I just got back from seeing my GP. Has anyone had to have one of these cauterised? She is referring me to a gyno. Appointment will be 11th Feb. I asked her if it was big, she said it is quite large but with a small stem so might bleed a lot, that I might have to have it cauterised. Then I asked her if it looked like a normal polyp - she replied by skipping my question, that there are lots of different types, eventually said that there were no signs that it was not innocent but then said something about we have to be "pragmatic", then repeated there is a risk of bleeding when they do it so they might decide to leave it.

Pragmatic? - what does she mean? Does she suspect it's cancer? Does she think I might bleed to death if they do it? The problem is with this particular doc I always come away feeling more worried than when I went in. She just wont say she is 99% sure it's normal or anything. I have to wait for 2 weeks for my appoint. I'm really anxious again now.

Any reassurance very very welcome please!

Squiggs - chill

I don't know if mine was big or small or "just right" but the procedure was very simple. Now I don't know if the site was cauterized....thinking back I believe it was. I know there was a topical anesthetic applied and then there was a pinch that I could feel. Okay, here's what I didn't know: she packed it with gauze. About a week after the procedure, I felt something trying to come out in the shower - - this thing that looked like a yellowed cigarette came bopping on out. Freaked! I called and nurse told me what it was. Jaysus......warn a person wouldja!?

When your doc said to be "pragmatic" I really believe she's just telling you "be reasonable, don't freak."

PM me if you have any other questions......I'll try to remember the details

Hi,

I can't remember whether mine was cauterized, either, but I'm guessing it was.

Now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure I had another polyp some years after the first one. I vaguely remember a doc mentioning it when I was having colposcopies for abnormal pap smears. I think that one was snipped, too.

Anyway, wikipedia has an entry about cervical polyps which you might want to read. According to it, 99 percent of cervical polyps are benign, and 1 percent show "neoplastic change," which I believe means they could become cancerous.

That's a one percent chance of having a polyp that might become cancerous, and a 99 percent chance of it being benign.

That's pretty good!

Missy

I really don't think you have anything to worry about. I have read all the responses to your question on here and they are all like mine. We didn't even know it was there!!!!!

Mine was cauterized. Maybe felt a little pinch/pressure just from the doc bing-banging around down there!!!!

He said I may see "some" discharge for the next day, but as I do recall if I had any it was very light at best.

Again my doctor reassured me they are quite common, totally normal and benign.

Never gave it another thought. I too had a PCP that started out as a good doc, took good care of me. Well over the years I think somehow someway she became unsure of herself or there have jsut been to many changes in the insurance, I don't know. But I made the decision to switch to a new PCP this year. I was very upfront with the new doc, I need someone to be reaffirming and positive with me, not wishy-washy, well it "could" be this and it "could" be that. My new doc totally understood and even thanked me for giving her a heads up about my "Health Anxiety". Maybe you should find a new gyno? One that will give you the reassurance you need, not the questions on top of questions.

Good Luck you will be just fine.........

Marrin, Missy Softballgirl - Thank you all so much ladies.

You really had all got me into a better place anxietywise until I spoke to the doc. It was her unwillingness to answer me when I asked if it looked like most other polyps that she had seen that unnerved me, but she is always like that. I knew going in she would be like that, but it still unnerved me. As i left the room, I asked a last fleeting "Most of them are benign, aren't they?" to which she barely nodded and gave the shortest "mm" noise. Did nothing for my fears.

I want those docs back like that guy they had in "Little House on the Prairie"- remember him - would call at their house any time of day - totally reassuring!

I have a GP office that we go to and there are about 4 GPs there I can see. This lady is the "women's specialist" there but isn't a gyno, just a GP. One of the other GPs is much more reassuring, but I thought I'd better see the one with the right specialism.

My appointment in 2 weeks is with the gyno. Of course, bad timing, my period may well happen then, but they have no other slots until March. I was told they wouldn't do anything at the first appointment anyway but just talk to me, but I can't imagine the gyno wouldn't want to look at it. I hope my period doesn't get in the way. I'll just have to wing it and hope it is over by then.

