a rant

[Guest guest]

Kadee,

According to my midwife, you do not need a yearly pap test in your twenties.

Do you have the option of midwifery care?

If so, midwives will do well woman care. If you have more questions feel

free to ask.

Laura

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I went to my " well woman " doctor visit today since it's required to

get my birth control pills. I said no to the pap test since I had one

about a year and a half ago and I'm not at high risk for anything and

those visits always leave me feeling filthy for quite some time. So

the doctor refuses to give me birth control pills if I don't have the

stupid test done. Makes me wonder if they'll treat me for the flu

since I refused the vaccine! Why do they insist I have this test

yearly? Jeff and I are thinking of having another baby, we'd conceive

next year sometime, and after this visit I'm terrified they'd

" require " other things while I was pregnant like exams and medication

and all that (Air Force doctors are the ultimate pill pushers). The

thread on this list not long ago got me wondering and I did lots of

reading, and apparently a lot of things were done to me while I was

pregnant that were very unnecessary. So I'm pretty upset with these

doctors! I can't think of any reason why I would need yearly pap

tests. I'm 22, had completely uneventful pregnancies, no c-sections,

I'm healthy, I don't smoke, no family history of any female

problems... why on earth should I go have this done every year?? And

for them to deny me birth control because I won't consent to something

I feel is unnecessary... such crap. Maybe they think I'll just get

pregnant and they can force me into the test then!

 

Kadee Sedtal

[Guest guest]

I think this is similar to how you HAVE to have an eye exam every

two years or you cannot get new contacts. They say it is for your

best to make sure you are not developing any eye diseases, but I

believe it's just a way to make sure that they keep the money

rolling in.

I agree with you that it stinks, especially when you really want the

birth control pills or the new contacts, but sometimes I figure I

need to save up my energy for the bigger fights.

When it comes to their pocketbooks, I don't know that we stand a

chance and I'm sure that it is policy and good luck changing

policy...there's no one to blame, right? Hmm.

Jill

 

, " Kadee " <abbey_road3012

wrote:

>

> I went to my " well woman " doctor visit today since it's required to

> get my birth control pills. I said no to the pap test since I had

one

> about a year and a half ago and I'm not at high risk for anything

and

> those visits always leave me feeling filthy for quite some time. So

> the doctor refuses to give me birth control pills if I don't have

the

> stupid test done. Makes me wonder if they'll treat me for the flu

> since I refused the vaccine! Why do they insist I have this test

> yearly? Jeff and I are thinking of having another baby, we'd

conceive

> next year sometime, and after this visit I'm terrified they'd

> " require " other things while I was pregnant like exams and

medication

> and all that (Air Force doctors are the ultimate pill pushers). The

> thread on this list not long ago got me wondering and I did lots of

> reading, and apparently a lot of things were done to me while I was

> pregnant that were very unnecessary. So I'm pretty upset with these

> doctors! I can't think of any reason why I would need yearly pap

> tests. I'm 22, had completely uneventful pregnancies, no c-

sections,

> I'm healthy, I don't smoke, no family history of any female

> problems... why on earth should I go have this done every year??

And

> for them to deny me birth control because I won't consent to

something

> I feel is unnecessary... such crap. Maybe they think I'll just get

> pregnant and they can force me into the test then!

>

> Kadee Sedtal

>

[Guest guest]

I will have to check on that. I'm getting so sick of these people trying to

force me into things. This exam is so obviously not necessary, the doctor today

says it is because I'm sexually active... like a one-size-fits-all thing. I take

way too much good care of myself to be put into the same mold as all these other

women who stuff themselves with McDonald's and do nothing to prevent problems.

They just go in every year to see if their unhealthy lifestyles have caught up

with them yet!! I will check with our insurance to see if they have any other

options. Thanks.

 

 

VAP79 wrote: Kadee,

According to my midwife, you do not need a yearly pap test in your twenties.

Do you have the option of midwifery care?

If so, midwives will do well woman care. If you have more questions feel

free to ask.

Laura

 

[Guest guest]

I see both sides on this issue.

 

It's a very real problem that patients -- especially

women, children, and the elderly -- are not treated

with respect. " We know best....don't you dare

question us " is common enough in medicine. We've all

seen it in action. Insisting on " our way or the

highway " without any explanation is not fair to Kadee

or anyone else in that position. It's also not good

medicine. If they have reasons for making the birth

control contingent upon updated pap smear testing,

then they need to be able to explain that. Otherwise,

they run the risk of alienating their patients, and

ultimately not providing the best treatment possible,

then or in future (especially when the result is that

the patient doesn't trust them anymore, maybe doesn't

even come back).

 

On the other hand, oftentimes there is sound medical

reasoning behind the idea of testing before moving

forward. If a pap smear comes out abnormal, it could

affect choices about birth control, fertility options,

etc. A lot can change in a year.

 

Basically, the lines of communication need to be open.

A dialogue that included information such as " we're a

monogamous married couple " should cause the medical

staff to consider the possibility that a second pap

smear isn't necessary. But they can't just do that in

their heads. They need to actually explain what their

policy is, why it's the policy, and to show that they

are open to considering compromises to that policy

when warranted.

 

I hear you, Kadee, that your experience with this

situation makes you wonder how much respect you'll get

once you're pregnant.

 

If your family has a pediatrician who supports your

vegetarianism -- indicating an openness to thinking

outside the box -- maybe s/he could recommend a better

ob/gyn for you.

 

Liz

[Guest guest]

Well this is going to be one of my big fights... during both my pregnancies I

was pushed into having multiple exams and it made me feel so dirty afterwards

that I wouldn't even leave the house for several days. Irrational, I know! I

guess they'd rather have me get pregnant than have the pills. Maybe I ought to

bring that up to them, that if they don't give me birth control pills I'll end

up pregnant and they'll have that to deal with... though the way the base clinic

is operated here I don't think I'd trust them with me if I was pregnant!

I think they just expect us to be ignorant. True, most people are ignorant on

this subject, but it's just like when I take my dogs to the vet and get talked

to like I'm a moron... it's so common that they just treat everyone like an

idiot. I wish they'd just assess each situation and behave accordingly. Instead

of forcing me into something I absolutely don't want or need done, they could

look at my lifestyle and diet and family history, see that I'm at very, very low

risk, and just write the stupid prescription. But instead they just assume I

don't know anything, give me the choice of being violated or not having any

birth control, and leave no room for anything else. What is sad is that the Air

Force is not concerned with the long-term health of anyone in its care. The

insurance will pay for all the antibiotics you can swallow, vaccinations galore,

and all these routine things like pap tests, but the doctors know absolutely

nothing about gentler ways to heal or even ways

to prevent illness. Detect and treat- that's it. There I go rambling again,

sorry!

 

 

Jill Wenzel <jillben2005 wrote:

I think this is similar to how you HAVE to have an eye exam every

two years or you cannot get new contacts. They say it is for your

best to make sure you are not developing any eye diseases, but I

believe it's just a way to make sure that they keep the money

rolling in.

I agree with you that it stinks, especially when you really want the

birth control pills or the new contacts, but sometimes I figure I

need to save up my energy for the bigger fights.

When it comes to their pocketbooks, I don't know that we stand a

chance and I'm sure that it is policy and good luck changing

policy...there's no one to blame, right? Hmm.

