Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A Smashing Success
It seems that each time I enter a new decade my doctor and his nurse note the milestone with a new list of "things to be watching for". I was quite dismayed when at 30 the nurse noted my age on my chart in large numbers and circled it, just to make sure it was noticed. I was not sure why she felt the need to do such a thing - afterall I had simply turned 30, not contacted some deadly disease. That visit began the "things to be watching for" discussions.
So in May of this year, with the fourtieth birthday only months away, the words "baseline mammogram" were used. My doctor scribbled something intelligible on his prescription pad, signed his name, and said, "Let's get this done."
Now in my short time on this earth I have become familiar with baselines on basketball courts and baselines on baseball diamonds - baseline medical tests were not a part of my vocabulary. To be honest I am not really sure that I am thrilled to add them to my vocabulary. It pretty much signifies the passing into a new era of my life.
Not wanting to rush into this new era, I placed the doctor's orders in my calendar for the Tuesday following Labor Day. You know, kind of like a 40th birthday gift to myself (haha).
And being gold, I placed the phone call last Tuesday to set up my appointment. I decided to go to our hospital that has a new digital imaging machine (we actually have two hospitals in our small city on the plains). The phone call goes well and the appointment is made.
The kind lady on the phone gives me the following last minute instructions: "No deodorant, lotion, or powder in the area. Any questions?" At this point I am searching for something to write these instructions on and my response is, "No, thank you." I scribble down the words and pause to look at them. Had I heard her correctly? I dared not call back. No, I called Q who possesses a scary amount of knowledge and information about medical things.
I proudly tell her I have made my appointment and then say, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
I repeat the words I had written on paper. "Now, it is not my custom to put deodorant on my boobs, so does she mean don't wear any deodorant?"
Q is laughing as she begins to explain the process to me and how I don't want anything at all to possibly alter the pictures. "They will pull all the skin possible to put on the platform to take a picture, including any from your armpit area."
Now I am the one laughing. Q and I are just a tad bit differently blessed in the boob department. Trust me, they aren't going to be pulling much!
So today was M day as I will call it. I constantly repeated to myself in the shower - no deodorant, lotion, or powder. I am so routine oriented that this "out of routine" experience is a bit tricky. Thankfully my appointment is early and my chances of smelling like a teenage boy before I get done are somewhat minimal. I pack my deodorant in my purse and I am off on this new adventure.
I have purposefully dressed in one of my favorite outfits - doing anything to keep my confidence buoyed. At the hospital I check in with the silver haired gentleman volunteer at patient registration. He directs me to the Women's Imaging Center and I enter a wonderful little world away from the sterile environs of the hospital.
A kind lady takes my info and soon leads me to an area resembling a department store's dressing room. She instructs me on how to put on my cape and asks a few more questions. As I wait briefly I notice my skirt coordinates with my cape - a little detail that for some reason brings harmony and peace. I am calm as I enter the room and am introduced to the machine.
For those of you who have been "photographed", well you know. For those of you who have not, it's really not that bad. My pictures were a success - no do-overs. I even saw each of them and she explained what things were.
Although my official results will probably not come until next week - I have declared it a smashing success!
simple faith
It seems that each time I enter a new decade my doctor and his nurse note the milestone with a new list of "things to be watching for". I was quite dismayed when at 30 the nurse noted my age on my chart in large numbers and circled it, just to make sure it was noticed. I was not sure why she felt the need to do such a thing - afterall I had simply turned 30, not contacted some deadly disease. That visit began the "things to be watching for" discussions.
So in May of this year, with the fourtieth birthday only months away, the words "baseline mammogram" were used. My doctor scribbled something intelligible on his prescription pad, signed his name, and said, "Let's get this done."
Now in my short time on this earth I have become familiar with baselines on basketball courts and baselines on baseball diamonds - baseline medical tests were not a part of my vocabulary. To be honest I am not really sure that I am thrilled to add them to my vocabulary. It pretty much signifies the passing into a new era of my life.
Not wanting to rush into this new era, I placed the doctor's orders in my calendar for the Tuesday following Labor Day. You know, kind of like a 40th birthday gift to myself (haha).
And being gold, I placed the phone call last Tuesday to set up my appointment. I decided to go to our hospital that has a new digital imaging machine (we actually have two hospitals in our small city on the plains). The phone call goes well and the appointment is made.
The kind lady on the phone gives me the following last minute instructions: "No deodorant, lotion, or powder in the area. Any questions?" At this point I am searching for something to write these instructions on and my response is, "No, thank you." I scribble down the words and pause to look at them. Had I heard her correctly? I dared not call back. No, I called Q who possesses a scary amount of knowledge and information about medical things.
I proudly tell her I have made my appointment and then say, "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
I repeat the words I had written on paper. "Now, it is not my custom to put deodorant on my boobs, so does she mean don't wear any deodorant?"
Q is laughing as she begins to explain the process to me and how I don't want anything at all to possibly alter the pictures. "They will pull all the skin possible to put on the platform to take a picture, including any from your armpit area."
Now I am the one laughing. Q and I are just a tad bit differently blessed in the boob department. Trust me, they aren't going to be pulling much!
So today was M day as I will call it. I constantly repeated to myself in the shower - no deodorant, lotion, or powder. I am so routine oriented that this "out of routine" experience is a bit tricky. Thankfully my appointment is early and my chances of smelling like a teenage boy before I get done are somewhat minimal. I pack my deodorant in my purse and I am off on this new adventure.
I have purposefully dressed in one of my favorite outfits - doing anything to keep my confidence buoyed. At the hospital I check in with the silver haired gentleman volunteer at patient registration. He directs me to the Women's Imaging Center and I enter a wonderful little world away from the sterile environs of the hospital.
A kind lady takes my info and soon leads me to an area resembling a department store's dressing room. She instructs me on how to put on my cape and asks a few more questions. As I wait briefly I notice my skirt coordinates with my cape - a little detail that for some reason brings harmony and peace. I am calm as I enter the room and am introduced to the machine.
For those of you who have been "photographed", well you know. For those of you who have not, it's really not that bad. My pictures were a success - no do-overs. I even saw each of them and she explained what things were.
Although my official results will probably not come until next week - I have declared it a smashing success!
simple faith
Labels: Life
# posted by simple faith : 10:24 PM
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Faith,
I am so glad you are writing again. I laughed until I cried as I read this entry! I'm glad things went well. I am blessed in so many ways-and you being a friend is one of them.
Q
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I am so glad you are writing again. I laughed until I cried as I read this entry! I'm glad things went well. I am blessed in so many ways-and you being a friend is one of them.
Q
# posted by 
: 10:05 PM
: 10:05 PM<< Home
