HPV

[xinyuan]

No, that's not a typo. HPV = human papilloma virus, the cause of anogenital warts. Went to the colorectal specialist today (referred by PCP, who's started me on the vaccine series). The exam was both embarassing and very uncomfortable.

He confirmed my worst fear. It's advanced, and there are numerous internal anal warts. Excision surgery's planned end of next month. I've had anesthesia a couple times in my life. Hated it every time. It always feels like I'm mentally drowning.

Not looking forward to the recovery.

Any one have experience going throug this?

(Please get screened with anal pap smears and spare yourself this!)

[buginme2]

Your being quite dramatic

Search hpv there are tons of threads about it, it's very common and rather easily treated.

PS. This is your worst fear? 

[marcmoral16]

I've had this done and yes I won't lie it is painful especially if the interal ones are many.

My advice is take the pain MEDS, get yourself stool softener, Epsom salt and lots of gauze.

I had it done four times gets old fast but I'm free of any warts....so just think of how nice your butt will look now 

[xinyuan]

Your being quite dramatic

Search hpv there are tons of threads about it, it's very common and rather easily treated.

PS. This is your worst fear?

These kind of responses are what drive people away from the forums. People come here for support. Not this.

Are you being outright dismissive of another's active concern? Yes.

Did you answer my question on experiences? No.

You redirected me to old posts. Medical treatments continue to evolve. So do experiences. Do you do the same for newly diagnosed people or people with treatment concerns? I sincerely hope not.


My prior anesthesia was done as a kid. I know that anesthesiologists for pediatrics vs. adults are trained a bit differently. My family member was paralyzed into a vegetable after too much anesthesia. And the response to anesthesia is a strong genetic trait in my family. Forgive me for being just a wee bit concerned about that part. And the possibility of uncontrolled bleeding.

Ever see someone bleed to death from the gut? I have. Strikes a healthy fear of gut bleeding in general.

I've had this done and yes I won't lie it is painful especially if the interal ones are many.

My advice is take the pain MEDS, get yourself stool softener, Epsom salt and lots of gauze.

I had it done four times gets old fast but I'm free of any warts....so just think of how nice your butt will look now 

Thank you, marcmoral16. Your insight was the kind I wanted.

The surgeon warned me that it would be painful. I didn't think of the softeners. I'll be sure to ask him for some softeners afterwards.

[xinyuan]

My worst fear was extensive disease leading to necessary surgery.

And all the potential complications THAT implies.

[Jeff G]

You are going to be OK . I understand this is tough for you but you are not alone in having to deal with this . I was successfully treated for HPV and have been free of any problems for about 15 years . Its very common but treatable condition so although this is upsetting and inconvenient you will be OK in the long run .

[xinyuan]

Thanks, Jeff.

[Jeff G]

Thanks, Jeff.

We love you warts and all .

[marcmoral16]

Honestly the initial pain from surgery last 2-3 hours after you leave. I was prepared before the surgery. I brought some Zyquil so I would knock out when I get home the pain the first time was unbelievable but after I napped I felt the pressure go down and took my MEDS.

Please look into getting this ointment called CALMOSEPTINE it helps with healing and the itch. It's a pink ointment you can put on the gauze pad and it's instant relief.

The stool softener will help a lot because they are going to give you Percocet or some form of narcotic pain reliever. That my friend makes you constipated and the last thing you need is to be constipated, that will hurt like hell!

All the best my friend

[buginme2]

Sorry your feelings got hurt but you really should read the numerous threads about hpv. Maybe you will learn something and then this wouldn't be your worst fear and you would deal with this situation rationally.

[vertigo]

I had this surgery done 14 - 15 years ago and it was embarrassing and not fun.  The anesthesia was fine but I felt generally lousy for a few days afterwards.  On the plus side, the warts never returned so I think the surgeon did a good job.  Also, while I had them cut out the old-fashioned way, I think the technology has improved now.  Can't they just laser them out our something?

Bug isn't going to win any sensitivity awards with his reply, but he's correct in the sense that this is a pretty common procedure.  You can expect a good outcome.

Nonethless I feel your <upcoming> pain    You'll get thru it, no worries.

[tednlou2]

Sorry your feelings got hurt but you really should read the numerous threads about hpv. Maybe you will learn something and then this wouldn't be your worst fear and you would deal with this situation rationally.

Bug, he didn't say this was his worst fear in life.  He said this was his worst fear about such progression, that it would require surgery.  Worst fear pertaining to this one issue.  That would be my worst fear about this situation, too.  It would be the like someone saying their worst fear about gallbladder disease had come true and they now have to have it removed.  Not being rational would be totally losing it over the situation, shutting people out of their life, and beginning to plan for their funeral.  He didn't say his life was over and what's the point of going on.

Xinyuan, I wish you the best with the surgery and recovery. 

[mecch]

I had the laser surgery. It was a one time treatment for me. It was general anaesthesia. You seem extremely concerned about that anaesthesia and I don't know how to help you there.

First crap I took afterwards was one of the most painful things in my life I was in tear and also laughing because it was a ridiculous searing pain, I never experienced precisely that before.

You say get "a pap smear and spare yourself this" but I think you are misunderstanding something.  A pap smear is isn't going to prevent an infection.

