Doctor visit

[dreamflower]

Well, I finally got to see a doctor today. We've been in insurance limbo for a few months, due to the fact that even though he didn't *really* change jobs, my husband changed jobs. (Same job, new company). But now the new insurance has kicked in, but I had to change doctors.
I'd been dreading it, 'cause I knew what I was going to hear: exercise, cut out the salt, and lose weight. I was really afraid she would reccommend a low-carb diet, but she says with my cholesterol that would not be good.

And then--LJ cut for TMI


She told me I needed a pap smear. Oh yay! (not!)
And a mammogram.
I know how important they are, but they are still Instruments of Torture!
She did the pap today, and I thought I was going to scream. At least she was sympathetic. When the first Instrument of Torture was too painful, she change to a smaller one. It was marginally less painful, but only in contrast to the first one.

And I've now got to schedule the mammogram, and look forward to having my boobs squashed like a pancake. Again, I know it's important, but still someday someone needs to invent ways of doing these things that don't smack of a torture chamber.

Sheesh.

Comments

[lil-banik-slave.livejournal.com]

*sympathetic hug*

[dreamflower]

(((hugs back)))

[isil-elensar.livejournal.com]

see... and folks wonder why i haven't yet gone. i know it's improtant, but there are some things i'd rather not endure.

[dreamflower]

I know. I certainly wasn't expecting that from an internal medicine doc; it's why I've been avoiding my OB/Gyn. But there was no excuse to get out of it. And, yes, it is important when you consider the possible consequences of not getting one, but (*squirms*) it's just so darn *painful*!

[longcleeve.livejournal.com]

omg i have never agreed with something more lol!


DOWN with pap!

[dreamflower]

*Really*. There *has* to be a less painful way to do that. And there are enough women docs that I don't understand why one has not come up with it yet.

[longcleeve.livejournal.com]

in my vet class today (dont ask me how it came up, im not even sure lol) but a bunch of guys INCLUDING my teacher were bitching and moaning about having to go to the docter and them simply touching them...down there. oooh poor babies have to be poked. AHHHHH it was infuriating!

[dreamflower]

You want to see a bunch of guys get really uptight: wait till you have a roomful and say the word "vasectomy". You will never see a bunch of legs cross faster, not to mention watching them squirm. Guys are such babies about such things.

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I've been there with the squashing and the Instruments of Torture. I make them use the smallest one they've got and it still hurts. Luckily we don't have to go through these things more than once a year.

*hugs*

[dreamflower]

Well, the good news is, that now they say if you have a couple of normal ones, you can cut it back to every *three* years. Which means that this one was about right.

(((hugs back)))

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

I have never had a mammogram because I am a complete chicken. Sounds like you had a dreadful day, but at least a Troll didn't fall on you. (Not much help, I know. LOL)

[dreamflower]

A troll might hurt as much for a longer time, but I can't imagine it being less intense--or more humiliating. The position you have to be in--and those *stirrups!*

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

Hope there's nothing wrong with you!

[dreamflower]

Well, nothing that I should need to worry about with the pap and the mammogram. There's none of that in my family, and those tests are always normal. But I do have to start seeing a doc, because I have high blood pressure and low thyroid and high cholesterol, and I can't get the meds without a Rx.

[topaztook.livejournal.com]

Much sympathy: I hate, hate, HATE the PAP smear thing. And, was vindicated to read (in either the March or April 2005 issue of Ladies Home Journal; go look it up and wave it in the face of anyone who suggests otherwise) that if you have three normal ones in a row, we DON'T have to have one of the stupid things every forsaken year! Can't empathize with you on the mammogram, but certainly sympathize. I once had a doctor wish aloud that we had progressed to the Star Trek point of medicine where they could just wave the tricorder over you to see what's wrong. Until then, apparently the medical community has gone backwards in time and consulted with medieval device makers. So: much sorriness for this rotten day and the rotten day to come. :(

[dreamflower]

Oh Yes! A tricorder! A tricorder would be lovely! Someone *please* invent one!

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

Honey: I rather see you go through those tests then that they find something too late. I want you happy and healthy around here for many years. Yes paps are very nasty and tricksy and they hurt like hell. But dang.. {{{hugs}}}

[dreamflower]

Oh, I know, which is why I went through with it. But I know it will be normal, it always is.
And yes they hurt like hell, and are invasive and humiliating as well.

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what a pap smear is but

*lots of sympathetic hugs*

[dreamflower]

I guess they don't go in for them much in Europe. Over here, it's an OB/Gyn test for possible cancer, that they *say* all women are supposed to have--up until recently--every single year. Now they say every three years.
Trust me, not knowing how it feels is a good thing.
(((hugs back)))

[ansostuff.livejournal.com]

Oh yes... I know what it is now. Not fun at all.

*even more sympathetic hugs*

[danachan.livejournal.com]

Well, ack. *sympathetic hugs*

[dreamflower]

Ack. Exactly.
(((hugs back)))

[sila-lumenn.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

When I had my hysterectomy last year the doctor said I wouldn't have to have any more pap tests. Yay! Not. I still have to have the pelvic exam. Bummer!

I'm supposed to get the mammogram, too. The little pink slip is sitting here, glaring at me, telling me to call and make the appointment. Ugh! I'll do mine, if you'll do yours. :)

[dreamflower]

Yeah, they get us at that end, no matter what! I mean, I've been menopausal for four years now, sheesh! You'd think nothing could be going on there anymore, wouldn't you? LOL!

I will do mine. I am going to call this afternoon, in fact, to set it up and get it over with. But now I have to go do something else almost as fun: time to see the tax preparer. Going off-line and off to H&R Block. *sigh*

[coneygoil.livejournal.com]

I had my first pap smear five years ago. It still haunts me! I dread the day when I'll need a mammogram. If you really need all that then it's best to just get it over with. *hugs much*

[dreamflower]

Yes it's best to get them over with, I know. You know, if they *really* wanted to encourage women to have these tests, they wouldn't make them so blankety-blank painful.

[nixnivis.livejournal.com]

Ouch!! My sympathies. :-(

It is my firm belief that if men had to have some of their their more tender parts X-rayed in the same way, they'd have come up with something a lo smoother - and less painful! - ages ago...

[dreamflower]

There's this hilarious poem someone emailed me a few years ago about mammograms. It ended with a line, something about the man who invented it, and "Putting *his* balls in there!" I couldn't agree more.