I really, really hate doctors.

[MaggieTheCat]

And the updates just keep on coming!

Apparently the reason that they told me I needed to have the pap done again was because they misplaced/lost the vial that had my sample in it, and the lab never got it to do any testing on. Now they found the vial. And they sent it to the lab. So I should have the results today or tomorrow. The (original) dr. is supposed to call me directly to discuss the results (and other things) with me. (I already had a call from some customer service coordinator who told me they found my sample.)

At least they are putting effort into rectifying the situation. Both of the ladies I spoke with (a clinical supervisor last week, and the customer service coordinator today) both reviewed the situation and admitted that there were a number of screw-ups and miscommunications between the dr and her staff, and myself, and they are taking steps to improve the situation (the nurse who gave me such a headache has been coached on the proper way to handle a situation like this.)

[AdminAssistant]

I'll have to soon, 'cuz I'm almost a quarter-century old!

Yes, actually, you should get one NOW. Even if you're not sexually active, you can still get cancer. I believe that they can do the exam in such a way as to leave you...intact...if you get my meaning.

What's really going to be fun is when I get to start my annual mammograms when I hit 30 (in two years). Wheeeeeee.....not.

[kpzra]

But since the baby it's not bothered me much or hurt, even though I had a c-section and he didn't come out that way.

At my 8 week post delivery it wasn't the usual nurse setting up. She took a look at the size of my daughter and said they'd have to use the bigger speculum. My doctor walked by in time to hear mr saying "C-section baby, C-SECTION BABY!!!" Guess I ffreaked out a bit when I saw the one she had pulled out, even my doctor was wondering why they had one that big.

[Fire_on_High]

The last doc had a steel speculum and she wouldn't warm it up. I requested it and she said she had no way to do so except to run it under hot water for several minutes, which would take too long.

Your doc is a total cow then. Mine runs it under the water for about 45 seconds and it's an immense difference.

I'd have to wonder if a doc who was willing to cut corners on something so trivial might also elect not to to take extra time elsewhere, if they felt they could bully you into accepting it.

[trailerparkmedic]

Urg. I'm so glad I don't have to get the Lady-Exam (not active like that! ... ?)... I'll have to soon, 'cuz I'm almost a quarter-century old!

You're supposed to start getting annual exams at 21, even if you aren't sexually active. Annual exams should include more than a pap smear (haha, tell that to the student health doctor I last saw), and catch more problems than just cancer. Take care of yourself!

[teh_blumchenkinder]

trailerparkmedic, adminassistant-- yeah... I've been fudging it, mostly because (I believe) I'm coming off of a depressive funk I've been in for the last few years, so it's included stuff like paperwork, schoolwork, church attendance/social stuff, and even hygiene matters like teeth brushing! And lady-part cancer (ovarian, etc.) doesn't run in my family. Yeah, yeah no excuse but... still. Don't wanna have cold steel anything shoved in there.
Thankfully, it's included in free services of the student health plan at my school. ... which makes sense.

[MaggieTheCat]

More updateyness:

They found the vial with my sample in it and sent it off to the lab, but the lab still wasn't able to run it. It wasn't because it sat around for 3 weeks (I asked)...it's because they just didn't have enough cells to do the test. The woman I talked to (customer service coordinator) was an OBGYN for 20 years before getting the position she's in now, so she explained that this is not a completely unheard of occurrence...it does happen sometimes. She said it's more likely to happen if the woman is on something like Benedryl or Muscinex, which is designed to dry up your sinuses...apparently they can also dry up other parts of the body and make getting an adequate sample difficult. And I WAS on Muscinex when I had the exam done, since I had picked up my husband's New Years cold.

So, a word of advice to all you ladies, try not to have your pap done if you're taking any kind of decongestant, or at least drink tons of water before the exam so you're plenty hydrated.

Anyway, I'm right back where I started. Hooray.