When I frst discovered this on Tuesday I thought - Thank goodness I know just where to go & find people to talk to about this. For 1000th time, thank goodness for PS!

Softball - Yes this doc is very wishy washy & non-committal. I do believe she is thorough at least but I could do with some words of reassurance from her.

Missy - so they 1% can become cancerous (ie are usually pre-cancerous) - that has to be good news too, right?

Oh Marrin - you must have freaked out at that! It reminds me of when I was much much younger: once I left a tampon in by accident for a week. Gave me a shock to discover it too! Thanks for the offer to PM, you

I dunno Squiggs........my appt with the specialist was for the procedure itself. There was no consultation beforehand.

Your primary care is non-commital probably because she is NOT the expert and that's why you are being referred out to the gyn specialist. My own PCP did the same thing. It's the responsible thing to do.

Thanks Marrin - Yes I am wondering about what the appointment centre said - I also think he might do something that day. Just hope AF has left by then.

2:30am and not surprising I woke up worried about the things the doc said. Funny how in the night, it becomes clear everything the doc said. This is how it went & why i'm worrying still:

I told the doc that I had just had my pap, the nurse had seen a polyp and and the doc offered to take a look.
So I was getting undressed and I reminded her I had HA, that's why i was worried.
On examination (straightfaced) she said " Yes, you do have a polyp"
Then I asked getting dressed again "Is it a large one?"
Doc: (still straightfaced) "it is fairly large, yes"
Then when I sit down at her desk.."Well you aren't going to settle unless it's removed are you - I think we should refer you to a gyno and ask for them to remove it. (This really startled me as it was such a sudden decision, no discussion - I feel like maybe she was using my HA as an excuse to get it examined as it looked suspicious and she didn't want to tell me this"
Me (worried): "So does it look like a normal polyp"
DOC: " There are lots of different types of polyp" (I start thinking - is mine of an unusual appearance then?"
Me: So is it OK? Does it look innocent?
Doc: There are no signs to show that it isn't innocent. (OK I think, but then... so I have a weird looking polyp she hasn't seen before but it has no signs to show it isn't innocent - fear starts rising)
Me: It's quite large then?
Doc: Yes, but it does have a thin stem (my hopes rise) which means there is a good chance it has strong vascular connections and could bleed. (hopes fall)
Doc: We have to be pragmatic (What, you think I have Cancer you mean?)
Doc: There is a danger of bleeding, they may decide to cauterise it, they may decide to just keep an eye on it. (Oh great so i have a weird looking polyp that you say has no signs of not being innocent, but you are suspicious of it and so you think I should see a specialist and by the way even if it is cancerous they may have to leave it there because if they remove it, cauterising may not do the trick and I might bleed to death. Great!)
Doc repeats: we have to be pragmatic.
We then talk about my bladder stuff and I get up to leave. On leaving I ask as an afterthought...
Me: Have you seen ones like this before?
Doc: The very slightest nod and shortest noncommittal "Mm" sound possible
Me: Most of them are benign aren't they? Again he very slightest nod and shortest noncomittal "Mm" sound possible.
Me: "Well right, Thank you" ...(I'm gone...fear rising within me)

Girls - please help me make sense of all this! I'm terrified!
The doc said once that there were no signs thatit isn't innocent when i pushed her but I feel like I dreamed she said it with all the other stuff, sidestepping my question of whether it looked normal etc.
So many have posted that they have had them & they were benign and that really heped, but I feel like mine looks weird or unusual or something and the doc is suspicious.
Or is it that it is likely to bleed uncontrollably if they remove it - what a dilemma if it is suspect!


You all got me into such a good frame of mind over this. I definitely would no longer be worried that i have a polyp but the docs words make me fear it is unusual and hence supicious & also that if they try & remove it the bleeding will be so bad cauterising may not be possible & that i might bleed to death.