Smears and abdominal pain/swelling

[MummyToPrince]

Hi, I'm 26 years old I have had 2 high grade smears and had to have cells removed in December and was diagnosed hpv meaning I'm high risk for cervical cancer, I called my gp and asked if I could request an early smear due to constant abdominal pain and I'm not swollen on the outside however feel swollen on the inside if that makes sense? (sorry if it doesn't) anyway the Dr said no and I'm to wait until December when it's due, I explained that I'm unable to run or jump as this swelling feeling on the inside hurts.. Anyone else had this and its been nothing? Or should I keep on at the doctor?

You know your own body- if something doesn't feel right keep on at them. Always better to be safe than sorry.

Thank you, I just don't want to seem a pest at the doctors x

I’m a GP. You’re not a pest but a smear isn’t the correct test/treatment. Smear tests are screening tests - not investigations, they shouldn’t be used for checking out symptoms. If you are having symptoms then you should ask your Dr for a telephone chat to talk thru and they can suggest some other more appropriate investigations. But an early smear is not the answer.

Could I suggest that you approach the GP about investigating your symptoms rather than asking for a smear test? A smear test is not necessarily an appropriate or relevant test in this case.

E.g. on healthline

Please don't worry about seeming like a pest, but please do ask for investigation for your symptoms rather than asking for a specific test.

x-posted with vinoelle :-)

Hey, I have the high risk HPV as well, more of my friends have it than don’t it’s crazy common. Sorry you’ve got these symptoms, if you aren’t getting anywhere with your docs it might be worth trying www.ultrasound-direct.com. They are AMAZING, you’ll have one of their branches local to you and you can go for a quick private ultrasound. I use them once a year to keep on top of various problems, they do a full woman scan so they can check for any swelling/free fluid etc. They can’t do a smear but an abdominal scab with your symptoms may give you some peace of mind. If not keep pushing with the docs, youvarebt being a burden it’s what they are there for xxx

@vinoelle I only requested another smear due to having similar symptoms before which resulted in having cells there and after treatment the pains and everything went away

@Coconutbear1 thank you so so much I will look into that now, I really appreciate it xxx

@vinoelle coming from a GP your response is seriously concerning. I’ve been in the OPs position before and have requested an early smear which was granted due to symptoms, the results were CIN2 and I ended up having the cells removed. I wasn’t due another smear for 2 years, had I have waited those cells would have progressed.
I’m not at all saying that’s what the OP has but to say that a smear test shouldn’t be used when someone is exhibiting symptoms is ludicrous. Playing god like that will cost people their lives, we know our own bodies.

Thank you so much @Coconutbear1 my last smear was 9 months from the previous smear and there was cells there, I have to have them yearly x

@Coconutbear1 actually I am completely correct. Early smears shouldn’t be used for symptoms purely because they are routine. If she was my patient and I was worried was having symptoms - the far more appropriate management is an internal examination and referral for colposcopy/ gynae, if required. Not a smear which as I said is used for screening not diagnosis and can take months to get the results back, particularly at the moment. In a lot of areas, including mine, the labs won’t even process early smears, symptoms or not, they will just reject them as I said there is a DIFFERENT investigation or treatment if you are symptomatic

@Coconutbear1 and I’ve no idea where you got I was “playing god” - I’m saying that actually it’s our jobs as Drs to know what the most appropriate test is at the right time.

@vinoelle unfortunately I’ve had too many experiences with GPs refusing investigations with me and my family, I was refused a Cystoscopy 2 years ago after urinating blood due to my age, after demanding one last year a tumour was found in my bladder. My mother went to the GP repeatedly for 2 years with abdominal swelling and pain and was fobbed off with IBS, she was eventually diagnosed with progressed Ovarian Cancer. I’ve lost all faith in GPs for good reason and have realised that finding one that’s willing to actually listen to their patient rather than mechanically admit them to a random pathway is extremely hard to find.
Sadly the OP feels like she’s being let down by the service as well, she may be best to go private with this.

@Coconutbear1 well I’m sorry about your experiences and difficulties. That doesn’t make my previous advice incorrect tho, and you are wrong in your previous post to call it ‘concerning and ludicrous’.

The OP needs to speak to her GP rather than just request a smear. Good luck OP I hope you get it sorted.

@vinoelle I requested an early smear last year and had to have cells removed in December, had I have not requested it then it would have been worse... My gyne consultant has done other tests I have nothing else wrong with me down there apart from cells returning, I wanted to try for another baby in October but wanted to know if I am safe to do so and still got told no :-/

@coconutbear1 I emailed a private company last night to get a quote, the GPS are shit in my area, they left my mum 4 months without referring her and she had terminal cancer, had they have listened to my mum she would still be alive today, unfortunately my mum passed away in 2018. Thank you for your kind words x