get an appointment. She also does the gynecology as well and can set up your mammogram if needed depending on your age.

As far as a bad PAP I would definately get a second opinion. I had a bad one many years ago and ended up having to get a colposcopy with biopsy done. It all came back good though. Just has one with Dr. Johnson last month and all was good on that. If you need or would like the number PM me. Also I have never waited more than 15 minutes to be seen.

BCM'S wife. I do not know where you are located but I see Sara Johnson MD. She does it all so to speak. Her card says Internal Medicine & Pediatrics. She is located in the two story brick building in the Leonardtown shopping center. She has been wonderful with me and I have never had to wait for more than a day or two to get an appointment. She also does the gynecology as well and can set up your mammogram if needed depending on your age.

As far as a bad PAP I would definately get a second opinion. I had a bad one many years ago and ended up having to get a colposcopy with biopsy done. It all came back good though. Just has one with Dr. Johnson last month and all was good on that. If you need or would like the number PM me. Also I have never waited more than 15 minutes to be seen.

I appreciate the offer for her info,but I just googled and found it-isn't that a rarity on here?:killingme But if it isn't too personal a subject,I take it to mean since you had a bad pap and it came back fine that there can be reasons other than cervical cancer for this to have happened - would you mind sharing what it wound up being? I did some searching and saw that a few factors can contribute to this after reading your post and on thing I noted was that apparently having a pap done around a period can throw things off. Mine had ended just 2 days prior to the test being done and I was also sick with mild bronchitis - don't know if that would even be relevant.

I had one years ago, and they had me come back in a week later and retested. When it still came back with the cells they had me come in the next day and talked options. I tried Polko's office and was very displeased with the entire staff. I go to Tilley in Leonardtown, he's great at explaining everything and answering questions.

When it came back bad a second time,did it wind up being cancerous? And was Tilley the one who handled it? I used him for our second child many years ago and liked him - he was a little weird sometimes. I am 5'1" and a 38G bra and was breast feeding the baby and he walked in and says "Wow - now that's what I call feeding your face!"

This may seem too personal of a question, but did you abstain from intercourse 24 hours before the test? Sex can actually mess up the results.

This may seem too personal of a question, but did you abstain from intercourse 24 hours before the test? Sex can actually mess up the results.

More like 7 days. Between my pms,period,and someone not EVER listening when I say take off your shoes in the living room.

You could also try Dr. Polsky in Lexington Park. I usually don't have any issues with getting in to see him. I'd definitely be looking for a second opinion!

I would get a 2nd option. I had an abnormal pap last year and was refered to a GYN for a more indepth look. I saw Dr. Strider in Prince Frederick (I liked him, has an unusual sense of humor and puts you at ease). He ended up looking at my cervix during my inital exam, saw the area that was messed up. Next visit he froze the cells off and then did a follow up a month later and everything was fine.

Worse thing that could happen is you can have another pap and it comes out fine. If you wait a year, something that could be somewhat painless (freezing cells) could turn into something a little more in depth.

I would for sure call them and demand some specifics and then get a second opinion. "Abnormal" can mean a variety of things, but you SHOULD have answers to your questions. It seems to me that they are really narrowly focused on HPV now, and that is somewhat worrisome.

Read this
Abnormal Pap Smear : American Pregnancy Association (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/womenshealth/abnormalpapsmear.html)

I'm sorry you've had to worry all weekend.

I would for sure call them and demand some specifics and then get a second opinion. "Abnormal" can mean a variety of things, but you SHOULD have answers to your questions. It seems to me that they are really narrowly focused on HPV now, and that is somewhat worrisome.

Read this
Abnormal Pap Smear : American Pregnancy Association (http://www.americanpregnancy.org/womenshealth/abnormalpapsmear.html)

I'm sorry you've had to worry all weekend.

I definitely plan to call them first thing in the morning and let them know I want the result. If they give me any crap,I will simply ask will you fax it to my doctor? Then give them MY fax number and read the damn thing myself. I'm really upset over the way they handled this and what really gets me is that a lot of women would have trusted the doctor enough to say ok,I will just wait a year because they said to. Which sucks for the ones who needed follow up. Honestly at this point I am so worried over this and frustrated I would like to find a dr. who will go ahead and do a colposcopy whether they feel it is a must or not to put the issue to rest once and for all.

