Cervical Dysplasia

[agehya]

I will give you a little bit of history first. When I was 42 I had a pap smear that came back "moderate to severe". I had not had one for five years as I had faithfully had annual paps from the age of 21 through 37 and they had all been normal except twice, when my OB/GYN said I had metaplasia, which reverts back to normal. Anyway, he retired and I was no longer taking the pill, so I figured I could go every five years. By the way, I have had one sexual partner for over 25 years. Well, when the doctor told me I had severe to moderate dysplasia, I was stunned! I went back for colposcopy study which revealed no abnormal cells whatsever! The doctor was perplexed! She even said she questioned the lab about getting pap smear results mixed up. Anyway, she then recommended a cone biopsy by way of loop (leep) procedure. That way, any bad cells that might be deep down would be found. I had the biopsy and it showed a very tiny area of cells with mild dysplasia. I followed back with negative follow-up paps up through 1996, which was four years. I moved three times within the last ten years and, I know this is bad, did not have any further follow-up paps. It was never clear to me how often I should follow up with Paps. Three in a row negative seemed to be the "all clear" to spread them out. Also, when the doctor told me about the dysplasia, she told me I had HPV She not say which kind, but she did refer to it as "genital warts". My husband wore a condom for about five years after my diagnosis and in 1997 we separated anyway. I have been sexually inactive now since that time. I am menopausal and recently I had a little blood on my tissue one morning. It was deluted and light, I put on a pad but got nothing more than a dime sized spot. I also have bad external hemorroids and they were flairing up at the time. I had walked a great deal the day before and I had been sweating in that area too and it was irritating my hemorroids (itching and burning). Since then, it has happened twice more, very scantly and always when the hemorroids are flairing up. I have scheduled a pap test, but I was wondering if with my history, I should be concerned about things having progressed? At my age, 57, I am going through many physical changes, tiredness, back pains and aches, sleepliness, I am hoping that I am not falling apart here and old ghosts have come back to haunt me.