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Health
: @*@*@*@ Right, who is putting off their smear test? @*@*@*@
(488 messages)
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have been meaning to do this for ages, but I have nobody to look after the littlies, and I really don't think it's appropriate that they see their mum in that position
So I really really must book one for half term when dp can look after them
dunno .. should be on year ones now I think .. had a loop excision 2 years ago smear 6 months later (all-clear) and was told have another in a year .. went for one year later (all-clear) and they've put me on 6 monthly again (had 2 of these .. both clear .. and still been told to come back in another 6 months)
I can't believe in this day of keyhole surgery, laser techniques and god knows what they havent perfected a more comfortable method of getting a smear sample.
A freezing cold metal shoe horn up your bits and pieces? Thank god its only every 3 years....
I nearly managed it the other day and am intending to go back and complete it next Monday - I have been trying to overcome a phobia of internal examinations. I am very proud of myself, and grateful to the doctor who has helped me so sensitively.
one due at end of Oct and will be there with bells on.. started having that at 21 and for the first 5 years had to have one every year as were always dodgy (can't remember the term but had high number of wrong cells or soemthing), last time I went they said I could go 3 years. So this'll be my first one with a longer duration in between.. can't wait to get it done.
Don't put them off, better tog et anything dodgy nipped in the bud! they are SO SO important. I'm not even 30 yet, they are so important people!
Good point mrsmerton. There ought to be an easier, more dignified way!
Lulumama I only had one internal during my labours - two home births and second time round I told MW she wasn't going anywhere near my fanjo at that late stage!
Not too keen on my fanjo being examined by strangers, funny that!
Can I just say for anyone putting it off, please DON'T.
I had mine ut of for me by my doctors, I first got asked to have it at 20, then every time I tried to book one was either pregnant or apparently too young!
Anyway I finally had one, 6 months ago, I had abnormal cells, I was in the hospital 3 weeks later having a colposcopy, I had a LEEP there and then, I have to go for my follow up next month, even though I am 15 weeks pregnant and am absolutely shitting myself.
It could save your life.
I was, but went a few weeks ago and got the results through (all ok) a week ago.
I was suprised that it was all disposable equipment now - maybe easier and cheaper, but not very enviromentally friendly.
A LEEP is where they use a really hot wire type thingy to slice off part of your cervix. I ahd CIN III cells (the worst ones apparently) so they removed some and then sent it off for testing.
Sometimes the LEEP can remove all cells and they will be fine thereafter, sometimes not.
Methinks we have one for the MN campaigners to get working on!!
And thanks Lulumama, hopefully all will be fine, if it is then all I should have to worry about is maybe giving birth a few weeks earlier, apaprently a LEEP can bring on slightly prem labour.
There are people who go from all clear to CIN III in three years (smoking, age, etc all factors contributing).
I also had CIN III and LEEP four years ago. Then had DD and all smears have been clear since. Now I am back on yearly smears. Never would postpone it for three years.
Am 28, have never had one done im terrified at the thought, embarrassing, painful, and then what if theres bad results, im to worried about it, i know i should go, im not so stupid as to think, i'll just not bother, but i just cant get myself to do it, its too scary!
I had to have one a week after giving birth because I had contracted a serious infection. I was in so much pain beforehand that I could barely walk and I still had about 5 million stitches after delivering a 9lb 6oz baby (I'm 5ft 2 and 'petite'). It was the worst thing I have ever endured
BUT
I was able to be treated for my problem, and what had been a few seconds of extreme discomfort led to the curing of a week of fairly bad pain and illness, so I'm glad I had it done.
Normal smear tests are worse in theory than they are in practice. It's the old 'Lie back and think of England'. Just relax and think about something else - mind over matter. You really must have them.
I have every sympathy, having an internal is not that pleasant, but it is far more pleasant than , god forbid, becoming ill and possibly needing invasive treatment
take a friend, your mum, sister, someone with you and book a double appointment so you have plenty of time
sigh, yes I'm supposed to go every 6months for one due to abnormal results for like 10yrs now, however the last two tests have finally been normal but was due to go in july and haven't got round to going with moving house/doctors etc, will go tomorrow and book appointment.
had a 2 year gap with mine, when i did finally go back the nurse told me test results had been inconclusive for 7YEARS! as i bleed when they do it they couldnt get a result, but noone had told me for 7 bloody years. when she did do one about a cup full of blood came out, she immediately said it was serious and needed to see a gyni. managed to see one within 3 days, same thing happened, suggested a biopsy, had one that weekend. i had never been so frightened in my life, even had words with my sister to make sure dd was ok if i died, suggestions of ovarian cancer. anyway all results came back fine, just very angry that tat it could have gone on for so long. the moral of the story double check your results.
unless you were told you were having a smear, then no you are not covered. need to be done every 3 years.. you really should go, take someone for moral support if you need to.
Yes, the ideal time is 10 days plus after the first day your period.
I had one last year; it was very quick and painless. The nurse told me to take a deep breath and then exhale sowly - that helps you to relax and makes it easier to insert the speculum.
Well you can, you know, Dotty! Just ring up, make the appointment and ask for someone gentle and nice! I had a very bad experience with a smear once ( very young doctor, I was probably the first smear she ever did!) and was terrified to go back! But when I did I got a midwife who was so gentle I didn't feel a thing!
Didn't you have to have one after giving birth? It's routine here.
God - I'd love that. I have a phobia of internals - wouldn't let the midwife give me a sweep when I was 40 + 10 and wouldn't let any of them touch me until I had my epidural.
