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

aliasojo

Bloomin_Freezing2 wrote: »

I'm glad you have now booked, I have to say my initial reaction was to tell you to 'Grow up and get it done', and I completely agree with the first reply to you.

I hear what you're 'saying' and I agree it's best to be more matter of fact about these things, but I'm not sure it's fair to say 'grow up'.

All of us have things we dread, I'm sure you're no different. Perhaps you are just a 'stronger get on with it' type than I am. My next 'milestone' birthday will be 50, I've had 3 kids and more invasive medical treatment than you could shake a stick at over the years. I took it in my stride years ago but it's something that is really bothering me now that I'm older and haven't been 'tampered with for a long while.

I don't think it's a case of simply needing to 'grow up'.

Appreciate your points though.

newcook

To be honest I couldnt care who carried out my smear - I would rather have a few minutes of discomfort than risk my life.

one thing I do insist on though is getting their name - nothing worse than a stranger looking at your foof while asking if you've got any holidays planned and you dont even know what they are called!!!

tattyuk75

Pollycat wrote: »

Tattyuk
don't worry about the mammograms, they're not as invasive as smears, just a bit uncomfortable as the technicians pull and tug at your breasts to get them in the right position.
Then it's just a sqeeze as they take the X-ray.
All over and done with in a few minutes.

About 6 years ago, they did find something that they wanted to take another look at so I was called back for another one and then they did a biopsy (just a needle in the specific area that took some of the dubious cells away for them to test).
THAT was a bit painful but a couple of painkillers took care of that.
AND, I got the all-clear.

Thank you for your reply Pollycat, I had a scare and also had to have core biopsies done, that just ached...I have non-pregnancy related periductal mastitis which aches pretty much all the time and there is nothing they can do about it at this stage (although it's a benign condition which is a good thing), just worried about them squishing something which is already soooooooo tender!

I'm so glad you got the all-clear though, it's a massive relief to hear it isn't it!

onlyroz

newcook wrote: »

nothing worse than a stranger looking at your foof while asking if you've got any holidays planned and you dont even know what they are called!!!

I remember that I was asked if I minded if a student doctor removed my coil. The poor boy was extremely embarrassed - the doctor kept telling him that he was allowed to talk to me :rotfl:

euronorris

onlyroz wrote: »

I remember that I was asked if I minded if a student doctor removed my coil. The poor boy was extremely embarrassed - the doctor kept telling him that he was allowed to talk to me :rotfl:

How did you find the coil? Just spoke to my doc this morning about having an IUD fitted.

I think it's the best option for me, but just wondered if you experienced any issues with yours? Of course, you don't have to answer if you don't want to.

bylromarha

aliasojo - have you booked yourself a nice haircut/manicure/coffee with a mate for directly after?

Give yourself something to look forward to rather than spend all day thinking smear smear smear

If money is limited, I am spending a lot of time at our local college discovering all the treatments their beauty students offer. Last week I paid £8 for a 90 minute facial and back massage. Heaven!

foreign_correspondent

I hate them! I put off going for quite a while, my smear was several years overdue - then decided I really should get a grip - having a smear test is horrid, but not on the same scale of horribleness as having undetected cancer...

When I got there, it was a female nurse... It's certainly a pretty undignified process, so I decided to chat away to the nurse - I realised that I probably had the least unpleasant end of the deal, so to speak... I said to her 'I wouldnt fancy your job much, it would put me right off my lunch..' - she laughed, and said, 'oh no, I don't mind smears at all, we do far, far worse jobs, believe me!!' - this actually put me at ease for some reason - she then struggled to find my cervix - I was half expecting her to say she had discovered a chilean miner... half way through, she actually had to stand up and crick her back.. however, despite all that, it took two minutes, and the outcome was a letter two weeks later telling me all was A-OK - which, in hindsight, was well worth the few moments of embarrasment!

ETA - when I was younger, a friend of mine used to have a couple of drinks beforehand - she was quite a 'goer' as they say, at the time - and her logic was that she was used to having a relative stranger fiddling around with her bits and pieces when she was tipsy!! Not advising you to do this btw, it just made me laugh!

deedee71

Thought I'd pass on a tip from my last smear experience - I have a tilted womb and the nurse advised to put my fists under my bum to help tilt things the right way. First smear I've ever had that didn't result in lots of discomfort and bleeding.

Pee

The last time I went it turned out I had missed the previous one which I should have had. I am not sure why that happened, but think there might have been a bit of head in the sand going on.

The last one I marvelled at the nurse's professionalism. I thought it was really impressive. That said, I clench up completely and it isn't comfortable, but it isn't that bad - I mean, I'd rather have a smear than a 24 hour stomach bug, let alone cancer.

Get on with it and think of a nice treat when you've done it. Now I need to pysche myself up for a long overdue dental visit...

bexs.ua

I hate having smears (anyone who says they do I think maybe is a little strange!!) but after having to go to the GUM clinic for an unrelated problem and having my bits poked and prodded by all and sundry I got to the stage of not being bothered. I had to go every 6 months :eek: but now I get the joyous experience just once every 12 months now :T

Also you have to go in with the mindset that these people do this everyday (and probably several times!) and that they have most likely seen it all before :rotfl: I find this helps me when I'm lying there baring all