HPV

[jaace24]

Can anyone share their stories with me regarding HPV?  I know it is one of the most common virus' out there.  I have had it for around 6 years that I know of.  I found out because I had anal warts.  I just recently found out I was HIV+ and the doctor did an anal smear and it came back abnormal with LSIL.  I dont have an HRA until 6/4/13.  I am nervous and scared but know that I will be okay.  My doc is on top of it.  Just looking for anyone else that has experienced this.  Thank you.

[aaware72]

Just went through the same thing.  The procedure was done and over in 15 minutes.  They took two biopsy which took a week to get results back.  One was negative and the other was a low grade and was told not a concern. 

[jkinatl2]

Can anyone share their stories with me regarding HPV?  I know it is one of the most common virus' out there.  I have had it for around 6 years that I know of.  I found out because I had anal warts.  I just recently found out I was HIV+ and the doctor did an anal smear and it came back abnormal with LSIL.  I dont have an HRA until 6/4/13.  I am nervous and scared but know that I will be okay.  My doc is on top of it.  Just looking for anyone else that has experienced this.  Thank you.

About thirteen years ago I had bout after bout of the things. Took about five surgeries, with different (evolving!) methods, but have not had them since I consistently went on HIV meds.

My first few were cut out. The others were lasered out. Cutting them out gave me a week's worth of recovery pain. And sadly, most pain meds cause constipation - which is not, I repeat, NOT what you want. So after making THAT mistake the first time (there is no known high that I am aware of that can conquer the pain of a rock-solid BM after that surgery) I went Old School and forsook the pain meds. Just bit down on a towel for the first couple of days and all was more or less well after that.

Actually, the first surgery was in 1996, and was so extensive they kept me overnight and took out a rather telling chunk of tissue to get everything. I was out of anal commission for a fairly long time after that, let me tell you.

The laser/cauterization surgeries went way better. Cut healing time in half. It was not a big deal but it was a couple of days' worth of drinking LOADS of fluids and juices and anything else that would make things run smoothly. So it was a "deal."

Every time, the biopsies came back indeterminate. They have not re-occurred since I started taking meds seriously. And my last pap smear came out indeterminate, which my doctor said was to be expected and not to worry about it.

Thirteen years condyloma free, and counting. I really do thank the meds for that.

It's now really not something on my radar now. As I see it, there are far more likely things waiting and wanting to kill me. Though some of them haven't posted in months.

*modified to add- I said thirteen - it was more like sixteen. Time's fun when you're having flies.

[Miss Philicia]

I've had to have anal dysplasia lesions worked on regardless of the fact that I've been on meds successfully, so I'd not find but so much comfort in that. And that was six years after having anal warts. I still go for a high resolution anonscopy once yearly, and in fact have one at the end of this month. But my biopsies have been fine. I'd not rest comfy just because I was on successful treatment with a high cd4 count -- yes, it helps, but it's not everything. This should always be monitored consistently by a colorectal surgeon.

Generally nothing to worry about IF you stay on top of it. But it's always something on my radar.

[jkinatl2]

I've had to have anal dysplasia lesions worked on regardless of the fact that I've been on meds successfully, so I'd not find but so much comfort in that. And that was six years after having anal warts. I still go for a high resolution anonscopy once yearly, and in fact have one at the end of this month. But my biopsies have been fine. I'd not rest comfy just because I was on successful treatment with a high cd4 count -- yes, it helps, but it's not everything. This should always be monitored consistently by a colorectal surgeon.

Generally nothing to worry about IF you stay on top of it. But it's always something on my radar.

Apologies for not emphatically mentioning that each individual's mileage, so to speak, may vary. I consider myself extremely lucky.

[jaace24]

Thank you guys for responding, it helps to hear these things.  I was just diagnosed in January and my CD4s were low.  Last test they were 131.  I go for lab draw tomorrow and only hope to be higher.  sometimes it just seems like one thing after another.

[buginme2]

Recently there was an article about a study in Thailand that showed a high rate of HPV among HIV positive gay men.

http://www.aidsmap.com/Very-high-incidence-of-high-grade-pre-cancerous-anal-lesions-among-young-HIV-positive-Thai-gay-men/page/2612572/

Very high incidence of high-grade pre-cancerous anal lesions among young HIV-positive Thai gay men


Approximately a third of HIV-positive gay men in Thailand developed high-grade pre-cancerous anal lesions during just one year of follow-up, investigators report in the online edition of AIDS. Infection with high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) was an important risk factor for the development of high-grade lesions. The investigators were extremely concerned by their findings and recommend that healthcare providers, policy makers and communities of gay men will need to make plans for screening and treating pre-cancerous anal lesions.

While this study took place in Thailand many of the findings are useful for those living elsewhere.  HPV is very common among HIV positive MSM.  If you have HIV you should be screened on a regular basis at minimum with an anal pap and an HRA if you can. 

One thing that bugs me about this topic.  People seem to confuse anal warts with pre cancerous anal dysplasia.   You don't have to have or have had anal warts to have pre cancerous anal dysplasia.  They are not the same thing.  Don't think because you don't have warts your ok.

[Miss Philicia]

One thing that bugs me about this topic.  People seem to confuse anal warts with pre cancerous anal dysplasia.   You don't have to have or have had anal warts to have pre cancerous anal dysplasia.  They are not the same thing.  Don't think because you don't have warts your ok.

++

[jaace24]

Well I had the Had today.  It was interesting to say the least.   The dr did take a biopsy so will see what that comes back as.  She burned off a wart.   And I will start aldara cream in 3 weeks.  I will say when she took the biopsy it did hurt and getting the shot of lidocaine hurt like hell.

[Miss Philicia]

I had two biopsies done during my routine colorectal annual last week and they came back clean as a whistle. Just an fyi, I did once have dysplasia high grade enough to have work done on it back an entire decade ago -- only one place, and I've never had anything else pop up. But of course I still go once a year for a check up.

Honestly I don't find it any worse than the dentist.