Good to know?

[midnightaurora]

I'm one of those people guilty of expecting a doctor/whomever to tell me if I need to do anything special for any given procedure (Blood work, tests, etc). These are the things that people haven't mentioned to me, that I've either learned about after the fact, or just in the nick of time.


College clinic doctors: If you're having someone get a Pap smear before you can give out birth control, mentioning "no sex for 48 hours beforehand" is a good idea. I didn't learn this until 2 years ago & my first Pap was 6 years ago....

My current doctor told me I needed a colposcopy - she even told me what that was. (Non-squeamish people highlight: they look at your vagina & maybe take a few chunks, depending on how it looks.) But the "no sex beforehand" is a good thing to mention too. They're lucky I google'd it to make sure...

I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease 4 years ago. The doctor handed me a script, told me to take it as directed, and to call if I had any symptoms. At this point, I had just been "asked to take a mental health year" from my college (partially due to the Lyme, which I didn't know I had) - my head wasn't in a place to ask questions, like what symptoms were. Around here, everyone knows about Lyme Disease, but few know what it actually is. I just recently learned that people are usually on a long term med afterward, which I'm asking my doctor about Friday. (Different Dr than the one who diagnosed me.)

[retailsweetie]

My doctor didn't tell me that the particular blood test she was having done on me required fasting beforehand. Luckily, the phlebotomist did the test anyways because that wasn't the only thing that was being tested, and it was only a "good idea" to have fasted beforehand.

I was a little annoyed, but figured it slipped my doctor's mind because she's usually very good at warning me about such things (like when I needed an x-ray prior to an MRI on my knee)

[trailerparkmedic]

I just recently learned that people are usually on a long term med afterward, which I'm asking my doctor about Friday.

Really? I always heard that as soon as you catch it early (unlike people who got it before they knew what Lyme Disease was), you just take the antibiotics and you're good.

It's funny how people who don't live where Lyme Disease is common have no clue what it is. My doctors in Texas give me blank looks when I mention that I had it as a kid, like they have no idea what I'm talking about.

I'd love to know why there is a vaccine against Lyme Disease for dogs and not people.

[Teskeria]

because people love their dogs. The vast majority of the human race however......

[Treasure]

It's funny how people who don't live where Lyme Disease is common have no clue what it is. My doctors in Texas give me blank looks when I mention that I had it as a kid, like they have no idea what I'm talking about.

I'd love to know why there is a vaccine against Lyme Disease for dogs and not people.

I have a friend who got it when she was late teens, early 20's, (iirc)
and the Dr's wouldn't diagnose it (or treat it properly) and kept trying to treat it like it was something else, b/c "Lyme disease doesn't exist in TX"

Um... correct me if i'm wrong, but can't you catch Lyme disease from a certain Tick that live feed on Deer? (ya know, those things you hunt and hang the head of on your wall)

[Naaman]

Really? I always heard that as soon as you catch it early (unlike people who got it before they knew what Lyme Disease was), you just take the antibiotics and you're good.

Mostly - yes. There's a tiny chance of complications (presuming a previously healthy patient).

There's also an issue that "Chronic Lyme Disease" was used as a diagnosis for a grab-bag of vague symptoms and treated by long term antibiotics. Wiki has more information, generally though it's not recognised by any of the reputable medical authorities.

[Primer]

I have a friend who got it when she was late teens, early 20's, (iirc)
and the Dr's wouldn't diagnose it (or treat it properly) and kept trying to treat it like it was something else, b/c "Lyme disease doesn't exist in TX"

Lyme Disease is endemic in Texas. In general, "city" doctors have never seen it, and so do not recognize it.