Painful smear test - any idea why?

Dizzy_Ditzy

I have to have a pillow underneath next time to "change my angle" as its horrendously painful to do it the normal way.

Experience has taught me to get a couple of painkillers down my neck an hour beforehand.

Well done for sticking it out, so many people don't and don't give the possible consequences a second thought

donnac2558

I think they should make you do the doggy position. Womb drops down etc.

heuchera

donnac2558 wrote: »

I think they should make you do the doggy position. Womb drops down etc.

:rotfl:

Maybe you are right, but if any healthcare worker told me to get on all 4s and do the doggy position they'd get a short sharp response!! :eek:

Haylescom

Never go in for a colonoscopy then, they put you in all kinds of positions if they can't get the camera round!

heuchera

Haylescom wrote: »

Never go in for a colonoscopy then, they put you in all kinds of positions if they can't get the camera round!

really? :rotfl: I thought you'd be lying on your side for bowel investigations? Thanks for the warning though.

belfastgirl23

Next time try a family planning clinic. The nurses there have a lot of experience in doing smears. And let them know it hurt last time. It could be the nurse (I'd be frustrated that she didn't listen to me in your shoes) but it could well be something unique in your biology. It's worth asking female relatives if they have had similar experiences in case there's some peculiarity in the family. Well done on sticking it out though, it's important.

The painkiller advice is good too

YORKSHIRELASS

Oh poor you, I have had painful smear tests and once I bled quite badly. The nurse then cheerfully told me that the blood may make the sample unusable and I would have to have it done again. Thankfully that didn't happen.

I think it's important to know that just because you have had one bad experience it doesn't mean the next smear test will be the same. My last smear test was a doddle. I asked for someone experienced when I made the appointment and said I had had problems in the past. I then told the nurse about the pain and bleeding before she got anywhere near me. She was really reassuring although she did say that I am not easy to get a sample from!

Haylescom

@heuchera, I always start on my side but apparently have a few very tight bends in my bowel (I thought everyone would but apparently not so), and to get round this particular bend I've end up on my back and on my knees! So it all depends on how bendy you are inside!

justme111

heuchera wrote: »

:rotfl:

Maybe you are right, but if any healthcare worker told me to get on all 4s and do the doggy position they'd get a short sharp response!! :eek:

Really? So what makes it so much worse than the usual dignified gyne position with wide spread and knee bent legs?:D

heuchera

justme111 wrote: »

Really? So what makes it so much worse than the usual dignified gyne position with wide spread and knee bent legs?:D

:rotfl:

Decent clinics have those special chair-things with leg supports for gynae examinations, anyway. Occasionally when I've had to use an NHS clinic I've found that you're just lying on a (not very clean) examination couch with bent legs, as you described.