I'm getting tired of political arguments, especially since so many of you seem to be conservatives (!) and I'm not. But I'm going to start a thread for women, though men can join in. The subject is pap smears, uterine biopsies (without painkillers), colon checks, mammograms and hysterectomies. I think women should weigh in on the pap smear stuff. I am 59 and have had a whole lot of pap smears and they are always negative. They will always be negative. Why am I having to have pap smears? My doctor is a woman and has a cartoon of a cat that is apparently being electrocuted on the ceiling above the pap smear table that says, "Relax." It's nice to focus on the cat because she has learned a new way to do pap smears that hurt. Joy! And to think for years, male doctors didn't think the cervix has any nerves. I have news for them--it does.

In a vain hope of finally getting a hysterectomy, I have had two uterine biopsies which hurt a whole lot. They do these without painkillers. As I said on another thread, the next time a doctor suggests one of these, I will tell him that I'm going home to get my pliers and when I hurt, he'll hurt a whole lot. I never have gotten a hysterectomy because unfortunately nothing is wrong with me. I think we should be able to have voluntary hysterectomies because we can get ovarian cancer and won't know until it's too late. And with ovarian cancer, too late is pretty fast. I know people will write and say hysterectomies are awful, but I figure it's six weeks off of work and I won't be able to wait on Mother. What is so bad about that?

Then there are the mammograms. My female doc has a cartoon with a guy with his penis in the mammogram machine. The caption is something like, 'If men could have mammograms." It's funny. I think every woman who has had a mammogram appreciates this cartoon. The fact is that men get breast cancer. Why don't they have mammograms? It could save lives. And they could have their boobs squashed to about a centimeter thickness and see how they like it. I know it can be done because I had a friend who had fried egg breasts and she could get a mammogram though it was difficult for her to get her breast in the pinchers. In her case, I think the mammogram involved that side of her chest. They just squashed her ribs in there.

Men comment that they have to have prostate (prostrate for the idiots out there) checks which involve anal penetration. Well, I have to have my colon checked which involves anal penetration. This is a new wrinkle that my doc, Donna, insists on. I had a colonoscopy that was less invasive. Poor men.

I think it's time that women demanded equal time for men with embarrassing bodily examinations. I think doctors should thread something up men's urethra just for annual checkups. The docs can make money and the men can sympathize with women for a change. Of course, this would be done without any painkillers.

Lord, I feel better.:biggrin1:

As a man, I have very little first hand knowledge of Pap-Smears.

But I do have first hand knowledge that it is not covered by my Employee Provided Medical Insurance Plan.

So many other more expensive and less important items are covered.

Is this just another slap in the face to women by male dominated policy makers? :girl_hug:

BTW-I pay the cost of the GYN visit and Pap-Smear every year anyway.

The cost is worth it to keep my wife of 39 years around. We have almost 11 years to go to reach our 50th Wedding Anniversary. The Quest to reach that milestone was one of the main reason for my decision to get a Lap-Band, so I am not going to let the stupidity, ignorance and arrogance of my Medical Plan administrators stop me from reaching our "Big Day".

Then there are the mammograms. My female doc has a cartoon with a guy with his penis in the mammogram machine. The caption is something like, 'If men could have mammograms." It's funny. I think every woman who has had a mammogram appreciates this cartoon. The fact is that men get breast cancer. Why don't they have mammograms? It could save lives. And they could have their boobs squashed to about a centimeter thickness and see how they like it. I know it can be done because I had a friend who had fried egg breasts and she could get a mammogram though it was difficult for her to get her breast in the pinchers. In her case, I think the mammogram involved that side of her chest. They just squashed her ribs in there.

I think it's time that women demanded equal time for men with embarrassing bodily examinations.

Lord, I feel better.:biggrin1:

My we are "BITTER" today no?? Let me start,, I am a man, 38 years old. And had a bad scare,this year before I started my LB journey. And I had my first (2) mamograms. Emberassing? Hell yeh, the nurse thad did it said "I have had more problems getting smaller women in here",, well I guess it's a good thing I have bigger "BOOBS" than some women...380 lbs acount for something. Then when both mamograms came back negative,, I got to have an ultrasound done on my boobs,,,,,yeh that was fun....explained these to my really confused insurance carrier. Plenty more embarassment. Hope I cheered you up Bitter!!

Yeah, I'm with you Bitter. On all accounts.

I won't see a male gyn. I just won't. I had one GP get pissy with me becaues I told him up front that I would need a referal to a female GYN. So I fired him. I don't need that kind of drama queen in a doc.

