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Original poster

Why do i find smear tests so hard to dal with.......?

26 replies

Dreams · 21/12/2003 18:18

Hi, I have given birth once but i still find smear tests hard to deal with! I don't mind the taking your clothes off bit but i hate the bit of putting the spect.... thing inside. I have one to go to tomorrow as i had an abnormal one a year ago now! Iwas meant to go to the hospital to have a coloscopy but i could not face it i was petrified to say the least!
I feel embarrassed and feel i should be able to deal with things like this but i cant. I have had this smear booked for 1 week now and ever since i have booked it i have been scared ...worried etc!
The doctor has given me some diazepan to take before i go she said it will help relax me it is 5mg dose and i have been advised to take 2 one hour before my appointment has anyone had these tablets and do they work??
Any advice on how to relax and just get it over and done with?
I have only ever had one smear and that was at my 6 week check after i had my son and i found that one quite easy to deal with (it did not seem to hurt) but then i went for another one about 4 months later and she just could not do what she wanted to as i kept closing my legs saying it hurt and moving! this is my first one since then (tomorrow) and i know this is essential to have to see if i still have pre-melignant cells like i did before but i don't know how i am gonna get through it! HELP

OP posts:
SnowFlakeyZebra · 21/12/2003 18:29

Glass of wine....?

Festivefly · 21/12/2003 18:30

I am so scared that i cant even go, i've never had one. I truly know how you feel

MincePie · 21/12/2003 18:34

FF, aren't you more scared of cervical cancer?

Dreams, glass of wine sounds good or the diazepan. You could ask for Prosten, it sort of numbs the area and the inside of the uterus itself so that you don't feel anything so much.

I know how you feel, I passed out when I had my mirena coil put in last week, but the alternative was worse and thats how I got through it.

You can also try Rescue Remedy before and after.

You have given birth though...and nothing is more 'embarrassing' then legs spread, pooing and grunting, screaming and crying.

Is it the smear you are afraid of, or what it might show up?

Original poster
Dreams · 21/12/2003 18:35

Well saying that snowflakeyzebra i have just brought a bottle and put it in the fridge .....my partner did ask what it was there for and i honestly don't know why i brought it i never buy wine......Maybe that was my idea but i can't see myself taking a trip to the doctors on diazipan and wine (what a state) LOL
Festivefly you may be ok i am such a baby when it comes to all this sort of thing......I honestly don't know how my son got here today!
Festivefly how old are you if you don't mind me asking?

OP posts:
Original poster
Dreams · 21/12/2003 18:38

Mincepie i only got through birth with all the pain relief and i mean all! Its the smear i am afraid off! But i know i would be silly ot to sort it as cervical cancer will be a lot worse! if i can just get through this.....then the doctor said if it comes back the same as last time of worse i would have to go to have the coloscopy but she said i can be put to sleep for that if i really cant face it! I really sound like a baby i suppose i am in a way ...... or maybe its just i always think the owrse and worry !

OP posts:
twiglett · 21/12/2003 18:39

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Original poster
Dreams · 21/12/2003 18:46

Twiglett i would love for him to come but he can't get the time off work!
I am going to try your thinking of a favourite place i do believe it might be my minding making me a lot worse always thinking in my head this is going to hurt or this is hurting when probably it isn't!
What do you mean by the mormone bit making it hurt more ? Never heard that before but interested in what you have said ....Does it hurt more when period due etc?? is that what you mean?
Thanks for all the advice i really needed to talk about it

OP posts:
sibble · 21/12/2003 19:27

It amy sound weird but I used to tell my patients to 'wiggle their toes' and have always done that myself to take my mind off it. I have had comments that it looks a bit bizarre as the wiggling starts quite slow but gets quite frantic once they start but it is something to do with the brain not coping too well with multiple messages. Also used this technique with breathing for all internals when being induced with DS.
Good luck

futurity · 21/12/2003 19:44

I hate smears with a passion. The first one I had I cried. The second one I made my husband come with me and hold my hand. The third was recently and I was braver (due to having had baby and a load of internal examinations during childbirth!). I was still nervous so I just did my labour breathing..really focused on it which took my mind off the discomfort and it was over before I knew it. Nurse thought I was having a baby I was puffing so much but it really helped.

SnowFlakeyZebra · 21/12/2003 19:48

I suppose I was thinking that the wine might help take Dreams' mind off of it for now. If you get slightly phobic about things I know how awful that is.

Brandysnap · 21/12/2003 19:59

I also hate having smear tests and before I had my last one, I had made load of appointments and cancelled them over the course of about a year. In the end I told a sympathetic nurse about the problems I had with the last one and she was really understanding and said she would make it as easy as possible.

In the end I went and just sort of shut myself off, just pretended it wasn't happening to me and it was fine.

It is really important that you go, take the diazepam before hand and have a big glass of wine afterwards.

FairyLou · 21/12/2003 21:20

I'm the same too. I should have had one a year ago, and feel I really should do it, as my mum died from cervical cancer 4 1/2 years ago.

