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Original poster

smear tests

88 replies

Tusky · 30/06/2001 17:40

I'm being totally pathetic,but I'm really dreading having a smear test,despite having had several and a baby! I'm not frightened of what they might find,just the mechanics of the actual test - is anyone else as bad as me ? When my son was born I had the works- episiotomy,ventouse and forceps,so I shouldn't fear a teeny speculum ! My doctor is really nice and understanding (I've had v unsympathetic ones in the past- maybe that's a reason why I'm scared). I've written suitable dates to go in my diary,but wimped out,telling myself I need more time to psych myself up.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tusky · 22/11/2001 22:38

just to let you know that I had the test this morning and it was absolutely fine - I was really nervous about going,but tried very hard to stay calm and thanks to my wonderful GP it was painless and not too embarrassing !

OP posts:
Bron · 23/11/2001 10:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Inky · 23/11/2001 12:59

Carrying on from what Winnie & Jbr said - ages ago, but I fancy a moan & sympathy - had to go into hospital with bad tummy pains. I was all on my own - family not even contacted to say where I was, in early 20's (so it was a while ago but still upsets me!) and the old cow of a nurse looking after me asked If I was on the pill - No. how many children I had - None. How many abortions I'd had - None. She snorted and said if you've got no children & you've had no abortions you must be a lesbian.

A true delight and definitely in the right job, don't you think?

Helenmc · 25/11/2001 21:49

I was just thinking at least a smear is every couple of years (althou at my age the next one is 5 years ... yippee), the dreaded dentist is every 6 months..aaargh

Helenmc · 25/11/2001 21:49

I was just thinking at least a smear is every couple of years (althou at my age the next one is 5 years ... yippee), the dreaded dentist is every 6 months..aaargh

Pamina · 27/11/2001 12:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lizzer · 06/01/2002 19:54

Ok folks, I got my results back and its not good - joy! I haven't even told my Mum this yet but didn't want to put a downer on xmas, so will tell her this week. I have abnormal cells, pre cancerous, and they have to coagulate them or something to get rid of them. The whole thing sounds hideous and I'm totally shocked but have a month to get my head around the idea. In the list of things that might happen (sorry, apologies for bad english, but just can't think today...) is horrid words such as bleeding for 6 weeks, pain, local anasthetic....Please if anyone has had any experience of this could you let me know. I feel weird, and scared, and too young and its not fair etc etc........ thanks in advance X

Batters · 06/01/2002 20:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jodee · 06/01/2002 20:15

Lizzer, so sorry to hear your news - I've not had any experience of this but just wanted to lend a shoulder of moral support too. As Batters said, it's an awful thing to go through, and you are so young, but it could be one of those things where it could have been far, far worse if you hadn't had the test done now. All the best, Jodee xx

Kia · 06/01/2002 21:00

Yes, I know someone who's had the lazer treatment and is fine now. Try to think positively, if you can, better it is caught now than later, eh?

Ems · 06/01/2002 21:12

Hi Lizzer, spookily enough on our similar path of life (!!!), yep been there. Pre-children, just after we had married, so I was like you, thinking, I'm too young, I've just got married. In a new job so didnt really know anyone there, pretended I was having day off to go shopping etc, horrible horrible time.

But anyway, it is not horrendous, honestly.

Think positively, you've had a baby, you've had smears, you wont be anxious and nervous of things going on down there like many women are - which really adds to it.

I had a lady Dr and a very nice nurse who held my hand, as I wasnt a very brave girl at all!! As I didnt really know what it was all about or what was going to happen, hubby was outside and I was on my own, looking back I wish I'd had someone else with the nurse to hold my hand - your mum perhaps?

Dr had a good look, similar instruments etc to smear. Then a local anaesthetic 'up there', probably my worst moment as I had a needle phobia (which since kids and blood tests I no longer have) they cut out the yukky bit there and then(some do lasers etc). And showed it to me in the jam jar afterwards! They put a dye to show up the bad bits.

Bit like a period afterwards, tiny bit of blood (nothing like post baby) and honestly that was it.

You are then put on regular smears and checks, which makes you feel much safer and looked after, I think it was after my 3rd it showed abnormal again, so I had another colposcopy and all was OK. Which I found reassuring.

So all in all, dont PANIC, they are PRE PRE PRE cancerous, they are there to get them in time, you will be fine. Lots of love xx

Ems · 06/01/2002 21:12

PS: My best friend also had the laser treatment around the same time as me, and was fine and has had no subsequent problems.

jasper · 07/01/2002 00:37

Yes Lizzer, I have been there. I was about 35 and was told exactly the same as you.
PLEASE stop worrying. I had the treatment as an outpatient and I promise you it did not hurt. I sat in a funny-looking chair thing with my knees bent up in front of me resting on special rest type things. I had a male gynaecologist and I told him at the start I was anxious, which was a bit superfluos really. He was SO kind and gentle. A nurse held my hand and she chatted to me about her children. I really did not feel much at all. I was aware he was prodding around a bit down there but it was NOT painful. The local anaesthetic was not painful at all. I think it would even be an exaggeratioon to describe any of it as physically uncomfortable, it is more a mental anxiety issue I am sure.
You may wish to do what i did. I took the day off work, my two best friends came with me. I had two large G&Ts before they drove me to the hospital. They took me home and gave me my favourite M&S sandwiches for lunch, with another G&T for good measure! We made quite a party of it!
Incidentally my results were clear and I am back to 3 yearly smears. I was told about the possibility of bleeding but this was very light and only lasted a few days. I had NO pain at all afterwards, I just felt a bit delicate.Again this was more psychological than anything else.
When I had it done I knew noone else in the same boat. Since then two good friends have had the same procedure and have had exactly the same kind of experience as myself.
So Lizzer, please do not worry about this.

