layla

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Smear fear follow up

Hi everyone,

I am writing this post to let you all know what happened after I wrote my blogpost on smear tests. As those of you who have read it know, it was my first smear test and I was naturally nervous. The experience was nowhere near as bad as I imagined it to be, and I was quite happy waiting 2 weeks for my results to come in the post, when.....they arrived a week early.
'Oh no' was my first thought, 'why are they early' was my second, and thirdly came sheer panic. I opened the letter, and read it slowly. It explained that my results could not be obtained from the lab either because of a problem with the sample or the equipment. Great!!!! Why me!!!!! 
I didn't know what to do, so I cried! I shouldn't have got myself so worked up without ringing the doctors to discuss the letter, but it really upset me thinking that there was something wrong with me. I was upset for 2 days before my mum persuaded me to ring the doctors. I called them as soon as I woke up in the morning, and spoke to the nurse practitioner at the surgery. She explained that their copy of my results were written in more detail, and revealed that my sample was 'inadequate', meaning that not enough cells were taken during the test. 
This immediately put me at ease, knowing that it wasn't anything to do with me or my body! Phew!!! I now have to wait 3 months until I can be re-tested..because it takes this long for the cells to be replaced on the cervix. 
This whole experience was nerve wracking, and I was hoping I would be done for 3 years! Hopefully after this next test, I will be!!!

Any questions? Let me know and leave your links for me :)

Love Kirsty xxx

Thursday 24 October 2013

OOTD: what I wore to an autumn wedding

Hi everyone!

Sorry for the lack of blogging recently, I have no excuses, so I won't give any, but I'm back now with my first OOTD post! I'm not sure how these are supposed to pan out so bare with me!

It was my eldest cousin's wedding on Saturday, set in a beautiful local church, and followed by an amazing wedding breakfast and evening party at a place not far from where we all live in sunny Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire (yes that was my attempt at sarcasm...it's freezing here!!!) 
I had never been to a church wedding before, and I had certainly never had to choose a wedding guest outfit in the autumn/winter! Never the less, I decided to wear a dress, as trouser suits/jumpsuits just aren't for me. Being a tiny 5ft 1 means that most clothes swamp me, so I chose a dress that would make me look in proportion. I also wore big heels to help me gain a few inches!!! 
I already had the shoes I wanted to wear, so I simply had the task of going out and finding a dress! Ha! What a nightmare this was...I couldn't find one I liked anywhere. I tried River Island, Miss Selfridge, Next, Primark, Oasis, Dorothy Perkins, Lipsy, Monsoon, Warehouse, and finally stumbled across Topshop where usually the clothes really don't suit me. 
On this occasion however, I spotted a lovely black (yes black) tea dress, with orange flowers printed all over it, for £45. I hadn't wanted to wear black but once I tried it on, I knew I had to get it. The fit was amazing, and I felt good for the first time in ages!!! So I bought it! 
On the day, I teamed the dress with a necklace my sister made me, a ring I bought from river island last year for approx £8 and the shoes I already had from Miss selfridge that cost £39.99.


And here is the look: 


I did attempt to apply lots of fake tan but I'm useless at it and as you can see, I'm a tad on the pale side!!! But I still felt great! 

What do you think? Are you struggling to find a wedding outfit for the autumn/winter? 
Let me know!

Please share your links with me too and I'll follow :) 

Lots of love
Kirsty xxx

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Ladies: Do not fear your smear!

Hello lovely ladies!

I have written this post because I was recently invited for my first smear test, and was inevitably worrying myself stupid about it! I was determined however to go for the procedure, as my mum had drilled it into me that it could potentially be life saving. 

After the letter arrived
So, I rang the doctors and made the appointment for a week later. Slowly but surely, the dreaded day arrived and I was very nervous. I felt sick, tired, dizzy and generally off colour. I was tempted to ask my mum to come with me, but at 25 years old I have decided that I must become more independent! So I went on my own! 

At the doctors
I informed the reception of my arrival, and took a seat. This is when I began to feel warm and flustered, so I began to read a magazine to try and take mind off the test. It didn't work! 
Fortunately I wasn't waiting too long before my name appeared on the screen, and I made my way to the nurses room. I was greeted by the lovely nurse, who asked me to take a seat whilst she asked me a few questions such as 'when was your last period?', 'are you using any contraception'. 
She then showed me to a small bed with a curtain pulled round it, and told me to take off my bottoms and underwear. (I imagined this to be highly embarrassing but it wasn't in the slightest!). I then popped myself onto the bed and the nurse began to talk me through the instruments. She showed me a transparent plastic looking object called a speculum which would be placed inside my vagina and would expand to reveal my cervix. She also showed me what I can only describe as a tooth brush looking device which would be used to scrape cells from my cervix. She then turned on a bright lamp. The test was about to begin!

The test
The speculum was carefully and slowly placed inside my vagina and was opened up to reveal my cervix. This was not at all painful, however I did feel a slight stretching sensation as the speculum was expanded. The nurse then used the brush to scrape the cells, I did not feel this at all despite the brush feeling quite harsh and rough when I had touched it before the procedure. She then removed the speculum and the test was over, in approx 2 minutes! No pain, no fuss, nothing to worry about! 

So what happens now?
Now I have to wait for my results, which will be sent to my house in 2 weeks time. The results will either specify that: the cells were normal, mildly abnormal, abnormal, or highly abnormal. If normal, I will be called back in 3 years for another routine smear test. If abnormal cells are found, I will be tested for the hpv virus (a virus that can cause cervical cancer). If this is clear then I will be called back in 6 months for another smear to see if the cells have returned to normal. If highly abnormal cells are found, I will be sent to my local hospital for treatment, where a micro camera is inserted into the cervix to locate the abnormal cells, and a biopsy will determine what happens next I.E. Treatment for cervical cancer. 
Either way, early detection is key!

So for those of you who have received your invited for your smears, please don't be afraid. The procedure is painless, takes under 2 minutes to carry out, and isn't embarrassing at all. 
Most of all, it could save your, a friend's or a relative's life. So make sure you set an example, and go for your smear test! 

If anyone has any questions they would like to ask me, please comment below. I would love to help! 

P.S. You can take other measures to ensure you know your body and to make sure that you stay healthy. I'm talking about checking your breasts. 
Wait until you are in the bath/ shower, and use your shower gel to make it easier to feel around your breast for any lumps, bumps or abnormalities. 

Can't be bothered?
Well, my mum was diagnosed with Breast cancer in April 2012, and I have witnessed first hand what she has had to go through, and let me tell you, it was horrendous for her and our family. Thankfully, she's doing great, but it was her religious checking of her breasts and a routine mammogram that ensured that she is still alive today. 
So please please please go for your smear tests, check your breasts, and look after yourselves. 

Take a look at this post by London Beauty Queen to read for yourselves what happens when results are abnormal 

Love Kirsty xxx