I am very bad, I think my last smear was in 1997. Also never had a post natal check (2 ds's) Only problem is that I know the practise nurse very well and it would be weird to get her to do it. Made an appointment for last Monday at a family planning clinic but chickened out. Please make me do it. Especially as my sister has that funny cell thing and has to have them lasered every few months.
i've never had one either and i WANT to but i wont go to my dr's as i know them all and it'd be just wrong.
I've tried the family planning clinics but they say i'm too old - i'm 28 FFS! The nearest one is about an hours drive away, i work full time and i just cant get there.
The last time this thread came up i geared myself up etc, but then couldnt get in to see anyone.
for all of you who are putting it off please dont. i know that it is embarrasing/ painful/ inconvenient/ total pain in the ass but thats what my SIL thought. she didnt go for 10 years. she now cant tell people how impotant it is as she is not here any more. Cervical cancer is a bitch like that.
sorry for being a little dramatic but it is a subject that is close to my heart. so clear the diary and be brave ladies. dont be embarrased i am sure they have seen to many fannies to give a toss about yours and its only uncomfortable for a little while
pud1 - it shouldn't be painful, just maybe uncomfortable and of course a bit undignified - don't want people to think it's going to hurt (and I speak as one very tense and unrelaxed person) - lie back and think to yourself - 'this will soon pass' and it does. I'm not looking forward to mine but will go.
i thought i was up to date but apparently no!had a letter yesterday.apparently i got confused with having my coil checked.why cant they do iy all same time!!grr.but am going.
Nip - where do you live ? I've always had my smears done at the FPC as they have evening appointments. Some of the clinic times are age restricted, but they do have a range of services.
Last time I went I had DS with me and the receptionists looked after him whilst the nurse did it.
I went to the doctor for something unrelated last week & they were sneaky & told me I needed one & its better to do it then & there. They did have a pic on the ceiling though of a tropical island, which was nice.
I got my letter a month ago, so put it off till now (half term), but I suspect Auntie might pay a visit soon, so that is not good. Maybe the Christmas holidays?
got my letter today - was expecting it - will psych myself up - got a lot on at the moment so will aim for before Christmas and if not then definitely after Christmas - please make sure I do !!
I have just booked mine for next week. I did put it off as it was due when i 5mths pg.
DH was supposed to be off today so i could have it done to when i had my post natal check up, but it had to go to into work and i did not want to have to explain what was happening to a very questioning dd1 (3.10 years).
I am guilty of putting them of, I had trouble conceiving so had loads of internal scans which has made me very reluctant for a doctor to go poking his nose in, usually its my husband nagging which makes me go in the end. I must admit last time wasn't so bad, especially now its not cold metal although was told they don't lubricate it now as it can affect the result
Me! I haven't had one since DD1 was born 6 years ago!!
Can't seem to find a time when I am mid cycle and don't have a small child hanging off me. Will make an appointment - honest!
Mind you I have a friend who is a nurse and has a theory that smears actually have a high false positive rate, and that sometimes "pre cancerous" cells would, if left alone, revert to normal. She thinks routine smears for everyone are not justified. Discuss!
re false positives.... i think that argument will put more women off.. and amongst all my women friends, female relatives etc.. don;t know a single one who has had a false positive.. surely this is one area where early detection is key... and a 10 minute procedure can be a life saver..
Here in germany they won't give me the pill if I don't go for my smear. I hate it but they only give 6 months supply, it bugs me but there is no way round it. OK some times I pretend to have taken my last pill and need a new pack for the evening and if I go in late they haven't got time to force me up onto the torture chair (stirrups and all) but then I only get 3 months and ordered back by appointment!
I haven't been since I've been in Germany Admylin for that very reason. Why can't we just go to a nurse and lie on a couch like in the UK? Can't bear being treated like a piece of meat. I haven't been to a gyno since I got pregnant either for the same reason (just seeing a very sweet midwife)
Me too Admylin! I went once to a gyno when pregnant with ds 4 years ago and never went back. I nearly got to full term with no ante-natal care (arrived in Germany 6 months pregnant). Thankfully found my lovely midwife in the nick of time. I'll be going for a 20 week scan this time round but the doctor will be otherwise under instructions to keep her hands off!
I was on the last thread to get it done, I have been now (a year overdue ) It was fine - they used a plastic thing instead of a metal one. Results were normal.
Yes if you want the pill you have to go twice in Germany, unless you can think of good tricks and maybe try a couple of doctors at the same time (have done that before ) Once I was chatting to my doctor here and she said we have much better care and prevention methods than in UK. She said it's very wrong to hand out the pill like they do over there and we should think ourselves lucky. I don't see it that way, it is good to go for a smear but refusing contraception like they do is abit much. This summer in UK I stayed longer than planned and ran out of the pill, went to local GP and all she did was take my blood pressure then gave me a 3 month pack for FREE. Amazing, here it costs a fortune.
Here in Japan, they offer subsidised smear tests every two years for women over 20 years of age. In my city, it is for women whose age is even-numbered (I had mine last year at 38 and will be due for another next year when I'm 40). They say try and go round your birthday so you don't
thats terrible sKerrymum.
im terrified at the thought, embarrassing, painful, and then what if theres bad results, im to worried about it, i know i should go, im not so stupid as to think, i'll just not bother, but i just cant get myself to do it, its too scary! 
but was due to go in july and haven't got round to going with moving house/doctors etc, will go tomorrow and book appointment. 
