Smear test anxiety

[Creamcrackersandricecakes]

I have a smear test tomorrow - I'm overdue as I kept putting it off during COVID. I hate having them done - my last one was really painful, (I have a high, awkwardly placed cervix). We've moved house since then and registered with a new GP practice, so I had high hopes that this one wouldn't be so horrible. Despite this, I have been very anxious today, totally dreading it. I've now found out that one of the practice nurses is my next door neighbour! I hardly know her, she's been civil, but unfriendly since we moved in. There's no way I want her looking up my chuff.
WWYD?? Can I request a different nurse? Or will that straight away put me into the 'difficult' category? I have no way of knowing if it will be her until I get there. At the moment I'm so stressed and unhappy about it all that I'm seriously considering just cancelling and getting it done privately. Is that ridiculous?
Ps. I need to get the smear done as I've already done a home swab for hpv and it was positive for one of the high risk strains.

Take paracetamol 20 mins before you appointment, it can help if you find them painful. The anxiety about it is understandable, you you listen to relaxing music or a calming meditation on earphones whilst there, would that help?
I’ve got to admit I wouldn’t fancy my neighbour doing mine but they are professionals and it’s something they see everyday. You are well within your rights to phone the surgery and cancel the appointment and rebook with someone else (if they have another nurse that does them) but with appointment times and cleaning needing to be done between each patient I know this isn’t something that could be accommodated in our practice if you just turned up for your appointment and requested someone else (staggered appointments, not all nurses do smears, they might be doing baby imms clinic or whatever) so I would suggest phoning in the morning and checking who you are booked in with.

Thank you for replying - yes I do normally take painkillers first. When I was having fertility treatment the doctor prescribed me Valium because I used to get in such a state, that was years ago though so none left unfortunately! The last thing I want to do is piss them off - DH has suggested I keep an eye on her car out the window, if it's still there after the surgery opens he thinks we can safely assume she's not working. If she does leave the house I can call and cancel in plenty of time. (God I sound ridiculous don't I!)

I wouldn’t want a neighbour treating me either. I wouldn’t want to embarrass myself or her.

I’d phone too and reschedule with another nurse if possible.

I don’t know if you have a local sexual health clinic open during covid times, but you could make an appointment there if needs be for your smear? Our local one is very good with nervous patients as they are well used to all sorts of sexual problems as it’s their core business. So I reckon probably more experienced than a general nurse or doctor.

Thank you - unfortunately all of the sexual health clinics in our area are currently closed. I think I'll wait until the morning and see what happens, although I was considering going private anyway as I figured it might be less rushed and I could relax a bit more. Eurgh, I really do hate them!

DH’s idea of seeing if the car moved is a good one. What was the outcome? I hope she was having a day off and you managed to have it done op.

How’d you get on OP? Are you ok and did you get it done after all?

Hello, thanks for your messages - well I saw her leave the house early this morning in her uniform, so I cancelled the appointment. I've booked to have a 'Well Woman' check up at a local clinic, so they'll do it then. Just got to psyche myself up again!!

Great news OP.

They should be very very used to all sorts of phobias and worries there as multiple woman feel scared of various things we have to go through to check we are ok. So I would reckon your in good hands.

Don’t be afraid to tell her to give you a second, or for her to pause for a second if you feel scared so you feel you have more control and can practice breathing techniques to keep you calm.

That’s how the local dentist here deals with terrified patients. They just raise their hand (they obv can’t speak as he’s in their mouth) and he steps back til they say ok ready. It seems to work well.

Do you know your neighbour’s name? I work in a GP surgery & it’s not at all uncommon to see a smear appt booked in with “not Anna please, I teach her son” or “not Jane please, we go to yoga together” etc underneath.

Same goes for the GPs. Some patients don’t want to speak to GPs they know outside of work. Some will only speak to them.

It’s totally fine to ask.

That's good to know @CoffeeRunner - thank you! I'm so ridiculously paranoid about causing offence that I thought it wasn't the done thing! Will definitely bear in mind for the future, (I do know her name luckily).

I just wanted to come back and update this thread, as I received some excellent advice and reassurance from the lovely posters.
I had my smear test last week, plus an ultrasound scan of my ovaries and uterus. The scan was internal, a bit uncomfortable, but not bad at all. Nothing was found, except a small, fluid filled cyst on my left ovary, which the gynae said was not a worry at all and best left alone unless it got a lot bigger.
The smear itself was still pretty unpleasant, but he was very quick and certainly knew what he was doing. He agreed that my cervix is high up and very hard to find, 'almost round a corner'! was how he described it. He said my cervix looked healthy, but obviously we needed to wait for the results to be sure. He's also written to my GP, describing where my cervix sits, in case they need to examine me in the future.
So, results came through today, no abnormalities detected at all, and oddly, no high risk HPV either. So either the home test was a false positive, or my immune system managed to zap it - I guess I'll never know!
Anyway, I'm all clear and don't have to have another one for a few years. The relief I feel is immense, like a weight's been lifted. Thanks to everyone who gave advice on my original post - you all helped me a lot.