My Pap Smear Report & Health Updates

Today, I finally received my pap smear report from my gynae’s clinic, eight days after the procedure. Thank God, all is well, and the pap smear report is clear.

Last year, my pap smear report showed a shift in vaginal flora, suggesting a bacterial infection, even though I had zero symptoms. My gynae recommended antibiotics, but I declined because my body doesn’t tolerate antibiotics well. The last time she prescribed antibiotics for another issue, I suffered terrible stomach aches.

Instead, the nurse gave me a list of natural remedies to restore vaginal flora. One of the key recommendations was to take probiotics specifically targeted for women’s feminine and reproductive health for at least six months. I followed this advice diligently, and it seems the probiotics did their job. This year, my pap smear results came back completely normal.

The other thing that’s been on my mind is a tiny renal angiomyolipoma on my right kidney, which isn’t even a centimeter in size. My gynae reassured me that it is benign and that I just need to monitor it with an ultrasound scan every year. Thankfully, it hasn’t grown since last year’s scan. However, she mentioned that if I am still concerned, I could consult a urologist for further evaluation. She said I could find good urologists at Hospital Picaso in PJ, a new hospital that I wasn’t even aware of until last week.

This condition was actually detected ‘accidentally’ during a routine ultrasound of my uterus last year when the sonographer scanned my kidneys. Had the sonographer not done that, I wouldn’t have known about this issue. Now, I have this extra little worry in the back of my mind. But oh well, life is full of unexpected concerns.

Health checkups are important. Early detection can save lives, even if it sometimes brings unexpected news. I remind myself daily to live in the moment and not let unnecessary worry take a toll on my mental and physical well-being.

Have you done your yearly medical checkup yet? If not, consider booking one soon. Your health is worth it!

HbA1c, or glycated hemoglobin, is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months, indicating how well your blood glucose has been controlled. Even though my fasting blood sugar is good at 4.8, my HbA1c is elevated. According to my gynae, this is very common in PCOS patients as PCOS is an insulin-resistant disorder, and I suffered from it in the early 2000s, causing me weight-gain and infertility. She even advised me to start metformin (Glucophage) so that I can enjoy some fruits and occasional sweet foods, but I think I will get another blood test done to see if my HbA1c has gone down with a change in my diet.

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