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.

I am with you. I have low blood pressure but each time the nurse takes my BP immediately before the test, it's sky high. Mine is apparently tilted towards my rear end, long but small. I've had an internal tear, I've had a nurse telling me my vagina is "abnormally small" (thanks so much), I've had rummaging through cupboards to find some kind of "special" speculum, I've tried listening to music.

But also mine have varied hugely by the person doing that. I've seen two gynaecologists, had much longer tests and it hurt far less.

The most recent one was so much better, different nurse and I explained my concerns beforehand. She was fantastic and I'd forgotten how little time they can take when there's no issue finding the cervix, probably only a minute or two. She suggested I put my hands in a fist under the small of my back to improve the angle.

I feel for you. When you're anxious, you tense up and it's a downward spiral. I'd go for a couple of painkillers, some deep breathing and try to think that the next one might be different. Fingers crossed you have a better experience.

I've also taken diazepam (prescribed by my GP) for a fear of flying. I think one tablet an hour before then another one. Sadly, they didn't do a lot to take the edge off my anxiety. I'm ashamed to say that I drink a couple of glasses of wine at the airport, by which time my nerves are buried under an alcohol induced happiness. Not sure whether I'd employ that approach for the doctor's though...!

@abc31

I am with you. I have low blood pressure but each time the nurse takes my BP immediately before the test, it's sky high. Mine is apparently tilted towards my rear end, long but small. I've had an internal tear, I've had a nurse telling me my vagina is "abnormally small" (thanks so much), I've had rummaging through cupboards to find some kind of "special" speculum, I've tried listening to music.

But also mine have varied hugely by the person doing that. I've seen two gynaecologists, had much longer tests and it hurt far less.

The most recent one was so much better, different nurse and I explained my concerns beforehand. She was fantastic and I'd forgotten how little time they can take when there's no issue finding the cervix, probably only a minute or two. She suggested I put my hands in a fist under the small of my back to improve the angle.

I feel for you. When you're anxious, you tense up and it's a downward spiral. I'd go for a couple of painkillers, some deep breathing and try to think that the next one might be different. Fingers crossed you have a better experience.

I've had them leave the room to go and get a different speculum. I've also had a helper holding a light to try and guide the nurse.

After my last one when it was all over she then couldn't get the speculum out. She said "you have amazing vaginal muscles your husband must be very happy" I think she was trying to help!

You win with the helper holding the light...as if it isn't mortifying enough to start with!

Sounds over the top to me. Nobody enjoys a smear any more than the dentist but our health trumps that.

I'm going to ask for diazepam. I find smears incredibly painful. I've been putting mine off.

Mine always has trouble, I now have to lie on my side and cock my leg up like a dog. Terribly undignified!! However, after a previous dodgy smear with treatment required I would never miss one. Ask doc to prescribe or take over the counter. Do not take someone else's medicine.

Thinking about it, I remember reading some articles a year or so ago about DIY home smear tests. From memory, the NHS was thinking of supplying them to patients that hadn't been in for smears for a while. That might be another option to investigate.

I've checked, Superdrug offers a home HPV test for £48 in case that's helpful.

I wouldn’t take something somebody gave you, how do you know if it’s Valium (diazepam) or not? It could also be a fake, there are a lot of fakes out there.

I’ve never heard of diazepam (Valium) coming in 0.5 as lowest dose is usually 2mg tablets up to 10mg and they’re normally yellow tablets that dissolve on the tongue (if they’re the legitimate ones prescribed by NHS). I know as I’m a HCP plus my GP used to prescribe 10mg diazepam (Valium) for my phobia of flying!

If it’s 0.5mg it might be another benzo like alprazolam. You don’t know how you’ll react to them or diazepam and all benzos are prescription only so the nurse should definitely not have recommended getting them without a prescription! I’d ask your GP and say this is what the nurse said.

Sedation is sometimes offered before smear tests (if you have a lot of difficulty or past trauma) but it’s always done under medical supervision. Would usually be entonox or a sedative like midazolam with a doctor present!

If you were already on diazepam (Valium) to treat anxiety I can understand her saying take your normal dose before the smear test. But she was way out of order to suggest you source them illegally!

