smear tests

melancholly

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

But please tell me I'm not the only person who's ever got the reminder about taxing their car and realised the MOT ran out a few months earlier ...

Insurance is fine, because they send a reminder; tax is fine, because they send a reminder, but if your MOT gets out of phase with your tax (if you couldn't afford to tax it for a whole year, for example) it's easily done!

In fact I haven't done this since the invention of the calendar alarm on the mobile phone, but whereas when I change my phone I go through and transfer all the reminders for the current 12 months to the new phone, I wouldn't necessarily find them all for 2 or 3 or 5 years ahead.

Gmail calendar it is then ...

i haven't even managed to work out the calender on my mobile phone! i just have a big old fashioned folder with stuff in it with many many file dividers. i don't get the dates for the smear test dead on, but if you're 6 months late it's not a big problem - unlike car tax (so it's not a perfect analogy, but people know they have to remember about their cars but somehow not about their own bodies - that's worrying for so many reasons!) i'm not * that* organised, but if i flick past the last smear test letter every time i file bank statements (which should be every month but doesn't usually end up like that ), i'm much less likely to forget! maybe because i get so many call backs that getting a result takes about a year, i'm much more aware of it - but i really think women should get regular smear tests and should be aware of moreorless when they're due. it's just so risky to completely pass responsibility on to the NHS for reminders over your health, especially when the reminder comes in the post which is never 100% reliable. i'm just trying to say that it's not that hard to take a little control over things like this........

beachbeth

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Although I think mine must have been about width as the pinching was on the side. I think I may have been quite narrow, but that is another private tale!

This is what I felt. Everything was fine until she withdrew it. It sounded as though she just quickly snapped it back into place (which is when I felt the pinch) and then withdrew it. This is what caused the bleeding. She even looked as though she was thinking "oh dear, what did I do"!!!

Some of you have mentioned FPC's. I wouldn't have any idea where my local one was or how to book an appointment with them.

beachbeth

Shona wrote: »

Tell your smear takers that they have been uncomfortable in the past. Some nurses and doctors are going along never knowing that they are causing discomfort. I always ask and hope I get honest answers but speak up women!

If other women are like me, they are so uncomfortable and embarrassed that they just want to get out of there. I didn't get into any sort of conversation with the nurse who did mine and I just left quickly afterwards. I will take your advice in future though and tell them if they have caused discomfort. Thanks for all your info.

Shona_3

http://www.fpa.org.uk/finder/

Find a clinic, your local health authority/primary care trust should also have the details of the local clinics on their website.
Phone the clinic for the appt, sometimes you have to make the appt while the clinic is running as they may be in funny places (eg a school) and only staffed during clinic times.

patchwork_cat

Those of you who are never reminded and always remember it must be hard to be so perfect. Yes I am having a go because I have beat myself up for forgetting, but 3 or 5 years is a long time and it is hard to put things into a time frame as I have said.

So no more superior responses like I never forget - yes pat on the back aren't you wonderful .

Some of us are human and have a life where things are not perfcet - Also would like to point out I didn't forget was within the recommended time frame my concern was that they changed the time frame and didn't think to make it common knowledge so that we could be proactive.

melancholly

please feel free to be offended - all i'm trying to say that with some planning now, the situation doesn't have to happen again, which has to be best solution? incidentally, the health risk between a 3 year check and a 5 year check is probably minimal anyway. hopefully this thread will serve to remind people about smear tests and how important they are. i don't think anyone who has posted encouraging people to take an active part in their health care should take criticism for that.

emjem_3

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Those of you who are never reminded and always remember it must be hard to be so perfect. Yes I am having a go because I have beat myself up for forgetting, but 3 or 5 years is a long time and it is hard to put things into a time frame as I have said.

So no more superior responses like I never forget - yes pat on the back aren't you wonderful .

Some of us are human and have a life where things are not perfcet - Also would like to point out I didn't forget was within the recommended time frame my concern was that they changed the time frame and didn't think to make it common knowledge so that we could be proactive.

Nobody is perfect.
No system is perfect.
I have a life ...and thankfully because my pre-cancerous cells were detected early I should have a long life.
Some of us are human and would like to point out to others that they need to take some responsibility for their own health.

Don't beat yourself up, the important thing here is that you are aware that you need a smear and are going to have one and as you state you are within the time frame anyway.

belfastgirl23

My family planning clinic is a drop in clinic. I usually just go along at the start of a session if I need a smear, that way I can get in and out quickly without having to wait I do still get a bit nervous (no one likes someone poking around their bits in a medical context ) and prefer not to have to sit around for too long. Again though almost always female doctors and some of the nurses are also trained to do smears. They are doing them all the time so I think are much more practiced about it. Would highly recommend it.

Can't see there being a problem either in just going for the smear even if you don't use FP per se (you could always ask for a few condoms if you feel awkward). They are a free advice service open to everyone so I would think shouldn't turn you away.

perfectlypoor

I am 25 yrs old and a bit of a worrier, I had a smear 3 yrs ago that came back fine but just before christmas had a funny feeling (metally not physically) that I should get one done, I rang the surgery and was told I wasn't due for two more years as they only do them every 5. I then booked a appointment with my doctor -who knows I suffer with anexity and said he would do one to put my mind at rest, On the 6th Jan I recieved a letter saying that my smear had come back abnormal and showed CIN 3 (1 being a third of the cells effected, 3 being the most). I had to go and have a coloscopy and biopsy and have now had the abnormal cells removed. I'm now just waiting to find out if everything was suscessful. It just goes to show if I hadn't pushed for a smear I would have gone 2 more years without knowing there was a problem.

the_geary

Can I point people in the direction of my previous posts again. There is a system for reminding people to go for their test - I don't think the NHS is really expecting anyone to remember when their next test is due when it's years in between in each usually.
I am a bit surprised though when I see forms where the smear-taker (at GP surgery) has filled in 'not known' for date of last test and we've just had one from that patient taken at FPC a week previously. I wonder why they didn't say they'd just had one done?
An alternative to asking at the surgery is if you get the local PCT or HA phone number online, ring and ask for the screening office - they will also be able to tell you when your next test is due. Their contact information will also be in the invite letter, it often says that they are contacting you on behalf of [your Drs Name].

HTH