[PUMPKIN4]

I am 23 and finished the last Gardasil shot about 2 1/2 months ago. I had a pap 2 weeks ago and it came back abnormal with HPV. I know the shot only covers 4 strains, so it must be one of the other 90 somethings. I had an abnormal pap last december and also a colposcopy w/ biopsy. The test came back and all they told me was that I was high-risk and since then I've come back every 3 months for follow-up paps. I've been okay until now. I am very stressed and upset about the fact that I have to have another colp. & biopsy, it was traumatic and extremely stressful. You have no idea of the things running through my mind. Is there anyone out there who has had a experience like mine?? If so, please tell me what happened.
I will also welcome any input from medical professionals. Thank you.

[sourpuss]

I've had a few abnormal paps and colposcopy w/ biopsies. I went through these for a few years. I was never diagnosed with HPV (not sure there was a test for it then) but anyhoo. Yes, it is stressful. I've had the abnormal cells removed twice and have been in the clear more or less since then.

I have found that the abnormal paps have come up when I have been very stressed out. I seem to have the best luck at the gyno when I am healthy, exercising regularly and taking good care of myself. When you are stressed and not healthy then the immune system can't fight off the HPV. (or so it seems) Just me two cents.

[PUMPKIN4]

Thank You Sourpuss

Thank you for your "2 cents". Any kind of feedback is appreciated at this time. I do feel a little at ease knowing other women like yourself have been through the same situations. The procedure and waiting for the results is just god awful. I don't know what's worse. But if anything, at least I know about this now as opposed to later. Thank you and take care.

[alibaby]

Thank you.

PUMPKIN4,

I've never been through what you've experienced with HPV, but I appreciate you starting this thread on Gardasil. I've been back and forth about whether or not to vaccinate my girls. I wasn't aware that there were so many strains of HPV and that the vaccine only covers four of them! So I guess I'm still thinking about it. I hope you'll be doing better soon.

[PUMPKIN4]

To Alibaby

Hello,

I Am Glad I Did Get The Gardasil Shots. It Wasent Cheap ($600), But My Neighbors Are A Nurse & A Pharmacist And They Said It Was The Best $600 I Would Ever Spend. While The Shot Only Covers 4 Strains Of Hpv, They Are The Most Deadly Ones Because They Can Cause Cervical Cancer. The Other Strains Can Cause Cancer, Genital Warts Etc, But They Are Not As Aggressive And Can Be Treated If Caught Early Enough. Cancer Takes Years To Progress According To My Sources. I Am Scared, But Glad That If The Worst They Find Cancerous Cells, They Can Be Removed Because I Found Them Quickly. In My Opinion, I Would Get Your Girls Vaccinated, The Earlier, The More Effective It Is. Though They May Be Young And You Don't Want To Think About Them Being Sexually Active, It Is Better To Be Safe Than Sorry. There Are A Lot Of Things Out There And Gardasil Will At Least Keep One Of Them At Bay.
Thank You For Your Thoughts. Take Care Of Yourself & The Girls.

[alibaby]

Wow!

Hello,

I Am Glad I Did Get The Gardasil Shots. It Wasent Cheap ($600), But My Neighbors Are A Nurse & A Pharmacist And They Said It Was The Best $600 I Would Ever Spend. While The Shot Only Covers 4 Strains Of Hpv, They Are The Most Deadly Ones Because They Can Cause Cervical Cancer. The Other Strains Can Cause Cancer, Genital Warts Etc, But They Are Not As Aggressive And Can Be Treated If Caught Early Enough. Cancer Takes Years To Progress According To My Sources. I Am Scared, But Glad That If The Worst They Find Cancerous Cells, They Can Be Removed Because I Found Them Quickly. In My Opinion, I Would Get Your Girls Vaccinated, The Earlier, The More Effective It Is. Though They May Be Young And You Don't Want To Think About Them Being Sexually Active, It Is Better To Be Safe Than Sorry. There Are A Lot Of Things Out There And Gardasil Will At Least Keep One Of Them At Bay.
Thank You For Your Thoughts. Take Care Of Yourself & The Girls.

Hi PUMPKIN4.

I guess you can't always go by the numbers, you have to look at the whole picture. Now I'm leaning towards getting my daughters vaccinated. Still have to do a bit more research. I appreciate all of this great info that you've shared that will be of help to many women who pass by this forum.

Take good care of yourself.

[free spirit]

pumpkin 4,

You had the abnormal pap about a year ago? Then you had the gardisil vaccinations? It means you were already infected with the high risk strain. The vaccine does not treat HPV infections, it helps prevent HPV infections for those 4 high risk strains, 2 for cervical cancer and 2 for genital warts. The vaccine works best if given to a person before she has any sexual contact.

Your best defense is to just keep getting your paps to check for changes that the docs can take care of while they are small and benign.

[PUMPKIN4]

Reply To Freespirit

Unfortunately, My Doctor Didn't Find My Hpv Before I Got The Shots. Now That I Know I Have It, The Shots Are Useless To Me Because I've Already Been Exposed. $600 Down The Drain.
All I Can Do Now Is Keep Up On My Paps To Keep An Eye On It.
Hopefully I Won't Have To Resort To Any Procedures Like Cryo, Leep Or Cone Biopsy. The Only Good Thing Is, If I Keep Up On My Paps, And They Do Find Anything Else, At Least I Can Take Care Of It In The Early Stage.
Thanks For Your Input. Take Care, Freespirit.

[jacloss]

Surgery

Hi my name is Jill Closs. The real reason I'm sending this e-mail off the this one .I just wanted to give you an up date on my surgery I just want to let you know that I was suppose to have surgery on December 17 I change to to February 13 my doctor did not tell me when I pick the first date of my surgery that I would not be able to travel or go any where for two week. So my OBGYN was really nice and let me change my surgery date. Every Christmas I spend with my brother and his family. This year I got to go to Truckee Tahoe Ca for Christmas. I hopy you have a Happy New Year's and a great year in 2008. Thanks Allot Alibaby. Also I sent the first message under well women's exam from Jill Closs
Thanks Jill Closs

PUMPKIN4,

I've never been through what you've experienced with HPV, but I appreciate you starting this thread on Gardasil. I've been back and forth about whether or not to vaccinate my girls. I wasn't aware that there were so many strains of HPV and that the vaccine only covers four of them! So I guess I'm still thinking about it. I hope you'll be doing better soon.

[Aster]

Positive for hpv after gardasil

I've recently had a similar experience. All of my paps have tested negative for hpv. My dr. decided that gardasil was a good route for me because I am a germophobe. Two months after the last injection, a growth appeared in my groin. They are claiming that gardasil could not have caused it. But I have an autoimmune disorder and have not been sexually active in over a year and a half. Which means if I had hpv it hid for three years, even while being on immosupressive therapy. I am starting to believe that the gardasil (while they claim it is not possible) gave me genital warts. I am going in for testing in march to find out what strain I contacted. Pumpkin... I'd love to be contacted by you to discuss what happened. Maybe we can figure this whole thing out.