Now Washington state requirest that BC be covered about fucking time! I don't know if the pun is intended or not. I just don't know. I did, however, almost come to blows over that one with a guy in my lab though. He's normally quite level headed. In this case, I think his head was flattened. He felt that BC was a luxury that women should have to cover herself. But that viagra and all other ED treatments *should* be covered by the insurance company. Because it involves a man's sense of well being. And that apperently is more important that preventing unwanted pregnancies or treating the various hormonal issues that BC pills are prescribed for.

He came that close to being clobbered by something really heavy. Repeatedly.

I'm getting tired of political arguments, especially since so many of you seem to be conservatives (!) and I'm not. But I'm going to start a thread for women, though men can join in. The subject is pap smears, uterine biopsies (without painkillers), colon checks, mammograms and hysterectomies. I think women should weigh in on the pap smear stuff. I am 59 and have had a whole lot of pap smears and they are always negative. They will always be negative. Why am I having to have pap smears? My doctor is a woman and has a cartoon of a cat that is apparently being electrocuted on the ceiling above the pap smear table that says, "Relax." It's nice to focus on the cat because she has learned a new way to do pap smears that hurt. Joy! And to think for years, male doctors didn't think the cervix has any nerves. I have news for them--it does.

In a vain hope of finally getting a hysterectomy, I have had two uterine biopsies which hurt a whole lot. They do these without painkillers. As I said on another thread, the next time a doctor suggests one of these, I will tell him that I'm going home to get my pliers and when I hurt, he'll hurt a whole lot. I never have gotten a hysterectomy because unfortunately nothing is wrong with me. I think we should be able to have voluntary hysterectomies because we can get ovarian cancer and won't know until it's too late. And with ovarian cancer, too late is pretty fast. I know people will write and say hysterectomies are awful, but I figure it's six weeks off of work and I won't be able to wait on Mother. What is so bad about that?

Then there are the mammograms. My female doc has a cartoon with a guy with his penis in the mammogram machine. The caption is something like, 'If men could have mammograms." It's funny. I think every woman who has had a mammogram appreciates this cartoon. The fact is that men get breast cancer. Why don't they have mammograms? It could save lives. And they could have their boobs squashed to about a centimeter thickness and see how they like it. I know it can be done because I had a friend who had fried egg breasts and she could get a mammogram though it was difficult for her to get her breast in the pinchers. In her case, I think the mammogram involved that side of her chest. They just squashed her ribs in there.

Men comment that they have to have prostate (prostrate for the idiots out there) checks which involve anal penetration. Well, I have to have my colon checked which involves anal penetration. This is a new wrinkle that my doc, Donna, insists on. I had a colonoscopy that was less invasive. Poor men.

I think it's time that women demanded equal time for men with embarrassing bodily examinations. I think doctors should thread something up men's urethra just for annual checkups. The docs can make money and the men can sympathize with women for a change. Of course, this would be done without any painkillers.

Lord, I feel better.:biggrin1:

Lordy Bitter!

You are on a tear today!

After a particularly hard periomenopause that I am sure was brought on by having my first kid at age 39, I was trying BC pills to manage an unmanageable period. By age 43 after two 17 day periods, one week apart and spotting on the BC pills, I went to see my ob/gyn. Told him very nicely that I had done the conservative treatment, no longer liked the results and that I was ready to schedule the hysterectomy. My womanhood was not at stake or was I planning to experience loss over the end of childbearing. We did not need to slowly come around the the next step. How was his schedule for next Tuesday? I thought he was going to swallow his tongue! :girl_hug: Then I told him I was not leaving his office until we scheduled something. Guess what? I needed a referral for another condition that would be handled along with the hysterectomy.I didn't leave his office until he got the other doctor on the phone and scheduled my next appointment.

Next time you are all revved up -- here's a fantasy that I really enjoy. First a caveat -- I LOVE ANIMALS AND ABHOR CRUELTY!!!!!

But, the fantasy is finding one of those little yappy dogs that brainlessly yap at everything and then, just like in the NFL, drop-kicking him over his owner's fence. The image of it going end over end and yapping mindlessly all the way can banish the worst mood!

Thanks,

Jo Ann

As a man, I have very little first hand knowledge of Pap-Smears.

But I do have first hand knowledge that it is not covered by my Employee Provided Medical Insurance Plan.

So many other more expensive and less important items are covered.

Is this just another slap in the face to women by male dominated policy makers? :girl_hug:

Kind of like why will some insurance carriers cover Viagra but not Birth Control pills????

