The dreaded smear test.

hethmar

I had a trainee nurse last time - OMG - she had to get another nurse to help her in the end :eek:

building_with_lego

valkirn wrote: »

So how come you get to wait 5 years for your next one?? i have mine every 3 and have done since i was 18. (im 34 now)

Postcode lottery! THey're every 5 years here (South West) but were every 3 in the West Midlands.

Check out this recent thread .... if I can find it!
Edit:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3098002

It got moved to the Arms :eek:
(I think post 67 is the funniest thing I've ever read)

RedTulip

I had my first one 2 months ago - was terrified after reading stuff on the web about it and put it off for a few months, quite silly I know.

It was possibly one of the easiest things I have ever done - in fact at the end I actually asked if "that was it" I will still be nervous when I get called again tho, I bet.

I know some of my friends experiences haven't been a 'good' as mine, but it's so worth it, I was very relieved when my results came back as ok and wondered what I was so bothered about.

Good luck x

dontone

hoogervaaner wrote: »

The speculum is now plastic rather than metal which is a vast improvement

The last one I had late last year was metal. And it was cold :eek: which in turn made me freeze up and it hurt like hell.
Of course I can't expect the nurse to blow on it to warm it up
Still for a few moments of discomfort it's worth it in the end.

Always-Hopeful_2

Hi

I have to have one every year, as i had CIN 3 in about 2003, and i was given a good tip by a nurse whos job was to do smear tests all day long.

sometimes it the postion of the cervix, that makes them poke around a bit when they take the sample.

so when you lay down and bring up your knees, raise your bottom up as high as possible, then lower it agian, and it changes the postion of your cervix,

and this sometimes helps, i also had a doctor, that used to ask me to lay on my side when doing a smear test, but i dont know if that is common practise

x

building_with_lego

dontone wrote: »

The last one I had late last year was metal. And it was cold :eek: which in turn made me freeze up and it hurt like hell.
Of course I can't expect the nurse to blow on it to warm it up
Still for a few moments of discomfort it's worth it in the end.

That's why they have hot taps on the sink

dontone

building_with_lego wrote: »

That's why they have hot taps on the sink

lol I'll remind her next time. I'm surprised it didn't stick to me it was that cold.
Going beyond the realms of too much infomation now hehehe.

POPPYOSCAR

My second test showed as abnormal so I had to have another one( which was clear) and so ever since I have had one every six months.

I can't say I look forward to them, but then neither do I look forward to going to the dentist, but they are over in minutes and are not a problem.

The alternative is too horrible to even think about, so give me the smear test every time!!!

madelaine

Had mine done this afternoon, a repeat one as had abnormal cells, I think it does depend on the person doing the smear as to how painful/uncomfortable it is, last time the Nurse was a bit rough, but the Nurse who I had today was much more gentle, it was uncomfortable for a few seconds. But I would always encourage People to go it only takes a few minutes and could save your life, I was under the Colposcopy clinic, years ago and had the abnormal cells cortorised, so have had quite a few smears. Met a friend on the way home from Doctors, she said she should go as had abnormal result, told her make sure you do go.

McKneff

valkirn wrote: »

So how come you get to wait 5 years for your next one?? i have mine every 3 and have done since i was 18. (im 34 now)

On reading the literature that came with the call up letter it's every 3 years up to 55 then every 5 years after that. Cant think why,
are you more vulnerable when youre younger?