Just been called for smear, have PTSD, i cant face it )-:

[mosschops30]

what do i do? I have real problems with anything medical since my traumatic birth experoence. I had to have my coil fitted under GA
I cannot allow a nurse to do a smear, even the dentist is terrifying.
Should i speak to my gynae? Can you have them done privately by whoever you choose.

I feel a bit of a fool, but i wont go unless i can sort something out and i know how important it is

Is it possible to be prescribed a sedative? I was offered this when I was having dental treatment and was suffering panic attacks.

It would have to be pretty good, i dont think a bit of diazepam would do the trick.
Do you think i should speak to the gp first?

i'd have a word with the GP

lorazepam maybe more effective? shorter half-life

Bump, anyone else?

A private gynae should be able to do it.

Ring the GP and let them know, but please, please get it done somehow.

Yup, you can have a private smear, so your gynae can do one for you

moss don't want to leave unanswered but have to dash get DCs from school. Will be back in a bit.

I would rather him do it, hes the only person i have trusted to do anything since it happened. Not sure how we would swing it with the healthcare insurers though!
So i guess my GP is the first port of call whatever happens

moss agree with the others that GP is first port of call.

Are you getting any support/treatment for you PTSD? I had PTSD after my last DC and understand how awful the prospect of a smear is, it was for me. If you are not I would ask your GP to refer you to the local Mental Health team. I can not believe how much my life changed after my referral came through and I was seen on a regular basis by a clinical psychotherapist, yes there were a few false starts incl. being sent home with a self help book for anxiety by the triage nurses. For me CBT was also not the right option. There were times when I hated going to see her and deal with what I'd experienced but she managed to teach me some amazing coping techniques and I am no longer struggling like I used to.

If you want to PM me to chat, feel free. Take care.

Thank you stig i am lucky enough to have had my ptsd recognised pretty quick by my gp and have been seen at a ptsd clinic for over a year. Am now on medication and doing some trauma focussed therapy.
Are you able to have medical stuff done now?

We have some ladies have their smears on the NHS at the colposcopy clinic with consultant gynaes if they cannot have them done at the surgery for a variety of reasons - my be worth asking? Yoiu may get the same gynae?

Also, if it is taken privately then you will probably be asked to sign an NHS smear waiver, confirming you have ben invited, as private smears ae not entered on the Open Exeter system that tracks NHS smears and provides a safety net for people changing surgeries, missing smears for whatever reason.

Hope you get it sorted soon, and glad you have an understanding GP :)

Thanks for that, my private gynae does work for the nhs too. Wish hed ten one whilst i was under having my hysteroscopy, would save me all this worry

moss thankfully apart from smear I've not needed anything. I was coping quite well until she pinched me with the speculum (?sp) at which point I had a freakout.

hope you manage to find a way to get your smear done soon. good luck.

Could you have the smear done under a GA? Or could you delay it until you get further forward with the therapy and might be less anxious?

Really feel for you...