Jill

 

, " Kadee " <abbey_road3012

wrote:

>

> I went to my " well woman " doctor visit today since it's required to

> get my birth control pills. I said no to the pap test since I had

one

> about a year and a half ago and I'm not at high risk for anything

and

> those visits always leave me feeling filthy for quite some time. So

> the doctor refuses to give me birth control pills if I don't have

the

> stupid test done. Makes me wonder if they'll treat me for the flu

> since I refused the vaccine! Why do they insist I have this test

> yearly? Jeff and I are thinking of having another baby, we'd

conceive

> next year sometime, and after this visit I'm terrified they'd

> " require " other things while I was pregnant like exams and

medication

> and all that (Air Force doctors are the ultimate pill pushers). The

> thread on this list not long ago got me wondering and I did lots of

> reading, and apparently a lot of things were done to me while I was

> pregnant that were very unnecessary. So I'm pretty upset with these

> doctors! I can't think of any reason why I would need yearly pap

> tests. I'm 22, had completely uneventful pregnancies, no c-

sections,

> I'm healthy, I don't smoke, no family history of any female

> problems... why on earth should I go have this done every year??

And

> for them to deny me birth control because I won't consent to

something

> I feel is unnecessary... such crap. Maybe they think I'll just get

> pregnant and they can force me into the test then!

>

> Kadee Sedtal

>

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kadee Sedtal

 

Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll

stay warm the rest of his life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsored Link

 

Get an Online or Campus degree - Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's -in less

than one year.

 

 

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately since my husband is in the military we are stuck with the base

doctors, and the pediatricians are pill pushers just like the other doctors. I

haven't really looked into other options, though. I am going to get started on

that as soon as they give me a call back... got an answering machine today!

Rrrgh. Hopefully there's something I can do, I certainly do not trust these

people with my kids anymore, now I don't trust them with me either after the big

" guessing game " with that skin infection! I will bring that up to them, that

they can't provide the best care if they're alienating their patients. Maybe I

can just go straight to the insurance people instead of dealing with the

doctors... wonder if they'd pay for me to get my tubes tied!! Come to think of

it, I ought to ask about that... Or Jeff could have a vasectomy. He'd

probably rather die, though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ERB <bakwin wrote: I see both

sides on this issue.

 

It's a very real problem that patients -- especially

women, children, and the elderly -- are not treated

with respect. " We know best....don't you dare

question us " is common enough in medicine. We've all

seen it in action. Insisting on " our way or the

highway " without any explanation is not fair to Kadee

or anyone else in that position. It's also not good

medicine. If they have reasons for making the birth

control contingent upon updated pap smear testing,

then they need to be able to explain that. Otherwise,

they run the risk of alienating their patients, and

ultimately not providing the best treatment possible,

then or in future (especially when the result is that

the patient doesn't trust them anymore, maybe doesn't

even come back).

 

On the other hand, oftentimes there is sound medical

reasoning behind the idea of testing before moving

forward. If a pap smear comes out abnormal, it could

affect choices about birth control, fertility options,

etc. A lot can change in a year.

 

Basically, the lines of communication need to be open.

A dialogue that included information such as " we're a

monogamous married couple " should cause the medical

staff to consider the possibility that a second pap

smear isn't necessary. But they can't just do that in

their heads. They need to actually explain what their

policy is, why it's the policy, and to show that they

are open to considering compromises to that policy

when warranted.

 

I hear you, Kadee, that your experience with this

situation makes you wonder how much respect you'll get

once you're pregnant.

 

If your family has a pediatrician who supports your

vegetarianism -- indicating an openness to thinking

outside the box -- maybe s/he could recommend a better

ob/gyn for you.

 

Liz

 

 

 

 

 

Kadee Sedtal

 

Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll

stay warm the rest of his life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsored Link

 

Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo - Calculate new

house payment

 

 

[Guest guest]

PAP smears save lives. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 27.

I take VERY good care of myself and was/am in a monogamous relationship. I do

not stuff myself with McDonald's. The fact that I had cancer was NOT MY FAULT.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with your MD, but you sound very judgemental

yourself. A lot can change in a year, in fact mine showed big changes in only 3

months. I am not sure why you think this exam is " so obviously not necessary "

I am just thankful that I live in a country that screens yearly, otherwise I

would be dead.

 

 

 

Kadee M <abbey_road3012 wrote:

I will have to check on that. I'm getting so sick of these people

trying to force me into things. This exam is so obviously not necessary, the

doctor today says it is because I'm sexually active... like a one-size-fits-all

thing. I take way too much good care of myself to be put into the same mold as

all these other women who stuff themselves with McDonald's and do nothing to

prevent problems. They just go in every year to see if their unhealthy

lifestyles have caught up with them yet!! I will check with our insurance to see

if they have any other options. Thanks.

 

VAP79 wrote: Kadee,

According to my midwife, you do not need a yearly pap test in your twenties.

Do you have the option of midwifery care?

If so, midwives will do well woman care. If you have more questions feel

free to ask.

Laura

 

 

[Guest guest]

What about a diaphram? Around 30, my blood pressure spike from the pill. I

love using reliable contraception that doesn't mess with my body.

 

Kadee M <abbey_road3012 wrote: Well this is going to be one

of my big fights... during both my pregnancies I was pushed into having multiple

exams and it made me feel so dirty afterwards that I wouldn't even leave the

house for several days. Irrational, I know! I guess they'd rather have me get

pregnant than have the pills. Maybe I ought to bring that up to them, that if

they don't give me birth control pills I'll end up pregnant and they'll have

that to deal with... though the way the base clinic is operated here I don't

think I'd trust them with me if I was pregnant!

I think they just expect us to be ignorant. True, most people are ignorant on

this subject, but it's just like when I take my dogs to the vet and get talked

to like I'm a moron... it's so common that they just treat everyone like an

idiot. I wish they'd just assess each situation and behave accordingly. Instead

of forcing me into something I absolutely don't want or need done, they could

look at my lifestyle and diet and family history, see that I'm at very, very low

risk, and just write the stupid prescription. But instead they just assume I

don't know anything, give me the choice of being violated or not having any

birth control, and leave no room for anything else. What is sad is that the Air

Force is not concerned with the long-term health of anyone in its care. The

insurance will pay for all the antibiotics you can swallow, vaccinations galore,

and all these routine things like pap tests, but the doctors know absolutely

nothing about gentler ways to heal or even ways

to prevent illness. Detect and treat- that's it. There I go rambling again,

sorry!

 

Jill Wenzel <jillben2005 wrote: I think this is similar to how

you HAVE to have an eye exam every

two years or you cannot get new contacts. They say it is for your

best to make sure you are not developing any eye diseases, but I

believe it's just a way to make sure that they keep the money

rolling in.

I agree with you that it stinks, especially when you really want the

birth control pills or the new contacts, but sometimes I figure I

need to save up my energy for the bigger fights.

When it comes to their pocketbooks, I don't know that we stand a

chance and I'm sure that it is policy and good luck changing

policy...there's no one to blame, right? Hmm.

Jill

 

, " Kadee " <abbey_road3012

wrote:

>

> I went to my " well woman " doctor visit today since it's required to

> get my birth control pills. I said no to the pap test since I had

one

> about a year and a half ago and I'm not at high risk for anything

and

> those visits always leave me feeling filthy for quite some time. So

> the doctor refuses to give me birth control pills if I don't have

the

> stupid test done. Makes me wonder if they'll treat me for the flu

> since I refused the vaccine! Why do they insist I have this test

> yearly? Jeff and I are thinking of having another baby, we'd

conceive

> next year sometime, and after this visit I'm terrified they'd

> " require " other things while I was pregnant like exams and

medication

> and all that (Air Force doctors are the ultimate pill pushers). The

> thread on this list not long ago got me wondering and I did lots of

> reading, and apparently a lot of things were done to me while I was

> pregnant that were very unnecessary. So I'm pretty upset with these

> doctors! I can't think of any reason why I would need yearly pap

> tests. I'm 22, had completely uneventful pregnancies, no c-

sections,

> I'm healthy, I don't smoke, no family history of any female

> problems... why on earth should I go have this done every year??

