Ladies - how fussy are you when it comes to getting a smear done?

Tigsteroonie

I had my reminder letter last month, like many I am trying to ignore it - but in a couple of months, I'll probably just give in and go. I hate the bl**dy things, I find them really painful.

Money_maker

I hate them too although I have a lovely nurse. I can honestly say that I've never even seen the spatula thingy as I just look away/up and grimace! Not very painful but soooo cold.

elfen

I hate them, they are painful for me....but i know theyre necessary so i go and buy a treat afterwards

pigpen

2 of my sisters had abnormal cells and had to have further treatment.. one sis was 19 when hers was diagnosed and after 3 lot of treament was givn the all clear, the other was 24.. she had treatment for 3 years inc right through her pregnancy, they wanted to do a hysterectomy and deliver the baby .... 10 months later she got the all clear! Hers was a hairs breadth from Cancer. My mother had cervical cancer at 23.

Abnormal cells don't mean it is cancer.. it means they have the potential to be.

My girls will be reminded and taken if necessary.. and given my family history if I have to pay for them to have smears at 18 and 21 I will.

Pollycat

For all those ladies out there who, for a variety of reasons, are putting off having a cervical smear - REMEMBER JADE GOODY!

When you consider the alternative to a few minutes of embarassment and discomfort, is it really worth putting it off?

euronorris

Pollycat wrote: »

For all those ladies out there who, for a variety of reasons, are putting off having a cervical smear - REMEMBER JADE GOODY!

When you consider the alternative to a few minutes of embarassment and discomfort, is it really worth putting it off?

I second this, please, please, please go and have your test. Think about it, even if it does hurt for you, it will be over in a matter of minutess, compared to months of agonising pain and death if cancer is left undiagnosed for too long.

Fishingcinema - your fears are completely understandable, but.....if you have regular smears, you're giving the docs a chance to catch any abormal cells before they become cancerous, so you can break the cycle of this in your family.

And ignoring it isn't going to make it go away.

I know it must be very, very scary for you, but please, please, please book an appt today and go and get tested asap. Explain your fears to the GP/Nurse, although I'm sure they are already aware, and take your OH/Friend/Relative with you for support if needs be.

Better to be tested and deal with anything quickly and head on, than leave it too late and wish you had been checked earlier.

pimento

jcr16 wrote: »

i hate hate hate hate them.

i'm sorry but to lay there legs wide open ( blanket over legs of course) with a nurse heading towards you with a huge freezing cold metal thingy does not make me relax.

I had a private smear done once and the consultant didn't even make me open my legs. I laid on my side and brought my knees up to my belly and he went in round the back (quiet at the back! )

I've always wondered why all smear tests weren't done like this.

red_devil

i go to mine not keen but always go to them.

Amber07

Urgh - thanks for the reminder people.......I got a letter the other week, better book an app with the nurse.

Fuzzy_2

I always go regularly for smear tests, I would agree with all on here, that a few minutes of embarassment/discomfort are a small price to pay.

I just wanted to share this joke with you as its very apt:-

I was due for an appointment with the gynecologist late in the week.
Early one morning, I received a call from the doctor’s office to tell me that I had been rescheduled for that morning at 9:30 am. I had only just packed everyone off to work and school, and it was already around 8:45 am.
The trip to his office took about thirty-five minutes, so I didn’t have an time to spare. As most women do, I like to take a little extra effort over hygiene when making such visits, but this time I wasn’t going to be able to make the full effort. So, I rushed upstairs, threw off my pajamas, wet the washcloth that was sitting next to the sink, and gave myself a quick wash in that area to make sure I was at least presentable.
I threw the washcloth in the clothes basket, grabbed some clothes, hopped in the car and raced to my appointment.
I was in the waiting room for only a few minutes when I was called in. Knowing the procedure, as I’m sure you do, I hopped up on the table, looked over at the other side of the room and pretended that I was in Paris or some other place a million miles away.
I was a little surprised when the doctor said, “My, we have made an extra effort this morning, haven’t we?” I didn’t respond.
After the appointment, I heaved a sigh of relief and went home.
The rest of the day was normal: some shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc. After school when my six year old daughter was playing, she called out from the bathroom, “Mommy, where’s my washcloth?” I told her to get another one from the cupboard.
She replied, “No, I need the one that was here by the sink, it had all my glitter and sparkles saved inside it.”

So any gynae apt is now known as a "glittery washcloth procedure", we all know what it means, and humour always helps!