Physical tomorrow :( :(

I have a physical tomorrow with my doctor...soooooooooooooooooooooooo not looking forward to it I have been putting it off for as long as I can...I don't have any specific reason to go, it's just a normal physical that you have to have every couple years. Dreading it so much. I know I am going to be tense and nervous and probably shivering - none of which will help me relax - none of which will make it less painful. I'm pretty scared. Anybody have any words of advice or encouragement?

Big hugs hun, these things feel so intrusive don't they. I'm not exactly sure what your physical will consist of, but from what you say I'm guessing it will include something around the painful region. I have booked myself for a cervical smear test on Thursday and am dreading that like it's the apocalypse, so at least we are in it together! I'm just going to try and remember why I'm getting it done - to look after my health and to try and feel proud of myself for not letting the v get in the way of that. When I get in there I'll do some deep breathing, clench and release my pelvic floor muscles a few times and I'm going to ask to insert the speculum myself so I can go at my own pace. Hopefully it will all be over quite quickly for both of us. Try not to build it up in your mind too much beforehand as that'll increase your anxiety at the time, too. Soooo, yes. I'll be thinking of you, hope it goes OK xx

Thanks much ButterflyLiz I went today and reminded her before she was going to start how sensitive I am, and she suggested maybe using xylocaine - you know, the numbing stuff. She didn't have any on hand, so she let me re-book the pap smear part of the appointment. I totally did not expect to leave today without having had it done! So that's good news; the bad news is I will now have the dreading building up to the next appointment...but hopefully the xylocaine should make everything okay. Until it wears off, haha.

Xylocaine is definitely a good idea! Do you still get that where you are? Years ago I used to use it and it really helped, didn't sting to put on or anything, but then the company stopped making it & I can't get it any more Straightforward lignocaine just seems to burn. Anyway, it's good that she was empathetic enough to rebook for you. Just got back from my smear test & it went really well, the nurse was great. Didn't know much about vulvodynia but I explained it all & she agreed I could put the speculum in myself. That took a lot of the anxiety out of it and I'm really glad I've had it done! Little bit painful but not too bad. I also took in some leaflets about vulvodynia from the vulval pain society's website and she was very interested and said she'll read them & distribute amongst the other nurses. Hooray!

Glad your exam went well. So good when we can educate the professionals, hey? Or should I say, I'm happy when they are willing to learn! I have Xylocaine at home, my doctor had prescribed it to me a different time (to try for intercourse...just made dh numb ) so I'm going to bring that in and put it on ahead of time. I'm in Canada and the company that makes this Xylocaine jelly is AstraZeneca. I Googled it and it says it's headquartered in the UK! So...I dunno why you can't get it?

I'm always happy when the professionals are willing to learn, I've had plenty that aren't! The xylocaine thing is most perplexing. It's not listed on Astrazeneca's list of their products available to the UK, I've emailed them to check what the deal is. Would be great if I could get it again.

Just got an email back from astrazeneca to say xylocaine is not available in the UK. Very daft! But not entirely unexpected. Hope the test went well if you've had it yet x