Friday, August 6, 2010

In Which My Son Almost Goes to the Dentist and I Get Test Results

My son, Michael, needs braces. Badly. So badly that he's finally come to that realization himself. Today, I took Michael to his dentist appointment, without which you can't get a referral to an orthodontist, and no orthodontist means no braces.

We showed up for the apt and filled out the paperwork. Unfortunately, they couldn't find him in the insurance system, but said he should be there next month, so we rescheduled for next month. So that was Michael almost going to the dentist.

As we were walking into the dentist, I got a phone call from a number that didn't identify itself but seemed vaguely familiar. I answered it and it was my gynecologist. They got the results from pap test that I had done a couple of weeks ago, and it came back abnormal. They need to retest me again in three months. They assured me that it's probably nothing, but they need to retest to be sure.

Chances are very good that it will go away on its own. I'm not Cleopatra (the queen of denial) however, so I will be going back for follow up testing which will let me know if I need to do something more.

I'm shaken, but not stirred. I will intermittently worry about this for the next three months. I will stop acting as though I have all the time in the world to do all the things I want to do. (Honesty compels me to add, "At least, I hope I will".)

I also hope that all the women reading this will make sure to get their pap test done. No it's not fun, but it's very important. And just so the men out there don't feel left out, please urge the special women in your lives to get their pap tests done, too.

5 comments:

  1. ..kinda avoiding mine but quite a few women I know have had 'abnormal results' and it's been nothing. One had to have some cells 'lasered' off and it was a super small/no recovery time necessary op :)

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  2. Well, I just went in and got an abnormal pap, then a colposcopy which showed no cancer but pre-cancerous cells so I'm going in AGAIN next week for another procedure wherein they scrape out "undesirable parts."
    IF they have you go in for a colposcopy, be prepared to feel like you had a baby. I'm not looking forward to the next step which is certain to be worse. One of the great things about living when we do is that now they know this about me, they'll test me more often and I may just have to go in for this once in a while instead of dying at 33 of unknown causes.
    Sorry. Probably not the best thing to encourage you, but just so you know, it's not that big of a deal. They'll take care of it, and make you come in for that really FUN visit a little more often.

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  3. I wonder why they're waiting 3 months to re-test you instead of 3 days or 3 weeks.

    I'm going for mine on the 26th.

    And please don't worry. I had abnormal test results twice and it wasn't anything.

    @Jolene -- I'm glad they caught it in time. I'll be praying for you. And you too Suzi.

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  4. I found you via KarenG (Coming Down the Mountain). I've read through several of your posts. Your WIPs sound intriguing. I'll be back to see how you're doing, healthwise and with writing. As women, we all go through this. Take care.
    Ann

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  5. Thank you, everyone! I'm sure this will probably just disappear before I go back, and everything will be fine. But I'm a world class worrier, and I'd be depriving myself of some fine worry time if I just let this go :)

    @Nicole, I hope you can find a way to get yours done. I don't know what health care in your part of the world is like (England or US model?), but I hope you don't let it slide if you don't have to :)

    @Jolene, I'm glad you're taking care of this, and I feel so lucky that we live in a time where it can be discovered and handled. Hugs if you want them.

    @Piedmont Writer, it's very slow going. And there's a good chance this layer of cells will be shed and there's nothing underneath. So three months gives them a good idea of whether or not anything more drastic needs to be done. But yeah, I wish I didn't have to wait three months.

    @Ann Best, hi and welcome! (And your grandchildren, heck your whole family, look adorable!) Good luck with your revision!

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