[splitimage]

Well ladies, I had my physical today. It was pretty awful.

She did a pap smear, only my second one ever, and it hurt a lot, and I had some bleeding afterwards.

She also found a lump in my breast. I am trying my hardest to not freak out over that, but it's hard. She's faxed off the requisition to the lab thatt does them to book me a mammogram and an ultrasound, so now I have to wait for them to call me with an appointment time. I didn't like that she wrote urgent on the fax - it made it seem scarier.

She's concerned about the chest pain I'm having. I'm 99% sure it's stress, but because I'm overweight and on a ton of medications, she wants a full cardio workup.

She's also ordered an ECG and a slew of bloodwork.

Oh and apparently I'm starting menopause, blech. I kind of knew that already, but she pretty much confirmed it, and she started talking about a topical hormonal replacement cream. The good news is I don't seem to be having any hot flashes yet.

I'm glad I went for the physical and that she's ordered additional tests - it's just all kind of overwhelming, and I feel really old, all of a sudden and like it's all downhill from here.

But I'm profoundly grateful that I live in a country with public health insurance so I'm able to access high quality care without having to worry about paying for it.

Trying very hard not to freak out about the lump.

splitimage

[with or without you]

splitimage I am sorry. I hope everything is OK and that it was caught early. I read your other thread and I have issues with the GYN as well because I don't want to reveal my V-status and the reasons for it. (some medical professionals have made comments to me in the past that I did not appreciate, therefore scaring me out of going). But I really think I need to go, I have a couple issues. Whatever happened with the "bumps"?

[roads]

I was getting worried that we weren't hearing anything more in your I-Got-the-Job thread. Now I know why.

Of course you're concerned & down. I gather you've not had a lot of complete physicals so this sort of news is not something you've dealt with before. If you'd had regular physicals over the years, you'd have had results along these lines before at some point most likely.

I've had a couple lumps, both were cysts. One popped out with some pressure, the other was biopsied and was deemed safe to ignore. My mom had a tumor that was biopsied as cancerous but after removal proved to be benign. Probably the best thing for you to focus on is 1) you've caught it early and 2) you've got good health care and insurance. Whatever it is, it'll be dealt with properly and adequately and with time you'll be fine.

As for the menopause, "really old," and not forgetting "all downhill from here" talk--thought I'd forget that, huh? --it might actually get better. Once the hormones started to fall, my body chemistry leveled out. Some meds worked better.

Hang in. When do you expect to start getting some answers?

Roadie

[shezbut]

(((splitimage)))

Doesn't sound like a real positive doctor's experience for you.

It is good that your doctor wants to rule out all possible causes for the lump, but she could have presented her ideas with some explanation/s. Over my many years of seeing various doctors, I've noticed that a few docs have are very empathetic and take their time in explaining their reasoning. Those docs are worth holding onto ~ because they're such a rare breed!!

The public healthcare must be a relief for Canadians (and other countries that use this system). I have heard that it takes forever to get in and see doctors though...is that true??

Anyway ~ I hope that your testing goes well, and you soon have answers to the Q's on your mind. My doctor found a lump in one a my breasts a couple of years ago. Turned out to be a clump of dried milk, from when I'd nursed a couple of years before I guess. Weird. That mammogram squeezes the heck out of your breasts though, which got rid of my lump. Not fun to have mammograms (I've now had 2), but it is important.

((((((Gentle hugs to you)))))))

[Leed]

Bless your heart -- I'm sorry you had a painful exam. And I'm also sorry they found a lump. That can be scary -- especially the waiting!

Try not to worry too much about the lump tho. I know it will be HARD -- but worrying won't change anything anyway. Chances are it could just be a cyst. Even if it is something worse, they have made SUCH strides in the treatment of breast cancer!! 4 years ago, I had a "bad" mammogram, and was scheduled for surgery within a week. I just had to have a lumpectomy, plus radiation every day for 6 weeks. BUT I'm FINE now -- my mammogram this year was clear of cancer! Millions of woman are being cured!!! Thank God!

So please -- try not to worry, ok? And keep us posted on what happens. God bless & take care. Hugs, Lee

[notz]

I'm not trying to make light of finding a lump in your breast but I hope to reassure you that they are almost always benign. I've had 4 lumps over the years. If nothing else, I've learned to take it in stride about as well as anyone can. Ultrasound here, a biopsy there...I'm okay, all benign.

Stay busy, try not to let it incapacitate you. Read up on whatever procedure you'll be having. Allay your fears as best you can. No matter what, you're ok.

Sorry for the crappy doctor and yucky experience.

[bipolarmedstudent]

I'm sorry about this. It's great that your doctor is being so thorough though! Sounds like you have an amazing family doctor. Think of it that way -- she is being extra careful to rule everything out.

One thing -- I would hold off on any hormone replacement (even including the cream) until after your mammogram/ultrasound results come back. I say this because if the lump is a breast cancer, hormones could accelerate it's growth. So just stay off hormones until you know for sure.

(((hugs)))

Please let us know as soon as you get the results, whatever they are. You are in my thoughts. And know that whatever happens, we will be here to support you.

[splitimage]

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling a little better this morning after talking with some friends who it turned out had all had lumps at previous points in their lives that turned out to be nothing.

This is kind of sad, I'm still really sore from the pap smear, and that's not a nice place to be sore.

The good news is I'm getting in for testing really fast. I'm having the mammogram & ultrasound on Mon. and the cardio tests on the 15'th of May.

Oh and the bumps around my vagina that were the original reason for me scheduling the physical - my Dr. said they were nothing to worry about - that they were basically mini- fat deposits. Kinda weird, but at least they're nothing serious.

splitimage

[roads]

mini- fat deposits

There you go. Good start on your results there. If you're gonna have fat deposits, that's just the kind to get ... mini.

Appreciate the update. Keeping you in my thoughts ...
Roadie

[splitimage]

Had the mammogram and ultrasound today. They were ok, or as ok as a mammogram can be. the ultrasound was kind of weird, I had to lie in this really contorted position for the tech, and then just my luck, I was ticklish with the combo of the jell and the ultrasound pickup - particularly when the tech went up into my armpit, so I had a hard time not squirming around. Now it's just a question of waiting for the results, which I know won't be long.

splitimage

[unaluna]

Are you a big coffee drinker? i've heard that contributes to cystic (benign) breasts.

[bipolarmedstudent]

Hey, just checking in to see how you are doing. Did you hear back on any results? I was worried about you.

You are in my thoughts.

[splitimage]

Hi and thanks for asking about me. Well the good news is I wasn't immediately called after the mammogram, which usually means it's nothing serious, since up here they tend to be really fast to call you if they want to do more tests.

My Dr's office called me this week to set up an appointment to go over my test results, mammogram and blood work, and I'm having that appointment next week.

I still have to go for the cardio testing, which I have on May 15'th.

So for now I'm cautiously optomistic that everything is ok, or at least that there's nothing seriously wrong.

--splitimage

[bipolarmedstudent]

That's great news. You're right, they would probably call you in earlier if there was something wrong on the mammogram. Did you have a breast ultrasound as well? Or just a diagnostic mammogram?

[splitimage]

I had a breast ultrasound as well as the mammogram. I gave the technician a hard time, because I found the combination of the gel and the pressure of the ultrasound wand (?) to be kind of ticklish - especially when she took it up into my armpit. I was having a really hard time keeping from squirming around LOL.