Hoping someone can calm me down, smear results

[Flofloflo]

To cut a long story short, I had an abnormal smear a few years ago, been ok since, but have just had another test done privately which I'm waiting for the results in writing for. The receptionist who didn't seem very professional or competent, told me that she'd posted them, couldn't give me results over the phone apart from "it's not good". I'm now majorly panicking, please help! I had a colposcopy last time it was abnormal, and some minor treatment to correct it, and I could easily go through that again without too much stress, but I now have crazy thoughts racing through my mind about already having cancer and leaving my children etc please help calm me down, I know I'm being crazy but waiting for this letter is doing me no favours

So sorry to hear that. A nurse once told me, an abnormal smear can actually go back to normal on its own. I don't know how but that's what she said. Don't jump to conclusions just yet, it is worrying I alwsays worry about leaving my kids behind etc it's normal. And if they're is some thing wrong, the professionals these days work absolute wonders and they're is apot of treatment and help out there! :) enjoy your kids and try not to think the worse. Hope you feel better soon xx

Thanks, I know I'm over reacting really, it's just the waiting is always so hard. Thanks for your reply x

I think if the result was worth panicking over you would have had a call back to discuss, especially as it was a private test.

I agree with Charlie. If it was really bad news, I think a medical professional would be talking to you not some insensitive numpty on the reception. That's an awful way for the receptionist to speak to you.

A few years ago, I got a phone call at work from the practice nurse. She said it was to do with my smear result and she couldn't discuss it over the phone. I had to go to the surgery immediately. You can imagine the state I was in having to explain to my boss and leave work in the middle of the day. I phoned my husband who was also at work and he got permission to leave his office and met me at the station.

When we got to the surgery it turned out that I needed a referral for a colposcopy but it wasn't urgent. It was the nurse's last day before going on holiday, the computer was running slow so she couldn't be bothered writing a letter, she's not allowed to discuss it on the phone so just thought she call me in! Like it is the most normal thing in the world for your doctor's surgery to call you in immediately. To make it worse, when I later rang the gynae clinic, they seemed confused about why the nurse had contacted me at all as they already had a letter in the post to me with my appointment date.

Anyway, moral of the story is don't panic based on what the receptionist said. I think sometimes, people in these positions don't realise the affect what they say can have on patients.

Thanks both. Fingers crossed. I should get the letter tomorrow hopefully anyway, so will know more then. Come on Royal Mail, don't let me down!

Hope the letter brought you better news. It was very unprofessional of the receptionist to speak to you like that. To many of us "It's not good" = serious illness. Perhaps more careful with her words next time.

Thanks. The letter said CIN3 which is the same result I had from my first abnormal smear, so I feel better although I know it's not a great result. I've been through this before and had to have a loop excision, the doctor at the time told me it didn't actually look as bad as level 3 and I had 2 clear smears afterwards. I'm seeing my Gp today so will get booked in for colposcopy I imagine. Maybe it doesn't bode well for the future, or maybe this is just something I have every few years, I don't PKU ow.

Should read "I don't know"