I would say, over the years, I have met a number of guys with untreated and/or unnoticed anal warts and have told them each time - its time to get to a doctor and get some treatment.  People know, but don't want to deal with it, or people don't notice.

I think gay dudes in particular should be somewhat familiar with whats going on with their butts and or their partners should be, so my guess is pap smears isn't the key to identifying and treating anal warts. Being attentive to their risks and possible diseases is.  Most gay dudes are exposed to HPV by their 20's. 

You need the pap smears AFTER the infection has been identified, and after treatment too, to keep looking to see if there are cancerous cells.   Thats the way I understand it.  Maybe I'm off, though.

[YellowFever]

My doctor says just wait it out. It will eventually resolve itself. Could take anytime between 2 months to 2 years. She gave me some creams to use but I haven't been religiously fingering myself every Monday, Wednesday and Friday...

Well, just because Space Mountain is broken, doesn't mean that Disneyland has to close...

[buginme2]

Everyone needs to brush up on their HPV knowledge.

First off, HPV is extremely common for people infected with HIV.  For MSM w/ HIV your risk of developing anal cancer from HPV is increased by something like 40% (or higher, top of my head). 

If you have access you need to be seen at one of the anal dysplasia clinics in the country that specialize in treating HIV positive MSM with dysplasia (there are only 7 of them--again top of my head). 

The treatments for HPV, even advanced HPV, do not require extensive surgery anymore.  Most people can be treated with IRC (Infrared Coagulation) which is painless and does not require anesthesia.

If a doctor had told me to have surgery I would get a second opinion.

To the OP..  Sorry for being harsh .. Read this:

http://id.medicine.ucsf.edu/analcancerinfo/

PS.  to the OP. If you need a second opinion and are near Seattle - I have one of the best HPV doctors in the country.

[vertigo]

Here's another link, one written for the layman:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/analcancer/detailedguide/anal-cancer-risk-factors

There are a lot of subtypes of HPV, but only a few linked with anal cancer.  The subtypes linked with cancer are not the same as the ones that cause warts.  So you could have had warts but not have a risk for anal cancer.  Conversely, you might never have had warts, but could still possibly get anal cancer.  People with HIV are at higher risk.  Fun, huh?

An anal pap smear can check both for pre-cancerous cells and for the presence of any of the cancer-causing HPV subtypes.  It's a good idea to have one, but doesn't have anything to do with screening for or preventing anal warts.

[mecch]

My doctor says just wait it out. It will eventually resolve itself. Could take anytime between 2 months to 2 years. She gave me some creams to use but I haven't been religiously fingering myself every Monday, Wednesday and Friday...

Well, just because Space Mountain is broken, doesn't mean that Disneyland has to close...

Waiting it out? Thats a new one to me...

[buginme2]

Waiting it out? Thats a new one to me...

Thats because people confuse warts with anal dysplasia.

Warts wont just go away.

Anal dysplasia can regress on its own and often times does not need to be treated.  Watchful waiting is an appropriate treatment for low grade anal dysplasia and even high grade dysplasia at times. 

The problem really is that people think warts and anal dysplaisa and HPV are one in the same.  As Vertigo said:

Here's another link, one written for the layman:



There are a lot of subtypes of HPV, but only a few linked with anal cancer.  The subtypes linked with cancer are not the same as the ones that cause warts.  So you could have had warts but not have a risk for anal cancer.  Conversely, you might never have had warts, but could still possibly get anal cancer.  People with HIV are at higher risk.  Fun, huh?

This is true..what I would add though is that most people are infected with more than one strain.  So if you have warts, there is a good chance you have other strains of HPV as well. 

However, the presence of or absence of warts should not preclude you from being checked or cause you undue fear.   

Myself, I have never had warts..ever.  Yet I had High Grade Dysplasia.  Which I wonder if thats what the OP had or if he had Warts?  He didnt clarify.  AND...if his doctor didnt clarify with him...then he definately needs a second opinion. 

I had/have high grade dysplasia and havent required surgery beyond IRC.  I wouldnt trust this with some one off colorectal specialist since they never treat this.  I would go to a anal dysplsia clinic that specializes in HIV/HPV. 

Oh and if you smoke..STOP

[YellowFever]

Waiting it out? Thats a new one to me...

Maybe the NHS is trying to save money....

But anyways, in the interest of enlightenment...
http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2010/genital-warts.htm

If left untreated, visible genital warts can resolve on their own, remain unchanged, or increase in size or number. Available therapies for genital warts likely reduce, but probably do not eradicate, HPV infectivity.

Its a virus like any other, so your body needs to get rid of it using the its own immune system. Treatment is only cosmetic.


More of the same, hopefully this is no longer new to meech anymore...

If left untreated genital warts may disappear, stay the same, or grow larger in size or number. Over time most warts will eventually go away without treatment. For some people this may take a long time, particularly if you have an illness that affects the way your immune system works, making it difficult to fight off infection.

It is not usually harmful to your health if the warts are not treated but you may find them uncomfortable and may not like the way they look. Treating the warts may reduce the risk of you passing them on to someone else.

Read more at http://www.fpa.org.uk/sexually-transmitted-infections-stis-help/genital-warts#csV0bv7DO8ER5LIw.99