And

> for them to deny me birth control because I won't consent to

something

> I feel is unnecessary... such crap. Maybe they think I'll just get

> pregnant and they can force me into the test then!

>

> Kadee Sedtal

>

 

 

 

 

 

Kadee Sedtal

 

Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll

stay warm the rest of his life.

 

 

Sponsored Link

 

Get an Online or Campus degree - Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's -in less

than one year.

 

 

[Guest guest]

well, i'm the student midwife promoting homebirth on here a while ago...so i

won't say that i'm unbiased and i definitely will not say that i am in favor

of traditional care for women. BUT in the case of BC pills, there is

actually a very good reason why they do annual exams, and that's because

certain cancers, which often go undetected for a long time, and can strike

at any age, can go into overdrive on BC pills, because of the hormones. so,

while you might indeed not need a pap for STDs, there is a pretty good

reason to do one to detect abnormal cells that might be cancerous or

precancerous. if you had cervical cancer or even just the initiation of it

and continued being on BC pills indefinitely without identifying that risk,

you could be in some serious trouble.

 

as for exams...YUCK. that is why you need a midwife, lady. a REAL midwife,

not a med-wife. i'm 39 weeks pregnant with my second and have not had a

single exam. and the reason why is that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO DO

ONE. if i was showing signs of preterm labor or an incompetent cervix, or

if i had some sort of scarring, that would be one thing. but in a healthy

woman having a normal pregnancy there is no reason whatsoever to do cervical

exams at all in pregnancy other than for a doctor, nurse or CNM to feel like

s/he is doing something. my midwife even goes out of her way to avoid

cervical exams in labor if possible; contrary to standard care, there's no

good reason to do them then either. they are disruptive and painful and

often are an excellent catalyst for stalling labor. there are two reasons

they are done so often in hospitals. 1-records. 2-because nurses don't

spend enough time with an individual laboring woman to tell from her

movements, sounds, posture, voice, breathing, etc., where she is in her

labor, whereas a midwife who spends an entire labor with a woman CAN say, oh

she's doing this, saying these things, acting this way, that means she's

about, oh, 7 cm. amazing stuff. get a midwife, woman.

 

and you definitely are not weird for feeling disgusting after an exam. they

are disgusting.

 

chandelle'

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Okay, society has to smarten up. Men refuse to get a prostate exam.

Women refuse to get a pap test. None of this is sexual. It's life

saving. Yes, if you are sexually active you should have an exam. A

pap test can help find the Papilloma Virus which you can pass on to

anyone you are sexually involved with. Human papilloma virus, or

HPV, can cause changes to the cells in the cervix. It is estimated

that 97 percent of abnormal Pap smears are due to HPV infection.

There are many different strains of HPV; some strains increase a

woman's risk of cervical cancer. My mother avoided going for Pap

tests probably because she was uncomfortable. Maybe if she had

started earlier in her life getting regular tests she would have

detected her cancer earlier and not passed away at the age of 40.

My mother had an uneventful pregnancy, no c-sections, healthy, didn't

smoke, didn't drink, no family history of any female problems. Yes,

she was 40 but like I said if she had been in the habit of having

regular tests she might be alive today.

 

I don't believe it is proper for a physician to withhold BCP because

you won't take a test. If he's a good doctor he'd ask you why, give

you sound reasons why you should have the test and if you still

refuse recommend seeing someone you are more comfortable with. When

I was in my 20's I felt more comfortable with a female doctor. Now

that I'm in my 40's I still don't look forward to my annual physical

but I want to be around for my children and my children's children.

Every year when the kids go back to school I see the doctor. If I

don't want to go because I'm embarrassed but I know I have to go for

my kids' sake.

 

All too often we just settle for the `service' we get from

professionals. Please don't let this experience stop you from taking

care of your body.

 

I'm sorry if this sounds preachy but I wish I knew that my mom wasn't

having here yearly exams. I would have talked to convince her she

needed to. I just wish I had the opportunity.

 

Always Audrey

[Guest guest]

I've never used anything but the pill and condoms... I like this Seasonale

because it's a 3 month cycle, which means horrible cramps only once every three

months rather than every three to five weeks. I got a call back earlier and

they are apparently not going to work with me at all, so I am looking for other

options. Worst case I'll have to pay out of pocket for one visit to a midwife or

something and get the prescription, which the insurance will then cover...

hopefully that won't be too expensive.

 

 

 

robin koloms <rkoloms wrote: What

about a diaphram? Around 30, my blood pressure spike from the pill. I love

using reliable contraception that doesn't mess with my body.

 

Kadee M <abbey_road3012 wrote: Well this is going to be one

of my big fights... during both my pregnancies I was pushed into having multiple

exams and it made me feel so dirty afterwards that I wouldn't even leave the

house for several days. Irrational, I know! I guess they'd rather have me get

pregnant than have the pills. Maybe I ought to bring that up to them, that if

they don't give me birth control pills I'll end up pregnant and they'll have

that to deal with... though the way the base clinic is operated here I don't

think I'd trust them with me if I was pregnant!

I think they just expect us to be ignorant. True, most people are ignorant on

this subject, but it's just like when I take my dogs to the vet and get talked

to like I'm a moron... it's so common that they just treat everyone like an

idiot. I wish they'd just assess each situation and behave accordingly. Instead

of forcing me into something I absolutely don't want or need done, they could

look at my lifestyle and diet and family history, see that I'm at very, very low

risk, and just write the stupid prescription. But instead they just assume I

don't know anything, give me the choice of being violated or not having any

birth control, and leave no room for anything else. What is sad is that the Air

Force is not concerned with the long-term health of anyone in its care. The

insurance will pay for all the antibiotics you can swallow, vaccinations galore,

and all these routine things like pap tests, but the doctors know absolutely

nothing about gentler ways to heal or even ways

to prevent illness. Detect and treat- that's it. There I go rambling again,

sorry!

 

Jill Wenzel <jillben2005 wrote: I think this is similar to how

you HAVE to have an eye exam every

two years or you cannot get new contacts. They say it is for your

best to make sure you are not developing any eye diseases, but I

believe it's just a way to make sure that they keep the money

rolling in.

I agree with you that it stinks, especially when you really want the

birth control pills or the new contacts, but sometimes I figure I

need to save up my energy for the bigger fights.

When it comes to their pocketbooks, I don't know that we stand a

chance and I'm sure that it is policy and good luck changing

policy...there's no one to blame, right? Hmm.

Jill

 

, " Kadee " <abbey_road3012

wrote:

>

> I went to my " well woman " doctor visit today since it's required to

> get my birth control pills. I said no to the pap test since I had

one

> about a year and a half ago and I'm not at high risk for anything

and

> those visits always leave me feeling filthy for quite some time. So

> the doctor refuses to give me birth control pills if I don't have

the

> stupid test done. Makes me wonder if they'll treat me for the flu

> since I refused the vaccine! Why do they insist I have this test

> yearly? Jeff and I are thinking of having another baby, we'd

conceive

> next year sometime, and after this visit I'm terrified they'd

> " require " other things while I was pregnant like exams and

medication

> and all that (Air Force doctors are the ultimate pill pushers). The

> thread on this list not long ago got me wondering and I did lots of

> reading, and apparently a lot of things were done to me while I was

> pregnant that were very unnecessary. So I'm pretty upset with these

> doctors! I can't think of any reason why I would need yearly pap

> tests. I'm 22, had completely uneventful pregnancies, no c-

sections,

> I'm healthy, I don't smoke, no family history of any female

> problems... why on earth should I go have this done every year??

