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

[lolaflores]

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

I've had awful ones but then had a decent one so was more confident going in to my most recent last month.

Took 24 hours for the cervix pain to go, it was really grim.

I laid it out clear, I need lots and lots of lube and a small speculum. But no, the last small one was broken so it was medium and it hurt badly all through and all day and all night afterwards. Despite painkillers.

I was doing my relaxed breathing, I expected it to be fine since the prior one post kids was, but nothing helped. Doesn't help that DC1 was born traumatically with forceps and I have ongoing bladder problems from that damage.

Still worth it though. Got the all clear and put it away in my head until next time.

YANBU at all as everyone finds it different! I'm sorry you have/had such trouble. However, I do think it's important to note, for the benefit of anyone who's not had one yet or perhaps is overdue, that most people don't find it painful or distressing and it is SO SO SO IMPORTANT to keep up to date with smears! PLEASE KEEP GOING FOR SMEARS.

I don't mind them particularly but the one I had at the start of last month came back with severe changes. Last week I had to go for a colposcopy, they confirmed that it was carcinoma in situ/CIN 3/severe dyskaryosis, and I had to have over 1 cm depth of my cervix cut away with LLETZ. Now that really did hurt. Awaiting the result of the lab tests now so just hoping that they got it all and that it doesn't come back. No sex for 4 weeks, lots of bleeding, no tampons, got to go back for another colposcopy in 6 months and have smears every year for 10 years.

Now it wasn't pleasant but if I'd never had the smear, they'd never have detected it and in 5-10 years it's very likely I'd have cervical cancer. So smears may not be ideal but they're a whole lot better than cancer.

thanks for sharing that mixedberries, best wishes for your test results.

YA definitely NBU...everybody's pain threshold is different too so someone could maybe think no big deal, it was a bit uncomfortable and someone else could be hitting the ceiling as you said. Anyway, hope the ladybits are on the mend soon ! Cake for you me thinks !

MixedBerries, just read your post. Hope you're ok x

Masses of cake. All that was worth it the smear was clear and so was the internal scan. A real load off the mind.

MixedBerries thinking of you here and hope that things go well for you darling.
All the best.

I've never not had a smear test but they are agony for me too. Last one was unbelievably painful and the practice nurse clearly thought I was over-dramatising and just kept telling me to 'relax' . While ignoring the fact that I have a retroverted uterus so you can't just jam the speculum in and expect it to be OK, FFS!

Sympathies with all who have this problem, and sidge, I'd like you to do my next one!

Yes, I've had nurses who tell me pretty much to stop making a fuss. I live in the US now and they warm the instruments to body temp first. Makes such a difference. No shock of cold as they put the thing in, which used to always make me clench up

YANBU.

The only time I cried in (induced due to pre-eclampsia) labour was when they broke my waters. It was horrendous.

My husband had a medical once that involved a little umbrella being inserted into his urethra, said umbrella being opened up and a swab being taken. He says he didn't cry but he wasn't far off.

Mildew (and anyone else) - don't be put off by all these 'horror' stories. Seriously. There's nothing to them, and they're so important.
OK, they're uncomfortable, but for all of a few seconds and then it's over.
As for the they're embarrassing argument, I don't get that! Doctors have seen it all before and won't give a second thought, it'll be just another part of the body like a finger or an arm to them!

This is just one of the problems i have with being in a sexless marriage. (DH is asexual) smear tests really and i mean REALLY hurt.

Sorry to hear you had such a horrible time. Hope you feel better soon! My smear (3rd one) is booked for tomorrow and reading this thread hasn't helped however I'm not sure whether to be annoyed or happy as my period arrived quite early and unexpectedly yesterday so I will now have to postpone it. Relieved but would rather have gotten it out of the way

I hate them too, though have never had pain (sounds awful, I am sorry for those who have). But for various reasons, I find them terrifyingly invasive. I take a valium beforehand and it's always easier than I thought it was going to be. One nurse let me insert the thingy,which made me feel less humiliated. She then took over and did the scraping quickly and it was all over.

mixedberries thinking of you and hoping all is well. xx

I went for my first smear test a few months ago, I was well scared after hearing all sorts of horror stories like these! However I barely felt a thing, super gentle.

Hardly more embarrassing than going to a wax.

think metal tampon

It was meant to be lighthearted actually. we all have to go through it and we deal with it in our different ways. I'm joining in the chat, not counselling you personally... sorry if it upset you but you are being oversensitive here I think.

i had my first when i was 18 i think.

all since then were fine (as fine as it gets!) till the one a few months after DS1 was born. i was that it was so uncomfortable. I'd had a cs so wasn't expecting anything different i guess.

DS1 is nearly 3 so i must be due one soonish. I've had a forceps delivery and episiotomy in the meantime so that will be interesting.

it's a crap thing to have to do, but i still wouldn't skip one.

I have one every year (dodgy cells 11 years ago). It's a bit uncomfotable, but after 6 stretch n sweeps (2 dcs), I hardly even notice that anymore. I should imagine there a far higher odds of it not being a complete disaster.