Okay ladies, I'm back! Just back, even though the hospital was very quiet so far as I could see
Most importantly, I seem to be fine. They first of all checked the heartbeat (DP got to hear it this time, which he appreciated ) which was good & strong, then they checked my blood pressure, pulse & temperature. My pulse was 109, which I think was just down to the worry but everything else was okay. Then I had to wait hours for a doctor, who eventually came & put a speculum up me & shone a huuuuge light up my fanjo & took a swab as well.
She said that my cervix is inflamed, but there's no active bleeding. The swab will be sent away, but because of New Year & all, it'll probably be a little while until I get the results.
It was only quite a while afterwards that I realised that I'd just pretty much won myself a bonus smear test - my first one - & guessed at that point what Boffin was probably alluding to. Although the experience was fairly uncomfortable, it has made me wonder why women don't go for their regular smear appointments - it wasn't half as bad as I'd assumed that it must be for people to be so dissuaded from going, given the benefits
I also got them to give me some extra phone numbers of community midwives & the community midwife office, so I shouldn't be too stuck in future I also managed to cadge a free one-dose pot of Gaviscon off the midwife, but no prescription. That's tomorrow's job, I suppose.
On my way to the hospital, I phoned my aunt (who's a qualified, but not practising midwife) & asked her about it. She too said that it's not that uncommon, but definitely worth checking out. It's just as well that I have MN & a midwife in the family, really. When I told my aunt that I couldn't get hold of midwifery triage or my midwife she wasn't at all surprised, but angry, saying 'well that's just great, isn't it? ' - she works for the NHS & is about as pissed off with it as we are, I think.
Being in the maternity triage room was quite an experience. The first thing I noticed were the giant maternity pads on each of the comfy, reclining chairs. I also used the toilet & found a supply of maternity pads, a sick bowl & a bath with a shower. It seems quite odd to think that it's not that long until I'll be there about to have my baby.
Whilst we were waiting, a lady came in who was in labour & we had a quick chat to her husband whilst she was producing a urine sample. It was their 2nd boy & he was saying that it's absolutely exhausting & doesn't know why anybody does it more than once. Then his wife came back out of the toilet & he soon shut up
I feel like I should've been scared by the sight of a huge, contracting woman, but it mostly just made me really excited. In a few hours she'll have her lovely baby Although I did look at her really long, sharp nails & pity her husband for those next few hours
There was also a very young couple (about 14) who were in because of a UTI, I think. They were hilarious. The boy strutted in & looked DP & me up & down in disgust (?!) & plonked himself down in the comfy seat, leaving his rather large girlfriend to come waddling in 20 seconds behind him & perch on the very upright, hard plastic seat. She was on the phone to her friend, giving a very Vicky Pollardesque update on the situation, whilst he sniggered into his fist saying 'go on, tell her what they did to you...'. I assume she had to have an internal exam, but in his 14 year old mind I think it was practically porn She had a really naff, bright pink piercing above her top lip & the famous slicked back hair & tracksuit. It was like being part of a live sketch show. As soon as they left & were out of earshot, DP & I just fell about laughing
Then there was the really old, non-English speaking man roaming the corridor. No idea what he was looking for, but I'm very doubtful that he was in the right place - it wasn't visiting hours & he certainly didn't look like he'd been fathering any children recently The midwives ended up getting quite frustrated with him & just leading him away.
All in all, although there was a huge wait for apparently no good reason, it wasn't a horrific experience & I feel very much reassured by going. I'd still be bouncing off the walls with worry if I hadn't, whereas now I can relax a bit. The little git is somehow forcing himself into my back & practically crippling me now though - I always wonder why I love him so much & get so worried when he's causing such pain
Thank you to everyone who helped earlier, or who has asked after me since - especially Boffin
Now to catch up!