Hi Mandy 

Firstly a hug - this is a worrying letter to receive and in the middle of Covid even more so.  
 

Secondly, don't panic!  Which is an awful lot easier to type than do.  I know from recent experience the stresses of waiting for a test result when you've had something out of the blue.  
 

What you're now on is the start of a journey to investigate something which may - or may not - be a problem.  I'm not going to give you theories about what might or might not be the issue as I'm not a medic.  All I can do is share my experience to try to reassure you that you should ultimately be fine :-)

A few years ago I had a dodgy smear, then a colposcopy which identified changes to the cells in my cervix as CIN3.  Essentially these are cells which, left untreated, would join up together to form a malignant tumour.  The cell changes in the cervix are usually caused by HPV - a virus which girls in secondary school are now vaccinated against.

I then had a Letz Loop Incision - effectively my cervix was hot wired!  A bit uncomfortable and undignified but what it does is remove a thin layer of your cervix including all the naughty cells.  This means they can't join up and make a cancer conga.

I've had smears since and I'm absolutely fine - it's one of those things which if they catch early stops something from being a problem before it starts.

The things is, you just don't know yet how far down the path you are.  Try to use the time before your appointment to think of questions you'd like to ask and write them down.  It might be nothing or it might be something and the balance of probabilities is definitely on your side.  But I know full well that the waiting is sometimes the worst part.

Anothet hug to finish - keep your chin up, use the waiting time constructively and very best wishes for whatever journey is ahead.

Take care

Zoe

My appointment is now 20 weeks but might be extended again... I'm tempted to go private as I'm scared to wait, do they know what grade you are with a smear test. I think anxiety high as I know someone who missed out due to covid and now has an aggressive form of cervical cancer... X

hi new to this, just wondering if youve been for colposcopy yet?

ive got mine on wed x

Hi, no still waiting xxx how long did you wait for? 

I have gone privately.

I have serious health anxiety, C in particular and waiting would have made me ill.

I only got my letter back on thur saying ive got borderline changes and HPV.

All smears have been normally and on time throughout my life.

im absolutely terrified x

I can relate to the health anxiety its awful, im still considering going private, a nurse told me to hang fire... I just feel the wait is going to be longer xx 

No way I could have waited, ive been so ill these past two days and have no idea how ill be come wed.

Just want it done now.

Literally consuming every thought x

I understand ive been there, it gets a hold of you. You have borderline changes so im sire you will be fine, the screening process is great, i just want tested at the the time i should be tested thats what worries me. A morbid thought but if its not a colposcopy it'll be something else we will all get older and things going wrong with our bodies. We need to try and live in the now and enjoy life. I do understand anxiety though i live with it every day, its a battle... Need to keep fighting though nothing else for it x

reading through your earlier posts, you have the same changes as me? x

Yes borderline changes with high risk hpv... Ive had 2 colposcopys before once they took i biopsy. It is a worry, but try and look after yourself because stress will make you ill aswell. Im going to chase my appointment and see whwre the land lies, if its going to be alit longer i might consider going private. Xx the screening process is there to check and double check which is fantastic. The waiting times for anything because of covid is horrible and should never have happened, the backlog will stress the nhs x

Yes borderline changes with high risk hpv... Ive had 2 colposcopys before once they took i biopsy. It is a worry, but try and look after yourself because stress will make you ill aswell. Im going to chase my appointment and see whwre the land lies, if its going to be alit longer i might consider going private. Xx the screening process is there to check and double check which is fantastic. The waiting times for anything because of covid is horrible and should never have happened, the backlog will stress the nhs x

I have just spoken to my gp who reassured me that even high grade changes on smear dont mean the C word.

Im just so drained by it all and the waiting is just the worst, no idea how youve waited this long and be as sane x

Anxiety sure does zap your energy, im going to have a think what to do this week. I have 2 teenage daughters around me i need to hold myself together for them. I really hope all women get there appointments asap x

My app is wed at 130. Dreading it but cant wait for it to be over for some clarity at least x

Dont dread it, look forward to it as your dealing with your health and it'll put your mind at rest, good luck, try and relax x

thank you 

Hi I am going through the same process had a biopsy last week and waiting for the results I am so anxious. I keep thinking about the c word and my young family. 

The lady said to me today that biopsies are taken if they can see areas of change, even tiny ones, just so they can decide on what type of treatment if any to give.

i feel you 100%. ive been beside myself and suffering from health anxiety only made this a million times worse for me xx

It’s strange because I had pains in my side for weeks thinking that this maybe related but I am not sure whether that is even a connection. My mind is doing over time and I am over thinking believing there is something wrong with my body. But generally I am healthy it’s just hard waiting.

You sound so much like me. the mind does crazy  things to us. ive felt like ive been in a bubble and can see everyone outside it but ive been stuck inside.

what did they say at colposcopy? x

I was told that my smear did not match up with colposcopy and she took a biopsy to check she did reassure me but I was not convinced. The messages seen on this platform has been really helpful. I am trying to remind myself that it is a process and that it is good that I am getting checked out. I think the whole c 19 has made me so health conscious I am trying to remain positive but it’s hard.