Ask your nurses about trauma-informed practice. Lots of people, with a history of trauma or otherwise, are finding it easier to have smear tests done when the staff provide a sense of safety and predictability. See if you can look up the My Body Back project in Scotland, and ask where locally is trained in this. I had one last week and was dreading it after a bad experience last time, but they explained every step and let me take my time and it was so so much easier. Good luck!
I’ll try to look into this but I freak out even being touched on my thigh, so I’m 99% sure that even if I consent to the test before hand I wouldn’t even be able to stop myself from kicking or slapping people away.
Completely, so sorry that it's so hard. They should take it at your pace, maybe visiting a few times before any procedure even starts. I really hope you find a nurse that gets it and does that for you, there are plenty out there. And like someone else said, I think home tests are becoming a decent alternative.
https://mybodybackproject.com/cervical-screening-clinics/
This service is specifically for people who have experienced trauma. They let you be in control and you don’t even have to get a smear while you are there, there is 0 pressure. It goes slow, they explain everything. You can chose to insert the speculum etc. might be worth having a look
I have honestly never heard of this being done and I don’t think they would allow it, going under anaesthesia isn’t something that’s just done it requires a team of people to monitor and then someone to carry out the smear/exam. You can discuss with your GP ways which could help you deal with the anxiety and what measures they could take to make you feel more comfortable
They could use numbing gel/cream or “laughing” gas to inhale. It’s done in some States when asked.
EDIT: For those who cannot connect the dots…. ASK YOUR GP IF EITHER IF THOSE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. MAYBE THEY OFFER SOMETHING ELSE TO MITIGATE PAIN, OTHER THAN ANESTHESIA.
I… know that. I live in London part-time. And I know what sub I’m on.
I was merely suggesting she try to ask for alternatives other than anesthesia, backed up with options that are available in some states in America. Perhaps they offer similar alternatives in the UK?
(I guess didn’t spell that out, but maybe I should have?)
Yeah, we get a lot of people posting stuff about USA services and options. We even had one person not too long ago offering their own medical services to help someone out, when they were based in Oregon.
Simply stating that certain practices are undertaken in the US isn't really going to help anyone on a UK based sub. I now get what you were going for, but it just wasn't clear from your initial response.
Depending on your risk, they may just need you to do an HPV test which some areas are trialing with home test kits. I have seen that others have suggested my body back which is great if the home test isn’t available. If none of these are an option for you, still speak to your GP about your experiences (if they are unaware already) and why you may need sedation for a cervical smear and they may be able to refer you to have this elsewhere or for a colposcopy which is usually done under sedation or anaesthesia. Don’t risk not having it done, there will be options for you. As someone who has been through sexual violence I understand how difficult it can be to go through medical appointments in that area, but it does get better, especially with therapy and help from organisations like RASA.
Thank you for the info. I’ve been working on things (of course) but this is a barrier I can’t pass. I don’t want to hurt myself or anyone around me during the test.
To be fair it was something that I only really got through by making myself go through with different medical appointments, and even now I still get triggered. It gets easier, but it can be very hard getting past the initial hurdle.
Very unlikely. Anaesthesia comes with risks and also needs a whole team. When there are other options, I don’t think they would consider it.
They are more likely to consider other forms of medication. But either way you should talk to your GP and see what they can do. Like others have said the staff can get a heads up and help you be comfortable. That with something like diazepam or another sedative maybe 🤷♀️ but general anaesthesia absolutely not. You’d need to go to hospital for it / they are very unlikely got deem it necessary or worth taking the risk for
Used to work in Gynaecology, they can be done under anaesthesia in the hospital I work at. You would go to your gp for a smear, and if they’re unsuccessful they would refer you to colposcopy. They would either do the procedure there or refer you to have it done under.
However the waiting times to vary much vary. During the examination and taking in family history/age you could be put through as a routine, which could be a very long wait.
I would recommend speaking to your go first, then if they do refer you, to the people at the hospital. Always make them aware. My department was very accommodating, and a sad statistic we had many people in the same boat, but very few went under.
Smears are not nearly as bad as others make it out to be. You could give your practitioner a heads up but getting some sort of sedative is unlikely, much less anaesthetics
Would you be comfortable doing the test on yourself at home? If you think you might you could ask your GP practice if this is something they can arrange.
