Going to the "female" doctor today.

calico2222 · Jan 22, 2009

Ok, I'm going to stop going to doctors because they just end up sending me to MORE doctors! My appointment went fairly well, the doctor is REALLY nice and made me feel comfortable which was good. One strange thing...both him and the nurse looked at me funny when I said I didn't use birth control. I mean, I'm married....do MOST married people use birth control?

Anyway, I told him that every few months I have REALLY bad cramps and they are concentrated on the left side. So, now I'm scheduled for an ultrasound because it's probably a cyst. But, "just to be one the safe side" I also have to go for a colonoscopy to make sure it isn't caused by colon cancer. YIKES! Also, he had to take 3 biopsies from a "growth" (ouch). Sigh. I know it's better to rule things out, but I was hoping to finish my life without THAT test. But, I lived through this, which is a good thing.

cats4sky · Jan 22, 2009

i dont really like them either, when i first started going i decided i wouldnt feel right having a guy do that, so i only go to a woman, but she is nice, i think its more how uncomfortable the exam is than anything. and the way they get me in 1x per year is that they wont fill your birth control unless u have your annual, but i know regardless its for the best.

now the dentist im petrified of. then i finally found the coolest dentist that i was so comfortable with and loved....then he died

so i havent been to the dentist since, i even scheduled a few apts and chickened out, i have several back teeth that i know are bad, but im so scared!!!

catlover19 · Jan 22, 2009

I went for the first time a couple months ago. It sucked but it was definitely better than I was expecting. I went to the health clinic because its all women who work there so I don't have to worry about having a man do the test. My family doctor is really weird and I am not comfortable going to him for anything like that. It's impossible to find a new doctor around here though.

snake_lady · Jan 22, 2009

Originally Posted by calico2222

Anyway, I told him that every few months I have REALLY bad cramps and they are concentrated on the left side. So, now I'm scheduled for an ultrasound because it's probably a cyst. But, "just to be one the safe side" I also have to go for a colonoscopy to make sure it isn't caused by colon cancer. YIKES! Also, he had to take 3 biopsies from a "growth" (ouch). Sigh. I know it's better to rule things out, but I was hoping to finish my life without THAT test. But, I lived through this, which is a good thing.

I hope they do the u/s prior to the colonoscopy, that way if a cyst shows up hopefully you don't have to go through the colonoscopy. I was rather TONS of pap tests, than to go through another colonoscopy. I dunno, I was way more embarassed about that one than pap tests.

I hope the rest of your tests come out ok, and am glad you like your dr.

twstychik · Jan 23, 2009

Originally Posted by Snake_Lady

I hope they do the u/s prior to the colonoscopy, that way if a cyst shows up hopefully you don't have to go through the colonoscopy. I was rather TONS of pap tests, than to go through another colonoscopy. I dunno, I was way more embarassed about that one than pap tests.

I hope the rest of your tests come out ok, and am glad you like your dr.

I hate the ambush biopsy too. My first official GYN was a female and one day I went in for a depo shot. She told me she needed to do a biopsy. I was young and scared so I didn't question it. I wish I had.

As for birth control I think many married couples who don't want kids probably do use it. DH and I do... or did until we were ready to get pregnant and once our son is born I'll go back on something. But, it's a personal choice so try not to let their looks worry you.

cruisermaiden · Jan 23, 2009

Originally Posted by calico2222

Anyway, I told him that every few months I have REALLY bad cramps and they are concentrated on the left side. So, now I'm scheduled for an ultrasound because it's probably a cyst. But, "just to be one the safe side" I also have to go for a colonoscopy to make sure it isn't caused by colon cancer. YIKES! Also, he had to take 3 biopsies from a "growth" (ouch). Sigh. I know it's better to rule things out, but I was hoping to finish my life without THAT test. But, I lived through this, which is a good thing.

Yea thats the same problem I am having. I have to have an Ultrasound next week, and then colonoscopy if that doesn't show anything.

snake_lady · Jan 23, 2009

Originally Posted by twstychik

As for birth control I think many married couples who don't want kids probably do use it. DH and I do... or did until we were ready to get pregnant and once our son is born I'll go back on something. But, it's a personal choice so try not to let their looks worry you.

We used b/c up untill I got my tubes tied.

catkiki · Jan 23, 2009

I haven't gone to the gyno in years as the family dr would do the exam. I haven't had one since I changed my primary dr 4 years ago. I should find a good gyno since I am going through "the change". I haven't had a real period in over a year, just extremely light spotting. My primary care doesn't do that type of exams. The reason being he is the pulmanary specialist that saw me after my stroke in Dec 2004. My primary care physician at the time did not even come to the hospital or call to see how I was doing.

threecatowner · Jan 23, 2009

Originally Posted by calico2222

One strange thing...both him and the nurse looked at me funny when I said I didn't use birth control. I mean, I'm married....do MOST married people use birth control?