You could try an over the counter medication like co-codamol or aspirin or herbal Kalms.

Just to add, your GP might offer you a prescription for diazepam (Valium) before the smear test.

Don’t drive, or go to work that day.

They don’t make me feel ‘drunk’ just a bit sleepy and grumpy! But I only take them for flying. I could still function fine on 10mg eg getting through check in, baggage control and the chaos of wrangling a toddler and buggy, car seat etc through security and metal detectors, and making it to our flight on time. But they made me feel tired, especially once on the plane.

@HikeForward

I wouldn’t take something somebody gave you, how do you know if it’s Valium (diazepam) or not? It could also be a fake, there are a lot of fakes out there.

I’ve never heard of diazepam (Valium) coming in 0.5 as lowest dose is usually 2mg tablets up to 10mg and they’re normally yellow tablets that dissolve on the tongue (if they’re the legitimate ones prescribed by NHS). I know as I’m a HCP plus my GP used to prescribe 10mg diazepam (Valium) for my phobia of flying!

If it’s 0.5mg it might be another benzo like alprazolam. You don’t know how you’ll react to them or diazepam and all benzos are prescription only so the nurse should definitely not have recommended getting them without a prescription! I’d ask your GP and say this is what the nurse said.

Sedation is sometimes offered before smear tests (if you have a lot of difficulty or past trauma) but it’s always done under medical supervision. Would usually be entonox or a sedative like midazolam with a doctor present!

If you were already on diazepam (Valium) to treat anxiety I can understand her saying take your normal dose before the smear test. But she was way out of order to suggest you source them illegally!

You could try an over the counter medication like co-codamol or aspirin or herbal Kalms.

I know its not fake becaue it is from my mum who has taken anxicalm for years. She is of the genreation of women who were given these things like smarties. Thats a different and very long and sad story. POsisbly the nurse who mentioned it knew my mum had them but couldn't be sure I knew so didn't specify who to get them from. They are definitely 100% not fake.

I have no intention of not going for my smear I would just prefer it to be less awful and if as they constantly tell me its my (amazing) tense muscles that are the problem then if there is a way to be relaxed that will help then I would like to know

@abc31

I've checked, Superdrug offers a home HPV test for £48 in case that's helpful.

is this the same thing? I would have no worries at all about doing it at home or paying for myself?

@HikeForward

I wouldn’t take something somebody gave you, how do you know if it’s Valium (diazepam) or not? It could also be a fake, there are a lot of fakes out there.

I’ve never heard of diazepam (Valium) coming in 0.5 as lowest dose is usually 2mg tablets up to 10mg and they’re normally yellow tablets that dissolve on the tongue (if they’re the legitimate ones prescribed by NHS). I know as I’m a HCP plus my GP used to prescribe 10mg diazepam (Valium) for my phobia of flying!

If it’s 0.5mg it might be another benzo like alprazolam. You don’t know how you’ll react to them or diazepam and all benzos are prescription only so the nurse should definitely not have recommended getting them without a prescription! I’d ask your GP and say this is what the nurse said.

Sedation is sometimes offered before smear tests (if you have a lot of difficulty or past trauma) but it’s always done under medical supervision. Would usually be entonox or a sedative like midazolam with a doctor present!

If you were already on diazepam (Valium) to treat anxiety I can understand her saying take your normal dose before the smear test. But she was way out of order to suggest you source them illegally!

You could try an over the counter medication like co-codamol or aspirin or herbal Kalms.

I checked last night they are yellow and 5mg anxicalm.

@HikeForward

Just to add, your GP might offer you a prescription for diazepam (Valium) before the smear test.

Don’t drive, or go to work that day.

They don’t make me feel ‘drunk’ just a bit sleepy and grumpy! But I only take them for flying. I could still function fine on 10mg eg getting through check in, baggage control and the chaos of wrangling a toddler and buggy, car seat etc through security and metal detectors, and making it to our flight on time. But they made me feel tired, especially once on the plane.

plan would be for my husband to drive me there. I've booked the day off

"is this the same thing? I would have no worries at all about doing it at home or paying for myself?"

