Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Spadger on May 13, 2015, 12:00:52 PM
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Hi everyone,
I'm going for a cervical smear test this afternoon and I am ridiculously anxious...
I've always struggled to make myself go although I realise how important it is, but the last couple have been uncomfortable and I'm just dreading this one as since my periods stopped I have quite a problem with dryness.
Not on HRT or any prescribed "lube" just use products from Holland & Barrett when it gets unbearable. Find it too embarrassing to go to the docs about :-\
Any encouragement will be gratefully received!
Love to all, Spadger x
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I would certainly tell the nurse who is going to perform the smear test of your anxieties - hopefully she will be gentle with you.
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Hi why not mention to the nurse doing the smear your problems with dryness and the discomfort from last smears and ask for a local estrogen such as vagifem to use ,dont be shy of asking think this is a postive step you are taking to stop VA occurring which can lead to more complicated issues they you dont need to suffer in the long run. Good luck let us know how you get on.
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Thank you both for your advice, I will tell the nurse how i feel and hopefully all will be ok
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Hello Spadger.
At my last smear I told the nurse that I was worried about the procedure even although in the past I'd been fine and she was very understanding. There was a bit of a problem initially so she used a smaller speculem (sp?) and that was easier, so maybe that is something you can suggest.
Hope it all goes well and take care.
K.
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Oh do tell, Nurses are dealing with vaginas all the while ;) …….. and if you don't ask, you don't get the treatment which will ease symptoms. Hopefully she won't do the smear today but will send you off with some 'treatment' for 3 months in order to ease 'down below' - let us know how you get on!
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Thank you ladies for the advice and support - appointment is 5pm - wish I could have got one earlier in the day, hey ho...
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Oh how many times have you been for a wee ;D ;)
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Several times clkd :-\
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So would I have been - knowing that I have to (fill in the rest ;) ) over-works my bladder ;D
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It was every bit as bad as I was expecting but at least it is over - I am now in the pub having a well deserved glass of wine with my lovely understanding hubby ;-) just the wait now for the result...
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Glad it's over for you Spadger. Enjoy that we'll deserved glass of wine :medal:
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What communication did you have with the Nurse prior to the exam.? I dread mine more each time :-\ …….. did you talk about your symptoms and did you get a response?
>hands over glass < :drunk:
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Clkd I did say how I felt and explained my anxieties and the nurse was fine with me, very patient and explained as we went - she said she "hums" through hers and says 'whatever gets you through' - I said a glass of Pinot Grigio would help - hence my visit to the pub. I mentioned HRT and my reluctance to take it - she seemed to agree with my reasoning and said that different people have different ways of coping and everyone's experience is different. Don't know anything about vagifem so didn't ask - is that HRT?
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Its a local estrogen cream which would help you with dryness and help prevent any vaginal atrophy such as prolapses. As it is only applied vaginally you dont absorb estrogen into blood stream It would be well worth looking into I think.
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Thanks for that dazned - I will have a think about it :-)
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That's good that you had a good conversation with the Nurse. Did the wine help ;) ………
I had breast disease in the 1990s but would still ask for HRT if necessary. My VA is eased by vaginally applied HRT twice weekly.
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Yes CLKD the wine helped a great deal ;) so did a very understanding (& long-suffering) husband who said not to bother cooking and fetched a Chinese takeaway. Sorry to hear that you had breast disease and I hope you are ok now. I'm still teetering on the edge of going to the doctors about HRT for dreadful flushes/night sweats etc, but something just stops me each time I feel I can't cope. I'm quite pig-headed about being able to get through this without intervention as I have been through puberty/pregnancy and feel that my body should be able to do this... poor dear sad old body
Love Spadger x
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Spadger just remember no one gets a :medal: for suffering unnecessarily ! ;D
We all sometimes need a helping hand !
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Spadger - :kick:
:poke2:
You have to think of your family too in all this - it isn't called 'the change' for nowt. I was in a similar frame of mind about ADs. - I lost 3 years of my Life :'( by refusing to accept that my brain needed support ……..
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Thank you CLKD and dazned, I'm just so anxious about the side effects of HRT and ADs. A friend of mine was given ADs before Xmas for flushes as well as mood - she does seem to be a bit better emotionally - still stressy though, her flushes are gone but she's put so much weight on (something which would really bother me). I also worry about the health risks with HRT as well as the weight gain :-\
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It is unlikely to be ADs that put on weight in your friend's case. I have been on various types since 1988 and haven't put on an ounce .......... when I stopped walking regularly I gained weight, almost 2 stone! and it took 14 months of walking to get it off!
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I had one today too. I was anxious too. V fierce looking nurse but when I spoke to her, she was quite gentle.
However, I'm spotting afterwards. I'm on HRT with no periods. Is this local trauma to the cervix or anything I should worry about?
sorry for mini thread hijack, didn't want to start another one so similar.
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Probably a small blood vessel 'nicked' inside? Is it when you wipe only? If it continues for more than a couple of days give the Nurse a ring.
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Hi Oldsheep,
I have spotted following my last couple of smears. My nurse told me it's because she had been pretty thorough. It calmed down after a day or two. I think it depends where along in your cycle you are too. The cervix sits lower at certain points.
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no, it's all the time. I have a panty pad on. That horrible 'leaking' feeling. Wasn't there prior to the test though. I don't have cycles as I'm on continuous HRT and in my mid 50s.
Can I use vagifem tonight?
I'd not go back to that battleaxe nurse too readily!
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Yep. Keep the Vagifem regime going ;)
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The little bottle brushes they use now do seem to induce spotting. More so than the old wooden spatulas.
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The little bottle brushes they use now do seem to induce spotting. More so than the old wooden spatulas.
brilliantly put ;D If it was anything like my bottle brush just coming into flower, I'm not surprised it's spotting!
Still a little bit of spotting going on. I swam yesterday (thought b****r it, I'm just going to - it's not much, touch wood) and used vagifem at 5am today as I forgot to use it at midnight last night.
If it's still spotting by tuesday I'll call the GPs. Everything has shut down until then.