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Original poster

@*@*@*@ Right, who is putting off their smear test? @*@*@*@

677 replies

Lulumama · 15/10/2007 17:03

Have just been for mine

not the funnest way to spend 10 minutes, but hey! don;t need another one for 3 years...

also, here's a tip if the nurse has trouble finding your cervix, mine seemed to have wandered off, lie on your left side..

was over and done with very quickly and with complete and utter sensitivity and discretion.

i know it is a bit yuck, but it is important, and you can always take a friend with for moral support.

so, if you have been meaning to book in for yours, get it booked !

OP posts:
Joolyjoolyjoo · 08/02/2009 19:11

Thanks everyone, for your support and good wishes- I am very encouraged by the number of people who have had abnormal smears, followed by colposcopy, then been fine. I got a letter from the hospital, and have an appt in a couple of weeks, so at least I won't have to wait too long.

I know it sounds bad, but I kinda wish Jade Goody wasn't plastered over ever newspaper etc at the moment- it seems to me to be a constant reminder of how it could turn out- not really what I need right now, when I am trying very hard to be calm and positive!!

lessonlearned · 08/02/2009 20:06

Do it, do it, do it!!!
They caught mine in plenty time - I had minimal surgery, despite cancer cells. I had to keep going back for almost 6 years, but at no time did I feel in danger!!!
Just one look at the Jade Goody situation and I feel so lucky!
When I was diagnosed, my friend had cysts on her ovaries (found when trying to concieve) - she said that compared with me she felt lucky - she was dead within the year!
They kept asking at the colposcopy clinic why I was so stoic - I told them that at least I could be! My friend is dead now!!!

janeite · 08/02/2009 20:10

Can I just ask something please?

I had a smear just before Christmas. She fiddled around for ages, had to get a smaller speculum and said I'd got a tilted uterus. The results letter came and said they'd been unable to get a result and I need to make another appointment.

Is this common, does anybody know? Anything to be worried about?

I really don't want another one!

lessonlearned · 08/02/2009 20:26

Yes very common - depends on experience and where your cervix is at the examination. Take this as a good sign that they are being thorough! Go back, go back again until you get the great ok!!!

janeite · 08/02/2009 20:38

Thank you so much. Does the cervix move around then? I'm sure it was in the right place last time I had a smear! And would the not being able to get a result mean that the nurse was mistaken when she thought she'd got what she needed? Or would it mean there was insufficient "matter" taken or something? Sorry to be dim!

Original poster
Lulumama · 09/02/2009 13:14

more likely she had not got enough cells for the examination?

my cervix is hard to reach, it is quite far back and i can never reach it myself to check my coil is still in situ...

it is much easier if i lie on my left side, and hte nurse uses a longer speculum.

better luck next time

OP posts:
lessonlearned · 09/02/2009 13:43

Yes your cervix moves around depending on your cycle. Just at the end of a period it can be quite a lot lower than mid-cycle when it can be a bit hard to reach.

janeite · 09/02/2009 22:02

Thank you. Have learned something now!

BellaNoir · 09/02/2009 22:54

Also if the nurse wrote on the form that she'd had problems locating your cervix then the lab might call it unsuitable/inadequate. We always look at the sample in case there are any iffy cells but if not then we will ask for a repeat as we can't be sure if the sample taker got cells from all of the cervix IYSWIM.

To the person who had a borderline sample - most women will normal follow up, it gives the body a chance to sort the cells out itself. If you have 2 or 3 low grades on the trot then you would be referred to colposcopy. Also we refer for 3 low grades in any 10 year period.
The majority of women having an abnormal test result have pre-cancerous changes, which is the point of a screening test, to identify the changes early on.

Hth

LittleB · 11/02/2009 11:36

Hi joooly, I'm in the same boat as you, I heard today that I've got abnormal cells and need to go in for a colposcopy, maybe a biopsy too. I'm pretty worried aswell. Had my last smear 3 yrs ago and given the all clear, as far as I'm aware this is the first abnormal one, but I guess they are quite concerned if they've given me an appointment. I go in on the 4th March. Like you say it is reassuring that most people who've had them have been fine, and thats the whole point of screening isn't it. Wishing you luck, let us know how it goes.

bradsmissus · 11/02/2009 11:45

I would like to thank OP for starting this thread! And all the people who have posted. I have been putting mine off for too long out of fear which is ridiculous. My friend died of cancer last year (not cervical) and my fear has increased since. Anyway, this thread, along with reading about poor Jade Goody, had slapped me in the face and I have just rung and made an appointment, I am going next week. I have only just overcome my dental phobia and went there last night - no problems but was terrified. Feeling better knowing that all these things are getting sorted.

Shame it took horror stories and people on the internet to make me do it but thanks so much!!!!

I consider myself a rational and intelligent person, weird what fear can do to distort your logic!

AnnVan · 11/02/2009 12:05

bradsmissus at least you've booked yours! I've never had one, and just too scared to do it. god I've given birth! I should be able to handle a smear.

