OT Not for the faint hearted...

Take it you made your appointment today then!

I know what you mean, but I don't know what equipment looks like! Try googling it?!?!!? ?

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

WILL NOT THINK ABOUT IT!

oops sorry caps was on.

Sorry, Dont intend to freak anyone out....just curious. Maybe its coz I have a tilted uterus and so I feel it more... sorry if I've scared anyone.

on another note, my repeat prescription for the pill was denied as the receptionists notes read Ive had 6 months worth of pill but I havent. And the nurses computer records backed me up, said I only had 3 months worth given to me so shes going to try and get my prescription for me. Phew as I finish me last pack tomorrow!

I find it an odd sensation too - and also when they put that *thing* to open you wider (sorry squeamish people)

Worst thing was having coil put in. Imagine having most sensitive part of your body scratched. Was only for a second but it still makes me wince thinking about it.....

The speculum? I need the smallest one possible. I ended up writing a complaint letter to a hospital as I had endured utter pain during a colposcopy, and the woman used a very large spec on me which had me in tears. On my second visit, after apologies etc the head doctor was like wowwww, you're tiny!! And everyone was having a look at how small I was. Naturally, I'm now dreading childbirth!!!

The screwing you can feel is them opening the speculum thing inside you - it kind of screws open if you see what I mean.

Childbirth hurts - no denying that, but you get a lovely baby at the end if it and go from screaming at the midwife that you don't want a baby and are going home (yes, that was me last time!!) to being in tears at gorgous baby (me too!!).

Smears are much easier after childbirth - in the words of one midwife "everything is stretched and slack"!! Something else to look forward to ?

? Noooooo

I have a similar feeling and I've just had the letter to go for my next one - should not have read this post !! ;0)

At least yours is over for a while now - have the joyous job of making the appointment soon !

Better to have it done than not though eh?

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Makes me feel sick and my insides go all tight and I get a really weird sensation just thinking about it! I need to go as my letter came in last week and I'm not worried about having it done because I know it's needed but thinking about it really makes me feel faint. ?

Think I'll pass on looking back at this thread ?

I have to have one every 6 months at the mo, and know exactly what you mean, is such a weird sensation. Got another letter today, must remember to make the appt tomorrow, I hate having them done

Needs must though!

Yep, the "screwing" sensation is definately the speculum being opened and "locked" in position, I have had a few of them with smears and IVF treatment so you can say I'm fairly used to the bloody things by now.

My smear is due next month and debating be referred to the hospital for it as (some of you might already know) I work in my GP surgery and don't really fancy one of my friends looking at my wee woman, although she has said that it wouldn't bother her as she has seen that many.

Nona, as for the muck up with your B/C on our system we have 3 "screens", one for repeats, 1 for scripts (which is acute scripts for antibiotics etc) and another for current (recently issued medication)..on your repeat list could be your b/c with 6 month issue of the last time you got it, on the script list you could of only been issued 1 month or so the receptionist should actually look at the script "screen" to give a "true" reading of what you were issued as the dosage could of been changed on the repeat screen IYKWIM?

Oooh erugh aw bleaugh....and all that stuff. smears make every women squirm i think.

The worst bit for me is the speculum. Not the actual wrench you open bit, but when they let go and it is resting up all your bits and pieces? I find that really uncomfortable!

If your smears are really uncomfy though, its worth asking if your health autority has changed to the 'new method' of doing smears. According to my last smear nurse, almost all of the uk had changed - but not everyone.

The old smear was literally with a scraper, and they scrapped your cervix to get cells off. Now, the new way is to use a brush and gently brush cells off.

Having had both, i can deffinatly say the new way is best and i certainly wont be nevous about going for my next smear as i know that method is much less uncomfortable.

Ew-I hate these! I've just had back another abnormal result so I've got to go back in 3 months! So much for every 2 years or so I've been about 8 times since I turned 20!

I've just had my first smear last week! She showed me all the instruments but to be honest i couldn't tell what she was doing with them and when, it was all very quick! Perhaps i was distrcted by the fact that the nurse who was doing it was my best mate's mum! Oh the shame! ?

As someone else said, it is the opening of the instrument. I had mine the other week, I am so glad they now are plastic not so cold as the metal ones they used to warm up under hot water

Shudders thinking about it, all done for 3 years!

I've only ever had the "brush" (TMI!!!!!) Can't think of anything worse than it being scraped! And now I'm backing away from this thread as its making my squirm!

I know it's no laughing matter but when I first took over the smear recalls in our surgery I was recording one and it read "brush and broom used"...I'm sorry but I just started laughing, little amused the used to be innocent ?

Im the same, hearing the word smear test is enough to make me hide in the corner with my legs crossed!!

Ive had to have three in a row as i keep bleeding then they cant read the result so should be a pro by now, has anyone else had really bad cramps after wards?? and any idea why

This is a different thread for a Tues evening!

I'd say that the kitchen like utensil (!) they hold it all 'apart' with is more of a pushing sensation rather than a 'screwing' sensation - they're not twisting it around afterall, they're simply forcing the padals apart and locking them in place so ... I think the screwing sensation comes from the twirling of the scraper (not had the 'brush' as yet!) as they twist it around the neck of the cervix. I find that hideously uncomfortable - its a combination of a burning scraping pain and a really horrible unexplainable feeling that makes me feel quite queasy. Give me 3hrs of tattooing any day.

I'm due mine - had two reminders and have put it off but suppose I should go ...

THATS THE ONE!!!!! Yes, I knew it wasnt from the spec.... its the scraping itself, phew! thank you, I am normal.......lolol

Tis when they are asking you questions about teaching and wedding plans that makes it all that more surreal and the embarrasment of realising that perhaps a tube of Veet wouldnt go amiss! LOL

? Flluu-duuump {faints to the floor}

Oooooooo ur all scaring me now i havnt had a smear yet am only 23 am well scared now ?

Dont be scared joanne, im sorry if this post has.... I was aware that many of you wont have had one (and that should bloody well change, govt, grrrr) but everyones different.

Tis like the dentist is painful and even with your injections in your gums you still feel something right?? a smear is the same, its just a discomfort pain not a scream-your-head-off pain..... imagine scraping something like a tooth pick or tounge scraper down the inside of your mouth... its just not nice... but its worth it!

Don't be scared!! Its not that bad, we're just a bunch of Drama Queens!! Its just uncomfortable, and I just found it dead embarrassing, possible TMI but.....The nurse said to me to take my bottoms off and pop on the bed...I thought she just meant my trousers so left pants on (Thinking it would be like bikini wax!). Nurses response when she lifted the sheet and saw I had pants still on was "I'm good love, but I'm not that good!" I was mortified!

I'm 24, had my first (and only) one at 22, and they refused me one 2 years later because of my age, so will have to remember to go later in the year! x

I certainly didn't mean to scare anyone ...

Don't be scared, we're all different, i have never had a painful smear, or bled afterwards, and am 40 so have had several, by lots of different nurses.

The worse thing for me is where to put your knickers once you've taken them off, the chair, the desk, or just hold onto them like a security blanket ??

My 1st smear was fine but then straight afterwards I felt the pain, since then they have been grand, it;s just the leaving the dignity at the door before dropping your drawers ?

thats make me giggle insanely ... Hitchers everywhere will be clutching their knickers and the nurse will be saying 'no dear, I'll take them and put them on the desk' and we're all going 'nooooo' (tug of war with knickers ensues ...)

that'll see me thru' my next smear with a grin on my face! The nurse may think me a bit odd but ....