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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to have screamed wept and squirmed through a smear test and internal scan this week..

121 replies

lolaflores · 04/08/2012 18:56

and to seriously not want anyone near my down there bits for a considerable lenght of time to come.
I know that it should not be so and it needs dealing with, but feel like I have been assaulted by a rhino. I keep crying thinking about it. Trying to explain to DH where the pain is and he just sort of gives me a quizzical look. He is being marvellous but what would the male equivalent be? A poker up the willy? The unfortunate smear was a surprise to me and the consultant, he was apologetic and I kept saying don't worry, its fine. It wasn't. By the time I went for the scan I was as tight as a very tight thing and they practically had to crow bar my knees apart. Indescribable pain.
thats all really. thanks for listening

OP posts:
JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 04/08/2012 19:20
Grin
JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 04/08/2012 19:20

Mildew

Do you mean your first one (smear? scan?) ever?

Original poster
lolaflores · 04/08/2012 19:20

mildew don't be put off by this conversation. It is essential to have it done, and a good practitioner will be in and out in a blink. it is a strange rather than painful sensation in all my previous smears. This one was just very unusual for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
lolaflores · 04/08/2012 19:22

I had my first in my 20's. Always been prompt having them. So where is my medal then?

OP posts:
JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 04/08/2012 19:23

I wanted to say that too.

I have never had problems before. Yes, it isn't pleasant (a bit embarrassing, frankly), but most of the time it is not painful. And it is essential. I would take a couple of Feminax beforehand. I've been having them for 25 years, and GPs and nurses are better at doing them, especially if you tell them you are nervous

mirry2 · 04/08/2012 19:24

I avoided having a smear test for a few years because of the pain and discomfort. However I then had a fbroid removed and the gyncologist found a cyst in my vaginal passage which he removed. Since then I haven't had any pain. so I assume it's what was causing the problem

JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 04/08/2012 19:24

... I meant, better at doing them that when I had my fiirst

eurochick · 04/08/2012 19:24

Mildew they are mostly not bad. I've had regular smears in the last 15 years plus two in a month recently after a dodgy result. None of them were painful. Uncomfortable and undignified? Yes, but not painful. And I've now had dozens of fertility-related internal scans and never found these uncomfortable.

YouOldSlag · 04/08/2012 19:25

YANBU. I find smears excruciating. The last nurse who did mine gave me some really shit advice "the way to stop it hurting next time is to relax" Pah!

worrysome · 04/08/2012 19:25

sounds awful op i think id be pushing to find out why it was suddenly so horrific though, id also hope this thread dosnt put any young women off going for their smear as it is really important. Ive only had one so far and it wasnt bad at all really im due another but do seem to be putting it off somewhat

MildewMayhew · 04/08/2012 19:25

I've never had a smear (I'm 27, so not like I'm extreeeemely late having one)

Unfortunately, I struggle with being touched by someone I don't know/trust full stop.

YouOldSlag · 04/08/2012 19:26

They are mildly easier these days now they use a pastry brush instead of a lolly stick.

YouOldSlag · 04/08/2012 19:28

Mildew- please have a smear. They may be unpleasant for me, but most women are fine with them and it is literally seconds, not minutes. So important- think of Jade Goody and book that smear test!

PS my cervix is wonky and round a corner, I'm sure non wonky ones are easier to find and even quicker!

Original poster
lolaflores · 04/08/2012 19:29

worrysome totally agree. Smears are an absolute must and essential in every woman's health profile. I am hoping they find out a nice and not horrible reason why it has all gone so very unpredictable down there. I have had some spotting too and am frankly quite a bit worried. But that is why smears are so important.

Do we need to mention Jade Goody, God rest her the poor soul.

OP posts:
Original poster
lolaflores · 04/08/2012 19:30

A pastry brush? felt like a friggin rolling pin

OP posts:
JamieandTheOlympicTorch · 04/08/2012 19:32

Mildew - I don't know how you feel about this, but in your position I might enquire, and see if I could go to a GUM clinic. IMO the staff there are extremely sympathetic and very experienced - it's what they do all day every day.