I had a hysterectomy at 31, and didn't even need one. What I did need was an anterior/posterior plastic repair (basically that's plastic surgery on your hoo-hoo). My Gyn (God bless him) asked me if I planned to have more children. Since my DH had had a vasectomy about 6 years prior, I said it would be better if I didn't. So he offered me the option of having the hysterectomy too, since he would be in the neighborhood. I kept my ovaries, lost the periods and those damned cramps. There is no downside to it.

Until about 5 years ago they made me have a Pap smear every year. Since Pap smears only detect cervical cancer, and I don't have a cervix, that was pretty hard to figure out. Anyway, I just don't have them any more. It's my body and I figure they can't make me.

I do have the annual mammogram and colonoscopy. My first colonoscopy, they found 8 polyps. The second one, 5 and the third one, 2.

Breast and colon cancer can be cured if detected early. I figure that cancer is a lot more uncomfortable than either the mammogram or the colonoscopy, much as I dislike both of them.

PS...I have observed my DH's prostate exam and I recommend that all wives do the same. It levels the playing field a little bit.

Men comment that they have to have prostate (prostrate for the idiots out there) checks which involve anal penetration. Well, I have to have my colon checked which involves anal penetration. This is a new wrinkle that my doc, Donna, insists on. I had a colonoscopy that was less invasive. Poor men.

I think it's time that women demanded equal time for men with embarrassing bodily examinations. I think doctors should thread something up men's urethra just for annual checkups. The docs can make money and the men can sympathize with women for a change. Of course, this would be done without any painkillers.

Lord, I feel better.:biggrin1:

You will appreciate this (true) story more than most.

My friend Carol suffered with Endometriosis for years before she finally consented to a hysterectomy. Her doctor wanted her to sign consent pre-surgery for him to remove her ovaries, if he thought it would be best. She was only in her mid-30s and really did not want her ovaries removed, so she argued a bit.

"Do you have some emotional attachment to your ovaries?" the doctor asked?

"I don't think so", said Carol, "Do you have an emotional attachment to your testicles?"

He said, "Oh, I understand".

Sure you do...since you put it that way.

Kind of like why will some insurance carriers cover Viagra but not Birth Control pills????

My Employee Provided Medical Insurance Plan is run out of Texas by a company situated in Texas and the My ex-Employer who pays the bills is also based in Texas. Not only do they not pay for Birth Control Pills, but they will not pay for Estrogen Replacement Therapy if the pills have a similar formulation as Birth Control Pills. They were afraid my wife was trying to stop herself from getting pregnant at 55, I guess.

Oh, and they can not claim that it is to save money. A 3 month supply of pills would be under $30. Compare that to the price of a birth in a hospital, pre-natal, post natal care and paying for all other medical insurance claims for the child until he is 18 years old.

I am speaking of other women insured by my ex-employer, not my wife of course in the above paragraph.

Ugh! I have had one colonoscopy and that was most traumatic. I had the misfortune to have a doc who didn't believe in adequate medication and I have the low pain threshhold commonly associated with men. Plus it seems that my colon is twice as long as everyone else's. The examination never was completed. She wanted to reschedule for later that same Fall. I said, "howzabout after the next Presidential election?"

Well, since then Bush got re-elected, my kid brother died of bowel cancer, and I am going to see the arse doc again in a couple of weeks. I do go for mammograms and bone density scans, though.

Ugh! I have had one colonoscopy and that was most traumatic. I had the misfortune to have a doc who didn't believe in adequate medication and I have the low pain threshhold commonly associated with men. Plus it seems that my colon is twice as long as everyone else's. The examination never was completed. She wanted to reschedule for later that same Fall. I said, "howzabout after the next Presidential election?"

Well, since then Bush got re-elected, my kid brother died of bowel cancer, and I am going to see the arse doc again in a couple of weeks. I do go for mammograms and bone density scans, though.

So sorry to hear about your brother, and it is good news that you are taking steps to make sure you are in the best health you can be in. You WILL be looking for a new doctor I hope? Colonoscopies are challenging enough without having a jerk for a doctor.

Best of luck to you,

Jo Ann

My we are "BITTER" today no?? Let me start,, I am a man, 38 years old. And had a bad scare,this year before I started my LB journey. And I had my first (2) mamograms. Emberassing? Hell yeh, the nurse thad did it said "I have had more problems getting smaller women in here",, well I guess it's a good thing I have bigger "BOOBS" than some women...380 lbs acount for something. Then when both mamograms came back negative,, I got to have an ultrasound done on my boobs,,,,,yeh that was fun....explained these to my really confused insurance carrier. Plenty more embarassment. Hope I cheered you up Bitter!!

