cysts ---> ultrasounds

i've had 3 so far

3/14/2012 7:30:34 PM

just got my reminder card in the mail.

has anyone ever been to/used Planned Parenthood for paps/bc?

3/14/2012 7:32:05 PM

I've used Planned Parenthood for the morning after pill and for birth control. I didn't have to have a physical exam for either. They were really nice and super cool when I was there. I don't know how things have changed in the last like 8 years since I last used them so I can't guarantee that you don't have to have an exam for BC.

3/14/2012 7:36:06 PM

3^ 3 cysts? You got nothing on me! My last ultrasound picked up 9 on one ovary and 16 on the other!

3/14/2012 7:40:16 PM

^lololol your ovaries sound like my kidneys! they should get together and have a party!

3/14/2012 7:43:31 PM

Quote :

"has anyone ever been to/used Planned Parenthood for paps/bc?"

I went but she said I didn't need a pap yet and just wrote me a script instead. They kind of talked to me like I was stupid and wagged their fingers at me when I told them I didn't use condoms. Other than that though, I guess it was cool. I only went there because I didn't have insurance.

3/14/2012 8:14:58 PM

That's how I felt going to student health. Hard to get them to understand that a married, monogamous couple doesn't have to use condoms to prevent STDs.

3/14/2012 8:40:38 PM

Mike got me two pairs of hanky pankies for my birthday!


Along with the blooming zen kit from teavana and some german rock sugar. Mmmmmmmm.

3/14/2012 8:40:44 PM

I only caught hell at Planned Parenthood over the Morning After Pill (I went more than once for it), but once I explained that a latex allergy is involved and that poly condoms aren't as durable as latex, they eased up.

3/14/2012 8:50:06 PM

I had a terrifying experience at the Student Health center for a Morning After pill. My god. The lady was just.. hellfire and brimsone about it, and quite mean and derogatory.

I know I have to go.. I do have to just put on my big girl panties. I think it's just the fear of the unknown, and I have had bad experiences with not knowing what's going on - god, don't ask me the story about the first massage I ever went to - let's just say it wasn't relaxing AT ALL. I also don't have a lot of girl friends in the area, so I was never able to ask for recommendations - once I aged out of my pediatrician at 21, I haven't even been to a general practicioner (I had the same doctor ever since I was 6). I'm nervous that they're gonna do stupid or bad things (my experience with a new dentist hasn't been going so well).

I will try out the recommendation from lewoods. Thanks

3/14/2012 9:28:52 PM

Definitely get recommendations, and more than just lewoods. You want a variety of people to choose from. Check them out online, and do shop around. What works for one person may not work for another. There are some great doctors out there, so you don't want to be stuck with one who isn't listening to you, makes you feel uncomfortable, or rushes through things. And I would see if you can sit and talk with the doctor before you get undressed, most do that, but not all. That should ease a lot of your fears.

Don't be weirded out if there's an assistant in the room. But do tell the doctor that you'd like to be informed what's going on. The good ones will do that anyways. Every year I hate going, and every year, after I'm done, I realize "hey, it's not as bad as I've made it out to be all year long."

3/14/2012 9:33:25 PM

My first exam was by a male physicians assistant at my family doctor. He knew it was my first exam and was so nice during the entire thing. He talked me through the entire thing. It was a little weird being given an anatomy lesson during the exam, but he was so nice and it really put me at ease to know what was going on.

Most of my other exams were at my OBGyn, but by different doctors. I have found that I am most at ease with a female doctor and least at ease with a male doctor over the age of 55. Male Gyns approaching retirement age I have trouble connecting with and I need to connect who ever is all up in my lady business.

[Edited on March 14, 2012 at 9:40 PM. Reason : .]

3/14/2012 9:40:06 PM

I love blue ridge obgyn. I go to the office on durant road. Love my doc, karen hilbert. I think she's a nurse practitioner, but she rocks.

3/14/2012 9:44:36 PM

I have to give a shout out to Christen Richardson at Capitol Area OBGYN. She delivered both of my children.

3/14/2012 9:46:58 PM

you know what annoys the crap out of me?

when i'm reading the reviews of a really great maxi dress and it's all..."the colors are great and i loved the looks of it online but i'm so disappointed with the fit...i ordered my normal size and it's WAY too long...this dress sucks...this company sucks...i'll never buy anything from them again...blah blah blah...i'm 5'1""


i mean...WTF...what do you expect from a maxi dress on a midget

3/14/2012 10:06:54 PM

^ hahaha I'm around 5" tall. I don't understand why they wouldn't just hem the dress. Or not buy a maxi dress, it undoubtedly makes them look shorter like most long dresses do.

I'm with you smcain I've never gone either.

I went when I was 18 and got that triple shot thing against hpv, but they told me I didn't need a gyno exam. Never went back.