And

> for them to deny me birth control because I won't consent to

something

> I feel is unnecessary... such crap. Maybe they think I'll just get

> pregnant and they can force me into the test then!

>

> Kadee Sedtal

>

 

Kadee Sedtal

 

Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll

stay warm the rest of his life.

 

Sponsored Link

 

Get an Online or Campus degree - Associate's, Bachelor's, or Master's -in less

than one year.

 

[Guest guest]

Will have to find me a midwife then. If Jeff and I do decide to have another

baby I am *not* going to these base clinic doctors while I'm pregnant. They're

more interested in policy than patients. As much as I hated the normal OBGYNs I

went to I don't even want to think about having that experience with an Air

Force doctor. I'm hoping to get a call back from the insurance folks today

sometime and will find out if they'll pay for a midwife. Even if not I'm at the

point where I don't mind paying to see one if it means not having to go to these

monsters at the clinic.

 

 

 

earthmother <earthmother213 wrote:

well, i'm the student midwife promoting homebirth on here a while ago...so i

won't say that i'm unbiased and i definitely will not say that i am in favor

of traditional care for women. BUT in the case of BC pills, there is

actually a very good reason why they do annual exams, and that's because

certain cancers, which often go undetected for a long time, and can strike

at any age, can go into overdrive on BC pills, because of the hormones. so,

while you might indeed not need a pap for STDs, there is a pretty good

reason to do one to detect abnormal cells that might be cancerous or

precancerous. if you had cervical cancer or even just the initiation of it

and continued being on BC pills indefinitely without identifying that risk,

you could be in some serious trouble.

 

as for exams...YUCK. that is why you need a midwife, lady. a REAL midwife,

not a med-wife. i'm 39 weeks pregnant with my second and have not had a

single exam. and the reason why is that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO DO

ONE. if i was showing signs of preterm labor or an incompetent cervix, or

if i had some sort of scarring, that would be one thing. but in a healthy

woman having a normal pregnancy there is no reason whatsoever to do cervical

exams at all in pregnancy other than for a doctor, nurse or CNM to feel like

s/he is doing something. my midwife even goes out of her way to avoid

cervical exams in labor if possible; contrary to standard care, there's no

good reason to do them then either. they are disruptive and painful and

often are an excellent catalyst for stalling labor. there are two reasons

they are done so often in hospitals. 1-records. 2-because nurses don't

spend enough time with an individual laboring woman to tell from her

movements, sounds, posture, voice, breathing, etc., where she is in her

labor, whereas a midwife who spends an entire labor with a woman CAN say, oh

she's doing this, saying these things, acting this way, that means she's

about, oh, 7 cm. amazing stuff. get a midwife, woman.

 

and you definitely are not weird for feeling disgusting after an exam. they

are disgusting.

 

chandelle'

 

[Guest guest]

I almost always used a diaphragm. Now, after two kids, my husband has

a vasectomy, which I heartily recommend I have friends who have

had their tubes

tied, and that works too. It's just much more invasive. I believe

that there comes a time for the husband to be responsible for B.C.!

Anyway, I tried the pill for a couple of months around

14-15 years ago and got two vaginal yeast infections in a row which

I'd never had before and have never had again! I told the doctor

about it and she had never heard of it. OTC

medications took care of it at the time. Now I've read that long term

use of the pill can contribute to over-grown candida in the gut. My

body told me to quit right away!

 

As far as the yearly exams go, they are checking for HPV among other

things (as earthmother mentioned). If I had access to free(ish)

healthcare, I would probably go for it, but I just accept

the poking and proding and then get over it (forget about it and go

on). BTW, during both of my pregnancies I had different doctors

(conventional) and neither one even suggested

a vaginal exam until I was in labor. We pay for most of our

healthcare outright because we have catastrophic insurance with a

large deductible. I try to avoid doctors by trying to eat an

alkaline low-fat, vegetable-rich high-fiber vegan diet (beans

everyday) with lots and lots of green! If I could find a doctor that

I liked, I'd probably go, though! I do have a naturopath, but she

doesn't do vaginal exams.

 

Tracy

 

 

On Nov 21, 2006, at 4:55 PM, robin koloms wrote:

 

> What about a diaphram? Around 30, my blood pressure spike from the

> pill. I love using reliable contraception that doesn't mess with my

> body.

>

> Kadee M <abbey_road3012 wrote: Well this is going to be

> one of my big fights... during both my pregnancies I was pushed

> into having multiple exams and it made me feel so dirty afterwards

> that I wouldn't even leave the house for several days. Irrational,

> I know! I guess they'd rather have me get pregnant than have the

> pills. Maybe I ought to bring that up to them, that if they don't

> give me birth control pills I'll end up pregnant and they'll have

> that to deal with... though the way the base clinic is operated

> here I don't think I'd trust them with me if I was pregnant!

> I think they just expect us to be ignorant. True, most people are

> ignorant on this subject, but it's just like when I take my dogs to

> the vet and get talked to like I'm a moron... it's so common that

> they just treat everyone like an idiot. I wish they'd just assess

> each situation and behave accordingly. Instead of forcing me into

> something I absolutely don't want or need done, they could look at

> my lifestyle and diet and family history, see that I'm at very,

> very low risk, and just write the stupid prescription. But instead

> they just assume I don't know anything, give me the choice of being

> violated or not having any birth control, and leave no room for

> anything else. What is sad is that the Air Force is not concerned

> with the long-term health of anyone in its care. The insurance will

> pay for all the antibiotics you can swallow, vaccinations galore,

> and all these routine things like pap tests, but the doctors know

> absolutely nothing about gentler ways to heal or even ways

> to prevent illness. Detect and treat- that's it. There I go

> rambling again, sorry!

>

> Jill Wenzel <jillben2005 wrote: I think this is

> similar to how you HAVE to have an eye exam every

> two years or you cannot get new contacts. They say it is for your

> best to make sure you are not developing any eye diseases, but I

> believe it's just a way to make sure that they keep the money

> rolling in.

> I agree with you that it stinks, especially when you really want the

> birth control pills or the new contacts, but sometimes I figure I

> need to save up my energy for the bigger fights.

> When it comes to their pocketbooks, I don't know that we stand a

> chance and I'm sure that it is policy and good luck changing

> policy...there's no one to blame, right? Hmm.

> Jill

>

> , " Kadee " <abbey_road3012

> wrote:

> >

> > I went to my " well woman " doctor visit today since it's required to

> > get my birth control pills. I said no to the pap test since I had

> one

> > about a year and a half ago and I'm not at high risk for anything

> and

> > those visits always leave me feeling filthy for quite some time. So

> > the doctor refuses to give me birth control pills if I don't have

> the

> > stupid test done. Makes me wonder if they'll treat me for the flu

> > since I refused the vaccine! Why do they insist I have this test

> > yearly? Jeff and I are thinking of having another baby, we'd

> conceive

> > next year sometime, and after this visit I'm terrified they'd

> > " require " other things while I was pregnant like exams and

> medication

> > and all that (Air Force doctors are the ultimate pill pushers). The

> > thread on this list not long ago got me wondering and I did lots of

> > reading, and apparently a lot of things were done to me while I was

> > pregnant that were very unnecessary. So I'm pretty upset with these

> > doctors! I can't think of any reason why I would need yearly pap

> > tests. I'm 22, had completely uneventful pregnancies, no c-

> sections,

> > I'm healthy, I don't smoke, no family history of any female

> > problems... why on earth should I go have this done every year??

