Women’s Health Exam
Written on March 13, 2009 by
This is for my sister, It is like Two and a Half Men at my house; only the two are women and the half is an 18 year old young man. Most days I could find the humor in my little family, but every now and then, the dark side of reality rears its ugly little head, and not everything can be humorous. This is for my sister, GET WELL SOON! Being a woman is not always easy. We all know about breast exams and paps, but we all like to put these things off. They are uncomfortable and embarrassing. A good GYN visit is when you got to leave your socks on, unhook your bra and keep your own shirt. This we consider our dignity kept in tack. Hooray team! When leaving the office, we still have some pride. Some consider a woman doctor less humiliating, others a male. Personally, I do not understand why one is less mortifying then the other; having someone talking to you, asking how are you and making small talk at crotch level while being “nakie” and the spotlight is on your “vajayjay” is not exactly comfortable for me no matter what sex you are, —you could be green with purple polka-dots it is still humiliatingly embarrassing. I still would rather do it in the dark with the person I love, and here this person, basically a stranger -who you must see yearly has a spot light on ya, “you know where”, crap! Then, they stand up and try the finger exam to check out the internals, do not worry mine are not abnormally attached to my throat, which is where it feels you are uncomfortably headed to. (The last time I thought the exam was done when she passively says, Rectum, No thank you, I won’t be needing that checked, my gastroenternologist does that and when I am knocked out, back off.) Next is the breast exam. Like that is any less awkward, especially when they have to take your breast out from you armpit and put it back upon your chest to knead it like dough, “Find any good bread recipes, lately?” So, all in all the whole experience is encumber some and enough embarrassment to last an entire year, and soon as you get out of the office, the sooner you can put the ugly little episode behind you, until next year. NEXT YEAR, it is important to put yourself through it, again. My sister put it off, one too many years in a row. It could have been worse, but it did not have to be this bad either. I will start off with, Thank Your God, she did not have cancer; however she did undergo a full hysterectomy. Weeks of worry went into all this. First there was the 9cm by 6.1cm and 6.4cm lesion (accidently stumbled upon) that became the unknown cyst or tumor; attached to the ovary, tube or uterine wall? Is it cancer, is it abnormal cells and how can you not know what kind of abnormal growth that is? Is it a bad egg stuck in the tube, an overgrown egg in the ovary or just a growth of unknown origin? If a pap comes back normal how come that does not rule out cancer, and if it comes back not good, the growth may not be cancerous but she may still have cancer? How does this all work? Get a mamogram now, if there is any problem cancer, cyst/tumor we can remove a breast or breasts at the same time we remove the big cyst/tumor, one surgery cut it all off and out?. A lot to absorb all at once. Full hysterectomy or partial, she will make decisions before surgery, and find out after surgery if it is full or partial?. Waiting for all the tests to come in, is an eternity. Seeing an oncologist is scary, even though he is a nice man. Now both doctors will be at the surgery to address what it is that is growing inside of you, you know the cyst/tumor is now the size of a baby’s head?. Lucky break, breasts are good shape and pap is good. So she can still have cancer; it is still a factor?. The surgery has to coordinate with the surgeons, hospital and, clearance needs to be obtained medically, for this surgery she does not want to do, by other doctors (cardiologist, endocrinologist, and primary) and the hospital pre-admissions office, too. By the time, surgery comes you are scared, tired and emotionally drained, imagine how the patient must feel. From time to time, you look over at the young man, the one you know is not a kid and absorbing this, you can see the lines of worry in his face, and the fear of that little boy you once held in your arms is in his eyes. All along you try to hold it all together and have faith, while the deepest fears fill their eyes with tears and sadness tugs at their hearts. The road to recovery is painful. An examine that you thought was embarrassing, is nothing compared to: the examines that come before surgery, after surgery, while you need assistance washing your naked body following surgery, when your nakeness has fallen through those gowns they give you to wear in the hospital. The complications of a major surgery that could possibly have been avoided are: infection, blood clots and pneumonia. The moral of this story is: Women’s Health is important for you, the people you love and the people who love you; do not put it off -it can save so much stress and worry to you, your loved ones and those who everyday fight to preserve Women’s Health. Taking advantage of Women’s Healthcare today, may just save a life.