MadamTwoSwords · 04/08/2012 19:35

I've got a tilted uterus and a tip one of the nurses gave me was to put my hands under my bum. It lifts it and doesn't hurt quite as much.
Still bloody hate them though and cos I had an abnormal one I have to go every 6 months for two years. Angry

NarkedRaspberry · 04/08/2012 19:40

Honestly, most smears are not awful. I have had plenty and never been put into stirrups or had more than discomfort.

(I'm not trying to diminish the horrible experience you had in any way OP, just trying to reassure anyone who's not had one that they're not usually like that)

Original poster
lolaflores · 04/08/2012 19:40

Well folks, I am away to bed with drugs and an ice pack. I used to go to bed to do other things but it would appear the life of a nun in an enclosed order is mine for the time being. My fanny isn't bothered though.
Thanks everyone for the replies, really helped.

OP posts:
MildewMayhew · 04/08/2012 19:46

Jamie, I'll look into that. I had one booked about a year ago, day of the appointment came, and I ended up hyperventilating at the sheer thought alone.

MildewMayhew · 04/08/2012 19:47

Lola, hope you feel better soon

RuthlessBaggage · 04/08/2012 19:47

Poor OP. You are absolutely definitely NBU.

I have such ishoos with VEs and smears that I can only tolerate VEs in labour, and smears under GA. When I had a spec VE with DS1 I screamed so much the two doctors had to leave the room.

I think sometimes medical professionals - and particularly the less experienced, more book-reliant ones - can forget that most routine procedures are not routine for the patient. A little Valium goes a long way.

Devora · 04/08/2012 19:48

I had always coped with them fine - they're not nice, are they, but I was ok.

Then I had one a couple of months after childbirth, and it was awful. That was 6 years ago and I still feel quite traumatised by it. I'm due to have another next week and am thinking of pulling out because I just can't stand it.

I don't know why I feel so freaked. It was painful, but not painful enough to explain my feelings of trauma. For example, it wasn't as painful as the HSG I had the year before.

So just to say: I am hugely sympathetic to how shaken up this has left you.

BoattoBolivia · 04/08/2012 19:51

Another retroverted uterus here and yes, I have had them done on my side with my knees pulled up to my chin ( or as near as I can get nowadays) - much better.

Lucyellensmum99 · 04/08/2012 20:15

Up until tuesday of this week i would have said YABU what are you talking about woman, smear tests don't hurt. I would have told you how ive had smears yearly for the past 15 years and loop diathermy, which was a tad uncomfortable and I would have told you to get a grip, get over yourself bla bla bal - well actually i wouldnt but i would thae been a bit Hmm

Then on Tuesday i went for my smear, maybe it was because i was uptight because im back to three yearly recall, despite begging to be kept on yearly, maybe it was because things are not quite so neat as they used to be down there. But i actually had to "breathe" through it - i was so unprepared. But that was just it, i just wasn't ready, the bloody bitch of a nurse pretty much rammed the speculum up before i had chance to position myself, then used it to poke around and look for the strings of my mirena coil. Then said, "ohhh, i had a bit of a panic that i coudlnt see the strings" errr, i hadn't actually asked her to look for them Hmm Even when i had my coil removed (had to be done by specialist as they couldnt get it out) earlier in the year, i would have only described it as a bit painful. Fucking cow nurse - i knew it would be crap, she pracctically stabbed my DD once when she gave her an injection. I will ask for another nurse next time. I was so shakey when i got home and it made me worry that there was a problem - thankfully it was all clear, got the letter today :) relieved.

Really sorry you were in pain

My old GP used to do this too, it meant i could face the wall rather than have to lie there feeling so exposed, im really not shy, but give me a male doctor over a female nurse any day of the week!!! So much more sensitive.

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