female only VSG cured my cervical dysplasia!

[Kindle 8,667]

Ok, so it probably didn't. But I've had abnormal PAPs for the last 7 years. I get checked twice/year and it ranges from From atypical to high grade. I've had 4 LEEPS, 5 biopsies and a conization. I can't believe I even have a cervix left after all the bits and pieces that have been removed. Two years ago I finally said fuckit....unless it comes back high grade again or precancerous, I'm not having anymore procedures...obviously the aren't working. Well I just got my most resent PAP result and it was normal! My OB/Gyn emailed me herself she was so excited. I'm chalking it up to outstanding nutrition over the last 10 months since surgery. Very nice NSV!

[BloomingLotus 179]

Great news!

[auntiemel 275]

Congrats!

Sometimes I wonder about false results from Pap smears. Anything can throw off the results, hormones, sex, douches, and anything like suppositories.

It's interesting to know that the ideal timeframe to have a Pap smear is 10-20 days after your last period, BUT if you are obese and don't ovulate or have PCOS you may not even have periods to know when to have a Pap smear, and if you have it done at the wrong time it can cause false results.

I really hope that more specialists focus on treating obese individuals, as we get bad treatment a lot. I hear so many doctors diagnose anything with "you are overweight" than actually delving into the problem. Even though I took a step with the sleeve to get healthier, many will not and we need to fight for awareness.

[auntiemel 275]

Sorry I really got on my soapbox lol

[Kindle 8,667]

Hey, soapbox away! But since i've had almost 20 abnormal PAPS with dysplastic tissue confirmed with biopsies, I don't think mine are false positives. Also, I've tested positive for HPV so we know that's the cause of the dysplasia . That's why I think my VSG surgery helped with this.....good nutrition=strong immune system=Ability to clear HPV=normal cervical cells.

And you are right about the timing. After the first 1-2 abnormals we were always very careful about WHEN we did the PAPs. However, I did have an endometrial ablation at the same time as my conization, so I haven't had a period in years. Now it's impossible to time my PAPS because I have no idea when I'm mensturating. By far, the second best surgical procedure I've ever had (next to VSG). But a very close second!

[auntiemel 275]

Thank goodness you are finally done with it all! Yeah!!!! I'm doing a happy dance for you...and I don't dance lol so it's a crazy one!!!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Woo hoo!!!

[Kate M 60]

OK gotta' chime in here. I'm a Woman's Health NP and spent most of my career caring for women, doing cervical cancer screening and prevention. Not bragging, just letting you all know I have the creds to address this.

You are absolutely correct in saying your year of healthy eating has "cured" your dysplasia. Well, not exactly, but what has happened is your body is now able to devote some energy to fighting the virus that caused your dysplsia - the HPV virus.

Chances are we've all had at least 1 of the more than 100 strains of HPV out there. Some of us got lucky and got one of the less aggressive ones. Some got one of the more virulent strains that cause high grade dysplasia and cervical cancer.

Like all viruses, we need our immune system to be healthy in order to fight off the negative effects of a virus. (Ever get a simple cold but because of stress, it knocked you on your ass?)

Stress comes in many different forms, and being obese is a HUGE stressor on which your body has to expend a lot of its resources fighting. Congrats to you for taking this step towards good health. A pretty major NSV, wouldn't you say?

By the way, if you have kids, get them vaccinated against HPV. Girls AND boys ( it takes two to tango!)

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Kate, I have several Hpv questions if you don't mind....

Why do they say vaccinations only for young people? I know the vaccination only works against a handful of strains but they happen to work against the strains most likely to cause cervical cancer and warts. Seems like older people could benefit from that protection too.

When the vacine first came out it was pushed as protection for girls. My boys are in their 20s and although I have encouraged their vaccinations they havnt. I think it was a real miss that the original recommendations focused on girls only.

Also why is it that STI testing doesn't include HPV?

[Kate M 60]

Good questions!

HPV is the #1 most prevalent STD. Some strains cause genital warts, some cause dysplasia. If you get infected with one of the "high risk" strains, you are at increased risk for dysplasia. If we have more than one sexual partner in our lifetime, it's pretty likely that we've been exposed to one or many of the strains.

The goal of the vaccines is to prevent the infection in the first place, so the best age group to give it to is adolescents (hopefully before they become sexually active). They started with girls, then (duh) recommended it for boys a few years later. That's who they studied for safety and efficacy. They haven't studied it's use in adults.

Remember when we used to be told to be sure and have a Pap smear every year? That was to try and catch dysplasia (caused by HPV) before it advanced. Depending on your result, you were probably told to repeat it in 6 months and most of the time your next Pap smear would be normal. That was because of a low grade HPV infection that our immune systems fought off.

Now there's a test for HPV and it's recommended for woman age 30 along with a Pap smear. If both are normal, you are good to go for 3 years!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

That is interesting. I am 50 and have always had normal pap smears, but have never been offered the HPV test. I still get annual paps, wondering if somehow I am working from outdated info? Anyway, i am sure I am fine, but I have found this to be such a puzzle. I realize that HPV is very common and yet oddly not stimitized the way most STIs are. Anyway, I still think it would make sense for someone like me to be vaccinated because i am now single and presumably my possible future partners have been exposed to alot more possible candidates for spreading it than my long term relationship was. No one wants the risk of cervical cancer OR warts so I do wonder why this isn't offered to the broader population still. I suspect someday it will be...

I still think they really messed up when pushing it only for girls. I would have probably just had my boys vacinated when they were young if I had understood the situation more clearly...

[Kate M 60]

Your docs aren't keeping up with the research. Tells ng women they need annual Pap smears is a real cash cow

[BethinPA 305]

I did get vaccinated in my forties. I paid out of pocket. I was tested and knew I was HPV negative, and figured that since I was planning on becoming sexually active again, it was wise to do so. My GYN supported my decision.