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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to keep avoiding Smear ?

101 replies

RachelRagged · 02/08/2015 10:12

Morning

I keep getting reminders to have a smear test / I KNOW I should get this done but it terrifies me . .actually makes my heart pound, I shake .. and when they say relax your legs ,, they freeze . Any tips at all to control this so I can get it done with ?

PS I do the breathing they suggest , no help.

OP posts:
Dontlaugh · 02/08/2015 23:03

I've posted on similar threads before about this. If you've:

  1. had a baby
  2. had sex ever

then a smear is a piece of piss cake.

Chemo, on the other hand, is hell on earth.
Woman up, take drugs, get your smear.

jeanmiguelfangio · 02/08/2015 23:08

It hurts me to have them done, and I have had a baby!!! I told my nurse about it and she used a smaller speculum, and I hardly felt it. Stopped me being so scared and I felt so much better about it. No one likesit, but I'd much rather have it and be done with it for 3 years. Go and then do something that makes you feel good in the afternoon.

Shonajay · 02/08/2015 23:09

I very nearly cancelled my smear test four years ago. I had stage 1b1 cervical cancer, had to have a radical hysterectomy, and have had nine surgeries since. If I'd missed it, I'd be dead. Harsh but true.

Get diazepam, take a good friend to hold your hand up the non business end, chat about crap, and it's done, or worry like I do every day.x

xavierfondue · 02/08/2015 23:15

I moved house and the local practice nurse turned out to be someone I was at school with. Now THAT was embarassing.

Each time we have a school reunion I think "She's looked up my fanny."

Surely your smear can't be that bad?

TheFormidableMrsC · 02/08/2015 23:17

Haven't read whole thread, but I can honestly say from my own perspective that a smear test is nothing to worry about. In my experience, it has never hurt, it's over in seconds and it saves lives. To be honest, any discomfort has got to be worth avoiding the fate of my sister in law who didn't go and put it off and died at 35, leaving a 10 year old son. SO not worth it.

It is one of the simplest cancer preventative things you can do. Obviously, it is natural to "tense" when they tell you to relax, but honestly, the more you actually relax, the less discomfort you will feel. I have been having them since I was 18, I am now 46. Not one has hurt. Giving birth...on the other hand....

Ironmanrocks · 02/08/2015 23:19

Hate to say it but Shonajay is right. My beautiful sil passed away just over a year ago because of cervical cancer. It has devastated all of us. Please don't put your family through what we have been through. It can be prevented by 5 mins (less) of feeling slightly uncomfortable. REALLY NOT WORTH IT. Good luck.xx

Gymbob · 02/08/2015 23:25

lol xavier. I dont go to my gp practice for my smears because I know a couple of the nurses personally and they are NOT looking up my fadge Shock

I go to the local FPC. I don't like having them done, but I'm fully up to date. I can't understand why anyone wouldnt just do it. the thought of it is worse.

off topic, but if you qualify, I hope you're all up to date with your breast screening too.

xavierfondue · 02/08/2015 23:38

Oooh Gymbob - thanks for the tip about the FPC. We've moved again and the local nurse is a right bitch. I almost wanted to change surgeries so that she wouldn't be the one tut tutting at my [redacted].

SinisterBunnyMonth · 02/08/2015 23:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PippaPug · 02/08/2015 23:53

Sounds silly but I always wear a dress when I go - because I feel more clothed and less naked - the dress can cover my knees so from my view point I am clothed, just without any knickers!

ProcrastinatorGeneral · 03/08/2015 01:44

For all the people laying on the guilt, do you actually know how anxiety works?! It's horrific enough having an irrational panic reaction to this kind of thing, but being told to 'woman up' and be thankful for medical procedures because you or your friend/relative was saved by it doesn't help in the slightest, and can make matters even worse.

Lots of people have offered fantastic advice, support and coping strategies. I sincerely hope the OP concentrates on those posts rather than the childish "do as you're told" ones.

