How do people with HA cope with waiting for smear results?

[Fightinganxiety]

I was 4 years late in getting my smear (awful I know) but I didn't feel like I'd be able to cope with the wait and so I put it off.

I managed to pluck up the courage to go and now have the worst fear/anxiety. I had the smear on Thursday so I'm only 5 days in.

I can't take much more of this waiting and it's really worsening my health anxiety! Please help

I had this recently, I know exactly how you feel.

I told myself that most things are treatable and I kept repeating that to myself.

Am sorry, am not much help. I honestly know exactly what you mean.

Only getting the all clear letter stopped me, nothing else totally worked. I've had CBT for HA and tried to use that but TBH it didn't work for me.

Its awful, I don't know how to control it.

It's a nightmare! It seems to be getting worse each day that passes because I know I'm a day closer to knowing. today I was constantly checking if the post had arrived. My brain is just so consumed by it all. Im glad you got the all clear. I'm hoping and praying for the same but I'm so worried that I could have left it too late.

Diazepam.

Diazepam here too. and shopping

This was pre-dc's though.

If it helps, mine came back 3 working days later with abnormal results. Hopefully they don't rush the letter out with the normal results.

Statistics.
Cervical cancer is a very rare disease and it is highly unlikely you will ever get it whether you have a smear or not.
Health anxiety is a bugger but statistics are your friend here!

its the anxiety I get anxious about!

the thought of something and the waiting literally kills me, I cant see the wood for the trees at all

does diazepam calm you down then?even knowing there's a drug out there which would help me through the waiting time would help me, knowing its there.

The mail has come... today's not the day

I agree with Stevio ^^

did the nurse at your gp practise not say when you'd get results? I was told it would be between 2 and 4 weeks and held them to it religiously

I rang the surgery and they have the results but they've not been reviewed by the nurse yet so they can't give me the results our it's somehow left me feeling even more worried!! Aaaaaargh!!! I hate anxiety

*out

I'm supposed to receive the results by letter but the nurse kindly told me they often get them back in a week and said because of my anxiety I could call them in a week if I hadn't received the letter yet. Hoping the letter arrives tomorrow morning or the nurse reviews them and gets back to me. Feel sick with worry all the time just now

thats bloody awful, they should let you come down the surgery and get the results, I would go mad with waiting.

only thing I can think is, they'd have got you straight in if it was anything to worry about, them not being in any rush can only be a good thing.

I tried to explain at my appointment about how bad my health anxiety is and that is the reason I'm 4 years late with the smear, which in turn was making me even more worried, anxious and stressed. I know the nurses etc are all stretched in the NHS and doing such a great job but I was telling them in the hope they'd try to ensure I got the result at the earliest opportunity. The guy I spoke to today said the lady who did the test has to review it and she had finished for the day 😩

I don't think they get the fact I can't sleep. It's consuming all my energy and I'm physically and emotionally drained and exhausted. I'm getting to the point of struggling to actually function I'm so worn out.

I'd go down there tomorrow and demand to speak to someone, explain exactly what you've said here, I don't think you'll be ignored. I know that might seem extreme to some but really, they should be able to put your mind at rest there and then. It shouldn't be left to some guy and you're left hanging like this, its just not fair.

I've sat in front of my gp crying about this, he was very sympathetic. Its just not funny.

I almost wonder if gp surgeries should have different methods for dealing with HA sufferers. I'm not sure what the answer is but I just don't feel that at times they understand the torture we go through.

yes I agree x

I got my results. All normal relieved is not the word. Thanks to everyone for all your support and advice.

FAB!!! xx

Glad you got a good result!

I have mine in 2 weeks and I'm so nervous about the actual test that I'd forgot I've also got to deal with the anxiety that comes with waiting for the results.

Glad you got a good result.

I have mine next week and I've been so worried about the actual test I'd forgotten the anxiety that comes with waiting for results.

Thank you both

Good luck Listen. I found the first 4/5 days of waiting were okay because I knew the results wouldn't be out yet. I just found it stressful knowing the could come any day and i kept imagining the worst.

It might be worth telling the nurse about your health anxiety. In my instance, the surgery received the results and they then issue letters to the patients. This meant I got the results quicker by phoning them. Had I not phoned, I'd still be waiting. I told the nurse that my health anxiety was severe and that sleep would be a problem while waiting for the results, as would just functioning day to day. So I think they understood the situation to a degree.

Best of luck. Hoping you get the all clear too.