> And

> > for them to deny me birth control because I won't consent to

> something

> > I feel is unnecessary... such crap. Maybe they think I'll just get

> > pregnant and they can force me into the test then!

> >

> > Kadee Sedtal

> >

>

> Kadee Sedtal

>

> Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire

> and he'll stay warm the rest of his life.

>

>

> Sponsored Link

>

> Get an Online or Campus degree - Associate's, Bachelor's, or

> Master's -in less than one year.

>

>

[Guest guest]

i'm not a fan of BC pills. have you thought about just using another

method? i was on them for a very short time before getting married, than i

went off them and got pregnant, and then after my son was born i just

couldn't see going on them again. i had all kinds of problems on them, even

after switching pills several times. plus, we went vegan and they are most

definitely not vegan. my husband didn't want me back on them because he

knew how miserable they made me, so we gave condoms a very tentative shot.

i was SO opposed to using condoms, but now for a variety of reasons i

absolutely love them. in fact, i kind of miss using them now that i'm

pregnant. LOL.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I agree. My cousin is in her late 30s and has a number of female problems and

as a result cannot conceive, has multiple cysts, etc.. very long story and we

still don't know what her situation is going to do for her longevity. But the

short of it is, had she had her annual exams, these problems would have been

prevented years ago. See someone you are comfortable with is most important.

 

audhead <audhead wrote: Okay, society has to smarten up. Men

refuse to get a prostate exam.

Women refuse to get a pap test. None of this is sexual. It's life

saving. Yes, if you are sexually active you should have an exam. A

pap test can help find the Papilloma Virus which you can pass on to

anyone you are sexually involved with. Human papilloma virus, or

HPV, can cause changes to the cells in the cervix. It is estimated

that 97 percent of abnormal Pap smears are due to HPV infection.

There are many different strains of HPV; some strains increase a

woman's risk of cervical cancer. My mother avoided going for Pap

tests probably because she was uncomfortable. Maybe if she had

started earlier in her life getting regular tests she would have

detected her cancer earlier and not passed away at the age of 40.

My mother had an uneventful pregnancy, no c-sections, healthy, didn't

smoke, didn't drink, no family history of any female problems. Yes,

she was 40 but like I said if she had been in the habit of having

regular tests she might be alive today.

 

I don't believe it is proper for a physician to withhold BCP because

you won't take a test. If he's a good doctor he'd ask you why, give

you sound reasons why you should have the test and if you still

refuse recommend seeing someone you are more comfortable with. When

I was in my 20's I felt more comfortable with a female doctor. Now

that I'm in my 40's I still don't look forward to my annual physical

but I want to be around for my children and my children's children.

Every year when the kids go back to school I see the doctor. If I

don't want to go because I'm embarrassed but I know I have to go for

my kids' sake.

 

All too often we just settle for the `service' we get from

professionals. Please don't let this experience stop you from taking

care of your body.

 

I'm sorry if this sounds preachy but I wish I knew that my mom wasn't

having here yearly exams. I would have talked to convince her she

needed to. I just wish I had the opportunity.

 

Always Audrey

 

 

 

 

 

 

" The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. "

Gandhi

 

 

 

" Each man is haunted until his humanity awakens " Blake

 

 

 

" Sit down before fact like a little child, and be prepared to give up every

preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever and to whatever abyss Nature leads,

or you shall learn nothing. " T.H. Huxley

 

 

Sponsored Link

 

Mortgage rates as low as 4.625% - $150,000 loan for $579 a month. Intro-*Terms

 

 

[Guest guest]

Smarten up? It's not like I am refusing the test because I'm not intelligent. I

had all those tests done while I was pregnant and would go home and not leave

the house or even answer the phone for several days. It may not be " sexual, " but

it is very personal and my feelings on the matter should not be thrown aside

just saying it might save my life... it's not like I'm refusing them forever,

just annual ones are not necessary. Every three years, fine. I should be

entitled to make my own choices, and the clinic is giving me the options of

having something done that makes me feel like I've been raped, not having sex

with my husband when the marriage is already pretty rocky, or using less

effective birth control and running the risk of an unplanned pregnancy,

something we aren't ready for just yet. If I slept around, sure there's a risk

of all sorts of STDs. But my husband and I are only with each other and we have

both been tested for STDs since being with anyone else. I'm not

an idiot for feeling the way I do. I'm not irresponsible either. I take

excellent care of myself. Is another woman more responsible if she gets fat on

Big Macs and donuts, then goes in for yearly exams? The exams aren't the

important part, prevention is. I've been a vegetarian over ten years. That alone

decreases my chances of having problems. Add to that I eat mostly unprocessed

foods and very healthy things. That is what makes me responsible, not going in

every year to see if my stupid choices have caught up with me yet. Pap tests

aren't prevention, they're tests. Is someone responsible if they take a drug

test after taking drugs? Or getting an STD tests after changing partners like

underwear? I prevent problems, I just refuse to be tested for them way too

often. I'm sorry for what happened to your mother, but that is not something

that happens often at all. Whenever I feel like it's time to get this test, I

will have it done. Till then I have the right to refuse this

test- no " smartening up " required. The smartening up needs to be done by people

who are killing themselves every time they sit down to the dinner table, who

smoke, who drink all the time.

 

 

 

audhead <audhead wrote: Okay, society

has to smarten up. Men refuse to get a prostate exam.

Women refuse to get a pap test. None of this is sexual. It's life

saving. Yes, if you are sexually active you should have an exam. A

pap test can help find the Papilloma Virus which you can pass on to

anyone you are sexually involved with. Human papilloma virus, or

HPV, can cause changes to the cells in the cervix. It is estimated

that 97 percent of abnormal Pap smears are due to HPV infection.

There are many different strains of HPV; some strains increase a

woman's risk of cervical cancer. My mother avoided going for Pap

tests probably because she was uncomfortable. Maybe if she had

started earlier in her life getting regular tests she would have

detected her cancer earlier and not passed away at the age of 40.

My mother had an uneventful pregnancy, no c-sections, healthy, didn't

smoke, didn't drink, no family history of any female problems. Yes,

she was 40 but like I said if she had been in the habit of having

regular tests she might be alive today.

 

I don't believe it is proper for a physician to withhold BCP because

you won't take a test. If he's a good doctor he'd ask you why, give

you sound reasons why you should have the test and if you still

refuse recommend seeing someone you are more comfortable with. When

I was in my 20's I felt more comfortable with a female doctor. Now

that I'm in my 40's I still don't look forward to my annual physical

but I want to be around for my children and my children's children.

Every year when the kids go back to school I see the doctor. If I

don't want to go because I'm embarrassed but I know I have to go for

my kids' sake.

 

All too often we just settle for the `service' we get from

professionals. Please don't let this experience stop you from taking

care of your body.

 

I'm sorry if this sounds preachy but I wish I knew that my mom wasn't

having here yearly exams. I would have talked to convince her she

needed to. I just wish I had the opportunity.

 

Always Audrey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kadee Sedtal

 

Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll

stay warm the rest of his life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsored Link

 

Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo - Calculate new

house payment

 

 

[Guest guest]

I'm trying to get Jeff to think about having a vasectomy once we decide one way

or another about a third baby. Insurance covers it, but not a reversal. Every

time the subject comes up he crosses his legs and looks frightened. I don't

even know what a vasectomy actually does. I will have to look that up.

 

Even then I would be stuck with irregular cycles and bad cramps every month.

With the Seasonale I only have to deal with cramps every three months, and I

know when to expect it. I haven't had any problems with the Seasonale after the

" adjustment " time.