RonaldosAbs · 03/08/2015 01:50

Glittery7

Why on earth is that a reason not to have one? Confused

StarsInTheNightSky · 03/08/2015 06:54

The people saying you need to man up, or woman up, that's not very fair. Your body your choice. You don't need to understand why someone chooses to opt out, its their choice and doesn't need justification. If you want to have it done then great, that's what works for you, but it's not for others.
I suffered sexual abuse as a child and an adult, hence why I opted out. I also opted out of all internal examinations whilst pregnant and had an elective c section for the same reasons (and others).
I have cancer now, not cervical (so much of my innards removed now that I don't have a cervix anymore) but I still believe that my choice was the right one for me.

Sidge · 03/08/2015 08:07

Glittery the new methodology (liquid based cytology) along with HPV testing in most areas means there are far fewer unnecessary recalls. They've also reviewed the follow up procedure so women aren't recalled yearly for as many years where it's not indicated.

soverylucky · 03/08/2015 08:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheoriginalLEM · 03/08/2015 08:45

Procrastinatorgeneral (love the name by the way). Sadly i am all too aware how anxiety works as i have an anxiety disorder but i do make myself "woman up" when it comes to my smear because the anxiety of an uncomfortable smear and they do seem to hurt more these days (ouch) is nothing to the constant worry of have i got cervical cancer. So in that way, it reduces anxiety.

TheoriginalLEM · 03/08/2015 08:48

Sidge can i ask why they don't follow up yearly for so long now? I was given 9 years of yearly smears and now back to 3 yearly, in fact they did go to 5 yearly in my area, i was horrified but it seems to have gone back to 3. I would be happier having yearly smears as i figure that nothing too nasty is going to develop in a year and consider myself high risk. Can you have smears done privately and is it very expensive?

WhatWouldFlopDo · 03/08/2015 09:08

I've found that if I go when I'm due to ovulate it doesn't hurt. Something to do with the cervix being lower?

Original poster
RachelRagged · 03/08/2015 10:19

Sorry just seen have I given birth. Yes Four Times but by Ceserean, medical reasons.

OP posts:
Original poster
RachelRagged · 03/08/2015 10:20

Ah no good for me WhatWouldFlopDo ..not seen a period in over a year now (menopause methinks)

OP posts:
Original poster
RachelRagged · 03/08/2015 10:22

I suffer Anxiety and Depression and am on 40mg of Citilopram a day for that. Anyway I have rung,, Saturday morning I go

OP posts:
Original poster
RachelRagged · 03/08/2015 10:23

I am aware some die . my DFs cousin died of it aged 34, leaving a baby girl (she chose to continue the pregnancy knowing it would be to late for Chemo)

OP posts:
carrie74 · 03/08/2015 10:55

Well done for booking RR [hug].

And I also echo about wearing a dress/skirt. I always wear a maxi dress that can protect my modesty over my knees so I feel slightly less vulnerable. In fact last time I had an examination (actually for coil replacement), the nurse, doctor and I all started talking about where the dress was from and how handy a style it is, blah, blah, blah. Certainly helped keep my mind marginally off what was going on down there.

TheoriginalLEM · 03/08/2015 11:04

Well done you! Do go and ask for some diazepam, my dr will prescribe me this over the phone if my anxiety is bad.

Just as an aside - 40mg citalopram is a high dose, i was on this and it stopped working. It might be worth asking for Escitolapram which is pretty much the same drug but pharmacologically slightly different, meaning that 20mg escitalopram is much the same as 40mg citalopram. I find that i have fewer side effects on 20mg of this as i couldnt take 40mg of citalopram and get my backside off the sofa.

I now have the unenviable task of trying to persuade my DD (25) to go for her first smear, the nagging approach isn't working :(

FernGullysWoollyPully · 03/08/2015 11:52

Well done for booking the appointment op Smile