RE: Follow up Pap

Ask your doctor how long to take off from work -- if you need to at all. You will need his/her signature anyway to apply for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) if you do. You may not have to do more than a day -- my goodness, gall bladder surgery is done as an outpatient now-a-days!

The first bioposy was sent for a pathologist to look at it (they made the judgement call). As to the question about whether the LEEP results can come back as cancer... I'm afraid so BUT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WILL! However, cervical cancer is treatable and cureable. Your physician will send the bioposy for a pathologist to make the determination. My husband would say "don't cross that bridge until you have to". I, on the other hand, am a worrier extraordonaire --

I'm just glad you're following through with each step as it comes along. That's all anyone can do -- except for those people who think if they ignore physician recommendations and symptoms (breast lumps, blood in their stools, etc.), it will go away. I'm also glad you're having PAP smears -- I can't tell you how many women say "later", "don't have time", I've heard lots of them!

God bless you and your family,
M.

I took a week off of work for mine but I could have gotten away with 3 days. If it was cancer you would already have that info from the biopsy. Please do know that the LEEP is not necessarily permanent. Seven years after mine the dysphasia has returned. I am electing NOT to have more surgery since my OBGYN said in these forms of dysphasia they don't turn cancerous. I've had enough torture.

Mine was an actual surgery where I was under anestesia - considered outpatient surgery. Also, if you are worried about having more kids in the future - I had my procedure 7 years ago & I have a 3yr old and am 21wks now so it wont stop you :o) It did slow me down with my 1st but that was also a combination of other things as well. I found out about my dysphasia coming back and was scheduled for the colpo but the pregnancy test before the colpo said I was pregnant (woohoo only after trying 3 months) so I am going through the pregnancy with the abnormal cells - the docs say it is perfectly fine.

C.

A.,
I had to have a LEEP as well. I had it done on a Friday and went back to work on Monday, but honestly, other than a little cramping I felt fine the next day. I did, however, bleed for a while afterward, like I was having a heavy period, which is normal. I'm not sure if they sent those cells off to be tested for cancer, but it seems like they did. You can ask your doctor though.

I had a leep procedure about 8 years ago (I was about 16.) You probably won't need to take any time off of work, other than the day of the procedure. It's not like a "surgery" No anesthesia, and except for bleeding for a few days,and a little discomfort (sort of like cramping) I didn't have any problems. Like I said, this was 8 years ago, and thus far every pap smear has come back normal. As far as the cancer chances, i was told that moderate to severe dysplasia can turn into cervical cancer, but the LEEP procedure elimates these cells and the chances of cervical cancer are dramatically lessened. In other words, it's probably not something you should be worried about since it was caught and will be treated. Make sure you talk with your doctor and ask him the same questions. I was told no sex, tampons, baths, or heavy lifting for 4 weeks after the procedures. Good Luck with everything!!

I had LEEP about 6 years ago (around 21). I would just do it on a Friday afternoon, and have someone to drive you there/home. They gave me a Valium to take before hand, and you can't drive on that :) Also, I remember cramping afterwards. The weirdest part was having a metal plate under my bottom (to "ground" you, so you don't get shocked). Since having LEEP, I've only had mild abnormal cells once, and they just froze those off in the office.