Smear

[MotherOfLittlePeople]

I'm due a smear next month. Been told to book and attend as soon as I get my letter after having some issues.

I've rang my surgery today, which is closed only for emergency cases and telephone consultations to be told I may or may not maybe able to have it because of the spread of Coronavirus. I'm now very anxious.

Is anyone else due one in the coming weeks?

Mine is past due and the doctors surgery is closed to consultations.

@Lordfrontpaw have you been given somewhere else you can go for one ? Or is it a "no you can't have it now"?

They haven’t said - I’m not overly worried (I know, I’m a slack arse) but will call this week.

We’ve cancelled all smears except for the 12 month recalls.

It’s non essential work for us at the moment in primary care and for the labs. It’s crazy times for us.

@Sidge oh f**k.

I really need to have it done. I've had back ache and abnormal bleeding.

Would you suggest going private for it?

No but a smear is usually a screening tool and not done for symptomatic women - you’d usually be referred to colposcopy.

Might be worth calling your GP to discuss it.

@Sidge I've been discussing this with both a nurse and a doctor since August last year when this started. The doctor is blaming my contraception, the nurse says to attend for my smear as soon as I get the letter and not to wait.

Well if you’re due a smear it makes sense to get it done (usually) but at the moment all “normal” advice has gone out of the window....

I’d chat with someone at your surgery, they may do it as planned - we are using our discretion. (Practice nurse)

@Sidge I could only speak to reception and their answer was "maybe, maybe not" so I can't get much more information. I've emailed a local private hospital to see if I can get one done there. I have two small children so it's not something with that what I'm having I want to miss.

Practice nurse here too. We're still doing routine smears. How long for I'm not sure.

Ask to pass a message to the nurse. Insist.

@Sidge can't speak to them. They've put a post up today saying not to ring them because people are blocking the lines.

Rang to see about a private smear and was told in the range off £1000 because they won't just give you a smear.

Try emailing them.

@Sidge they say a smear is now non-essential so I can't have it till they decide it is. My anxiety is now through the roof

Sorry to hear that @MotherOfLittlePeople

Try not to be too anxious (easy for me to say I know). The chances of your symptoms being something sinister are very low, ride this storm out and get it done as soon as we’re back to normal.

💐

@Sidge trying to be calm but it's just making me really bad. I have slight anxiety I would think any way and any thing to do with my health sends me in to panics.

I had low grade cell changes at my first smear but no HPV. So that's worrying me as well incase it's changed. I've been asking for a smear since November.