 

On another note, tomorrow I am going to eat like a pig. I nearly had to resort

to threats and violence, but I have at last gotten my wonderful grandmother to

give me the recipe for the stuffing she makes. I'm going to make that and a

buttermilk pie, potato salad, and probably something else good. Can't wait.

 

 

 

Tracy Childs <tracychilds wrote: I

almost always used a diaphragm. Now, after two kids, my husband has

a vasectomy, which I heartily recommend I have friends who have

had their tubes

tied, and that works too. It's just much more invasive. I believe

that there comes a time for the husband to be responsible for B.C.!

Anyway, I tried the pill for a couple of months around

14-15 years ago and got two vaginal yeast infections in a row which

I'd never had before and have never had again! I told the doctor

about it and she had never heard of it. OTC

medications took care of it at the time. Now I've read that long term

use of the pill can contribute to over-grown candida in the gut. My

body told me to quit right away!

 

As far as the yearly exams go, they are checking for HPV among other

things (as earthmother mentioned). If I had access to free(ish)

healthcare, I would probably go for it, but I just accept

the poking and proding and then get over it (forget about it and go

on). BTW, during both of my pregnancies I had different doctors

(conventional) and neither one even suggested

a vaginal exam until I was in labor. We pay for most of our

healthcare outright because we have catastrophic insurance with a

large deductible. I try to avoid doctors by trying to eat an

alkaline low-fat, vegetable-rich high-fiber vegan diet (beans

everyday) with lots and lots of green! If I could find a doctor that

I liked, I'd probably go, though! I do have a naturopath, but she

doesn't do vaginal exams.

 

Tracy

 

On Nov 21, 2006, at 4:55 PM, robin koloms wrote:

 

> What about a diaphram? Around 30, my blood pressure spike from the

> pill. I love using reliable contraception that doesn't mess with my

> body.

>

> Kadee M <abbey_road3012 wrote: Well this is going to be

> one of my big fights... during both my pregnancies I was pushed

> into having multiple exams and it made me feel so dirty afterwards

> that I wouldn't even leave the house for several days. Irrational,

> I know! I guess they'd rather have me get pregnant than have the

> pills. Maybe I ought to bring that up to them, that if they don't

> give me birth control pills I'll end up pregnant and they'll have

> that to deal with... though the way the base clinic is operated

> here I don't think I'd trust them with me if I was pregnant!

> I think they just expect us to be ignorant. True, most people are

> ignorant on this subject, but it's just like when I take my dogs to

> the vet and get talked to like I'm a moron... it's so common that

> they just treat everyone like an idiot. I wish they'd just assess

> each situation and behave accordingly. Instead of forcing me into

> something I absolutely don't want or need done, they could look at

> my lifestyle and diet and family history, see that I'm at very,

> very low risk, and just write the stupid prescription. But instead

> they just assume I don't know anything, give me the choice of being

> violated or not having any birth control, and leave no room for

> anything else. What is sad is that the Air Force is not concerned

> with the long-term health of anyone in its care. The insurance will

> pay for all the antibiotics you can swallow, vaccinations galore,

> and all these routine things like pap tests, but the doctors know

> absolutely nothing about gentler ways to heal or even ways

> to prevent illness. Detect and treat- that's it. There I go

> rambling again, sorry!

>

> Jill Wenzel <jillben2005 wrote: I think this is

> similar to how you HAVE to have an eye exam every

> two years or you cannot get new contacts. They say it is for your

> best to make sure you are not developing any eye diseases, but I

> believe it's just a way to make sure that they keep the money

> rolling in.

> I agree with you that it stinks, especially when you really want the

> birth control pills or the new contacts, but sometimes I figure I

> need to save up my energy for the bigger fights.

> When it comes to their pocketbooks, I don't know that we stand a

> chance and I'm sure that it is policy and good luck changing

> policy...there's no one to blame, right? Hmm.

> Jill

>

> , " Kadee " <abbey_road3012

> wrote:

> >

> > I went to my " well woman " doctor visit today since it's required to

> > get my birth control pills. I said no to the pap test since I had

> one

> > about a year and a half ago and I'm not at high risk for anything

> and

> > those visits always leave me feeling filthy for quite some time. So

> > the doctor refuses to give me birth control pills if I don't have

> the

> > stupid test done. Makes me wonder if they'll treat me for the flu

> > since I refused the vaccine! Why do they insist I have this test

> > yearly? Jeff and I are thinking of having another baby, we'd

> conceive

> > next year sometime, and after this visit I'm terrified they'd

> > " require " other things while I was pregnant like exams and

> medication

> > and all that (Air Force doctors are the ultimate pill pushers). The

> > thread on this list not long ago got me wondering and I did lots of

> > reading, and apparently a lot of things were done to me while I was

> > pregnant that were very unnecessary. So I'm pretty upset with these

> > doctors! I can't think of any reason why I would need yearly pap

> > tests. I'm 22, had completely uneventful pregnancies, no c-

> sections,

> > I'm healthy, I don't smoke, no family history of any female

> > problems... why on earth should I go have this done every year??

> And

> > for them to deny me birth control because I won't consent to

> something

> > I feel is unnecessary... such crap. Maybe they think I'll just get

> > pregnant and they can force me into the test then!

> >

> > Kadee Sedtal

> >

>

> Kadee Sedtal

>

> Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire

> and he'll stay warm the rest of his life.

>

>

> Sponsored Link

>

> Get an Online or Campus degree - Associate's, Bachelor's, or

> Master's -in less than one year.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I do have issues with my normal cycle, it's not predictable at all and I have

awful cramps. The pills work very well for me and I don't have any problems with

them. If it ends up that I am unable to get them, though, I think we will end up

getting Jeff a vasectomy. Poor guy.

 

 

 

earthmother <earthmother213 wrote:

i'm not a fan of BC pills. have you thought about just using another

method? i was on them for a very short time before getting married, than i

went off them and got pregnant, and then after my son was born i just

couldn't see going on them again. i had all kinds of problems on them, even

after switching pills several times. plus, we went vegan and they are most

definitely not vegan. my husband didn't want me back on them because he

knew how miserable they made me, so we gave condoms a very tentative shot.

i was SO opposed to using condoms, but now for a variety of reasons i

absolutely love them. in fact, i kind of miss using them now that i'm

pregnant. LOL.

 

[Guest guest]

I'm not judging other people who take care of themselves. What gets at me is

people who don't, and when their carelessness is taken out on the rest of us.

Yes, things happen to people who do take care of themselves. The issue here is

that people should not have their health care decisions made for them, or have

things pushed on them that they don't want. I do not want this test done. I

really feel like it is unnecessary. I'm not saying it's the same for everyone.

The fact that I don't want it done should be good enough for the doctor. They

are withholding something I need to stay sane. Without birth control I have very

irregular cycles and terrible cramps every month, sometimes every three weeks.

They are trying to force me into this test. I have a different outlook on it

than most people do. I feel horrible after having my clothes off for a stranger.

It makes me feel filthy and gross. Maybe that's not logical, but oh well, that's

how it is. They're trying to force me to do

the same things they require of people who don't take care of themselves, and

that's not right. For those who want yearly exams, fine. But for those of us who

just aren't into that, we shouldn't be forced into it or be denied something

like birth control because some doctor wants to make a point. They don't require

a psychological exam before prescribing antidepressants. They don't even run

tests before prescribing antibiotics. They didn't do allergy testing on me or my

son before prescribing allergy medication. They do a whole lot of guessing here

at this clinic, then they make this rule that I can't get birth control pills

without a test. If there was some consistency in the rules, that might make a

little more sense. A simple skin scraping would have been no more trouble to

them than this pap test, and yet they didn't do it when my kids and I had a skin

infection. They treated for ringworm even though they said it didn't look like

ringworm. We went back later and a

different doctor said it looked like bacteria, and prescribed an ointment for

it. A few weeks after that I went back and another doctor gave me oral

antibiotics and a steroid. Obviously they're not worried about the effects of

the medicines they prescribe. The motto for the last base we were at was, " If it

makes sense, it's probably against regulations. " Same applies here. Yearly exams

aren't right for everyone, and yet they are pretty much forced on some of us!