I, too, am from WV - Fairmont - and we have a severe shortage of OBGYN's in this town. I don't have the time or inclination to drive to WVU hospitals, so I'm stuck. My husband and I used "questionable" birth control for many years (without going into detail) and it only "failed" once, but he was the best baby!
Anyway, during that last pregnancy my husband decided to do the deed and get himself fixed, because emotionally I just couldn't. My doc at the time said, "Well, that's great - but guys don't get pregnant!" His partner doc later quoted statistics about failure rate of vasectomies. I really don't think it's any of their business. This partner doc also reprimanded me when I told him early in my marriage I didn't want BC pills because they caused me constant yeast infections. He actually reprimanded me, saying all pills were not alike. (I wonder how many yeast infections he's had in his life?) Arrogance must be a requirement of this profession.

As for your problems, I hope all goes well. I had an ovarian cyst (years ago) and it hurt so bad they checked for appendicitis first. Good luck with everything.

alleygirl · Jan 23, 2009

The ultrasound isn't fun, but its not bad. A little more uncomfortable than a regular pap, but mostly it just takes a long time.

Many things are treatable if caught EARLY, so no matter how awful it is, I still go regularly. Better safe than sorry.

goonie · Jan 23, 2009

i, too had a biopsy done 2 weeks ago and an ultrasound last week because i haven't had a period in a year and then had one in december. i just turned 51. i have to go in on tuesday to discuss the results. i hope it's nothing bad.

calico2222 · Jan 23, 2009

Originally Posted by CruiserMaiden

Yea thats the same problem I am having. I have to have an Ultrasound next week, and then colonoscopy if that doesn't show anything.

I hope everything turns out ok! Let me know what to expect from the colonoscopy (you can PM if you want to

)

calico2222 · Jan 23, 2009

Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

The ultrasound isn't fun, but its not bad. A little more uncomfortable than a regular pap, but mostly it just takes a long time.

Many things are treatable if caught EARLY, so no matter how awful it is, I still go regularly. Better safe than sorry.

Wait a minute....the ultrasound is done from the inside???? I had an ultrasound for my gallbladder not to long ago and the most uncomfortable thing was the sticky jel they put on me.

laureen227 · Jan 23, 2009

Originally Posted by calico2222

Wait a minute....the ultrasound is done from the inside???? I had an ultrasound for my gallbladder not to long ago and the most uncomfortable thing was the sticky jel they put on me.

if it's an ovarian ultrasound, then yes - they stick something up you-know-where. i didn't care for it!

goonie · Jan 23, 2009

mine was an ovarian ultrasound and i had to drink 32oz of water prior to 1 hr of the appointment and not go to the bathroom

laureen227 · Jan 23, 2009

Originally Posted by goonie

mine was an ovarian ultrasound and i had to drink 32oz of water prior to 1 hr of the appointment and not go to the bathroom

i think that was the worst part! i actually had such a full bladder that they told me to go [but not too much

].

twstychik · Jan 26, 2009

Originally Posted by calico2222

Wait a minute....the ultrasound is done from the inside???? I had an ultrasound for my gallbladder not to long ago and the most uncomfortable thing was the sticky jel they put on me.

Originally Posted by laureen227

if it's an ovarian ultrasound, then yes - they stick something up you-know-where. i didn't care for it!

I've had both types done (internal and external) and the external was much more unpleasant. Not only did I have to have a full bladder but then there's the gel that they smeared all over my stomach paired with the fact that the tech had a fan running in the room. I swear it too me the rest of the day to warm my tummy up.

mrblanche · Jan 26, 2009

Ladies, you have my sympathy. I'm long overdue for a physical, and I have to admit I'd rather have a guy do it than a lady, even though the lady doctors at the clinic I go to are very good. It just makes me...uncomfortable. My wife finally found a good female OB/GYN, and it sure made her happier. Doesn't need her any more, however, if you catch my drift.

However, a few points.

The severe cramps can also be endometriosis. This (and cysts) turned out to be a significant part of my wife's problem.

OB/GYN's are getting rare in many places, especially more rural areas. The routine lawsuits over babies with defects has made the business non-profitable.

Now, a couple of funny stories.

I once worked for a guy who was a hypochondriac. He once convinced himself (when he was about 35) that he had colon cancer. He went in for a colonoscopy, and after that, he said he was going to have to die of it if he ever really got it, because he was never going through that again. I've actually done it a couple of times, and the part I hate is the preparation (drinking all that stuff, etc.).

I have a friend who, before he allows a doctor to give him a physical, he examines their hands. He always goes for women, and prefers the one with the smallest hands. Why? Because he hates the prostate exam!

alleygirl · Jan 26, 2009

Originally Posted by laureen227

if it's an ovarian ultrasound, then yes - they stick something up you-know-where. i didn't care for it!

Originally Posted by goonie

mine was an ovarian ultrasound and i had to drink 32oz of water prior to 1 hr of the appointment and not go to the bathroom

No drinking water with the internal one. They make you go to the bathroom before. Its really not bad, just awkward and takes a while. I had about 7 of them before I had my ovary out last year. You get used to anything after a while

Going to the "female" doctor today.

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