WTF? I need more education.

by Steph on October 3, 2008

Melanie recently posted about her experience with mammography. It got me to thinking about how I need to do that, except I had no idea I needed to go for a baseline already. Why did I not know this? What else don’t I know that I should?

I think I’ve been so focused on my thyroid issues*, I’ve sort of neglected to pay attention to other health issues. I mean, what issues could I possibly have at this point? My uterus and cervix are all gone, so the risk of cancer from those is…well…null. Can’t get cancer in organs you don’t have. Hi, I’m Captain Obvious. Jeebus.

Ovarian cancer is still possible, but WTH do I do about that? I mean, do I still go see an ob/gyn annually even though I don’t have the bits with which they normally deal? Can my GP handle my gyn needs now that I’ve been spayed? I DON’T KNOW!

And it’s crazy that I don’t know. I have three children who need a mother, and I don’t know that I need to have a baseline mammo at 35? Or how to handle my remaining girlbits’ needs? Seriously? How effing responsible is that? Not very.

So, I’ve found a family practice here which also happens to deal extensively with thyroid/adrenal issues. As soon as I have our insurance information, I plan on booking an appointment to get these (and other) questions answered.

Plus? I have this really disgusting fingernail fungus thing that I must get cleared up because hello? Ewwwwwwww.

*The thyroid posts are some of the most popular on this site. Go figure. So, in the interest of helping those of you who wind up here via Google searches re: thyroid stuff, here’s a link to a site I’ve found super-helpful: Stop the Thyroid Madness. Just spend some time over there poking around; I’m sure any question you might have will be answered. Honest.

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{ 13 comments }

1
Vote -1 Vote +1matteroffactmommy October 3, 2008 at 12:23 pm

kinda like how my husband keeps stating the obvious, “i should really have life insurance.” yes, you should. and we need to work on our living will to put down on paper who takes the children should something happen to us.

being an adult with real responsibilities sucks.

2
Vote -1 Vote +1Pearl Wisdom October 3, 2008 at 12:46 pm

what? i am 35 and i had no idea about the baseline mammo. crap!

3
Vote -1 Vote +1Lindsey October 3, 2008 at 1:32 pm

I never get anything looked at. I figure that if I drop dead of something I had no idea I had, I will have avoided a lot of stress over dying. Who knows, maybe I’ve had cancer and it went away without me ever knowing about it. Ignorance is bliss…and procrastination is my middle name.

4
Vote -1 Vote +1Jane October 3, 2008 at 5:47 pm

My doctor told me last year, at 37, to get a baseline before 40. He starts nagging at 37, knowing that it takes a while for people to actually go. Why am I so afraid of this procedure???

5
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph October 3, 2008 at 6:56 pm

MoFM – We have stuff like that done, thankfully. But damn, I just want to never go to the doctor again.

Pearl – I KNOW! But I did a little research after watching Melanie’s video, and it turns out lots of doctors are saying go at 35.

Lindsey – But so much shit is treatable if you catch it early! By the way, cancer does, in fact, happen in our bodies all the time. Normally, we kill that shit and roll on. No lie – heard that from an oncologist.

For me, I’m not obsessing over this shit or anything, but I for sure want to know about breast or ovarian cancer in time to be treated. At least until my kids are all grown. Once they’re grown, I’ll probably be all, “Whatevs.” :grin:

Jane – I don’t know. From everything I’ve been told, it’s really no big deal. Go watch Mel’s video (the link’s up in my post) – she has a rack, and she said it wasn’t painful at all. I admit I’m MUCH less scared of it now that I “know” someone who’s had it done and says it’s no big.

6
Vote -1 Vote +1Melanie @ MelADramatic Mommy October 4, 2008 at 3:25 am

@Lindsay Ignorance is bliss until you get “the call.” Then you wonder if that ignorance will come back to bite you in the ass. Not trying to be morbid, but this was a big wake up call for me.

7
Vote -1 Vote +1Celeste October 4, 2008 at 9:42 am

The breast cancer thing scares me. I’m also worked up about colon cancer. With my lactose intolerance and my lifetime of constipation (there ya go, have some TMI!), I’m seriously worried about it. I know that it’s more common in people over 50, but still. And my mil had her girlbits removed and she still sees her gyno, I think.

8
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph October 4, 2008 at 9:14 pm

Celeste – I don’t really let myself OBSESS over it, although God knows I totally could because I know there’s not much I can do to prevent it. But yeah, I do need to start taking my overall health more seriously, instead of just the parts that affect my *looks.

9
Vote -1 Vote +1Jean October 5, 2008 at 10:34 am

Not to sound preachy, but I’ve had over 20 mammograms, so a little advice for anyone going for the first time – ask your doctor to write “Mammography and, if necessary, sonagram.” That’s because it’s not at all unusual for something to show up that needs further investigation and the sonogram often clarifies that it’s nothing serious. It usually IS nothing serious, but there’s nothing more frustrating than having to come back for the sonogram because they can’t give it to you right then unless it’s indicated on the prescription.

Another hint – some places give “wet results” (immediate readings, about 99% accurate) by a radiologist to the patient while many others just send them to the referring doctor. The latter is also frustrating to anyone subject to anxiety and can take as long as ten days so just ask if you will get an immediate reading at the place you are going to schedule your appointment.

And for anyone afraid it’s going to be painful – forget it. The very worst scenario is mild discomfort for about two seconds if it happens to be that time of month, otherwise not even that much.

10
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph October 5, 2008 at 12:19 pm

Jean – First, look at you getting all comment-y! YAY!

Second, thank you for the advice. :)

11
Vote -1 Vote +1manager mom October 5, 2008 at 8:00 pm

I’ve been getting the boob-squeezins since I was 33. But I have a cancerriffic kind of family. Wouldn’t have done it otherwise.

12
Vote -1 Vote +1Missy October 6, 2008 at 2:14 pm

I thought the generally accepted baseline time was 40? Well, unless your family had a history of cancer. Hmmm? You too are making me curious about what I don’t know that I should.

13
Vote -1 Vote +1Steph October 8, 2008 at 4:26 am

manager mom – Well, HI! It’s good to “see” you over here. :)

My family hasn’t had any incidents of breast cancer (that I know of), but holy shit, are they cancerrific in other ways. So probably I’ll go for my baseline sooner rather than later.

Missy – I thought so, too, but reading stuff online, not so much. I’m asking about it for sure.

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