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Smear test too sore, any tips?

13 replies

WTFlike · 13/05/2014 22:53

It was really distressing today, I was crying from pain, nurse was getting shirty and I was shaken for a few hours afterwards.

I'm already DREADING the next one in a couple of years (hopefully).

It feels like I'm being stabbed. I asked her beforehand to please use the smallest speculum as it was so very painful the last time. It was still agony. She was dismissive, said well it certainly shouldn't be "agony" and that I need to relax. How do you relax if you feel like you're being stabbed in the cervix?!

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MorvahRising · 13/05/2014 23:20

Poor you, how horrible. I wonder if it is the way the nurse did it? I had a dreadful one the one before last, I nearly screamed out loud it was so painful, and I was dreading going back again, but this time I had one of the doctors (who needed to check something else out at the same time!) and it was absolutely fine. I was so relieved.

Perhaps next time book a double appointment so things aren't rushed, and definitely make sure you get a different nurse!

HSMMaCM · 13/05/2014 23:23

I had a bad one last time and I have another tomorrow. Dreading it, even though I've had loads of others with no problems.

WTFlike · 13/05/2014 23:26

Thanks. Maybe it's the nurse? I get injections off her too and they always hurt a lot more than when the doctor does them (although smear test a billion times worse obviously).

I'll ask the doctor to do it next time. Or hack my own cervix out. One or the other.

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WTFlike · 13/05/2014 23:27

Sorry HSMM, this is NOT what you want to hear about right now.

Best of luck with it tomorrow, and the results.

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shouldnthavesaid · 14/05/2014 00:49

I sympathise, I have an awful time with speculums and took six attempts the last time. By the end GP said I was white, I was in floods of tears and shaking. I've never felt pain like it. Have also fainted, shrieked and once accidentally pushed the bloody thing out.. I am absolutely terrified of the whole thing.

I've since been diagnosed with vaginismus, so things will take a long time to sort - but I have to have regular internals due to long term health problems anyway.

What my GP gets me to do - is to concentrate on keeping my face soft, as if trying to blow bubbles; breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth; pant/blow out as she tries to open it and then cough and push down once it's in. I also get a 30 minute appt, constant reassurance/explanation of what she's doing, and a glass of water afterwards.

The theory is that you spend so much time trying to relax that you forget to be nervous!

That said the only time I felt 100% relaxed was when I had a spinal for an examination/coil and didn't feel it! I felt wonderful - consultant was doing goodness knows what and I was high on morphine, talking to the anesthetist about Jack Russells!

You need an empathetic nurse/doctor though - I had an absolute cow once who shouted at me, told me to stop shaking and demanded to know if I used tampons (because that's the same as having a huge bit of plastic inserted?!), told me I was being silly and making an unnecessary fuss. I've had major vulval surgery, have several chronic vulval/vaginal problems and have had over 100 examinations. Would like to know if after that, she'd cope HmmHmm!

GP has now put a note saying on no account are the nurses at surgery to do internals, have to be seen by a GP and preferably her or if not one of the other two that know me.

The GP (or family planning, or sex clinic) should be able to do the next one if she's the only nurse there, otherwise I'd try to see another nurse.

Vulval Pain Society also produce a fairly good leaflet called Smears Without Tears, it's free to download, think if you just google smears without tears it'll come up. Quite handy, it reads like it's designed for ladies with conitions etc but still good advice for all of us I think :)

WTFlike · 14/05/2014 12:18

Thanks for the advice Shouldn't, sorry you've had such a hard time. Blimey, well done for keeping going.

I'll look up that leaflet and talk to my GP about it.

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HSMMaCM · 14/05/2014 13:35

Had mine today. Spoke to the nurse before she did it and she was lovely and although it was uncomfortable, it wasn't painful.

MerryMarigold · 14/05/2014 13:39

I actually delayed my last smear by several years because I was so scared of it. (Very unwise I know). Nurse was brilliant this time. I made a comment about it hurting and she said it shouldn't, maybe a bit of discomfort but not pain and I laughed. But it was really different. She started chatting to me about my ds and some issues he has, which distracted me. There wasn't the usual speculum (the one that opens up inside). Just a sort of tube and then she took the sample with a swab thing. It was totally painless. I think it really depends on who does it. If sex isn't extremely painful (and it can be a bit painful for me at times), a smear test shouldn't be either.

WTFlike · 14/05/2014 16:44

Oh I'm glad it went ok HSHHaCM, I wondered about you today.

I'm going to ask around about good doctors/nurses who do it.

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WTFlike · 14/05/2014 16:46

I'm just thinking MerryMarigold, I can't see what she's doing, maybe it would help if I could. Her just putting her hand on my leg makes me jump.

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naty1 · 14/05/2014 21:58

I found while i was bf and only a few months after birth it was very painful
My hormones were not back to normal.

PrincessOfChina · 14/05/2014 22:06

The nurse at my surgery let's me insert the speculum myself. It's made a traumatic experience much, much easier.

MerryMarigold · 15/05/2014 10:33

That may help WTF, or doing it yourself. That would be worse for me as I would be gearing up inside for what's going to happen. The best thing for me was a good distraction, talking about something very close to my heart! But do find someone who is sympathetic and knows how to help people relax, plus gentle. Injections and blood tests can vary so much, it is not surprising that a smear can as well.

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