My roommate keeps bringing it up, and I just tell her I don't want a stranger all up in my downtown bonanza. I guess I'm just scared. Also I don't like doctors.

[Edited on March 14, 2012 at 10:13 PM. Reason : ^maxi dress. ]

3/14/2012 10:08:29 PM

I go to the same practice as elise and I highly recommend them as well. I had to go at a young age (for similar problems mentioned in this thread) and I was scared shitless. Everyone there was so nice, accommodating and professional that I've continued to be a client for the last 15 years.

I go to the other location though. Just tell them it's your first time and you're worried/nervous. They'll go out of thier way to make you comfortable. They did it for me when I had an emergency and the only available doctor was male (keep in mind I was young and a virgin). I was upset, and the nurse stayed with me a little longer to ensure I was comfortable.

[Edited on March 14, 2012 at 10:28 PM. Reason : .]

3/14/2012 10:18:02 PM

I think that some people think that you only go when you're pregnant or to ensure you don't have an STD. My doctor checks me head to toe including a breast exam. She runs blood work checking my cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, hemoglobin, etc. She keeps an eye on my kidneys -- without her, I would have never known that I have kidney disease that has led to my problems with UTIs and kidney stones. She also writes my prescriptions for my psychiatric and allergy meds.

I have a friend who has breast cancer and who knows how long she would have gone without discovering it had her GYN not discovered it during a regular appointment.

3/14/2012 10:25:51 PM

+1 for Blue Ridge

3/14/2012 10:26:06 PM

2^this. And karen checks my back for moles, too, since i have a history of mole removal.

3/14/2012 10:27:54 PM

The first time I went I was 16 and terrified. I remember I was shaking and wanted to die. It was also weird because I babysat the woman's children that was all up in my junk. The next obgyn was a man and that was also kind of scary. Then I went to ncsu and actually liked them a lot. It seems like each time I go it gets less and less stressful. Also, if I had not of went, I would probably have cancer right now. Yay preventative care.

3/14/2012 10:37:19 PM

i went to planned parenthood on saturday for my exam. it is close to my house and i knew they'd take my insurance, so i figured i'd give it a shot. i was not prepared for the protesters with posters that i had to drive through, that was kind of awkward.

i had NP who was an older lady, she was really nice and not judgmental at all.

don't be scared to go. nothing scary happens, no needles, etc. it is awkward having someone with their face 2 inches from your lady parts but there is really nothing to be scared of. the peace of mind is worth it.

oh and i took the back exit out of the parking lot to avoid the protesters. i mean really people, do you think that a girl going there to have an abortion is going to see your signs about going to hell and change her mind? what are you trying to accomplish?

3/14/2012 11:04:38 PM

maybe since i've spent more time around doctors growing up (docs that aren't gynos) than most people i just don't get what's so scary about it. regular docs, gynos, dentists, eye docs, etc....none of that is/should be scary.

3/14/2012 11:09:53 PM

I'm scared of dentists because they cause pain. Except my current dentist. He is awesome and gives me goofy gas. Other doctors I'm not "scared" of, but I don't find them pleasant to have to visit. Like people don't enjoy going to a lawyer's office, they don't enjoy going to a doctor's office either.

3/14/2012 11:11:38 PM

^^+1

I kinda like doctors.

3/14/2012 11:13:13 PM

I was super thrilled to be able to go to a gp finally last month, and relieved after going to my gyn in october. It just makes me feel better, especially after so many years without insurance.

3/14/2012 11:18:34 PM

^^^there are things you just have to suck up and do, especially as an adult. dental work, pap smears, other procedures cause pain but it's just part of life. i've had my chest cut in half through my sternum & wound up allergic to morphine (and they wouldn't give me anything else for pain)...so bleeding gums or cervix don't phase me. i think this is also why i'm not scared or worried about labor & delivery.

^^i like doctors too. ESPECIALLY my myasthenia doc at UNC. i'm convinced he is really santa claus (and i will one day tell my kids that he is).

[Edited on March 14, 2012 at 11:19 PM. Reason : more carets]

3/14/2012 11:18:59 PM

Quote :

"I think that some people think that you only go when you're pregnant or to ensure you don't have an STD. My doctor checks me head to toe including a breast exam. She runs blood work checking my cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, hemoglobin, etc. She keeps an eye on my kidneys -- without her, I would have never known that I have kidney disease that has led to my problems with UTIs and kidney stones. She also writes my prescriptions for my psychiatric and allergy meds. I have a friend who has breast cancer and who knows how long she would have gone without discovering it had her GYN not discovered it during a regular appointment."

That is how I am with my obgyn/pcp. She is my go-to for everything. And she is so kind, friendly, not judge-y at all, and she has seen some gross shit with me. And I never feels rushed and always spends as much time with me as we have things to discuss. Find one of these and you'll be set for a long time.