LittleB · 11/02/2009 12:56

AnnVan, Book one please, they are really not that bad, just uncomfortable, a complete doddle after giving birth! Mine was a bit embarressing last time as she had trouble getting the speculum out, apparently I'd created a bit of suction dh was quite proud says keep doing the Pelvic floor excercises ! Worth doing to make sure you don't get ill, especially now you have a DC to think about. It didn't hurt at all, during or after, just a bit uncomfortable and embarressing, but better than cancer. Not looking forward to my colopscopy next month though, but i wouldn't miss it.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 11/02/2009 14:35

Hi Little B- sorry to hear you are going through this too. You can't help but worry, despite all the rational reasons why you shouldn't, can you? I am going in on 24th February, so will let you know how it goes!

Guadalupe · 12/02/2009 18:59

Little B - the nurse told me that the majority of people going for colposcopy and biopsy get a letter to say everything is fine. Good luck with it.

Well done everyone going for/booking theirs despite being scared and those lingering and not done it yet get on with it.

spikejack · 19/03/2009 00:19

I had had them every three years and was due to have one in October 2007. However, I was pregnant with DS2. So I waited until he was about 6 months old and tried to book an appointment with my GP practice. The receptionist told me that she couldn't book me in unless I had just been invited. She said the only way I could have one done was to pay for it privately. Looking back, maybe I should have, for my own health. But I didn't.

My Mum was diagnosed with cervical cancer abut 7 years ago (and is now fine) but I knew that, especially after Jade Goody's terrible situation, I decided that I really needed to book an appointment. I had no trouble booking one and I had it done on 2nd March (3 weeks ago). and received my results yesterday.
I was told that I have 'borderline changes' to the cells and that I need to go back in 6 months time for a repeat test.

I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach. Just kissing my babies when I put them to bed tonight had me whispering in their ears because I just can't get it out of my head.
During the day I'm trying to keep my chin up for them because, should the repeat test show bad news, I'd hate to think that I moped around them for 6 months.

I know that I can't spend every waking moment in a daze for the coming months until September so I have decided to eat healthier and get out more. It might not make any difference but it might make me feel better and I'll have more energy for my boys.

I'm also on a thyroid medication experiment at the moment and won't find out until about August if I need to have my bloody thyroid reomoved.

And I hate waiting at the best of times.......!

I suppose what I don't understand is how 'borderline changes' in cells can often 'return to normal on their own' as the accompanying leaflet explains

BellaNoir · 19/03/2009 22:52

Spikejack: borderline changes means there are cells which have changes that aren't quite enough to be definitely abnormal but aren't quite right to be definitely normal. They are often due to things such as hormones, ICUD/IUD use or infections such as Candida (Thrush) or HPV. Basically the abnormal cells are very active , and conditions such as I just mentioned can also make the cells quite active. Because there's a slight overlap we ask people to come back again in 6 months because the body/cervix has often settled down and it's better than going off to colposcopy for something that will, the majority of the time go away on it's own, a bit the like the body dealing with a cold.
See also the cervical screening website for more info.

Kbear · 19/03/2009 23:03

It's five minutes of your life, to potentially save your life. Go girls. (I went yesterday).

Simplysally · 19/03/2009 23:16

I've got my appt tomorrow - my last smear was in 2002. Disgraceful I've let it go so long.

snowymum · 20/03/2009 20:07

Hrumph. I went for mine today, but the nurse couldn't do it because she found a polyp in the way. So now I have to go to hospital and have it removed, somehow.

The thing I'm most fretty about is that I'm still breastfeeding, and my little one (5 months) is a bottle refuser, so I don't want any anaesthetic. Anyone had a polyp removed? How (if you can bear to tell me) do they do it? Is it ghastly?

Mope.

Simplysally · 21/03/2009 00:40

I'd google it if I were you to find out how they remove vaginal polyps. I had a polyp on the end of my tongue which was cut off under a local - the polyp, that is, not my tongue (much to some people's dismay) .

Have to say that today's smear was uncomfortable in that I seemed to feel it more than last time and I had some minor discharge/cramps afterwards. But still glad I've had it done .

Gmarksthespot · 21/03/2009 00:58

snowymum I had an operation a few years ago whilst bf ds2. After the op I completely emptied each breast and discarded the milk then ds2 was okay for his next feed.

If you expressed enough milk for two feeds would he take a bottle with ebm?

It has been 6 years since my last smear . I am determined to have one this year.

The Dr who did my last one put me off by saying "I hate doing them as much as you hate having them done" .

cordeliaanne · 21/03/2009 01:04

I had a polyp removed last year which was picked up at my smear appointment - lovely (female) gynaecological consultant removed it quickly and painlessly - similar to a smear but somehow (maybe she was just more skilled) less uncomfortable. I had no pain and minimal bleeding. You should be fine.

snowymum · 21/03/2009 07:43

Cordeliaanne, thank you so much for that. I really appreciate it.

snowymum · 21/03/2009 07:46

And Gmarks too - thanks. We haven't had any luck with taking ebm so far but the boob emptying trick is a good one -ta.

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