My story begins....

This is how my story begins. I hope it has a happy ending.

In January this year (2009) I had a pap test which came back LSIL. Oh. That’s not good. “Don’t worry, it’s not that uncommon. We’ll see you in 6 months to do another pap. It might even regresses on its own” my doctor says. “Ok” I respond and leave the doctors office without really asking any questions since I’m still in shock. And I think to myself that I probably should’ve told her that I’ve actually never had a pap before. (I’m 28. I know, I know. Not smart) So I get on the internet and start to research and obsess.

Fast forward a month or so, I notice I’m bleeding now after sex. One time it’s so bad I thought I was haemorrhaging. I go back to the doctor and tell her this and that I’m really concerned. I get referred to a specialist, only problem is that it’s a four month wait. Ugh. Get on the internet and obsess some more.

The day finally comes to see the specialist. He walks in, looks at my chart and asks me “so…why are you here?” I tell him my story, he doesn’t look impressed. Takes a quick look at me and my age and says I’m fine and sends me on my way. Seriously?

Two months later, I have my follow up pap. I wait patiently by my phone for the call from my doctor. The phone rings and the receptionist at my doctors office asks me to come in. This can’t be good. I go in for my appointment, Doc sits down and says “We don’t have the results from the pap yet, but I needed to talk to you about something else. Tests came back and you have Chlamydia” Wait, I have what??? Research some more. Hmm, Chlamydia + HPV = greater risk of having it develop into cervical cancer. Great.

The following week I get a call for the receptionist at my doctors office. “We have the results of your test and it’s still LSIL so we’ve made an appointment at the Colposcopy Clinic. The date is April 2010” What? That’s not for another 7 months! Fantastic.

The following month (September) I notice a bump on my cervic. Oh no. A few weeks later, another, and then another. The first one is round and hard and the size of a bb pellet. It may have gotten a little larger. The second one discovered is much smaller, it went away, and now it’s back. It think it’s just a cyst or something harmless. The newest one is oblong. Wonderful.

I call the colposcopy clinic to see if I can get in any earlier. Nope, booked solid. I’m trying different avenues to expedite the process, but we’ll see where those lead me. In the meantime I’m battling depression (diagnosed and put on meds about 5 years ago) and watching my relationship with my boyfriend deteriorate because I’m withdrawn, falling back into a valley in my depression cycle triggered by these events, and he thinks I shouldn’t worry since I have no answers yet. Let’s see how you would do in my situation. However I don’t want to burden him with my worries because his father died of cancer a few years ago, and another family member died of cancer last year.

So what now? Sit, wait, google and obsess.