3/14/2012 11:21:23 PM

in trying to find a pic of my MG doc, i found this video. i knew he blew glass but didn't know he was this passionate about it. he is awesome!

i've had the procedure they're showing in the first part of the video, twice. the stick a tiny needle in a muscle & make you contract it. i've had it on my arm (like in the vid) and all around my eyes/face & neck. super. not. comfortable.

http://youtu.be/EfdocuXBm_I

3/14/2012 11:30:41 PM

I think that it is fascinating the folks with MG have their thymus REMOVED, but children like my son require a thymus transplant to survive.

3/14/2012 11:32:27 PM

yeah, that's kinda crazy. the thymus shrinks back to this almost inactive useless thing by puberty though. you do need it beforehand. mine was 11cm x 27cm & had all sorts of crazy little fingers sticking out. they brought me a tracing after surgery. i wish we had kept it.

3/14/2012 11:41:59 PM

wow. that is bad ass. they put tiny little plugs (for lack of a better word) of discarded thymus gland in the thighs of children born without a thymus gland and it lives and produces T cells. it's so crazy.

3/14/2012 11:43:26 PM

whoa, that's a little

why the thigh?

3/14/2012 11:44:49 PM

It has the largest blood supply for the little thymus grafts.

3/14/2012 11:46:49 PM

we have completely derailed this thread.

back to dresses & nailpolish & whatnot. sorry bout that.

3/14/2012 11:49:32 PM

had my yearly exam yesterday... my doc suggested i start going for mammograms :-/

has anyone had one before? are they incredibly painful?

3/14/2012 11:57:16 PM

Yeah.

So, I'm in love with the charcoal nail polish that I've seen on like Pinterest and stuff. I really want cute, short, but longish square tipped nails. Are like nail tips still the way to go?

3/14/2012 11:57:58 PM

^^ I have heard that they are very "uncomfortable". My mom never said painful.

3/15/2012 12:27:57 AM

Someone who wanted to remain anonymous asked that I share this. Please pay attention.

Quote :

" Going to the gynecologist is SO important. I have had fewer than 5 sexual partners & have been going regularly since I was 18. Everything has been perfectly normal until last year. My pap came back abnormal. I knew that the body can sometimes give an abnormal response & asked for a re-test instead of the biopsy the doctor recommended. So 3 months after the initial, I went back for a retest. It was still abnormal so I agreed to the biopsy. It was scary but a simple procedure. The result of that came back & it was still bad. The doctor then wanted to do a LEEP procedure where you actually have to go into the hospital, be out under & they slice off part of your cervix that is affected. That lab result was 2 stages worse than my original abnormal pap which was about 6 months prior at this point. There are only 5 "stages" normal, abnormal, mild displaysia, severe displaysia & cervical cancer. That is the entire range and I had gone from normal the prior year, to severe displaysia in a very short period of time. The good news is that all of my paps since then have been normal but I have to go every 3 months until I test normal for 2 years straight. I was tested for HPV and that came back positive and I have "high risk" HPV which never leaves your system because it's a virus. Oh yeah, I had the vaccine too. It's not a guarantee but I got it in 2006/2007 when it came out & still ended up with HPV a few years later. Please go!! It's your health & if you don't have that, you don't have anything. This isn't meant to scare anyone but to show people how seriously and quickly cervical cancer & abnormal cells can progress. FWIW, I am young & very healthy. It can happen to anyone. "

3/15/2012 12:38:22 AM

Quote :

"I had a terrifying experience at the Student Health center for a Morning After pill. My god. The lady was just.. hellfire and brimsone about it, and quite mean and derogatory. "

you can just buy it at any pharmacy now. $50 or so

3/15/2012 7:10:15 AM

I wish I wasnt on my period. I really want to wear my new hanky pankies today!

3/15/2012 10:19:46 AM

I'm wearing mines

3/15/2012 10:23:58 AM

Mike bought me a lilac pair and a lime green pair. I loves them.

3/15/2012 10:24:45 AM

I got like 8 new pairs and they're so bright...3 prints and 5 neon colors

so fun...but today I'm rocking my army green pair

3/15/2012 10:27:34 AM

Thats a lot of munnies!

3/15/2012 10:30:06 AM

6x^ Yeah, this was before When I heard the news, I told my then boyfriend, now fiancee that he could get it next time.

3/15/2012 10:32:19 AM

I probably paid like $4 a piece for them elise

my frans at Saks lets me know when they go on Sale and they put some in the back for me...then they buy them with their discount

3/15/2012 10:33:33 AM

I need dat hookup! I have three pair of originals, i need more!

3/15/2012 10:35:03 AM

Kinda weird getting a panny delivery, but I love it when I do

3/15/2012 10:37:29 AM

no one reads the last post

[Edited on March 15, 2012 at 10:46 AM. Reason : ]

3/15/2012 10:45:47 AM