You could also try Dr. Polsky in Lexington Park. I usually don't have any issues with getting in to see him. I'd definitely be looking for a second opinion!

:yeahthat:

If you go to Dr. Wilkinson, try to get in with Dr. Mia for your pap. She comes in a few days a week (So she's usually pretty well booked) and she's fabulous. I've had abnormal paps before and they have always rescheduled me for another within two months, not had me wait a year.

Got my hands on the report. It says "epithelial atypical squamous cells" are what was shown.

It may mean Benign (not Malignant) Cellular changes most commonly associated with an Infection, or even Menopause. This is not etched in stone. With a category II, a repeat Pap in 3 months is in order. Most important, is to do what your Doctor asks you to do.

Got my hands on the report. It says "epithelial atypical squamous cells" are what was shown.


Go to dr. Polsky, he's great.

Here's the thing, they overtreat the HELL out of these things. I know. They will not repeat a pap right away as it would likely be the same. You should, however not wait a whole year. I don't know your age, but if you are over 23 you should go and have a colposcopy. They use a special instrument to take a closer look and maybe a biospy if they see a lesion. Do not worry, though. It is sooo very common and HIGHLY unlikely that it is cancer or turn into cancer. TOTALLY unlikely, in fact. If you are younger than 23, then you could probably just wait like they said, because before that age is it most likely it will go right away on it's own. If you get a colposcopy and the results are normal, they will likely repeat your pap is 3-6 months to make sure it is normal again. once you get two normal in a row you can go back to yearly.

I appreciate the offer for her info,but I just googled and found it-isn't that a rarity on here?:killingme But if it isn't too personal a subject,I take it to mean since you had a bad pap and it came back fine that there can be reasons other than cervical cancer for this to have happened - would you mind sharing what it wound up being? I did some searching and saw that a few factors can contribute to this after reading your post and on thing I noted was that apparently having a pap done around a period can throw things off. Mine had ended just 2 days prior to the test being done and I was also sick with mild bronchitis - don't know if that would even be relevant.


also, changes in cells DO NOT MEAN CANCER. It MAY mean it is precancerous changes, which most often DO NOT turn into cancer. SO an abnormal pap does not mean cancer. Most docs will tell you that an infection or being around your cycle will NOT cause an abnormal pap, but I have seenwhere an infection can cause an abnormal pap. Thing is, a person reads the pap, so there is some subjectivity, and some can notice the difference between infectious inflamation (from avaginal infection NOT a systemic infection. colds and the like will have ZERO bearing on a pap) and precancerous changes, some are not so good at it. That's why a colposcopy is helpful. It can look to see if there are any lesions associated with precancerous changes. but I repeat, because it can be confusing...precancerous changes do not mean cancer, and they do not even mean it is going to turn into cancer if youleave it..it just means those cells have undergone some changes that *COULD* turn into cancer, maybe sometime.

I am 5'1" and a 38G bra:faint:



More like 7 days. Between my pms,period,and someone not EVER listening when I say take off your shoes in the living room.:killingme

:faint:



:killingme

You have quite the mental picture too, huh?

...precancerous changes do not mean cancer, and they do not even mean it is going to turn into cancer if youleave it..it just means those cells have undergone some changes that *COULD* turn into cancer, maybe sometime.

Yep - I had an abnormal pap years ago, and was told exactly that.
They ended up doing cryosurgery just to be safe. This was eons ago, I don't even know if they do that anymore!

I have seen Polsky for years and I really like him.
He will explain EVERY detail of any question you might have, also gives you both sides to anything questionable (not just his own opinion) and never rushes thru your appointment. :yay:

Thats kinda whack.. I had an abnormal one about 2 years ago, and they had me come back in within like 2 weeks time and do a biopsy and it came back negative and fine.


This is bcm's wife. I just got a call from the gyn saying my pap was abnormal. I expected them to say come right back in,let's do another one...something. Instead,the nurse told me to follow up next year during my annual exam and to disregard it. She then said it was safe to ignore since 90% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV and mine was negative. So I said does that mean I sit on this and cross my fingers that I'm not that 10%? And she hesitated and then said it takes 5-7 years to change to cervical cancer and we'd still catch it in time. I want to trust they know what they are talking about but what the hell....I can't imagine knowing this and ignoring it for a year. Seems irresponsible. Anyone else had this happen? And was it handled this way?