winnie · 07/01/2002 07:51

Lizzer, thinking of you... another good story to relay... this happened to my Mum in the early 70's when we were small and she is fine and healthy to this day. It must be a horrible time for you, but it has been detected and something is being done (a lesson to us all about the necessity of going for the dreaded smear test as well) take care Lizzer, best wishes Winnie x

Marina · 07/01/2002 09:39

Lizzer, really sorry to hear the news. Hope all the other posts from people who have had the procedure and are all fine now are some comfort. A friend of mine is having exactly the same thing done next week. She is anxious too of course, but the consultant has reassured her that, like you, this is being caught EARLY and dealt with long before there is any risk to you.
I'd go the G & T route if I were you. In fact, wouldn't it be nice if there was a Costa and a nice bar in all outpatient depts, especially obs & gynae.
Take care.

wendym · 07/01/2002 10:54

Lizzer. I'm sorry you're worried. Remember its only PRE cancerous and they might never develop to cancerous cells. There was a doctor in Australia who believed treatment was often unnecessary, used to leave pre-cancerous cells for 3 years then chicken out and treat and he didn't lose a patient. The treatment is so easy, and so effective, doctors treat you if there's half a chance. I also know someone who has been treated and is fine.

I had laser treatment for a cervical erosion and it isn't anything to worry over. They gave me a general anaesthetic although I wasn't out for very long. About 45 minutes after waking I was ready and eager to leave although the nurse said you had to stay for an hour after a general. I took arnica - don't know if it helped or not. I did actually bleed intermittently for 6 weeeks and they'd only warned me about a few days so I wasn't too pleased about that (person trested for pre-cancerous cells hardly bled at all). You might want to check whether your hospital does general or local anaesthetic for colposcopy - just phone up the day unit and ask.

Lizzer · 07/01/2002 12:00

Wow what a response, thanks eveyone Its great to hear some positive (?) things about it all and I know I'm lucky to have been caught really early on, just don't think I'll throw a party over it... I think because I've not talked much about it I've built up a hideous picture in my mind of doom and gloom. The coloscopy I had wasn't totally hideous but not exactly fun and I just imagined this would be at least ten times worse.... Thanks for talking me through the procedure Ems, I needed to hear it

Wendym, I think it'll just be local, as that is what I had for my c'scopy, in some ways its better I guess, but I hate the 'small talk' you have to make to take your mind off what someone is doing to your bits and pieces!

Jasper, the G&T plan sounds great, I'm sure I'll be doing that one for definite - they don't mind if you stink of booze then??!!

Marina - do you think we could get a franchise going on bars and coffee shops in hospital, we'd make a mint!!

Will keep you all posted on everything (as usual!)If anyone has anything more to say about it then please let me know. Can I be really cheeky here and ask how long you have to wait to resume your sex life (not that I have one!) But something I read said 2 weeks and something else said 4 weeks, just curious, tum-tee-tum, la la la...

TigerMoth1 · 07/01/2002 12:52

Can't help with your last question, Lizzer. Just clean forgotten, I'm afraid.

But just to say I hope all goes well as I'm sure it will.

2under2 · 07/01/2002 13:44

Lizzer,
sorry to hear you're going through this! I had cancerous cells on the cervix five years ago (when I was 20) and had an operation under general anaesthetic. I went home a couple of hours later.
I had mild cramping for a few days and then just a bit of bleeding.
Unfortunately the wound got infected about four weeks later and I had to take antiobiotics and the 'period of abstinence' was extended to six weeks (from four). This was the worst thing about it, as my husband and I were young lovers (or not, haha) at that point!:-O
I've had yearly smear tests since and all has been fine. Also became pregnant at the drop of a hat twice.

jasper · 08/01/2002 00:46

Lizzer, if the doc thought I was an old alchoholic bag he was too polite to say.
As a result of my experience I chucked the guy I was then seeing. I was absolutely crazy about him. I did not see too much of him as he was always so busy at work, golf, football.....well he was too busy to visit the day I had my wee op. and too busy the day after....It was hard but I realised I had to bite the bullet and face the fact he was not that interested in me!

Original poster
tusky · 08/01/2002 18:28

good luck Lizzer - I'm sure it'll all be fine- will be thinking of you ! A G & T (or three)before sounds a brilliant idea...

OP posts:
Lizzer · 09/01/2002 14:11

Thanks again. I was brave and told my Mum last night -being the ex-midwife she was very calm and understanding as I knew she would be, but still was a bit of weird thing to do. She is going to take me there and bring me home again though so will be fine, she's great! Roll on the end of Feb when it will all be over and done with (am going away with dd for a week visiting friends just after it, so will be treated really well...)

Gonna keep smiling too

bloss · 09/01/2002 22:26

Message withdrawn

Joe1 · 10/01/2002 09:25

No experience but sure you will be fine. Good that it has been found now and better out than in.

ScummyMummy · 10/01/2002 09:51

Lizzer- sounds a bit scary but also good that they're taking early action to make sure you stay healthy and as usual you're coping so well. Major respect and I'll be thinking of you in Feb.

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