Why did they do all of this? You poor thing. At least, you know what women go through every year. Isn't that mammogram thing awful?

Lordy Bitter!

You are on a tear today!

After a particularly hard periomenopause that I am sure was brought on by having my first kid at age 39, I was trying BC pills to manage an unmanageable period. By age 43 after two 17 day periods, one week apart and spotting on the BC pills, I went to see my ob/gyn. Told him very nicely that I had done the conservative treatment, no longer liked the results and that I was ready to schedule the hysterectomy. My womanhood was not at stake or was I planning to experience loss over the end of childbearing. We did not need to slowly come around the the next step. How was his schedule for next Tuesday? I thought he was going to swallow his tongue! Then I told him I was not leaving his office until we scheduled something. Guess what? I needed a referral for another condition that would be handled along with the hysterectomy.I didn't leave his office until he got the other doctor on the phone and scheduled my next appointment.

Next time you are all revved up -- here's a fantasy that I really enjoy. First a caveat -- I LOVE ANIMALS AND ABHOR CRUELTY!!!!!

But, the fantasy is finding one of those little yappy dogs that brainlessly yap at everything and then, just like in the NFL, drop-kicking him over his owner's fence. The image of it going end over end and yapping mindlessly all the way can banish the worst mood!

Thanks,

Jo Ann

My, my Jo Ann. You are even grumpier than I am and that's saying a lot. We have a yappy dog in the neighborhood, but I don't mind it because my four dogs are so obnoxious that I'm surprised the neighbors haven't shot them. What I'd really like to dropkick is my boss's head into hell. How's that for grumpy?

I had a hysterectomy at 31, and didn't even need one. What I did need was an anterior/posterior plastic repair (basically that's plastic surgery on your hoo-hoo). My Gyn (God bless him) asked me if I planned to have more children. Since my DH had had a vasectomy about 6 years prior, I said it would be better if I didn't. So he offered me the option of having the hysterectomy too, since he would be in the neighborhood. I kept my ovaries, lost the periods and those damned cramps. There is no downside to it.

Until about 5 years ago they made me have a Pap smear every year. Since Pap smears only detect cervical cancer, and I don't have a cervix, that was pretty hard to figure out. Anyway, I just don't have them any more. It's my body and I figure they can't make me.

I do have the annual mammogram and colonoscopy. My first colonoscopy, they found 8 polyps. The second one, 5 and the third one, 2.

Breast and colon cancer can be cured if detected early. I figure that cancer is a lot more uncomfortable than either the mammogram or the colonoscopy, much as I dislike both of them.

PS...I have observed my DH's prostate exam and I recommend that all wives do the same. It levels the playing field a little bit.

I'd have liked a hysterectomy at 31. I'd like one now. It's a good excuse to miss school for 6 weeks. But, alas, I'm apparently very healthy in my totally useless uterus and ovaries. I had a colonoscopy this year for the first time and had a large polyp which is bad. The doc wanted me to have another colonoscopy in 3 years but I talked him into 5 years. It took a long time to get that polyp and I don't think I'll get another one for a while, but doctors have to live too.

Ugh! I have had one colonoscopy and that was most traumatic. I had the misfortune to have a doc who didn't believe in adequate medication and I have the low pain threshhold commonly associated with men. Plus it seems that my colon is twice as long as everyone else's. The examination never was completed. She wanted to reschedule for later that same Fall. I said, "howzabout after the next Presidential election?"

Well, since then Bush got re-elected, my kid brother died of bowel cancer, and I am going to see the arse doc again in a couple of weeks. I do go for mammograms and bone density scans, though.

Holy Cow, Green. I'm glad you are getting screened though I've never had a bone density test. Fat people usually have good bones. My mother's doctor told her that he didn't have to worry about her having osteoporosis since she was fat. Of course, that was 20 years ago and she's starting to shrink at age 86. I think you should get a new doc and have a colonoscopy. When I had mine the anesthetist didn't quite put me under far enough so I felt it when they put the air in, but I didn't feel anything else until the doc was cutting off some strange skin lesions which turned out to be benign. I could feel him cutting one out but it didn't hurt. He was most upset that I could feel it though it didn't seem to bother him that when he took the stitches out, the thing gaped open and got infected. I have a big scar there now. There's nothing like incompetence in the medical field. I'm going to Mexico for any further surgery. They're better surgeons and I got better care there for a lot less money.