Trouble with smears (well shit scared and crying actually)

[NineteenForever]

Had to go for a smear recently. Waited i kid you not, 2 and a half hours at the family planning clinic, saw the nurse and tried to get it over with. Unfortunately, I broke down in tears and was shaking about. Did manage to calm down a bit but god it really hurt (believe me I was trying to make my tummy area go floppy).
Really can't cope with these types of examinations - have 2dc's but didn't have internals in pregnancy until the birth. Nurse was actually a midwife, very patient but honestly, such a bloody awful thing. I'm not joking, if I didn't have to drive to the clinic I'd have a couple of stiff drinks before hand. Gas and air would be fab too.
Is it just me??

They don't bother me at all TBH. Only found it a bit sore/nippy when having one a couple of months after miscarrying. The way I look at it is:

I am clean and polite - after all they see a lot of people with diseases (which very often smell horrid) and filthy folk who don't wash very often Mind you last one I had to apologise profusely as we had had sex the night before as I was ovulating ans we were TTC after the miscarriage - was a bit but they've seen it all.

NineteenForever I can sympathise. I had a very horrid smear about 10 years ago by a trainee and since then I have always been nervous.

What I do now though is tell the nurse that I am nervous as I had a bad experience and ask them to be as gentle as possible. I also ask them to NOT tell me what they are doing or say "you'll feel a bit uncomfortable now" as I always tense up at that point. The Dr who did my last one chattered on about the weather and where I was from and did manage to almost distract me.

I tell myself that it is only 2 minutes out of my whole life and that if I don't have it done, and get cancer, then the treatment will be a lot more painful and intrusive.

Can you have someone drive you there and give you a hug once you're out?

But also, well done for actually going and getting it done anyway. You can now relax for a couple of years!

Oh yes, I couldn't have mine - I paniced on both occasions and had it under GA during a lap & dye in the end. I cried like a baby before, during and after a sweep also and then tried to negotiate my way out of a swab test when they were infection hunting after having DS. Thankfully that time I was in a delivery room and the kind doctor gave me gas and air

I have total empathy. I put off having a 2nd smear for 16yrs! Yes, very stupid, but I was so traumautised at the thought I just couldn't do it. I also have a child, but had no internals until delivery and then I had an epidural because I was so terrified of having to be examined. I have been told off, laughed at, and irrated many nurses and doctors over the years who just don't understand my fear. Evenutally I asked for valium (10mg, so quite a hefty dose) and after that it was a piece of cake, just felt like I'd had 2 bottles of wine, but without the queasiness. I would highly reccommend it.

I understand had my first at a teaching hospital (look at the cherry red colour) and put me off till had dd 14 years later. Only the thought of her got me to go and I ahve to say I let her know all of this and it was much better, certainly they ahve changed how they do it. Waiting that lng was too long to enable you to relax. it would certainly have made me worse.

Next time, see a GP in advance and tell them you want a recommendation of someone very experienced at doing smears and a prescription drug. I've had 5 smears and the quality is very variable. So is the quality of internals during birth. Take someone with you and ask for some drugs like beanie35 recommends - valium.

I have been going for annual smears for 8 years. The reason was that I had some cells looking pre-cancerous.

I had a colposcopy and they removed them. Ever since I keep getting re-called, it was only supposed to be for 5 years but they keep writing to me so I keep going. Good thing too as this month I have had some dodgy symptoms and the letter arrived reminding me. The nurse took one look and told me it was all normal changes since having DD and that the test should come back fine - keep your fingers crossed for me!

Personally I cope by chatting to the Nurse, it is a different one every time at my Sugery. I make them talk to me about themselves. "have you worked here long?" Have you got children? cold today isn't it!

Works for me

Hope your results are good and keep going back - you will be fine

Thank you all - I no longer feel a freak! Everyone I've described it to so far sort of says "I don't like it but I don't have a problem with them". Maybe I should ask for drugs, and with a bit of planning, DH will certainly come with me. In fact, after this one, i was home so late and he had cooked dinner and laid the table with candles, just something to make me feel nice.

I did have to go back for another smear once, and the thing was, the original one had gone relatively well (nurse I knew which was good- she wrote "patient very nervous" all over my notes) and then i got called back for another horrendous experience!

Ozziegirly, you are quite right, going for the smear is better than cancer, but the fear of the test is certainly putting some off- i have a friend who has never been at all and she's in her thirties like me.

Again, much thanks for your support.

You are not alone.
Can totally relate.
Have been putting mine off for way too long.

going to book one tomorrow.

Do it Sparkly please

I will "virtually" hold anyones hand through this, I have had so many now and I always feel terrified but after my "scare" the feeling of relief I have when the letter arrives saying all clear is fantastic

done
booked for Wed