AIBU to take valium or solpdeine max before smear test

[smearworry]

Not really an AIBU bit I posted in women's health and had no replies:

I have an awful time with smear tests. I have a very good friend who is a gynaecologist and she insists smears take minutes but for me they don't.

Every single time I am told its will take minutes and every time the nurse starts out saying how easy it will be and not to worry. Then we go through the different positions (fists under bottom etc) and trying all different sizes of speculum spending at least 10 minutes (mostly stress rather than actual pain) minutes looking for my cervix.

The last time I went for a smear I was told to take 2 Solpadeine Max or a Valium before I come in next time. I wasn't offered a prescription for a Valium just told by the nurse and I should get one if I know someone who has them. I have been given a couple of 0.5mg anxicalm tablets by someone I know. But I am not sure what to do so I have a few questions:

1. Would I be better using solpadeine?
2. How long before appt should i take either?
3. Will I be "drunk?" Should I do a test run tonight? Appointment is on Monday
4. If I take the Valium should I take the whole one or just half? or more than one? I have 3.

I've rung the nurse who is due to do it and told her I will have taken Solpadeine Max beforehand and that I tend to get a bit spacey with codeine just in case she thinks I am acting odd. I was scared to tell her about the Valium in case i get in trouble. My husband will drive me there and back.

Not sure but I have the same anxieties over smear tests..I'm I'll thinking about my next one in a year. I'm thinking if getting diazepam for my next one

I was given a prescription of 3 diazepam for my smear test. One the night before, one when I woke up and one immediately before the appointment. Really helped!

@SingToTheSky

I was given a prescription of 3 diazepam for my smear test. One the night before, one when I woke up and one immediately before the appointment. Really helped!

were they 0.5mg? Did you do a test run? Do you seem drunk?

@singtothesky one more question my appt is at 1.30pm - if you took one first thing did you then have another one quite soon?

The nurse should never have suggested you take medication that has been prescribed for someone else to get through a medical procedure.
I personally would ask for a phone triage with the GP and see what they think and if they could prescribe anything to you for it before self prescribing.
It's awful that so many women have experiences like this, I was reading a thread about the stress of smears just last night.

I wasn't offered a prescription for a Valium just told by the nurse and I should get one if I know someone who has them.

I am at this. no no and no.
either you have a prescription if needed. or you don't.
in your case, try it with the over counter medicine and if it doesn't work ask for z prescription before next time.

good luck!

@KingstonTownThePlaceILongToBe

The nurse should never have suggested you take medication that has been prescribed for someone else to get through a medical procedure. I personally would ask for a phone triage with the GP and see what they think and if they could prescribe anything to you for it before self prescribing. It's awful that so many women have experiences like this, I was reading a thread about the stress of smears just last night.

That's my worry it seemed odd. It was at my last smear a few years ago? But even when i rang to book and told the nurse (a new nurse) about my concerns she didn't offer anything but said solpadeine max sounds sensible.

This is really interesting. I can't cope with smears but I really ought to have one. I will call my gp about meds to help.

Its not that it is particularly painful as such. But actually all the searching for my cervix does make it very uncomfortable but it is mostly stress and being told to relax and unclench makes it far worse. I am really torn about using drugs that weren't prescribed.

When I got the letter I asked for the nurse to call me before I booked. I explained the whole thing and she was very nice booked me a double appt with a different nurse who is a smear test trainer and said to take the solpadeine and not to worry if I am a bit spacey. She will make a note of it. She didn't offer a prescription. Her other advice was to get it done as soon as possible so as not to overthink it.

Don't use valium prescribed for others, I'm horrified a nurse would even suggest this. You could ask your GP for a prescription and say the nurse recommended it last time.

Things that help me with my tilted cervix. Jumping on the spot a few times. Big deep coughs. Lie down and fists under bum immediately.

Yes apparently my cervix is very tilted (2 very long labours and emergency sections proved that) and hides. The last smear would have been funny if I hadn't been lying there for so long with the nurse saying "I've found it. Oh its hiding again. Oh here it is. Its winking at me. Its gone again" so horrible.

A nurse told you to try and obtain prescription medication off somebody random without a prescription?

I hope you have complained to the practice. That's illegal.

Don’t use something prescribed for someone else! I would phone and ask for a prescription of diazepam from the GP. I had diazepam before my wisdom teeth were removed as I was anxious; took about 2 hours before and didn’t feel drunk but just nicely chilled out. I also took one the night before to help with nerves. They worked on the mg to give me based on my weight and that I’d never taken something like this before

@user141635812632

A nurse told you to try and obtain prescription medication off somebody random without a prescription?

I hope you have complained to the practice. That's illegal.

I didn't complain at the time (didn't think much of it) and she has left now. I've spoken to new nurse and she has booked a double appointment with her colleague (also new) who is apparently a smear test trainer. She assured me again it will be no bother and very quick. Now I am overthinking ahhhhh

Unfortunately it was a long time ago so I can’t remember the dose sorry :( I didn’t seem drunk though. I slept better and just felt chilled.

Diazepam come in 2 5 and 10mg. Are you sure that’s what you have? 🤔

I thought 5mg the tablets are yellow and tiny. I'll have to dig them out of the medicines cabinet at home to double check. I googled for this post and they all refer to 0.5mg so I thought I must have misread the tablet as they are so small. Definitely a 5 on them

I was given 10mg diazepam and 60mg codeine last time, slept like a log throughout . Did need a lift home and support to get to the car though, and the nurse and GP were aware of it - needed to book a specific appt time, etc .

from google but as i say i will have to check

ETA - have just seen they aren't even prescribed to you, don't take - can have weird side effects if you aren't used to it, can go total opposite way and make you even more anxious . I was prescribed mine by GP so totally different .

Hi op - snap! - another one with a tilted cervix here After a good few years of awful smear tests a nurse helpfully told me to push my bum right down into the couch as it was being done which helped enormously. Maybe you’ve tried this already? And yeah I’d take something beforehand too if I was you but I’d have it prescribed just in case.

Maybe look at this thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4168978-To-never-have-another-smear-test-again

My gp very kindly did my last smear test as I find them so difficult & she gave me a prescription for diazepam to take beforehand. I felt a bit drunk, sadly still not that relaxed so it was still painful.

GP prescribed diazepam for me. Think it was 5mg. I'm astonished a nurse would suggest you take medication prescribed for someone else