ladies, I need your help & experience please

[middlenamehypochondria]

About nine years ago I had an abnormal pap and hpv.  I had a follow up pap and colposcopy done 3 months later and all came back okay.  I had to have a pap every three months for a year then I could go back to my regular yearly.  So, since then I have had 12 regular paps and two negative hpv tests.  The doctor said I could come back every three years, well last week was three years so I went back. 

I went at 8am last Tuesday, she said everything looked great and my results would be back in about a week.  She said they would call if there was a problem and send a postcard if not.  She said she didn't expect anything other than normal.  It has now been 8 days which is more than a week and I haven't received a postcard.  Also, I had a missed call from a restricted number but no message. (I did fill out the paperwork saying they could leave a message).

My questions, from your personal experience: 

Do abnormal results take longer to get back?

Can a doctor really say your cervix is healthy?

Has your doctors office ever been late sending the postcard or has it been lost in the mail?

I was okay today, but once the one week mark passed I'm shaking in fear.

[PennyPanic]

You should call tomorrow to get results.

My limited understanding of HPV is that the body after a while often deals with the virus and then theoretically all is well.  I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on tv...but that may be the case of why they told you to go every 3 years or whatever.  So I would think then with so many good results for so long your body just dealt with it and there's nothing to worry about.  That is the logical and likely scenario I would think.

My gyno told me that by law the labs can process only so many pap smears in a day so that they are sure that each is getting the adequate attention it deserves.  So he has told me in the past to wait 2 weeks for results.

If it were me, because I'm anxious all of the time I would call tomorrow to get the results.  Just don't be surprised or upset if they don't have them.

Also personally I know that they tell us to only get them x number of years instead of every year, but I go yearly anyway...'cause I'm a freak that way and get lots of tests done.  Again I'm not a doctor...but just paranoid and anxious.

Finally, I have been told by many that "no news is good news"  and your doctor would not likely tell you that all looks good if it didn't.  I have no idea how they could know and pathology is the final decision maker on that but that has to give you confidence that all will be well.

Hang in there. 

[LindaRK]

Definitely call your doctor if you're this anxious about it.

I was diagnosed with HPV about about 10 years ago.  Only way to absolutely diagnosis it is by having a biopsy (and yes, it hurts).  I exhibited all the symptoms, pap came back abnormal - the whole drill.  Everything said HPV.  Had the biopsy and it came back negative.  Surprised your doc didn't offer this up.

[colls22]

Okay, I have some experience with this.

Firstly, abnormal results would get a call STAT. So, the longer without a call, the better, here in Canada, if you can believe it, we wait up to two months for normal pap results!! That's why I go to a private clinic.

Also, yes, the doctor can tell a healthy cervix from looking at it. I actually asked about that.

So, worry not, because it sounds like you're fine :)

[AMRELP2712]

Were you pregnant? Hormones can cause abnormal cells.. and cause things to show up and look like something it's not. Mine showed HPV, and then after my pregnancy I got tested again. Normal. I guess your body has a weird way of working while all your hormones are going crazy. They explained it all to me I wish I could remember all of it- All I really got from the conversation was you are CLEAN and I was very happy!

[middlenamehypochondria]

Amrel, -Yes, I was.  That was years ago and I have had clean paps since and negative hpv tests.  Interesting.  My fear right now is that the doctor said your results will be back in about a week.  It has been eight days - which for me has caused me to panic.  Perhaps the results would be back in a week and then they would mail the postcard?  I'm almost too scared to call.

[AMRELP2712]

Our bodies do the funniest things. lol. but I would be scared too because that's exactly how I am.
I understand, plus down there is no joke lol. we all want things to be okay with us, but my dr office is like that too. Sometimes they don't even send a post card. I think it's fine. Just call and ask if they have the results yet. The secretaries get paid to answer your questions for you :)