Doctor's Visit

I have a doctor's visit tomorrow'; something's bothering me that I think I need to see a doctor about. Naturally, I have been on the Internet the last day or two checking symptoms. I now have many more symptoms than at first when I only had one. I've even diagnosed myself, several times. I probably have Sjogren's Syndrome as I do notice I have dry mouth, dry eyes, my skin breaks out, not to mention my original symptom.

I am very thorough in my research. So I continued to read several sites from Mayo Clinic to Johns Hopkins, not to mention WEB MD, and I came up with the possibility of cervical cancer or even ovarian cancer. I have acid reflux, fatigue, increased abdominal size, often symptoms of ovarian cancer. I do think to myself, however, I have always been fatigued since I was a child. I've had acid reflux for several years, and it is fine when I take Nexium or watch my diet. It could be that I've gained weight from eating too much food on filmsets and unneeded snacks before I go to bed or a piece of cake like the one I just baked and am waiting to ice with chocolate icing.

I have tortured myself an hour or so yesterday, then finally realized that is why I'm going to the doctor so she can do the diagnosing. Meanwhile I remember what the last office visit conclusion was, that I may want to consider hormone replacement therapy. Please, do I want to die in the guillotine or to be hung or to be burned at the stake? I hate this that the cure doctors offer you has a side effect of cancer.

Why don't they just suggest that I not wear panties, or avoid pantie hose and tight clothes. Maybe they should just give women a list: avoid taking baths, wearing panties or fitted jeans or pants, using toilet paper, urinating, and everything else. Also take hormone replacement and be vaccinated against cervical cancer to reduce your chances of getting cancer from taking hormones.

How can I go from a little burning in unspeakable parts of the body to cancer and the guillotine and suddenly becoming the patient, doctor and executioner all in one evening. For now I will forget all this until tomorrow as I am comfortable; and besides, the timer set for ten minutes went off and hour ago and I just now heard it so it is way past time to ice the cake with my coffee flavored chocolate icing. Then I'll have a small piece of cake and be very grateful I have health insurance for these little female annoyances.

April 8, 2009
I was ontime for my doctor's appointment. I am seeing a fellow in oncology at Emory. She will be leaving soon for a four year study in Buffalo in oncology. What a long education, for sure. Other than my $2.00 parking, I had no fees because of Medicare and AARP supplement. I would not have gone in today had I not had health insurance. Probably the original problem I went in for will call for hormone replacement or some such; however, she was concerned about my abdomen and weight gain. She ordered an ultrasound for the upper abdomen and the pelvic with transvaginal. She marked it urgency, ASAP. The soonest appointment I could get is in nine days.

It's interesting how we didn't actually say it, but with her being an oncologist specialist, we both knew what she was saying. She only said, "I hope it is just weight gain, but this isn't you." She couldn't feel the usual in her exam because of the bloating. I hated to tell her how many pieces of cake I ate last night and today. For sure that little holiday binge is over. I will freeze the rest of the cake for when I have company. She also wanted me to see a dermatologist in the next week as she was concerned about my skin. So I made an appointment with the dermatologist, but I can't get into see him for two weeks.

I'm sure this must be very boring, all these details. Who but Coleridge dare writes about his every physical ailment. I am struck by how different my life would be right now without health insurance. Maybe I'm just fine, but early intervention is so important in most illnesses. How often a patient goes in for a minor thing only to have the doctor find a more serious situation. I had a friend who went in for some congestion, but xrays revealed a very large tumor on the lung. Someone without insurance will be even more prone to self treatment with over-the-counter products and ignore small symptoms or chalk it up to one thing or another.

I have decided I don't have the energy to worry about more than one day at a time. I do know a fellow in oncology will be more picky about things than a general ob/gyn. But without insurance, today would have easily cost me $1000.00 when you include the ultrasound. I guess soon health care will only be for those who have insurance. That's another story though, there was a time I had no health insurance.