to be this anxious over a smear test?

[Topuptheglass]

My smear test is overdue. By about a year or so...

I've been having lower back & tummy pains & needing to pass urine frequently so thought I had a UTI.

I went to the clinic last week & saw the nurse who tested urine & said no UTI but booked me in for a smear & pelvic examination on Tuesday.

I haven't slept properly since. This obviously isn't my first smear test - I'm 40 later in the year FGS & a mother of two!

Talk me down please, I'm so anxious at the thought of it. I know it's all for the best & it'll be over in minutes, but I am so worked up I'm almost hyperventilating even though I know I'm just a coward being silly!

AIBU to be anxious at the thought of it?

Anyone else been recently or due one?

Goldilocks that nurse sounds incredibly unprofessional and mean. Please don't let an person having a bad day put you off and risk your health.

One of my best friends works in sexual health and spends all day looking at various undercarriages. She says everyone is different and it's just like looking at any other body part now. Maybe you could book a double appointment with a different nurse next time? I'm sorry she made you feel like that.

I get anxious about them too.
I had one last Tuesday and was really panicking before. I have a tilted cervix and the nurse has struggled to find it in the past and sometimes that makes it uncomfortable. This one was fine however, she took about two minutes, I couldn't believe she'd finished already!

One of the main reasons I always go for them is because my mum always did, and I want my daughter to see that I have them to encourage her in the future.

Sorry Goldilocks I didn't see your message, but from the gist of the following responses, you had a bad nurse?

I hope you can pluck up the courage to go again x

I usually do the fist thing, so I'll do it this time without being asked I think.

It's not until tomorrow but I've got diahorrea today even thinking about it. I was meant to be in work but have taken the two says off now. drama queen

www.healthcentral.com/article/5-strategies-to-help-you-sail-through-your-pap-smear

I had one a few weeks ago after going well overdue.
The last one before that had been horrific because they couldn't see my cervix and that had put me off.

I had to put my hands under my bum this time to tilt my womb and she did it really quickly. Even the speculum part wasn't as bad as I remembered (I'm in my 40's too so have had loads).

Just concentrate on your breathing while it's being done. It really is all over and done with so quickly, I really don't know now why I got myself so worked up into a state about it.

I'm just getting ready now.

My stomach is in knots.

I know it doesn't take too long, my doctor is nice, she knows I'm an anxious soul so won't hang about.

Am going to take some ibuprofen before I go & I always have some Rescue Remedy in my bag too.

Will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the hand hold.

I have a smear tomorrow for the same thing, same age too! I hadn't considered prolapse! My original problem was bleeding after sex. I went for a smear and they turned me away as I'm not due one! She said it wouldn't get screened!! So I have called again and have one with the GP who can over rule them not screening it

I have a smear tomorrow for the same thing, same age too! I hadn't considered prolapse! My original problem was bleeding after sex. I went for a smear and they turned me away as I'm not due one! She said it wouldn't get screened!! So I have called again and have one with the GP who can over rule them not screening it

I was always fine with smear tests and able to relax. I couldn't understand why anyone would be worried about them.
Now, I have Vaginal atrophy...and any internal examination is quite painful. I do sort of dread them.
However, if you can take deep breaths and relax as much as possible that does help enormously. It only takes a couple of minutes for a smear test and well worth having.
If you tense up, then it usually does hurt a bit and afterwards!
I think the anticipation and the days building up to it are worse than the actual procedure.
Try practising lying down on your back and taking slow deep breaths in the days leading up to your smear test.

Debbs that's awful. Good luck for tomorrow.

I had the bleeding before & I had an ablation at hospital. Tbh I hardly felt it apart from some cramping afterwards.

Am just in waiting room now...

Hope it went OK Top.

Debbs, glad you got an appointment. It's important to get it checked out, because if something is wrong, the sooner it's treated, the better.
Good luck.

Hope you are ok Top.

I was really anxious about mine but it was super super easy! Honestly felt nothing and I think a bad experience is just bad luck, nothing they are doing should be painful

Gotta sorry I didn't see your reply earlier - you're right, it hurts more when anxious.

It went fine, the pelvic exam was worse than the actual smear! Doctor was very thorough.

She says she felt no lumps or bumps but that the pain I've been having could be from a cyst I have. She also ordered bloods to rule out anything re: ovaries as I've a family history of cancer (breast though, not ovarian)

That's it done for another three years!

Hope those of you with them in the pipeline get on OK

Glad it went as well as could be expected.

I am pleased to hear it went well!
The actual exam, even if uncomfortable is never usually as bad as the fear, is it?
I used relaxation methods and breathing for dental procedures too because I always dread those.

I had an appointment with my GP today and she did a vaginal exam rather than a smear. She saw a cervical polyp! Which explains my problems. X

What's the next move @debbs77 ?

She is referring me for a scan, will take about 6 weeks. That can check for the size of it and then look to remove it! She said it should be really quick and easy to do xx

That's reassuring. Hope it goes well.

Thank you, I've had my referral letter through today and actually managed to get an appointment for my scan for the 8th June!

@debbs77 let us know how it goes