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Wedding Woes
kimmiinthemitten
member
Woman vents
in Wedding Woes
As I've mentioned before, I'm high risk for breast cancer. As such, I undergo surveillance 4x a year (MRI, Mammogram, 2 clinical exams); had a breast reduction and walked in the Komen 3 Day. I'm also only 37.
Today I show up for my annual mammogram, and I'm already in a mood becuse a. My last one resulted in a biopsy. B. You're about to smash my boobs. C. I'm mentally preparing for another false negative since I'm still healing internally from the surgery.
The lady at registration says to me: oh my, you're so young. I responded: well, it's my tenth mammogram. Her: but you're so young. Me: yes, but I'm 6 years past my families onset age so I'm here all the time.
Then she walks me back back and gets the robe out. I said: opens in the front, stuff in a locker. She said: you really do do this all the time.
Today I show up for my annual mammogram, and I'm already in a mood becuse a. My last one resulted in a biopsy. B. You're about to smash my boobs. C. I'm mentally preparing for another false negative since I'm still healing internally from the surgery.
The lady at registration says to me: oh my, you're so young. I responded: well, it's my tenth mammogram. Her: but you're so young. Me: yes, but I'm 6 years past my families onset age so I'm here all the time.
Then she walks me back back and gets the robe out. I said: opens in the front, stuff in a locker. She said: you really do do this all the time.
Re: Woman vents
And my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer at 22 and died at 28 because it metastasized. She felt the lump at 20 and was ignored for 2 years. People like the nurse need to stop because those comments and attitudes are why it's harder for women to be taken seriously when it comes to their health.
When booking my January appt, I advised I may be cancelling because I have an OB appt {i'll be 17 weeks then}
Her: oh are you high risk? Oh wait ... I shouldn't have asked that.
Me; oh no no {I really wasn't offended} I'll be 17 weeks at the end of the month.
Her: you're not showing that much, I thought you were just going early.
I've also been warned that since I look young that I may get some judgey looks lol
@mrsconn23 I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, that is heartbreaking.
I may actually follow your advice and complain. My family onset age is 32. My cousin is a two year survivor of ovarian cancer and turns 40 next year. This hospital recognizes that and as such has a program for young, high risk women. I've been involved for 9 years. The recognition that breast cancer can happen to anyone should be top-down and not just behind the lobby doors.
My woman vent is that I had my annual OB/gyn checkup last week, and I hadn’t planned on bringing my (three young) kids but H had to work unexpected overtime at the last minute. Two different women in the waiting room gave my kids the eye and then gave me a “whoa- you’re brave!” comment with an eye roll. It wasn’t any of their business but I explained I was just there for a checkup. On the car ride home it hit me like why did the thought of me having a fourth child move them enough to make a snide comment?! The difference between our stories though is mine came from random patients, yours was from an employee- not cool.
This and the other stories on here are good examples that doctors and other medical professionals aren't perfect and they don't know everything.
Always advocate for yourself.
Seek a second opinion and/or a new doctor, if you aren't being listened to.
I had a similar experience to @pegasuskat, though not as immediately serious. I have a really bad thyroid. I've had multiple doctors tell me that it barely functions. I'd lost my insurance due to a job loss (before the ACA) and had been without my thyroid medication for almost a year (stupid, I know), When my waiting period was finally over, I went to go see a new doctor under my new insurance. I told him my history and that I was especially concerned about getting back on my thyroid medication.
He was a patronizing a** to me, the whole time. It seemed like he got it in his head that, because I was overweight, I was trying to "scam" him out of a prescription for thyroid pills. Whatever. I knew my bloodwork would show him the light.
Except it didn't. When I went back for my second appointment, we went over my lab results. He actually told me that, even though my thyroid was showing low in my test results, he wasn't going to prescribe it to me. Because he thought I should focus on losing weight by eating better and exercising. Y'all, I never at ANY time expressed concern about my weight. That was all him. And, this wasn't even a zero sum game. A person can eat healthy, exercise, and take thyroid medication. FFS!!!! It isn't one or the other.
I went to see another doctor. Imagine my joy when, after introducing herself to me, the very next thing out of her mouth was, "We need to test your thyroid. I can tell by looking at you it is way too low and I'm concerned." (A low thyroid can cause a small goiter and a yellowish cast to the skin.) In fact, she gave me a 30-day prescription to start before I left her office. She said she would write another one for a more correct dosage, after she got my test results back.
Talk about a huge difference in treatment!
I actually was helped by someone who questioned my age, though she was a little careful how she did it.
The same awful doctor in my story did call in a prescription for BCP. Except he screwed up. And accidentally called the prescription in for a menopausal medication.
I was in my early 30's, at the time. I go to pick up my BCP prescription and the pharmacist just looked a little confused. She asked if the prescription was for me. I told her it was. She asked if it was supposed to be a prescription for menopausal symptoms. I told her it was not, it was supposed to be for BCP. She then opened up a little more and said something like, "Okay! That's why I asked. You look too young to be going through menopause. I'd suggest you don't pick it up and call your doctor instead, because this isn't BCP."
I went to get a Hep A shot because they're encouraging all food workers to get them, and the nurse recommended I get my tetanus shot. The other nurse said "she doesn't look old enough to need a new tetanus." Me: "I've been out of HS for 20 years so I probably do."
This experience was at a Target and I'm pretty sure the woman was the pharmacist, as opposed to a pharm. tech. But I've noticed there is one Walmart in the area...it's not all of them...where it is only the pharmacist who will hand over the medication.
The procedure is the pharmacy tech/cashier rings you up and calls for the pharmacist. The customer steps down to one end of the counter to meet them. They tell you each medication they are handing you and ask if any are new prescriptions or if you have any questions. If it is a new prescription, the pharmacist will point to the instructions on the bottle and also verbally tell them to you.
But then the other Walmarts have whoever rings a customer up, hand them their medication.
Thank you! This is good to know!
So far, my experience has been:
Nurse: "Have you had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years?"
Me, looking blank: "I don't know. I think I've had one, maybe two, as an adult. Maybe it was in the last 10 years." Because, really, unless there was an incident involved, I'm not going to remember that!
They've always just given me the shot "to be sure". Hopefully one cannot overdose on tetanus shots, lol. Or I'd probably be a candidate.
So no, you can't overdose