 

MARY-ELIZA FLANNAGAN <mflannagan0705 wrote:

PAP smears save lives. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 27.

I take VERY good care of myself and was/am in a monogamous relationship. I do

not stuff myself with McDonald's. The fact that I had cancer was NOT MY FAULT.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience with your MD, but you sound very judgemental

yourself. A lot can change in a year, in fact mine showed big changes in only 3

months. I am not sure why you think this exam is " so obviously not necessary "

I am just thankful that I live in a country that screens yearly, otherwise I

would be dead.

 

 

 

Kadee M <abbey_road3012 wrote:

I will have to check on that. I'm getting so sick of these people

trying to force me into things. This exam is so obviously not necessary, the

doctor today says it is because I'm sexually active... like a one-size-fits-all

thing. I take way too much good care of myself to be put into the same mold as

all these other women who stuff themselves with McDonald's and do nothing to

prevent problems. They just go in every year to see if their unhealthy

lifestyles have caught up with them yet!! I will check with our insurance to see

if they have any other options. Thanks.

 

VAP79 wrote: Kadee,

According to my midwife, you do not need a yearly pap test in your twenties.

Do you have the option of midwifery care?

If so, midwives will do well woman care. If you have more questions feel

free to ask.

Laura

 

[Guest guest]

Acupuncture works very well with this particular issue. Look for a

practitioner with " Mac " after their name. It means they hold a master of

acupuncture

degree.

Chinese herbs help as well, usually dispensed by the acupuncturist.

Maybe another option for you!

Laura

 

abbey_road3012 writes:

 

I do have issues with my normal cycle, it's not predictable at all and I

have awful cramps. The pills work very well for me and I don't have any

problems

with them. If it ends up that I am unable to get them, though, I think we

will end up getting Jeff a vasectomy. Poor guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

This thread is getting rather *emotional* and attacking some of the

people who don't mean to offend. And it's technically off topic. I

think many tests are overdone and unnecessary, but in some cases they

may be the only way to catch certain life threatening problems.

 

>Smarten up? It's not like I am refusing the test because I'm not

>intelligent. I had all those tests done while I was pregnant and

>would go home and not leave the house or even answer the phone for

>several days. It may not be " sexual, " but it is very personal and my

>feelings on the matter should not be thrown aside just saying it

>might save my life... it's not like I'm refusing them forever, just

>annual ones are not necessary. Every three years, fine. I should be

>entitled to make my own choices, and the clinic is giving me the

>options of having something done that makes me feel like I've been

>raped, not having sex with my husband when the marriage is already

>pretty rocky, or using less effective birth control and running the

>risk of an unplanned pregnancy, something we aren't ready for just

>yet. If I slept around, sure there's a risk of all sorts of STDs.

>But my husband and I are only with each other and we have both been

>tested for STDs since being with anyone else. I'm not

> an idiot for feeling the way I do. I'm not irresponsible either. I

>take excellent care of myself. Is another woman more responsible if

>she gets fat on Big Macs and donuts, then goes in for yearly exams?

>The exams aren't the important part, prevention is. I've been a

>vegetarian over ten years. That alone decreases my chances of having

>problems. Add to that I eat mostly unprocessed foods and very

>healthy things. That is what makes me responsible, not going in

>every year to see if my stupid choices have caught up with me yet.

>Pap tests aren't prevention, they're tests. Is someone responsible

>if they take a drug test after taking drugs? Or getting an STD tests

>after changing partners like underwear? I prevent problems, I just

>refuse to be tested for them way too often. I'm sorry for what

>happened to your mother, but that is not something that happens

>often at all. Whenever I feel like it's time to get this test, I

>will have it done. Till then I have the right to refuse this

> test- no " smartening up " required. The smartening up needs to be

>done by people who are killing themselves every time they sit down

>to the dinner table, who smoke, who drink all the time.

>

>

>

>audhead <audhead wrote:

>Okay, society has to smarten up. Men refuse to get a prostate exam.

> Women refuse to get a pap test. None of this is sexual. It's life

> saving. Yes, if you are sexually active you should have an exam. A

> pap test can help find the Papilloma Virus which you can pass on to

> anyone you are sexually involved with. Human papilloma virus, or

> HPV, can cause changes to the cells in the cervix. It is estimated

> that 97 percent of abnormal Pap smears are due to HPV infection.

> There are many different strains of HPV; some strains increase a

> woman's risk of cervical cancer. My mother avoided going for Pap

> tests probably because she was uncomfortable. Maybe if she had

> started earlier in her life getting regular tests she would have

> detected her cancer earlier and not passed away at the age of 40.

> My mother had an uneventful pregnancy, no c-sections, healthy, didn't

> smoke, didn't drink, no family history of any female problems. Yes,

> she was 40 but like I said if she had been in the habit of having

> regular tests she might be alive today.

>

> I don't believe it is proper for a physician to withhold BCP because

> you won't take a test. If he's a good doctor he'd ask you why, give

> you sound reasons why you should have the test and if you still

> refuse recommend seeing someone you are more comfortable with. When

> I was in my 20's I felt more comfortable with a female doctor. Now

> that I'm in my 40's I still don't look forward to my annual physical

> but I want to be around for my children and my children's children.

> Every year when the kids go back to school I see the doctor. If I

> don't want to go because I'm embarrassed but I know I have to go for

> my kids' sake.

>

> All too often we just settle for the `service' we get from

> professionals. Please don't let this experience stop you from taking

> care of your body.

>

> I'm sorry if this sounds preachy but I wish I knew that my mom wasn't

> having here yearly exams. I would have talked to convince her she

> needed to. I just wish I had the opportunity.

>

> Always Audrey

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Kadee Sedtal

>

>Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire

>and he'll stay warm the rest of his life.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Sponsored Link

>

>Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo -

>Calculate new house payment

>

>

[Guest guest]

kadee - you absolutely do not need to justify your feelings. health care is

supposed to serve us. it is not supposed to work under coersion. you

absolutely have a rght to question why a test or function is performed.

when people don't ask questions, bad things happen. by choosing a healthier

diet for yourself, you are obviously interested in educating yourself about

your health, and i'm sure that extends into other areas as well. when

people start condoning and promoting blind acceptance to the status quo, we

lose the opportunity to take responsibility for our own choices. yes,

testing can be a good way to catch diseases, but it is not the

end-all-be-all of prevention. in fact, it isn't really prevention at all.

just as many diseases are missed as are caught by testing; just as many

false negatives occur as false positives. don't stop asking questions and

don't ever feel guilty for trying to be more conscious about your health.

and don't ever feel that something is wrong with you for feeling the way you

do post-exam. as painful and invasive as pelvic exams are, it's a wonder so

many women submit to them. i have PTSD from my son's birth and cannot

convince myself to have exams anymore. the very thought of that invasion

turns my stomach, makes me sweat, gives me nightmares, because i remember

the way i felt raped giving birth to my son because i was examined over and

over in a brutal way without being asked for my permission or even being

told that it was going to happen. it was horrible. my midwife does

well-woman care and does exams in a very different manner than the standard

on-your-back-in-stirrups scenario, but i still cannot and would not submit

to an exam unless there was a definite immediate medical need. it's very

sad that so many women forgo healthcare now because of past abuses. i know

that it's not the safest or healthiest thing in the world for me to go

without healthcare altogether, but i cannot consider standard healthcare

anymore. i have only had one sexual partner and so has my husband. we are

both disease-free and i am young and white with no history of female

diseases in my family. i take excellent care of my health, eat a

whole-foods organic vegan diet, exercise, don't take any pharmaceuticals,

including BC pills, etc. etc. etc., and i basically know that i'm doing

everything i can to preserve my good health. sometimes that's the best we

can do, especially those of us who don't have insurance, so that even if we

would consider standard healthcare, we can't afford it anyway. stay strong,

sister.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the support, I am really getting irritated by all this " get over it "

(which I got from my mom) and " just do it anyway " , which is the overall attitude

at the clinic. My husband is in the Air Force so all these visits are free...

too expensive based on what I know of this clinic!! They're a bunch of gorillas

in uniforms, prescribing probably whatever is cheapest that week. Got pain?