Got my hands on the report. It says "epithelial atypical squamous cells" are what was shown.

If you are concerned..get a second opinion.
It is your body..not the property of the insurance company or a Doctor.

ANY cell can turn into abnormal cell..which is what cancer basically is.

I had a cyst on my left ovary, was told, it is "normal" and will go away...
Well 2 years later it did....via 2 major operations and a lifelong label of "ovarian cancer survivor"....and ALL my Paps were normal!

Go get a second opinion or third until you feel good about the results and the answers!!

If you dont take care of you, who will?

Good luck and keep looking for answers!!!:howdy:

To catch up - I'm 34. 35 in December. I've gone ahead and made an appointment with Polko's office and will see either her or Shonegan,waiting for a call back. Will go to Paul Mackoul for anything major. I actually called the original place that did the pap and discussed this whole thing with them,letting them know I felt it was irresponsible to sit on it (literally) for a year. And the nurse actually took a deep breath as if she were annoyed and said that is the protocol by the association of ob/gyn's and that per their regulations,it is absolutely safe and that they refused to do anything more for this issue until a year had passed.

And to you DKP and Baja,forget the mental image,I don't look like a weeble.:lmao:

I had the same type of thing happen...a little longer story then yours lol..anyway I was told that the cells (the bad ones on the cirvix) need to be repentished by good cells...so atypical cells (just abnormal not cancerous yet)1 yr they will not turn to cancer (its a lenghty process) but it takes awhile for the new good cells to replace the atypical) does that make since..they will not go from bad to good overnight..and will not go from atypical to non treatable cancer overnight either..so it is safe to wait

I had been waiting for the results of a sono and now that we have them the dr. is saying I need a hysteroscopy to evaluate for a problem with the endometrium. It seems like one thing after another!

Prayers for all who have to go through this.

Prayers for all who have to go through this.

:shocked:

This is bcm's wife. I just got a call from the gyn saying my pap was abnormal. I expected them to say come right back in,let's do another one...something. Instead,the nurse told me to follow up next year during my annual exam and to disregard it. She then said it was safe to ignore since 90% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV and mine was negative. So I said does that mean I sit on this and cross my fingers that I'm not that 10%? And she hesitated and then said it takes 5-7 years to change to cervical cancer and we'd still catch it in time. I want to trust they know what they are talking about but what the hell....I can't imagine knowing this and ignoring it for a year. Seems irresponsible. Anyone else had this happen? And was it handled this way?

Well, no, but my abnormal was caused by HPV and I then had to go to the coloscopy clinic every three months. I was ~20 at the time and the procedures may have changed. I was diagnosed with dysplasia (abnormal cells...pre-cancerous) I went to the clinic for several years and after several normal paps I was discharged from the clinic.

I am faithful about yearly paps and have had a few abnormals due to "that" time of the month. They rescheduled me right away. This may have been because of the HPV.

To catch up - I'm 34. 35 in December. I've gone ahead and made an appointment with Polko's office and will see either her or Shonegan,waiting for a call back. Will go to Paul Mackoul for anything major. I actually called the original place that did the pap and discussed this whole thing with them,letting them know I felt it was irresponsible to sit on it (literally) for a year. And the nurse actually took a deep breath as if she were annoyed and said that is the protocol by the association of ob/gyn's and that per their regulations,it is absolutely safe and that they refused to do anything more for this issue until a year had passed.



Good for you! It might be that your insurance may not cover another pap for another year. Out of pocket is not so bad. My gyn no longer accepted my insurance and charged ~$90 for the exam/pap and lab results (Eastern Shore)

You need to get rechecked for your peace of mind even if nothing is wrong.

I had been waiting for the results of a sono and now that we have them the dr. is saying I need a hysteroscopy to evaluate for a problem with the endometrium. It seems like one thing after another!

Think positive thoughts.

My sister had a one pound tumor removed from her ovary that had teeth and hair. :faint: The doctors called it an absorbed twin or something like that (she was 17 at the time)

She then went on to have twins herself. :lmao:

Female troubles suck. Period.

:huggy: to you.