One of my biggest fears is dying before my kids grow up. Every little mole.. lump... dizzy feeling... and whatever feeling I have is evaluated and if I think it is serious I go to the doctor.. Don't get me wrong, I am not a hypochondriac - I don't live at the doctor's office nor do I feel like I am dying just yet.. I do not have good DNA- a family legacy of cancer and heart disease... and I rather look any potential health risk in the face rather than bury my head in the sand... Both grandmothers had breast cancer, aunts and uncles died of cancer, several first cousins have died of cancer, and my dad had tongue cancer but died from a bad heart...
I have been getting yearly mammograms since I was 32 years old - next one is due next month. I already had to fight my first cancer battle 5 years ago when my doctor discovered a rare form of vulva cancer caused from the HPV virus (that will be a different blog)... Because of this weird virus - I had a section of my vulva removed and have to see an oncologist every 6 months... Joy!! Us ladies sure do love our gynecologist appointments, don't we?... yuck!
While on vacation in the Bahamas a few years ago - I discovered that I had blood after a BM. It did not stop but continued to get worse. When I came home, my doctor thought it was a hemorrhoid - but he did send me to another doctor to get evaluated for a colonoscopy. Sure enough, I had to have one and the doctor found 3 very large polyps - the kind that can turn to colon cancer.... Went back the following year for a follow up and discovered a couple of small ones. The doctor advised me to come back every two years.... Mind you today, I am 43 years old....
I will continue to be poked and prodded if that is what it takes to be in control of my health... To be able to continue being healthy for my kids.. for my husband... and for me... I am lucky to be able to go to any doctor at anytime... I don't need to get an authorization... I don't need to wait to see a specialist... I just go and my insurance will cover it... Granted we pay very high premiums for this luxury.. but it's worth it to me...
In 1994 - I had a fever of unknown origin... The doctors were stumped.... I did not have to wait for tests.. I did not have to wait to see a doctor.... After about the tenth blood test - the doctor calls me to tell me my kidneys are not working and I was rushed to the hospital.... I truly believe if I had a HMO or socialized medicine - I would be dead....
I will not get into a debate about socialized medicine or Obama's health care whatever...... I will be honest and say - I don't know enough to have an educated conversation or debate and silly me I am okay in my ignorance.... I do not believe that the government should run our choices of who we see and when see them... I believe in a free democracy..... I believe in being in charge of my own health....
I had a friend once who actually was a hypochondriac. She made a really good point once. She said is it worse to run for the doctor every time I'm sick or to be like everyone else and ignore every symptom, thinking if I ignore it, it won't be anything serious? Now I try to be conscientious, just not TOO conscientious.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you have to be poked and prodded so much. It's good you are being pro-active though! I hope there are some senators with enough sense to vote this down.
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