Barriers

Well I thought everything was booked for the labs, and tests but I thought wrong.

Today I called my RE office to make sure that J's labs were also to be on the same day and that I have my mammogram booked as well.  J's labs, because I just requested them, will be done the same day.

However, the mammogram cannot be booked by the RE office or OB/GYN.  Really?  My PCM has to book it.  What!

Yeah, the man that knows so little about my woman bits gets to book my mammogram.  I called up his office and requested to speak with a nurse about the issue.  She took the message and will speak with my PCM.  I really hope he understands that I need to get this done.  This is the same man that denied me the pulmonary specialist even though I'm supposed to see one yearly.  Same man that decided my lack of pigment on my neck was a fungus and prescribed me a shampoo for it.  I told him it wasn't a fungus and I'm right.  I did ask for a referral to see the dermatologist since I've had blistering sunburns on my face and skin cancer runs rampant in my family.  Of course he denied me the dermatologist.

I can only hope that the nurse can convince the man that I need the mammogram done soon.  I have to have it for the appointment or at least booked.  I haven't had one in almost two years because TriCare doesn't allow PAP smears and mammograms for those over 40 years of age but every two years unless there is a darn good reason why you should have one.

Hopefully the nurse will be able to call me back today with some good information.  Maybe even be willing to book an appointment that will work with my schedule too?  I can hope.

Mammogram

This morning I have a mammogram appointment.  Yup its that time of year again to get my boobs squished.

Because I have such large breasts the testing takes even longer and the longer it is the more painful it is.  I've had the tech be annoyed at me, this was NY, and say that they are too large so she has to take more views. 

So not only do they get squished singly, they get squished together in the middle of my breast bone so that they can get better shots.

You'd think that the tech would at least offer me a cookie for being a good sport,  especially after playing with my milk bags.

Thinking back to NY, I had one doctor refuse to allow me to have a nurse in the room.  This wasn't an Army doctor, they know better.  This guy had me strip to the waist and put on a paper gown top while he was out of the room.  When he came into the room he ripped the paper top down the front and proceeded to exam my breasts.  I told my husband all about it after.  I refused to see that doctor ever again.  Just think, he was recommended by someone too, makes me wonder what my friends were thinking when they suggested this doctor.

So yes, its off I go to the hospital today for my yearly mammogram.  I'm a bit anxious too.  The only consoling thought is knowing that later today I get cake.  My bestie, S, is having a party for her son.  I love her kids, her and cake.  Maybe I'll get to pet her dogs too.

Good news, my Pap Results came back.  "Normal Pap Test, Absent Endocervical Component".  I've no clue as to why they couldn't get the endocervical component, I was ovulating not pregnant.  With a retroverted uterus the well woman visit wasn't comfortable and I wonder if that lead to the absence of the endocervical component.  That or they just weren't good at the scraping.