Skip to main content

Squish goes the right boob...

Episode XCVII - come on and squeeze me...


It is the last month of 2014 and I am officially renaming it December Doctor Madness month. It is part bad timing and part my own fault. Since I have spent so much money on doctors over the past two years I wanted any my test scheduled for the first two weeks of January moved to December. I was hoping that because I have already reached my out-of-pocket maximum that I would save myself a few thousands at the first of the year. Bring the madness...



I did kind of ask for it. Well, I asked for some of the craziness. I already had stuff scheduled for the month, but now I was doubling up on my appointments. Therefore I would just have to suck up the multiple (and I mean multiple) scans, tests, and doctor's appointments over the next few weeks. I might be crazy by Christmas, but I will survive it all... I hope!

My first stop during my December Doctor Madness was to get a follow-up mammogram. Just like normal I went through the here's my DL/insurance card and the standard fill out your forms routine. I supplied my birth date (for like the billionth time) and I waited to be called. Boring office routine!

Afterwards I made my way to the second waiting room where we sit around with our tops off and nervously wait until it is our turn. We are not really naked, but we are all in our two gowns. One gown opened towards the front, for easy access. One gown opened towards the back so we are not really exposing ourselves. However, the gowns seem like a false obligatory formality as we are all about to have our breasts out in a few minutes. But, I did have you visualizing a room of naked women for a minute!!!


 
Gowned up and mammogram ready...


The waiting room was less crowded than the last time I was here, but the women who were there were all callbacks. Meaning they were all freaking out. Of course, I had to try and assure them that even if it turned out to be cancer it does not necessarily mean bad - just look at me! Cancer is scary, but it is good for women to see a survivor. Plus, I reminded them of two positives about a callback: 1. Better to be safe than sorry. It is a good thing that they are taking a closer look, even if it is not cancer. 2. Better to know as soon as possible. Early detection is a good thing. So, I would rather have a callback than something being ignored!

As for me, I am not worried. I should not have anything show up for a few years on my right side since they radiated the snot out of my breast/chest. If there is something there - it was going to be bad and there was no stopping it. So, I was not worried. I cannot change it, so why fret! Instead, I was all about the humor...


When I got into the room I just took my gown off. I take the whole thing off, like an unsexy strip show. Why be modest? Seriously, the lady is about to handle my breasts... she and about half the medical community... my breasts have been busy the past two years!

Today I was only having my right breast examined, so I felt that my left breast was getting neglected. I think I made many random jokes about how my left breast felt ignored. Hopefully, it won't go and get cancer trying to get some attention. Yes, I did just make that completely inappropriate comment.

I got to use both the regular pads and the smaller pads so they can squeeze even tighter on my right breast. There are so many jokes and comments made about mammograms hurting. Sure it is uncomfortable, but it is not painful. It is pretty quick. The whole experience is not difficult. I say this because I hope no one ever avoids getting a mammogram because they fear of the actual scan. Take it from me... some one who has had multiple mammograms in the past couple of years... it is not bad... get your boobs (or today in my case, boob) squished!

After they took the multiple images I asked to see them on the screen. I try and look at anything they will let me look at now. I am just in awe of how much they can see and how fast they can see it. My boob looked like a standard mammogram-ed boob... which is a good thing. Unremarkable! I have an unremarkable boob!

While my day went well, my entire night was spent dealing with cable drama. And by entire night - I really mean that. I had a scheduled appointment for a technician to come and install a new cable system between 2-5 pm. I was getting an upgrade with more channels (all the premium ones) and faster internet. I was super excited. I had been waiting weeks for the guy to show up. He didn't!

I had stayed awake (since I was tired from my mammogram & my kids) even though I felt bad. Not only did I wait around for a no-show, I spent 5-8:30 pm on the phone trying to figure it out. Seriously! I was given the run around and sent to a lot of different people... blah! blah! blah!




After being shuffled to a number of people and being disconnect "accidentally" over the phone, it turns out they canceled my package and my appointment today. Oh, and they forgot to tell me. Plus, they are not offering that any more. I could get a similar package, but it had things I did not want (like a home security system thing that would cost me more later). I waited 3 hours for a guy to show, 3 1/2 hours on a phone, and I got nothing. I was really looking forward to watching some premium tv channels... instead I am going to go to bed from exhaustion!


In my head...


I want my MTV... more like I want my HBO, Showtime, & the rest of the channels! While I may not be watching some awesome movie right now, I am thrilled that my first appointment in December Doctor Madness had good results. Everything looked normal... and hopefully the rest of the month will be the same!

Mammograms are super easy and painless. It is a good thing I do not mind having them because I get to go back in six months were both breasts get squished. At least then my left breast will feel included and loved!


To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it!
- Charlie Chaplin


Episode Reference: Squeeze Box, The Who song

Comments

  1. If you are not sure about any of the details ask lots of questions and if you feel uncomfortable about any of there answers it might be best to choose another surgeon.
    breast actives reviews

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

my longest hardest day yet

Get ready boys and girls... today is a doozy. And a long post too! But before we begin on one of the toughest days I've ever done, let's recap. Mon: Irritating Onc day where I was not told about suspicious fluid around lung/heart in time to get a biopsy & I got contradicting info from his NP the week before.  Tues: Spending the morning getting Immunotherapy and 2 Chemotherapies before going straight to the airport to fly to Houston and enduring long rental car lines and afternoon heavy traffic. A few more checks off this weeks list... a few more to go: Now back to my Wednesday... the Humpday I would like to forget! So, after 8 hours of cancer treatment, flying, and travel in congested Houston the day before, I didn't have much rest because we had to start Wednesday early. My husband and I decided to walk to the medical center since our hotel was close. However, it was not necessarily the easiest or closest walk - tons of traffic, intersections, and some strange indivi

happy birthday to me... almost

  Let's rewind a bit and start a few days before my birthday... I had my first cancer treatment day on October 3rd - check it out if you haven't read that blog post yet. Let's just think of it as an early birthday gift since my birthday is October 7th. Great gift, right?!? If I have to hear "Happy Early" or "Late Birthday" from another medical person, I might have to smack someone. Especially, since I have spent most of the weeks leading up to and after my birthday at a medical appointment regarding cancer. Not really loving my birthday this year. Let's just say, on my birthday, I woke up with a special chemo-side-effect-surprise at 2am. That fun surprise I will share later... Rewind a Few Days... Update But first, let's go to October 4th, the day after my grueling 8 hours of immunotherapy and two chemotherapies on the 3rd. I woke up swollen, red faced, and fevering, as well as feeling pretty crummy. I didn't have time to dwell on it since I

from chemo to pee to future rad things

Another week of doctor's appointments and my 2nd week of chemo is complete. I spent about 5-6 hours getting 2 chemotherapies (check me on picture to right, headed into treatment on a very early Tuesday morning). I am super proud of myself. It was a long day, and I have some issues with nausea so they have to push the chemotherapies a bit slower to help me out. And despite feeling pretty tired, right after chemo, I went to the Urologist... well actually his NP. I am not sure if the appointment was successful or not. Mainly, she just prescribed me medicine.  Why? Who doesn't want to hear about my pee issues?!? Not that I hold back from the insanity that revolves around my life and cancer. Plus, I think it is good to share that cancer causes crazy side effects - so others know they are not alone. For me, this cancer go-round, I happen to have bladder issues. My ability to hold pee is going haywire... mainly at night. Because why not? It's not like I don't already have enou