Original poster
Dreams · 21/12/2003 22:21

thanks for all your help I done the same as you Brandysnap and went and spoke to my doctor about it first she is really lovely and said she will do it as quick as poss and help me through it. Its nice to know there are others out there like me!
I am going to take my tablets and wiggle my toes and do the breathing technique......the doc will think i'm nuts! (he he)
I am very sorry to hear about your mum fairylou I have lost my dad too but to a tragic accident and that was nearly 9 years ago now! you really should go and have a smear if i can do it you can !
I will keep you all updated i am off to the doctors tomorrow at 10am so will let you all know how it goes and if i manage to get through it. thanks again for all your help.

OP posts:
chocolatebrazilnut · 21/12/2003 23:11

I hate them too. Last time I went the nurse `couldn't find my cervix' and spent ages rooting around in there! However, although it was pretty uncomfortable (to say the least), I used the breathing techniques I learnt for labour and managed to get through it that way. As well as the breathing, I concentrate on thinking about colours, one colour for breathing in and another for breathing out. It distracts me from what is going on.

Also, try and get into as comfortable a position as possible before the nurse starts. I find lying on my back rather uncomfortable (because I have a hollow back so I feel unsupported). It may be worth taking a cushion or something to support your back. If you can't get comfortable you won't be able to relax.

HTH and good luck.

twiglett · 22/12/2003 09:59

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Original poster
Dreams · 22/12/2003 12:43

Well hello everyone and what a nightmare i have had today! I got all prepared had quite a bad nights sleep as i was worrying! Phoned my other half this morning crying saying i could not go and do it......Than toke 3 diazepan tablets and felt alot calmer ! I walked down to the doctoras all prepared went to the desk said i had an appointment with Dr Clayton and they said she is foff sick! ......I was devastated to say the least i had prepared all week for this taken all my tablets and got let down by the bloody doctors again! This happened the last time i went to have it done the other doc was off sick too. They keep sending me all these letters saying its important to have it done but then this happens i am so naffed off! Now they can wait till the new year i am no worrying myself over all this again! thanks for all your help and after all that this happens Grrrrrrrrrrrr!

OP posts:
cheeky · 22/12/2003 12:50

So sorry dreams, u were so brave as well!

twiglett · 22/12/2003 13:46

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Brandysnap · 22/12/2003 22:00

God, how annoying!! That was one of the problems I had when I had my hideous smear test, they left me waiting for an hour before I went in, then the nurse moaned because I didn't have a double appointment booked. When she did finally get round to doing the smear, she couldn't find my cervix and had to do an examination and people kept walking in and out of the room. I was behind a curtain but I was so annoyed. There was a man who lived down the road from my mum in an adjoining room and the staff just kept walking in and out.

I left in tears in the end and like I said it was ages before I could pluck up the courage to go again.

Once you've got someone sympathetic though it really helps, so hopefully yours will go well in the new year. Make sure you get some more tablets in.

HappyHollyHulababy · 22/12/2003 22:04

I hate it too. Due for one NOW. Got to make appointment after Christmas

Babymaker · 22/12/2003 22:10

Bloody smear tests! The last one I had the doc asked if I minded a student having a go. I was a bit reluctant but then thought they've got to learn some where and the doc would be instructing anyway. The put that clamp thingy in , then the two of them bent down and had a good old chat about me pink bits... after what felt like 10 minutes I felt like how your mouth does at the dentist when it is dry from being open for ages.... nice I was like "emm hello, have you finished yet?" they asked my what contraception I used... think they saw something. Later I realised I was pregnant! Since giving birth I now know the next time Ill be prepared as I tried (it works, told my sister to use it when she got her smear done, she normally tenses up so much she bleeds).... anyway when they put the clamp thingy in as soon as you feel it come near you, take a massive deep breath through your nose and as they push it in, breath out of your mouth hard and slow. Your mouth is connect to your uterus so as you blow out, your vagina relaxes therefore the clamp goes in easy peasy. then throughout just carry on your deep breathing. because you are concentrating on the breathing it seems to speed it up. good luck

tallulah · 27/12/2003 11:04

I had a smear last week. I was worried sick about it & almost cancelled the appointment. Last time I saw our practice nurse she was a very grumpy old woman who stank of cigarette smoke! When I got there I was pleasantly surprised to find a different nurse, who thanked me for coming and said people usually didn't turn up! She said she'd only recently had hers done, so she knew how it felt, and she talked to me throughout. It still hurt, but it was OK! The person doing it really makes all the difference.

Lou33 · 30/12/2003 17:45

I've finally bitten the bullet and made an appointment for 5th Feb. I know it's important given what happened to my mum, so there you go .

Roscoe · 30/12/2003 17:55

Seeing this thread has reminded me that my smear test is due very soon. Not sure whether I should be grateful for the reminder or not! Last time around I was given a running commentary on the proceedings. Def too much information.

wilbur · 30/12/2003 18:18

I loathe smear tests too, always yelped and made a fuss. Last time however was much better as doctor has switched to plastic speculum - far far easier and more gentle than the metal one. Maybe you could ask if they have those?