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Community Support Team 
Member Since Mar 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Mar 18, 2023 at 08:46 AM
#1
I went for a pap smear yesterday and it was an absolute nightmare. I hate them at the best of times but yesterday was extra horrible. I actually screamed because the specculum (sp??) hurt so much. My Dr. said I had vaginal dryness and so prescribed an estrogen cream. I am less than thrilled at the idea of having to apply it, as I know I'll feel super awkward. Sigh the joys of being an older woman.
__________________  "I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn. "If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba 
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Poohbah
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Mar 19, 2023 at 09:15 PM
#2
I'm going through menopause right now, but haven't had a pap for quite some time. I don't have a doctor, so maybe a walk-in clinic? They're definitely not pleasant, but necessary.
Sorry you were in pain. They ought to have lubed the speculum ... Hang in there! |
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Mar 20, 2023 at 12:19 PM
#3
I'm so sorry that happened to you. I have the worst time with pap smears also. I am in peri-menopause I think. The doctor is going to do a test. She says I am on the young side but that it isn't impossible. I find pap smears to be very painful. Everyone says no they aren't. You just don't relax enough. They are just uncomfortable. Bull. They hurt a lot. I had to do two back to back because they couldn't get enough cells on the smear. Both times! They wanted to schedule me for a third one but I told them no and talked to my GP. The HPV test came back negative so she said I'm fine and don't worry about it until next year. I feel your pain. Kit
__________________ Dum Spiro Spero IC XC NIKA |
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Desert Kitty hates titles
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Mar 22, 2023 at 03:14 PM
#4
I feel your pain, literally.
 We have self driving cars but still endure painfully invasive tests. It must have been invented by a man as no woman would do that to another woman. Same with mammograms. Do men have comparable tests? I think a prostate exam is invasive but this scraping of cells, ugh!!!!Relax?!  Cold metal instruments inserted while your legs are spread across continents? And in stirrups to boot!   ——— Posted directly on site using iphone __________________  Call me "owl" for short!  Hmmm....looks like some good tips in here. "Okay, enough photos. I'm a very BUSY Business Kitty, so make an appointment next time." |
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Community Support Team
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Apr 07, 2023 at 07:37 AM
#5
Thanks everyone. Well I finally got around to filling my prescription for the hormone replacement ointment. Nos I have to apply it, internally, every night for 2 weeks then twice a week indefinitely I think.
I'm supposed to make an appointment to reattempt the pap smear after I've been applying the cream for 2 months. Not looking forward to that. __________________ "I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn. "If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba
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Desert Kitty hates titles
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Apr 07, 2023 at 10:24 AM
#6
Quote:
 I couldn't do that. Kudos to you.I don't blame you for not looking forward to another test. __________________ Call me "owl" for short! Hmmm....looks like some good tips in here. "Okay, enough photos. I'm a very BUSY Business Kitty, so make an appointment next time." |
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Wise Elder
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Apr 07, 2023 at 08:58 PM
#7
You can always ask for a small speculum. I've found that helps a lot. My gyn had certain muscles she'd show me to relax and that greartly decreased the pain too but I couldn't tell you what they are.
Not needing gyn exams is one of the best parts of having had a hysterectomy. __________________ Bipolar 1, PTSD, GAD, OCD. Clozapine 250 mg, Emsam 12 mg/day patch, topamax 25 mg, ,Gabapentin 1600 mg & 100-2 PRN,. 2 mg clonazepam., 75 mg Seroquel and 12.5 mg PRNx2 daily |
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Monster on the Hill
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Apr 08, 2023 at 10:22 AM
#8
Funny, I just had a pap smear done too, and it was awful as well (more so due to past abuse rather than physical pain though). My dr used the small speculum like Rainbow said and that makes a huge difference. I don't know your psych med situation, but I took some Zyprexa before I went in so I was kinda out of it and not super tense/anxious as well.
That's too bad about the cream and having to go back. I'm sure after a while you'll get used to applying it though. I hope your next pap smear goes much more smoothly (I'm sure it will). __________________ [Insert thought-provoking and comedic quote here] |
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Poohbah
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Apr 17, 2023 at 12:30 AM
#9
Sorry to hear that. I have been through the same thing. I know my former obgyn are sadists as thet tild me to stop whining z& it’s not so bad. Wth? And the Dr. was a female.
I hwve put off getting anything done for over a year sinve I dresd it so much! I can’t even use a tampon of r have penetrative sex as it is extremely painful to have anything exterted inside of me. I have sime medical condition I can’t spell. They should give us anesthesia before giving these exams! Doing all of this awake is barbaric! I do think this torture was invented by sadistic men! |
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Desert Kitty hates titles
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Apr 17, 2023 at 10:24 AM
#10
Quote:
I’m sure it was invented by a man, along with mammograms, high heels, corsets and bras. ——— Posted directly on site using iPhone __________________ Call me "owl" for short! Hmmm....looks like some good tips in here. "Okay, enough photos. I'm a very BUSY Business Kitty, so make an appointment next time." |
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Elder
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Apr 17, 2023 at 10:35 AM
#11
I’m so sorry so many of you had such unsympathetic staff carry this out, that’s not going to help and would likely worsen pain.
I get a lot of pain with smears and I think it’s because I have a retroverted uterus, it’s not uncommon. The angle is different, more awkward. I tell the staff beforehand and they thank me because it does prepare them too. Last nurse I had was so kind and although it hurt she talked all the way through and reassured me. It makes a huge difference. |
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Junior Member
Member Since May 2023
Location: lacey wa
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May 26, 2023 at 12:15 AM
#12
Imagine if a guy had to have a big wand stuck in his whole yearly. LMAO
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Blueowl, nonightowl
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May 26, 2023 at 11:29 PM
#13
The father of gynecology is J. Marion Sims.
If you are interested in reading what he did to women, check out Harriet T. Washington's book titled "Medical Apartheid." Harriet A. Washington | Penguin Random House For me, it was eye opening. |
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Desert Kitty hates titles
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May 27, 2023 at 01:04 PM
#14
Quote:
 Still not even close to a Pap test, in my opinion.
__________________ Call me "owl" for short! Hmmm....looks like some good tips in here. "Okay, enough photos. I'm a very BUSY Business Kitty, so make an appointment next time." |
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Elder
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May 28, 2023 at 09:27 AM
#15
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Magnate
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Jun 09, 2023 at 10:58 PM
#16
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Moderator
Community Support Team
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Jun 10, 2023 at 09:24 AM
#17
Thanks for asking @Tart Cherry Jam,
It's going better than expected. Fortunately the cream came with an applicator so it's easy to apply and not messy.. I think it's helping, but I'm still a bit itchy so I'm not in any rush to go back for the pap. I'm going to give it a few more weeks. __________________ "I danced in the morning when the world was begun. I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun". From my favourite hymn. "If you see the wonder in a fairy tale, you can take the future even if you fail." Abba
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New Member
Member Since Jun 2024
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Jun 22, 2024 at 03:45 PM
#18
I'm so traumatized by gynecology and things relating to sex and my vagina that I haven't gone for a check-up in 10 years at least. It's probably killing me with some sort of cancer or something else, but there are no options for women who've been traumatized and experience so much pain down there. Out of options. Good job getting in to the doctor and getting the exam even with all the difficulties.
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Jun 24, 2024 at 07:48 AM
#19
My mother stopped trusting doctors and did not visit one from the time I was born until I was a grown adult. To this day, she still avoids them.
When I was younger, I couldn't understand. Now I do. |
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Elder
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Jun 24, 2024 at 09:50 AM
#20
My Pap smear is already overdue and I’m putting it off.
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