fullygoldy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fullygoldy) wrote2006-12-29 06:28 pm
fullygoldy) wrote2006-12-29 06:28 pm
Health Update
Having promised DH that I'd get a physical and mammogram before the end of the year, I had several appointments in the past couple of weeks.
First, on the 12th, I had my baseline mammogram. I thought it went well, and I really didn't see what all the complaining was about. Before I left, they explained that callbacks are fairly common for baseline mammograms, and not to be too worried or surprised if they wanted extra pics. Okie dokie. We also stopped upstairs to visit Dr. Hei's office, and when Dr. Hei finally recognize us (after looking hard a couple of times) he practically ran over to give us each a big hug. He seemed so happy and excited to see B doing so well, and quizzed him about his counts and everything else for a few minutes, before hugging B goodbye.
So, nothing apparently lurking below the surface for me right now. Good news. Because I really don't know how I would cope with anything major right now. I need another year of amazing health, and then, if I have to go through anything, I could probably deal. ::crosses fingers::
First, on the 12th, I had my baseline mammogram. I thought it went well, and I really didn't see what all the complaining was about. Before I left, they explained that callbacks are fairly common for baseline mammograms, and not to be too worried or surprised if they wanted extra pics. Okie dokie. We also stopped upstairs to visit Dr. Hei's office, and when Dr. Hei finally recognize us (after looking hard a couple of times) he practically ran over to give us each a big hug. He seemed so happy and excited to see B doing so well, and quizzed him about his counts and everything else for a few minutes, before hugging B goodbye.
On the 18th, the radiologist's office called and asked me to come back for extra pics on the right side, because there was a "density" they didn't get flattened out in the pic. Set that up for the 22nd. On the 19th, I went for the rest of my physical, but didn't get an eye exam, because my family Dr. doesn't do that. Everything else was pronounced normal and healthy, but she did ask to do blood work because it had been about three years since the last time. I also had to get a tetanus booster, and wow! I didn't even feel the needle go in, but that puppy was sore for 3 days afterward. Because of the blood work, I went home that night and fasted for 12 hours, then went in the next morning for the draw. On the 21st, we had a checkup for B.
On the 22nd, I showed up for my 2nd mammogram, and as soon as the tech grabbed my boob I realized this was not going to go as smoothly as the first one. I was 10 days further into my cycle, meaning only a week away from my period, and OWWWW! She had to take 3 pics. The first was absolutely horrid, but the other two calmed down to barely tolerable. My poor right boob felt very tender and bruised afterward. Well, the pics still weren't good enough for the radiologist, so I agreed to stay for an ultrasound. About 20 min later, I was getting slathered with warm! lube, and boy do I wish they'd had that when I was pregnant. It was actually just a tad too warm, but it was still better than cold. Anyway, the tech wouldn't say anything, other than "I'm not allowed to comment on what I see." She finally got the pics she wanted, then said she'd show them to the Dr, and that some Drs want to come in and look for themselves instead of just looking at the pics. Sure enough, 2 min later, the Dr comes in with the tech and has me back on the table. She poked around for what seemed like a year, without as much as a "hhmm." I was lying there thinking, "you know, it would be totally unfair for them to find something right now. I've had more than enough health-related drama this year." And just like that, I was about to start crying. So I mentally slapped myself around and said, don't lose it until she says something is up, along with the promise that I could totally freak at that time. A deep breath later, and the Dr says "I don't see anything abnormal." Ah, how reassuring! ::snort:: Anyway, she also said that baselines are the hardest because they have nothing to compare against except each side. Next year, they'll only be comparing to this year's and it'll be a piece of cake, because as long as that density hasn't changed size, they won't have to worry about it. Okay, time for the big sigh of relief. But my boob totally felt bruised all the way up til bedtime.
Yesterday, I got the lab report back on my bloodwork. Everything is well within normal range, but my cholesterol is up from before. It's 179 now, which is very good, but probably 35 pts higher than last time. I guess all the meat eating we did this year could account for that. I'm just used to having the OMG!amazing cholesterol numbers. Hopefully this is not an indicator of an upward trend - I did have a big jump the first year I worked for RMT, and then a year later had gone back down to normal-for-me. It was totally diet-related then, and I hope this is too. My glucose levels were dead center in the normal range, and I did feel good that morning. Usually, I need to eat first thing, but hanging around the house must have changed my metabolism as well as my eating habits. Dr. Bonnell was impressed that I'd recently shed 5 lbs (the same 5 from last fall!) making my average ~140, but she didn't insist I needed to lose more. I haven't had a single Dr in WI tell me I need to lose weight. If I still lived in SC, I'd regularly get told to drop 15-20 lbs, I'm sure. Which is totally laughable when you think about the size of the majority of the population down there. I was positively svelte!
On the 22nd, I showed up for my 2nd mammogram, and as soon as the tech grabbed my boob I realized this was not going to go as smoothly as the first one. I was 10 days further into my cycle, meaning only a week away from my period, and OWWWW! She had to take 3 pics. The first was absolutely horrid, but the other two calmed down to barely tolerable. My poor right boob felt very tender and bruised afterward. Well, the pics still weren't good enough for the radiologist, so I agreed to stay for an ultrasound. About 20 min later, I was getting slathered with warm! lube, and boy do I wish they'd had that when I was pregnant. It was actually just a tad too warm, but it was still better than cold. Anyway, the tech wouldn't say anything, other than "I'm not allowed to comment on what I see." She finally got the pics she wanted, then said she'd show them to the Dr, and that some Drs want to come in and look for themselves instead of just looking at the pics. Sure enough, 2 min later, the Dr comes in with the tech and has me back on the table. She poked around for what seemed like a year, without as much as a "hhmm." I was lying there thinking, "you know, it would be totally unfair for them to find something right now. I've had more than enough health-related drama this year." And just like that, I was about to start crying. So I mentally slapped myself around and said, don't lose it until she says something is up, along with the promise that I could totally freak at that time. A deep breath later, and the Dr says "I don't see anything abnormal." Ah, how reassuring! ::snort:: Anyway, she also said that baselines are the hardest because they have nothing to compare against except each side. Next year, they'll only be comparing to this year's and it'll be a piece of cake, because as long as that density hasn't changed size, they won't have to worry about it. Okay, time for the big sigh of relief. But my boob totally felt bruised all the way up til bedtime.
Yesterday, I got the lab report back on my bloodwork. Everything is well within normal range, but my cholesterol is up from before. It's 179 now, which is very good, but probably 35 pts higher than last time. I guess all the meat eating we did this year could account for that. I'm just used to having the OMG!amazing cholesterol numbers. Hopefully this is not an indicator of an upward trend - I did have a big jump the first year I worked for RMT, and then a year later had gone back down to normal-for-me. It was totally diet-related then, and I hope this is too. My glucose levels were dead center in the normal range, and I did feel good that morning. Usually, I need to eat first thing, but hanging around the house must have changed my metabolism as well as my eating habits. Dr. Bonnell was impressed that I'd recently shed 5 lbs (the same 5 from last fall!) making my average ~140, but she didn't insist I needed to lose more. I haven't had a single Dr in WI tell me I need to lose weight. If I still lived in SC, I'd regularly get told to drop 15-20 lbs, I'm sure. Which is totally laughable when you think about the size of the majority of the population down there. I was positively svelte!
So, nothing apparently lurking below the surface for me right now. Good news. Because I really don't know how I would cope with anything major right now. I need another year of amazing health, and then, if I have to go through anything, I could probably deal. ::crosses fingers::