Hi there, I'm new here so big hello. I had an abnormal smear 4 years ago, and was referred for Colposcopy, and i would be lying if i said i wasn't scared! However, it is not as bad as you think it is going to be. I had the kindest nurse you can imagine, and she was very understanding of my worries. The actual biopsy is fine, you don't feel a thing (well maybe embarrassed lol) I hope your results are clear, my thoughts are with you x x x x
Thank you so much, tanzanitedevil, I appreciate that. xx
to you Ann-Marie
I have been there on both sides of the fence now - have had 2 colposcopies and am just going through my Cervical Smear training. I think it is awful that you were never asked/invited to attend a smear - probably a case of the doctors/nurses being too embarrassed to ask you - but no excuses!
I fully understand that you are nervous, and its not surprising given everything else, including your sister's childminder. As part of my training I had to sit in during a colposcopy clinic, and can honestly say its much better now then when I went as a 'customer'.
I am sending loving and healing thoughts for tomorrow - please let us know how you get on.
Blessings & Hugs
Wispy
Hi Wispy
Thank you so much. I'm a nervous wreck. I will let you know, of course? I tried to ring the hospital today to find out how I prepare for this but couldn't get through. So i'll just go as if I'm going for a smear. I wonder if they know straight away if something is wrong?
Anne-Marie/Princess
Hi sweetie, been thinkin of you all day. How did you get on x
Hi Guys,
It went well 😮 as in there is nothing to be alarmed about at the moment and to go back for another in a year. But, what a horrible, horrible procedure. Who would be a woman?
I don't know how I feel today, I'm relieved of course but I'm crying all day. I can't stop this emotion.
Thank you all for your thoughts.
Love Princess
Glad to hear that there is no panic but sorry that it was awful for you. Think forward now and try to put it all behind you. The crying will be part of all the tension you have built up so let it all go girl. Sending you lots of Reiki and thoughts to help.
Love Rachel x
I don't know how I feel today, I'm relieved of course but I'm crying all day. I can't stop this emotion.
Heya Anne Marie, glad things are looking ok for you.
Sounds like you need to dig out the ol' EFT videos and get tapping. 😉
"Even though I can't stop this crying emotion, I choose to be ok"
All Love and Reiki Hugs
Hiya Anne Marie - glad the result was ok but am sorry to hear that the experience of it was not. The returning in a year is fairly standard from what I've seen, as it will ensure that you are not missed in future, and as long as that goes well you will (depending exactly on your health authority - as they might want a further check the following year) be placed back onto the usual schedule for smears which is 3 or 5 years depending on your age.
I think Energylz's sentiment is spot on : "Even though I can't stop this crying emotion, I choose to be ok" you're bound to be emotional but can and will work throught it!
Wispy x
I think
Hiya
ah the crying didn't last long. I'm in flying form today. I was 40 yesterday and so overwhelmed by the loving and generous gifts from friends and family. 🙂
Love
Princess
Why have they changed the rules? Its ridiculous!
When I was 18 (12 years ago now!), i had my first smear test, as women were asked to be screened regularly back then.
I wasn't a regular at the smear clinic, and so didnt have my next smear test until i was 23 (a year after having my daughter), and the results were abnormal.
I was recalled back 6 months later, and the result was still abnormal, so was referred to the colposcopy suite at my local hospital.
It wasn't very nice seeing everything on a flipping TV screen!!! And they took a biopsy, which a couple of weeks later, showed grade 2 pre-cancerous cells. Well, i totally freaked out then and had all sorts of awful things going through my mind.
I had to go back to have the cells removed, but found it far too traumatic to have them removed under a local anaesthetic (My gynaecologist just happened to be outside the room and heard the commotion i was making) and told the doctor to stop. He actually wanted to try and carry on even though i was hysterical by then.
I was called back to have them removed under a general anaesthetic, and had what was called a LLETZ 'loop' procedure, where a heated loop cut out and cauterised the affected area.
This was 5 years ago now, and i have been recalled back every 6 months for 2 years, and now every year and can happily say that every test since has been negative.
I am a total champion of smear tests and really nag my friends to go for theirs when they are asked by the local surgery. What is a few uncomfortable minutes, compared to invasive and possibly long, more uncomfortable, unpleasant treatments?
My friend, who is 24, had been bugging our surgery to give her a smear test as she felt something wasn't right (this was only a few months ago) and she was told to wait until she was 25. However, she persisted and they relented. She was found to have grade 3 pre-cancerous cells, and needed the same treatment as i did. She will be having her recall in the new year. She was livid that she was turned away, when she had these cells that could have destroyed her life.
I am positively fed up and angry, hearing that young girls are being refused tests that can save their lives and then reading that they have advanced, untreatable cervical cancer.
What the hell is wrong with this government that puts a price tag on someones life?
So...my advice is....if you are refused a smear on grounds of age, dont accept it. I find its the receptionists at surgeries that are the people that don't want to give the appointments, threaten to go to your local primary trust if need be. Just if something doesnt feel right, dont ignore it.
And if you are embarrassed, just look at the Jade Goody's and other young women needlessly dying, when sometimes it can be preventable. Just grit your teeth and do it, don't become another government penny-pinching statistic. You are worth much much more than that! 🙂
If you are ever "persuaded" by a receptionist to not make an appointment or whatever, just ask them if they are medically qualified and able to offer a diagnosis. When they say they are not, just tell them that you'd like to make an appointment to speak to someone who is qualified.
A common issue with getting appointments is when they say they are fully booked up 'unless it's an emergency'. My argument is that if it were an emergency I'd be calling 999, so (again) unless they are medically qualified to offer you a diagnosis as to whether your condition may be an 'emergency' or not, then you would like to make an appointment as you are entitled to under the patients charter.
I know a lot of receptionists work hard and have to deal with a lot of people in a day, but there are some (and I've come across them) who really make it hard work to get to see the doctor. Don't let them stop you.
All Love and Reiki Hugs
I think the problem here is that they have now changed the criteria for those who are called to have regular smear tests.
For some reason they changed the starting age from 20 to 25, even though it is known that once a person is sexually active, they are then at risk of cervical cancer, so the receptionist would probably just pass this information on to any patient requesting a smear at an earlier age.
I'm not saying it's right, but I would imagine that GP surgeries aren't funded to provide smear tests for younger women.
ALiH78
So...my advice is....if you are refused a smear on grounds of age, dont accept it. I find its the receptionists at surgeries that are the people that don't want to give the appointments, threaten to go to your local primary trust if need be. Just if something doesnt feel right, dont ignore it.
If experiencing difficulties with receptionists, perhaps asking to speak to the Practice Manager might be the next step, before going to the PCT?
Holistic
So, this morning I opened my mail and my 2nd smear has come back with abnormal cells, they say I will receive a letter within 8 weeks with an appointment for a colposcopy. Must say, I have read the bit of litrature they sent back and then thought I would pop back on here to see other's experiences of the procedure.
I am not feeling to worried about the procedure itself (at this stage!) but feel as it seems this can be months away, that worries me more..... When the Dr did the smear she said she would phone me with the results. I wonder if she is going to phone and give more info or if you are just left in the dark until you go for the procedure.