Ask your nurses about trauma-informed practice. Lots of people, with a history of trauma or otherwise, are finding it easier to have smear tests done when the staff provide a sense of safety and predictability. See if you can look up the My Body Back project in Scotland, and ask where locally is trained in this. I had one last week and was dreading it after a bad experience last time, but they explained every step and let me take my time and it was so so much easier. Good luck!
I’ll try to look into this but I freak out even being touched on my thigh, so I’m 99% sure that even if I consent to the test before hand I wouldn’t even be able to stop myself from kicking or slapping people away.
Completely, so sorry that it's so hard. They should take it at your pace, maybe visiting a few times before any procedure even starts. I really hope you find a nurse that gets it and does that for you, there are plenty out there. And like someone else said, I think home tests are becoming a decent alternative.
I hope I can do home tests in my area. I feel like that might be the way to go!
https://mybodybackproject.com/cervical-screening-clinics/ This service is specifically for people who have experienced trauma. They let you be in control and you don’t even have to get a smear while you are there, there is 0 pressure. It goes slow, they explain everything. You can chose to insert the speculum etc. might be worth having a look
Neither of them are within my reach :(
I have honestly never heard of this being done and I don’t think they would allow it, going under anaesthesia isn’t something that’s just done it requires a team of people to monitor and then someone to carry out the smear/exam. You can discuss with your GP ways which could help you deal with the anxiety and what measures they could take to make you feel more comfortable
They could use numbing gel/cream or “laughing” gas to inhale. It’s done in some States when asked. EDIT: For those who cannot connect the dots…. ASK YOUR GP IF EITHER IF THOSE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. MAYBE THEY OFFER SOMETHING ELSE TO MITIGATE PAIN, OTHER THAN ANESTHESIA.
This is not the USA
I… know that. I live in London part-time. And I know what sub I’m on. I was merely suggesting she try to ask for alternatives other than anesthesia, backed up with options that are available in some states in America. Perhaps they offer similar alternatives in the UK? (I guess didn’t spell that out, but maybe I should have?)
Yeah, we get a lot of people posting stuff about USA services and options. We even had one person not too long ago offering their own medical services to help someone out, when they were based in Oregon. Simply stating that certain practices are undertaken in the US isn't really going to help anyone on a UK based sub. I now get what you were going for, but it just wasn't clear from your initial response.
It’s trauma, not anxiety. If people put a hand on my thigh I freak out, nevermind something like this.
Depending on your risk, they may just need you to do an HPV test which some areas are trialing with home test kits. I have seen that others have suggested my body back which is great if the home test isn’t available. If none of these are an option for you, still speak to your GP about your experiences (if they are unaware already) and why you may need sedation for a cervical smear and they may be able to refer you to have this elsewhere or for a colposcopy which is usually done under sedation or anaesthesia. Don’t risk not having it done, there will be options for you. As someone who has been through sexual violence I understand how difficult it can be to go through medical appointments in that area, but it does get better, especially with therapy and help from organisations like RASA.
Thank you for the info. I’ve been working on things (of course) but this is a barrier I can’t pass. I don’t want to hurt myself or anyone around me during the test.
To be fair it was something that I only really got through by making myself go through with different medical appointments, and even now I still get triggered. It gets easier, but it can be very hard getting past the initial hurdle.
Very unlikely. Anaesthesia comes with risks and also needs a whole team. When there are other options, I don’t think they would consider it. They are more likely to consider other forms of medication. But either way you should talk to your GP and see what they can do. Like others have said the staff can get a heads up and help you be comfortable. That with something like diazepam or another sedative maybe 🤷♀️ but general anaesthesia absolutely not. You’d need to go to hospital for it / they are very unlikely got deem it necessary or worth taking the risk for
You maybe able to do it yourself at home if this is something that is done in your area.
Used to work in Gynaecology, they can be done under anaesthesia in the hospital I work at. You would go to your gp for a smear, and if they’re unsuccessful they would refer you to colposcopy. They would either do the procedure there or refer you to have it done under. However the waiting times to vary much vary. During the examination and taking in family history/age you could be put through as a routine, which could be a very long wait. I would recommend speaking to your go first, then if they do refer you, to the people at the hospital. Always make them aware. My department was very accommodating, and a sad statistic we had many people in the same boat, but very few went under.
Smears are not nearly as bad as others make it out to be. You could give your practitioner a heads up but getting some sort of sedative is unlikely, much less anaesthetics
You can buy them online for home use
Would you be comfortable doing the test on yourself at home? If you think you might you could ask your GP practice if this is something they can arrange.
Possibly?