I'm also having my first pap smear in a few years done this Friday, by my usual doctor. I've been working with this guy since my jaunt in the hospital nearly ten years ago, and I didn't know he did gyno exams. It feels a little incestuous that he's going to be peering up in there after all these years of just sitting in a chair talking to him. I like these things done by people I only have to look at once a year.

Connie, my current doctor does my pap's also. it has been a few years, but always feels...incestuous for want of a better word.

Two hours to meeting time. I'm done working (oh, I could be, as I have plenty to do - but I try hard not to mix alcohol and work and since I've already hit the alcohol...). So now I'm trying to figure out how to occupy my brain for two more hours.

I saw a new doctor a couple of weeks ago for the first time in years. Who was awesome. So lucky, especially because the person who was actually recommended to me wasn't taking new patients so I just asked to be scheduled with whoever in the practice was. Really, really like him, and he set up the mammogram and the counseling people to call me and all in all a really good experience.

But to the point, I was supposed to do pap and whatnot during that appointment but he said he would prefer not to, given that we were doing a bunch of tests and talking about a lot already and that was getting personal enough for one visit.

Not really necessary, I think, but the fact that he was thinking that way I appreciated.

As opposed to my sister who also went to a doc for the first time in years last week and the doctor read her the riot act and made her cry.

My first appointment with current doc was supposed to include a pap. I went in and while we were going through medical history and such, I started crying (not her fault, I was just totally stressed). She immediately had the nurse reschedule my pap and we sat and talked through that time instead. Part of the reason I adore her - she pays attention to the person, not just symptoms or proceedures.

Yes, exactly. I'm so pissed that my sister got someone who was so totally not that way.

No advice for menopause stuff, but best of luck Connie.

Busy day for me. Mom was here and we cleaned all of the kitchen, did all of the laundry, and then went grocery shopping. Then I stayed later than normal at the library because we are having a huge sale on Saturday. There was time for coffee and a croissant after that, and now I am babysitting for G, who is, lucky for me, going to bed in 15 minutes.

never been a big Wentworth Miller fan...until now: [link]

Hmm, the OB/GYN conversation is (painfully) timely, because I'm having a recurrence of ridiculously painful cysts on my magical ladyparts (basically the area of the vulva referred to as the "vestibule," which I think is the funniest name ever).

I seem to get one every 6-9 months, and normally they're painful but subside within a week or so. Last time I saw my OB/GYN, I mentioned them, and she said if they last more than a couple of days, to call, and she'll "take care of them." (I hope it's not Cosa Nostra style.)

My perusing of Dr. Google in the past makes them sound like cysts of the Bartholin gland, but when I mentioned that to my doctor, she said they were probably just an ingrown hair or blocked sweat gland.

In any case, when they've recurred in the past, it's only been one that shows up. Now I have 2. And it's more than twice as painful, which is not fair. I mean, even twice as painful would suck mightily, but more than twice as painful is just mean. It hurts to walk. I almost took half a squirreled-away percocet because of how much it hurt earlier.

Fortunately, my doctor can see me tomorrow.

So, first I have a phone interview, and then something that might hurt a lot will happen to my magical ladyparts. I don't think it's going to be my best day ever.

Yes, exactly. I'm so pissed that my sister got someone who was so totally not that way.

Good grief. At least when I've been crying at the doctors it's either because I'm hella depressed or because some other health issue is makin me crazy. Not because of the doctor. Jeez.

Tep, the interview will be brilliant! I have no doubts.

when I mentioned that to my doctor, she said they were probably just an ingrown hair or blocked sweat gland.

That has happened to me. Once, I had to have it "taken care of," too. It was not in exciting Cosa Nostra style, though.

And they are the most painful kind of painful, I agree.