Ibuprofen. Anything else wrong? Have some antibiotics. They're allowed to be

careless like that because we're not paying for it, and because they don't get

paid differently either way.

 

 

earthmother <earthmother213 wrote:

kadee - you absolutely do not need to justify your feelings. health care is

supposed to serve us. it is not supposed to work under coersion. you

absolutely have a rght to question why a test or function is performed.

when people don't ask questions, bad things happen. by choosing a healthier

diet for yourself, you are obviously interested in educating yourself about

your health, and i'm sure that extends into other areas as well. when

people start condoning and promoting blind acceptance to the status quo, we

lose the opportunity to take responsibility for our own choices. yes,

testing can be a good way to catch diseases, but it is not the

end-all-be-all of prevention. in fact, it isn't really prevention at all.

just as many diseases are missed as are caught by testing; just as many

false negatives occur as false positives. don't stop asking questions and

don't ever feel guilty for trying to be more conscious about your health.

and don't ever feel that something is wrong with you for feeling the way you

do post-exam. as painful and invasive as pelvic exams are, it's a wonder so

many women submit to them. i have PTSD from my son's birth and cannot

convince myself to have exams anymore. the very thought of that invasion

turns my stomach, makes me sweat, gives me nightmares, because i remember

the way i felt raped giving birth to my son because i was examined over and

over in a brutal way without being asked for my permission or even being

told that it was going to happen. it was horrible. my midwife does

well-woman care and does exams in a very different manner than the standard

on-your-back-in-stirrups scenario, but i still cannot and would not submit

to an exam unless there was a definite immediate medical need. it's very

sad that so many women forgo healthcare now because of past abuses. i know

that it's not the safest or healthiest thing in the world for me to go

without healthcare altogether, but i cannot consider standard healthcare

anymore. i have only had one sexual partner and so has my husband. we are

both disease-free and i am young and white with no history of female

diseases in my family. i take excellent care of my health, eat a

whole-foods organic vegan diet, exercise, don't take any pharmaceuticals,

including BC pills, etc. etc. etc., and i basically know that i'm doing

everything i can to preserve my good health. sometimes that's the best we

can do, especially those of us who don't have insurance, so that even if we

would consider standard healthcare, we can't afford it anyway. stay strong,

sister.

 

[Guest guest]

Being told to " smarten up " after I have obviously not done anything stupid, that

might be taken as offensive by a lot of people. Personal choice is the subject,

not whether or not testing can be beneficial. We all know it can be. Testing too

often is ridiculous though. I *really* do not appreciate being talked down to.

 

 

 

 

 

darranged wrote: This thread is

getting rather *emotional* and attacking some of the

people who don't mean to offend. And it's technically off topic. I

think many tests are overdone and unnecessary, but in some cases they

may be the only way to catch certain life threatening problems.

 

>Smarten up? It's not like I am refusing the test because I'm not

>intelligent. I had all those tests done while I was pregnant and

>would go home and not leave the house or even answer the phone for

>several days. It may not be " sexual, " but it is very personal and my

>feelings on the matter should not be thrown aside just saying it

>might save my life... it's not like I'm refusing them forever, just

>annual ones are not necessary. Every three years, fine. I should be

>entitled to make my own choices, and the clinic is giving me the

>options of having something done that makes me feel like I've been

>raped, not having sex with my husband when the marriage is already

>pretty rocky, or using less effective birth control and running the

>risk of an unplanned pregnancy, something we aren't ready for just

>yet. If I slept around, sure there's a risk of all sorts of STDs.

>But my husband and I are only with each other and we have both been

>tested for STDs since being with anyone else. I'm not

> an idiot for feeling the way I do. I'm not irresponsible either. I

>take excellent care of myself. Is another woman more responsible if

>she gets fat on Big Macs and donuts, then goes in for yearly exams?

>The exams aren't the important part, prevention is. I've been a

>vegetarian over ten years. That alone decreases my chances of having

>problems. Add to that I eat mostly unprocessed foods and very

>healthy things. That is what makes me responsible, not going in

>every year to see if my stupid choices have caught up with me yet.

>Pap tests aren't prevention, they're tests. Is someone responsible

>if they take a drug test after taking drugs? Or getting an STD tests

>after changing partners like underwear? I prevent problems, I just

>refuse to be tested for them way too often. I'm sorry for what

>happened to your mother, but that is not something that happens

>often at all. Whenever I feel like it's time to get this test, I

>will have it done. Till then I have the right to refuse this

> test- no " smartening up " required. The smartening up needs to be

>done by people who are killing themselves every time they sit down

>to the dinner table, who smoke, who drink all the time.

>

>

>

>audhead <audhead wrote:

>Okay, society has to smarten up. Men refuse to get a prostate exam.

> Women refuse to get a pap test. None of this is sexual. It's life

> saving. Yes, if you are sexually active you should have an exam. A

> pap test can help find the Papilloma Virus which you can pass on to

> anyone you are sexually involved with. Human papilloma virus, or

> HPV, can cause changes to the cells in the cervix. It is estimated

> that 97 percent of abnormal Pap smears are due to HPV infection.

> There are many different strains of HPV; some strains increase a

> woman's risk of cervical cancer. My mother avoided going for Pap

> tests probably because she was uncomfortable. Maybe if she had

> started earlier in her life getting regular tests she would have

> detected her cancer earlier and not passed away at the age of 40.

> My mother had an uneventful pregnancy, no c-sections, healthy, didn't

> smoke, didn't drink, no family history of any female problems. Yes,

> she was 40 but like I said if she had been in the habit of having

> regular tests she might be alive today.

>

> I don't believe it is proper for a physician to withhold BCP because

> you won't take a test. If he's a good doctor he'd ask you why, give

> you sound reasons why you should have the test and if you still

> refuse recommend seeing someone you are more comfortable with. When

> I was in my 20's I felt more comfortable with a female doctor. Now

> that I'm in my 40's I still don't look forward to my annual physical

> but I want to be around for my children and my children's children.

> Every year when the kids go back to school I see the doctor. If I

> don't want to go because I'm embarrassed but I know I have to go for

> my kids' sake.

>

> All too often we just settle for the `service' we get from

> professionals. Please don't let this experience stop you from taking

> care of your body.

>

> I'm sorry if this sounds preachy but I wish I knew that my mom wasn't

> having here yearly exams. I would have talked to convince her she

> needed to. I just wish I had the opportunity.

>

> Always Audrey

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Kadee Sedtal

>

>Build a man a fire and he'll stay warm for a day. Set a man on fire

>and he'll stay warm the rest of his life.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Sponsored Link

>

>Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo -

>Calculate new house payment

>

>