Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Its the Jade Goody Effect - my smear is overdue and I've just booked one. Join me!!!!

264 replies

frumpygrumpy · 23/02/2009 12:30

Its six months overdue and I've made an appointment for a week today.

C'mon girls. Anyone else putting it off FOR NO GOOD REASON???

OP posts:
Original poster
frumpygrumpy · 11/03/2009 11:40

baggie, we will hold your hand, promise x.

I like the sound of your nurse, she sounds like she will handle it well. She wants to look up your fanny. She phoned to request it! Does that help?

OP posts:
edam · 11/03/2009 11:41

just booked mine. Well overdue so glad I've sorted it. (Surgery sent out letters, wonder if they thought it being in the news might encourage those of us who had been avoiding it?)

Original poster
frumpygrumpy · 11/03/2009 11:43

hippi, thats hard. But 10/10 for being a proactive surgery. Remember, little changes is enough. I feel very proud of you for coming on here and saying what you just did. Not easy.

OP posts:
hippipotamiHasLostSixPounds · 11/03/2009 11:54

Thank you frumpy

Yes, surgery is great. The nurse was lovely (even offered me the back door to get out in case I did not want to walk through teh waiting room all teary and red)
It is the kick up the back side I need, so will take the bull by the horns and get cracking! (how many phrases can I get into one sentence?)

Baggiebird · 11/03/2009 12:43

lol frumpy that does make me feel a little better!!

LurkerOfTheUniverse · 11/03/2009 13:01

very sobering being told you are officially a heffer

I know, I had the same thing on Monday

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 11/03/2009 13:13

Hippi, I do feel for you, that's why I'm getting WW and the gym. However my nurse was totally lovely and avoided the words morbidly obese as I know that full well. Also my blood pressure was a little high (the idea of the smear wasn't helping) so they will monitor that as well which hopefully will go down anyway as I lose weight and exercise.

I've never taken much notice of Jade but was deeply saddened to hear what has happened. I think not only will the publicity help save lives through increased smear test uptake but it means that other things like hypertension can be picked up and help given with weightloss, simply by getting people through the door who wouldn't probably see a doctor or nurse from year to year.

EyeballsintheSky · 11/03/2009 13:13

Wow I've had a lucky escape then as no one has said a word to me. Maybe they think it's so obvious it would be insulting to point it out to me!

LadyOfWaffle · 11/03/2009 13:26

Sorry to hijack but if this can be answered here it saves a new thread - Just wondering if you can have a smear 6m after having a baby? Can't see why not... but thought I'd ask. I am going to book this afternoon - fingers crossed they give me one!

Original poster
frumpygrumpy · 11/03/2009 13:38

Pretty sure you can........I'm sure its normally a set number of weeks after having your baby........

OP posts:
LadyOfWaffle · 11/03/2009 14:13

Thankyou

EyeballsintheSky · 11/03/2009 15:02

Yes, I was supposed to have one 3 months after having DD but they never contacted me

Original poster
frumpygrumpy · 12/03/2009 09:48

and so TEN YEARS just slipped by......... so glad we got you out of that tardis

OP posts:
helsbels4 · 12/03/2009 10:39

I had a smear last summer but I knew the nurse who was doing it and she was more uncomfortable about it all than me. I thought I'd be adult and rise above the ambarrassement but after asking me about my asthma, she then said to me, "Come on, let's get it over with." The results came back and it said that it was an insufficent sample as there weren't enough cells to report on and to make another appointment for three months later. Well, it goes without saying that I put off making the appointment and my smear is now about a year overdue I have now booked my smear which is next week with a nurse that I don't know and I'm hoping that will be ok. It's not so much the smear that I worry about but the wait afterwards and the results
I've also only ever had smears done in the summer when I can wear big floaty skirts and flip-flops but this time I'll have jeans, socks and lily-white legs etc Just whatis the etiquette with clothing and the like for smears???!!!!

Original poster
frumpygrumpy · 12/03/2009 10:49

Well ........ I trimmed and Veet-ed my nethers into oblivion (and DP liked the grooming), I got crispy pubes where I over-Veet-ed, I took my socks off because it felt wrong walking about with short, fat legs and socks on. I did have a giggle with the nurse who reminded me she'd seen every type, shape and colour.........as far as I can see the only etiquette is your own personal rule of thumb

I wouldn't go spending a lot on Pube Shapers and/or colour charts..........

OP posts:
helsbels4 · 12/03/2009 13:28

LOL at pube shapers and colour charts
Maybe I should go the whole hog and sprinkle some of my sparkly body talc in said region so that at least it'll look pretty and presentable

EyeballsintheSky · 12/03/2009 14:32

Wasn't there a story going round a while back about someone who had given themselves a last minute wipe with a flannel not knowing that their dd had stored her glitter stash in it!

It's a thought....

I went for the skirt, socks and short fat legs combo btw. And no glitter...

EyeballsintheSky · 12/03/2009 14:34
CompareTheMeerkat · 12/03/2009 14:34

Got letter today and have booked smear for next week. Was offered tomorrow.

stealthsquiggle · 12/03/2009 14:43

Done - this morning. According to my records, it is 5 years since I had one (Eyeballs you are making me feel marginally better about that).

Does anyone know how long the letter takes? Only I have completely lost track of cycles ( - mirena coil - irregular / v. light periods) and there was definitely a bit of discharge - nurse said it might come back that they couldn't test and that I should rebook in 6mths. TBH, if it does, then I want to rebook sooner than that - having left it so long is worrying me now.

stealthsquiggle · 12/03/2009 14:45

Oh and I shaved my legs for the first time in months weeks this morning and went for jeans, fat legs and socks [bleugh]. Since half the practice staff have DC at my DD's nursery I have long since given up any illusion of dignity I might once have had.

stealthsquiggle · 12/03/2009 14:45

Oh and I shaved my legs for the first time in months weeks this morning and went for jeans, fat legs and socks [bleugh]. Since half the practice staff have DC at my DD's nursery I have long since given up any illusion of dignity I might once have had.

stealthsquiggle · 12/03/2009 14:46

oops. You probably didn't need to know that once, let alone twice

LadyOfWaffle · 12/03/2009 15:39

Gah, plucked up courage to book just now and the surgery is closed Thursday afternoons! Will shave my legs tonight incase I get one tomorrow

shanks313 · 12/03/2009 15:55

Im all for go to have one.....honest..if you have had children then its not bad at all.

I had my well overdue smear on Tuesday and I mean my last one was 1996.

It hurt lke hell the first time ...then the next time I refused because I wasnt sexually active then I refused in 2001 because of miscarriage and then I had the kids.

Now I dont think I will resist next time as it was really that easy and to think how nervous I was.