There's another thread on this topic at the moment and posters are saying that, with the NHS smear, they throw away your sample if you test negative for HPV. So, at face value, it would be the same test for HPV (with the proviso that you'd need a full smear if you tested positive).

What I guess you lose is the visual look at your cervix in case there's anything abnormal visible. Do check that's right though, second hand information can be dangerous...!

@abc31

"is this the same thing? I would have no worries at all about doing it at home or paying for myself?"

There's another thread on this topic at the moment and posters are saying that, with the NHS smear, they throw away your sample if you test negative for HPV. So, at face value, it would be the same test for HPV (with the proviso that you'd need a full smear if you tested positive).

What I guess you lose is the visual look at your cervix in case there's anything abnormal visible. Do check that's right though, second hand information can be dangerous...!

I am going to ask my gynaecologist friend and the nurse on Monday. I saw that thread but perhaps naively thought why do they do a smear then? There must be more to it?

Sorry, I didn't articulate that very clearly. The other posts said the NHS doesn't carry out any further tests on your sample if you test negative for HPV?.

Always best to check. The other mumsnet thread on smears has a lot of information on the DIY tests and might be worth a read. I'm thinking I may go for the self test next time.

just an update. I went to my appointment on the Monday after this thread. Took nothing OTC or prescription. Made a total fool of myself as I arrived quite wound up and basically got as far as sitting on the bed and then saying I have to leave.

She gave me a prescription for 2*2mgs of valium and told me to come back this week. I was kicking myself. I took 2mg of the diazepam and went to my new appointment and it was fine. Don't know if it is was the drugs. I didn't feel any different but I got my husband to drive me there just in case. I was in and out in 17 minutes. Never ever before has it been so straightforward. She did have to try two different speculums and I said can I have a minute before the second one and she said no! I'm glad she did. Let's hope she got enough for the test and I don't have to do it again. She told me to keep the 2mgs for the next time

I'm glad you managed to get it done.

My best ever was with an ex-MW.

I also had a gynaecologist do one (whilst swapping a mirena coil for a new one). No problems.

Confidence and experience makes a difference. I've cracked plastic speculums before now and then they had to use a cold metal speculum. :(

As an aside, did she tell you which speculum she used?

The practice nurse who did mine had to go in with a different one as I have a "tilt" and said she had put it on my notes anyway but at future appointments to just remind her (or whoever) to use the long one in case she forgot. She hasn't so far, and its much better without all the rooting around!!

@starfishmummy

As an aside, did she tell you which speculum she used? The practice nurse who did mine had to go in with a different one as I have a "tilt" and said she had put it on my notes anyway but at future appointments to just remind her (or whoever) to use the long one in case she forgot. She hasn't so far, and its much better without all the rooting around!!

Yes she said she will make a note of it but she also noted that previous notes have said the exact opposite. I think it was really because this time I told her how I felt and specifically said please don't say "it'll just take a minute" or "it will be easy" it makes me more anxious. I didn't try to act all gung ho about it. I couldn't after my performance the week before.

Maybe it was the drugs. I felt totally fine (not sure what I expected though). I took 2mg at 1030 went on a work zoom call which I told them I had to leave by 11.15 (that was in case the valium started to kick in and I made a fool of myself). Went for my appt at 1145 and was home before 1215 and back at my desk at 1pm

Anyway I know its over the top. My sisters think its hilarious. But just so other people know it is an option to have diazepam and 2mgs worked for me and if its the difference between getting it done and sitting at home worrying about it I don't care.

@starfishmummy

As an aside, did she tell you which speculum she used? The practice nurse who did mine had to go in with a different one as I have a "tilt" and said she had put it on my notes anyway but at future appointments to just remind her (or whoever) to use the long one in case she forgot. She hasn't so far, and its much better without all the rooting around!!

And thank you for "getting it". I realise it is a stupid thing to be afraid of but I hate it. Maybe this is the road to getting past that now.

@VenetoResident

I'm glad you managed to get it done.

My best ever was with an ex-MW.

I also had a gynaecologist do one (whilst swapping a mirena coil for a new one). No problems.

Confidence and experience makes a difference. I've cracked plastic speculums before now and then they had to use a cold metal speculum. :(

I've had the metal one and the extra long one!