To complain about this smear

[mumtocuddlebundle]

ok, it's unlikely I will complain as this happened over a year ago. But at the time I wondered if I should and if I had used mumsnet at the time I probably would have asked you lot.

It was my second smear test. At the first one the nurse was lovely at putting me at ease and I hardly felt a thing. But at the second the nurse said 'ok take off uour bottom half' and I had to ask her to close curtain while I undressed. She seemed surprised and said 'the ladies normally undress as I get everything prepared'. She did close the curtain but acted like I was putting her out. Then the actual smear was very painful and I bled quite a bit for 5 days. I wasn't sure if this nurse was useless or if I was just lucky first time.
What do you think?

I don't think it's too late to complain, if you're still thinking about it. And, yes, I would.

Yes I would complain too as it's very obviously still upsetting you. I have always had the curtains closed as I've been getting undressed and cannot imagine that most other ladies wouldn't.

I've always had the curtains closed, although it doesn't bother me if they are bustling about while I am getting undressed.

I'm pretty sure it's standard practice to draw the curtain isn't it?

And do you mind me asking, did you get a firm result one way or the other? Blood in the sample can sometimes mean they come back inconclusive.

I would not necessarily complain about it, but would possibly write to the practice manager. If you are still thinking about it a year on then I think you need to do something about it.

Well, there were no curtains in the room in which I had my smear test last month, but the nurse was lovely and said she'd turn around while I undressed.

It sounds like this nurse had a really poor manner, and surely it can't be normal to bleed for 5 days afterward? I've only had two smears, but I didn't bleed after either. They only felt a bit uncomfortable as well.

If we were a year ago, I would say definitely complain, and insist the nurse receive more training or the like. But it has been a very long time since the incident!

Iv just recently had a smear test. One of many. I bled for a few days after, first time its happened. The nurse was lovely, polite & friendly. We spent more time chatting than it took her to do the smear. So im not sure you can say it was the nurse that made you bleed.

I always find it strange that they close the curtain while u undress because they are going to see your bits anyway.

Thanks. Think you are all generally agreeing with me then. The bleeding could just have been unlucky. But the curtain thing should be standard practice.

Being someone who has spent way too much of my life bottling things up my philosophy is now it's always worth mentioning if I'm unhappy with something, and better late than never. If you're like me and will not be able to let this go then definitely complain about the lack of empathy from the nurse; it makes no difference what other patients of hers were happy with, you asked for the curtain to be pulled and she was a little off about it. I mean, all she had to do was say "of course" as she smiled and pulled the curtain to give the privacy you wanted. How hard would that have been!

There were no curtains last time I had one but the nurse turned her back and got her stuff ready.

Very usual to bleed after wards - I have twice now for a week.

And I have had a really painful smear before - depends what angle the cervix is at iirc.

I've never had the curtains closed, the nurse has her back to you anyway getting her stuff ready usually but her response to your request was UR, yes

I wouldn't COMPLAIN about the bleeding but I would mention it to your GP or GUM clinic as a bit of spotting isn't unusual but 5 days is quite a lot

I think it's a bit silly when they close the curtains as you take your nickers off, I'm not worried about them seeing my nickers when they are going to have their hand in my fanny soon.

If you really wanted it closed could't you close it yourself?

Every smear, VE or TV ultra sound I have had (and there have been loads!) they have closed the curtains and left me to get undressed, and usually leave something to cover yourself up.

I appreciate that they are soon to be looking up your fanjo but it's actually uncomfortable to have someone watching you get undressed.its fine if they have their back to you but a lot of the time they don't so I don't think YABU about that, plus I would have been put out by her response.

Regards the bleeding, I sometimes bleed and sometimes don't, and one of the times it was a full week before i stopped bleeding, although it was not heavy. That's just one of those things and nothing to do with her technique etc.

must be lucky - never bled, never painful.... and what's with the "undressing"?? I always wear a skirt to the smear - just whip off the undies - takes 2 seconds....

if YOU felt uncomfortable with anything that happened - I agree you should complain....

Most places I've been the curtain is round the door, not the bed, so if someone walks in the curtain stops them seeing. So I wouldn't complain about her not automatically shutting the curtain, but about her manner when you asked her to - nurses should be nice to patients!

The bleeding and pain might have been because she wasn't very good, or because of how your cervix was, or worsened because you were tense because of her manner - it would be worth the practice knowing about it as if she gets more complaints about pain than most nurses doing smears, she could get more training or something, even though it's hard to tell from one smear on one person.

I'd complain if i were you. My friend bled for several days after a smear, still hurt too, she went to the doctor and he took a look and said somehow the nurse had cut her? Not sure how or with what but it was a deep scratch which kept re-breaking.