to ask you all to give me a right big kick up the arse?

[ChristmasTrulyReigns]

I'm just too self conscious to book my well overdue smear test, let alone go for one. and

Please nag, cajole, inveigle and bully me into gaining a more positive attitude towards this.

I just need some persuasion and encouragement, I know I need to get on and do it, but there's something that's forming a mental barrier to the process.

I'm normally quite a brave soul, but this is truly defeating me.

oh god, i will do mine too - not had one for about 12 years

OP - consider yourself booted.

kicks OP up the arse

A schoolfriend of mine passed away over the weekend from cervical cancer; she was 40.

GO FOR YOUR SMEAR TEST!!!!!!!!

I hate them too but I am booked in tomorrow. I owe it to my kids. My best friend had abnormal smears, didn't think it would happen to her and now has no cervix and no womb left but she is alive. It was too close to home for me to put it off and I realy do hate them.

I will be spreading tomorrow at 11am. Then buying myself a nice treat for going. Do the same.

Book it - and for those of you with tilted cervix I have one and have suffered the most uncomfirtable and sometimes painful smears until last time - Nurse told me to make my hands into fists and put them under my bottom - it really helped.

Just book it. Today.
Can't afford to ahem..fanny around about these things!

It's not worth the risk to leave it too long, s moment's discomfort to know that you're healthy and there are no problems.

Trust me, can't be any worse than the time I went for a smear and the nurse chucked a blanket over me so that she could let a man in to empty the bin during my smear!!

Honestly. Mortified i was.

That's ok, Tatty, I like your enthusiasm. It's a balancing act between scaring people into doing something about things at the early stages so that they don't need radiotherapy and chemotherapy and not scaring people about radiotherapy and chemotherapy (if you see what I mean).

Loads of people took what happened to Jade Goody on board and smears went up in numbers quite dramatically so she probably helped save alot of women. What happened to her was rare and most women can get treated early on and will go on to live full lives and that's what we should remember about all cancer - go and get checked!!

HAVE YOU BOOKED IT YET OP?

Am marking my place.
I have had some really uncomfortable smears in the past but the last one was over before I'd even realised the nurse had started it. Had a couple of recalls before so it's the one thing that I don't avoid.
My sis has to have hers under GA so I count myself lucky.

How about when you post you've done it, I'll do it? And I am bloody scared. Never had one as I've been pregnant pretty much the entire time over 25.

Strawberry, Please call now and have it done today.

If you scroll down you will see a thread I linked to, if that doesn't make you book it now nothing will.

Finally just got through to surgery.

Appointment booked for 3rd November. (They offered me one next week, but I don't really think it's an audience sport - I'll wait till DCs back to school).

Thanks for the impetus.

Well done, Christmas!

I went to have a coil fitted last week and was terrified (used to have vaginismus and had heard scary stories). It was fine and I wish I'd plucked up courage before. Definitely worth waiting till after half-term though.

Now, who's going to book in for a smear next?

I will, AF is due anyday (though not sure when as came off pill) so am just aiting for that to show it's face then will go.

Do you know - I am only 33 - and had two smears before I was 21???

Anyone still fannying about, its only a smear, it could be far worse. I had a consultant's finger up my arse today, thats worse! And the laparoscopy, endoscopy and biopsy being scheduled will I'm sure be a lot less fun again.

GO GET A SMEAR LADIES.

I'm not afraid, just always forget I have had much worse too headless!! Bottoms are def worse lol!

Sorry I'm late, but I kept my word and booked too.

oh, I think I need to book one too - thanks for the reminder. Shall book in the morning.

Keep going Ladies, its for our own good!

just wanted to add my support to any anxious or forgetful ladies out there, incl any lurkers, please please do book, go, and make sure you find out the result.

Don't leave your kids without a mum.

PS my tip is, when they are about to put in the speculum, purse your lips and breathe OUT slowly (almost like whistling but without the sound) to the end of your breath, this helps the lower pelvic muscles to relax and also gives you something else to concentrate on rather than what is happening below decks.

of course, if you fancy whistling, i'm sure they won't mind .... [hwink]

bumping again as this is so important for our health, and for our families (to have mum around).