The Real Reason Why I Began My Journey to a More (Whole)listic Lifestyle
A question I get asked a tonnn is why I started my journey to a more holistic lifestyle in the first place. My answer?
HPV.
Yep. I’m sure you heard about it since according to Cleveland Clinic, “approximately 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, with roughly 14 million people becoming newly infected each year.” So basically, HPV is common af if you’re sexually active. Regardless of how common HPV is, I was still shocked to find out that not only did I test positive for HPV but I was also at stage 3 for cervical dysplasia— only 1 stage away from it turning into full blown cervical cancer.
BUT HOW?! How did this happen?!
Upon receiving the news, I felt scared, confused, and even ashamed…how could I let this happen to myself? My OB calmed me down and assured me that although these cells were precancerous, they were not actually cancer. Okay, great…but how did it get so bad in the first place?!
“Well,” My OB responded, “When’s the last time you got a Pap smear?”
“Um…I don’t know…probably at least 2…maybe 3 years ago? I figured since I was in a monogamous relationship for years, a pap smear wasn’t needed!”
YEAH. Big mistake right there.
Regardless of being in monogamous relationship or not, HPV can still show up, especially if you both have had partners previously. The thing with HPV is that in most cases, it can actually go away and clear up on its own. But if it doesn’t go away and you have the same type of HPV as myself that exerts no physical symptoms (like genital warts!), then that’s when cervical dysplasia can begin to form…and it can only be detected via pap smear. Ladies, it’s so so important to get those annual pap smears done. I get it, no one likes having a giant q-tip being shoved up and scraped around in their hooha, but those pap smears can literally SAVE YOUR LIFE.
Oh, and that vaccine that’s supposed to protect you from HPV? I got it back in 2010 when it first came out. My OB told me that Gardisil only protects against four strains of HPV when there are actually 12 high risk strains that you can contract. So even though you get vaccinated, that doesn’t mean you’re HPVproof! Pap smears, pap smears, pap smears, ladies!!
Now let’s fast forward several months.
Because my dysplasia was so far advanced, I felt like I had no other choice but to receive the LEEP procedure. The LEEP uses a thin wire loop to literally cut out the abnormal tissue from your cervix, which they will then burn to stop any bleeding (read more about it here). Pretty invasive, right? So I fly back home to Hawaii to get this procedure done since my OB in Oahu was the one who discovered the dysplasia in the first place. They put me under, the surgery is a success, and I figure I’m cured. HOORAY…right?!
NOPE.
3 months after my surgery, I’m back in CA and need to go in for a follow-up pap. Lo and behold, I receive another call from the doctor to tell me that my pap smears are STILL coming back abnormal…
WAIT…WHAT?! HOW?! I GOT THE FREAKING SURGERY, WHY IS THIS EVEN HAPPENING!?
My CA OB tells me that there’s a good chance that my HI OB may have missed some cells…which isn’t exactly uncommon if you’re at a higher risk of HPV. He explains that because it’s such a small amount, we can wait to see if it clears on it’s own but he warns me that it if it doesn’t clear…I will definitely need to have the LEEP done again. Remember how I told you that the LEEP literally cuts out any abnormal tissue from your cervix? Essentially, it’s cutting a part of your cervix out. My CA OB warned me that if I were to get the LEEP done for a 2nd time (basically cutting off even more tissue from my cervix), I’d be at high-risk for not being able to carry a baby full-term.
My heart sunk.
Not being able to carry a baby full-term? But I wanted kids. Immediately, I decided that having a 2nd procedure wouldn’t even be an option for me and I knew that I had to take my health—and my body— into my own hands.
So, did I end up clearing my HPV on it’s own?
FUCK YES I DID.
If you have any experience with HPV yourself, I’d love to hear about it. Share with me below or shoot me an email explaining how your journey has been.
Stay tuned for next week’s blog where I explain how I cleared my HPV…and how I’ve actually helped other women do the same. Until next time, friends!
