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nonightowl · Nov 11, 2015, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizardlady

I got a new female primary care doc a few months ago. I had to have a Pap test done today. Not having any problems, just a routine check. As an assault survivor I really, really hate gyn exams. I also have a small pelvis and docs have had trouble in the past. I'm also 15 years post menopause which adds more complications. Let's just say I'm probably not the ideal patient to do the test on.

The last PCP I had, also a woman! was an idiot about the test. She would just keep forcing the speculum in and demanding I relax. Need I say the more she pushed and ordered me to relax the more tense I got, making things even worse. She even complained I was "too dry." I wanted to yell at her to use more lube fer pete's sake!!!!

DUH!

Then there's the new doc. I explained to her that I really, really, hate having the test done. She said she hates them too. I told her I'd been assaulted in the past so really hate them. She said she understood. Bless her heart she was as gentle as she could be getting the spec in me. She kept encouraging me to relax as much as I could. She got the sample she needed and got out quickly. She also told me that if everything is okday I won't have to have one again for two years.

The contrast between new doc and old is night and day. Last doc fussed at me that my cholesterol was still 2 points (!) too high after I brought it down 100 points. The doc praised me for getting it down again. Old doc kept finding reasons for me to come to the office every 3 -4 months. New doc said that with the good test results I have, barring anything showing up in the Pap, she'll see me in a year for my annual check up!

Liz...

Glad you found someone better. I know how some women won't go at all, due to the reasons you posted. Even women doctors don't always have the right people skills, esp. for that type of "exam" for crying outloud.

Yelling at or demanding someone to "relax" is not the way to get that person to relax!

I found out recently that another patient agreed with me on how the cold the nurses are at this one facility. I mentioned to a nurse at one I don't usually go to how much NICER they all are. Someone agree with me, that she doesn't like the nurses at the other facility. No compassion, warmth, or sensitivity. It's like they have been sucking on lemons all day, so sour in disposition.

It's good that they space these visits out to a few years apart in some cases.