Panicking about Smear tomorrow, Please help calm my nerves!

[ScaredyMa]

Feel so silly even writing the title seeing as I'm early 40's, had several smears previously and had 3 natural delivered Babies!

It's been a while since my last smear (or any doctor's appointment) and I'm quite anxious.

Any tips out there please?

What are you nervous of, exactly?

I can't really pinpoint, I guess, the results? My previous ones have always come back fine but for some reason I've got a case of health anxiety for this one!

Are you anxious about the smear itself or what the result might be?

I had hpv with no cell changes detected a couple of years ago and had a follow up 1 year later that showed the hpv had cleared. The smear itself took a couple of minutes.

Assume the position with your bit of paper covering your nether regions. If required put your hands under your bum to tilt your pelvis. Try to relax and it will be over very quickly.

I have terrible health anxiety sometimes and I always think I'd hate it more if I left it and made it worse. If the results come back as abnormal there's a good chance it'll be treatable, if you leave it there's a good chance any abnormal cells become a lot harder to treat.

Have clean feet and wear clean socks 😁

@dementedpixie I think more so about the result!
Feel incredibly silly to be so nervous about something that hasn't even happened yet, need to get a grip 🙈

This time tomorrow it'll be but a memory. Try and put it out your mind until the last minute. That's what I do when any unpleasant medical things are looming.

Will do, I've given myself an hour to freshen up after work and before appointment!

You will feel so good when you get the results.

I always wear a long skirt so I don't have to take it off.

They are only testing for hpv and most women will get a negative test result. If it does come back positive then they check for cell changes.

Even if they find cell changes it doesn't mean you have cervical cancer but they can treat monitor/treat as required

It’s not your feet they check 🤣🤣
I had mine last week and had a thorough wash down there before my appt.

Yeah but their head is very close to your feet when you bend your knees and put your feet together to assume the correct position.

Why is the bed always next to the wall and you have to lie all squinty?

I have a crappy hip so now have to have mine lying on my side, knees bent... completely different feeling! Less embarrassing, no "nakedness" feeling. Complete revelation, wish I'd asked to be in this position decades ago.

@dementedpixie Thank you for that! I'm trying to put the worry at the back of my mind.