I just turned 41 and someone told me I should have had a mammogram long time ago. I had a son 1998 and haven't had a pap or anything after that. I just found out my obgyn retired and now I have no doctor and to make an appointent with a stranger takes months. Should I even worry about it or should I make an appointment for a full physical right away?
2007-02-26 08:30:04 · 11 answers · asked by Suzy G 2 in Health ➔ Women's Health
Ok thanks you guys. I just made an appointment. They said the soonest they can get me in is JUNE 20TH! Why bother dang. I made the appt.
2007-02-27 07:10:05 · update #1
Get an appointment for a complete physical at your OB/gyn. I moved cross country and had to meet a new doctor with my feet in the stirrups. You have to do, it's just a fact of life.
They need to do the works on you from PAP smear to complete blood count. The mammogram will be a referral to another facility, another specialty doctor performs them, so your OB/gyn can give you that referral.
You need to have a Primary Care Physician as well as an OB/gyn. OB/gyn's are trained to deal with female reproductive functions and how to deliver babies. You need another doctor to look after the rest of your body.
You need to have an annual PAP & pelvic exam and mammogram. You also need to have your Primary Care look at you every year. You should have a dermatologist look at your skin once a year. Have the dentist clean your teeth every 6 months and have your eyes examined every year.
As the mommy you cannot neglect yourself!! You son is relying on you!! Now call that doctor and when they offer you an appointment in MONTHS, you tell them you can't wait that long. You need to be seen THIS week, not in 3 months. "Work me in this week," is exactly what you say to them!! Be your own health care advocate, nobody else is going to do it for you.
2007-02-26 08:42:11 · answer #1 · answered by wwhrd 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Generally, when a Doctor retires he has another doctor take his cases--ask the nurse from his office and she would know. If no one can be referred, then pick a new doctor. You may be surprised at how fast you can get in. Just tell them what you said in your question here. Yes, it is important to have a mammogram and a pap smear. It could mean your life. I forgot to have my pap smear because it was a bother to me & I developed cancer, so badly I had a hysterectomy. That is no fun at all.
2007-02-26 08:39:00 · answer #2 · answered by Terry Z 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I cant comment on the mammogram, I'm in the UK and I think our "standard" is different to yours. As for the pap, you should have had one long ago. You need to get one done ASAP and find out about the mammogram.
I'm 46 and I haven't had a mammogram, but as I say UK rules are different
2007-02-26 08:36:33 · answer #3 · answered by huggz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh, come on. You know you should have had a pap smear long ago. Every woman over 40 should have an annual mammogram. Unless you have a death wish, quit stalling and make a doctors appointment. You don't have to have an OB/GYN. You family doctor can take care of these things for you.
2007-02-26 08:34:11 · answer #4 · answered by TeriR 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I am 39 and I am in the exact same boat as you (no mamo, no pap since the kids were born) and I will not change now. I do not really rely upon the medical community for our health though - I use a Chiropractor and Naturopathic Physicians and I am delighted with our success. I feel certain that if anything serious should come my way, I am able to handle it outside of Pharma and the medical community.
You need to decide for yourself, how you want to handle your health - and who you want to handle your health. There are lots of people in the world today who are delighted to have a dr. handle that for them, and that's cool - but then you need to work with them and submit to the tests that they require, because it is imperative that they catch anything super early to have the best chance of success.
I, personally, would rather learn to overcome any problems that come my way than the test and medicate approach of folks who don't have nearly the time or inclination to research and monitor my health issues like I can. We don't need to be experts on the whole body - we need to know trusted advisors who can guide us to become experts in ourselves and our own specific issues and those of our family. We also need to remember that the human body was brilliantly designed to heal itself - and it does a great job with just a little natural help every now and again.
Peace!
Later...
You know, I've been thinking about you and spoke to my Naturopathic physician about it. She said that cancer cells are often contained until the containing membrane is squashed in a mamogram, which allows the cancer to spread. She said that Thermography is actually much safer and more informative as a diagnostic test.
Further she said that in order for Pap Smears to be profitable for a lab, they have to run 100 through the equipement every hour - which accounts for why 40% of Pap Smear results are simply wrong. At that rate, a tech is looking at your sample for 1/2 a second.
I really don't think there is any sense in either of these procedures, but good luck to you if you keep that appointment.
Peace!
2007-02-26 08:42:33 · answer #5 · answered by carole 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, you should definitely get in and get a physical done. You can go to your regular GP; a gynecologist isn't necessary for your annual pap smear and physical exam. The GP would refer you out to a specialist if he/she found anything that needed special attention.
As for the mammogram, you should only get one at the age of 35 if you've got a maternal family history of breast cancer. Otherwise, 40 is when you need to establish your baseline mammogram. Talk to your GP about this too, and get a referral out for one when you go for your physical.
2007-02-26 08:35:23 · answer #6 · answered by Brutally Honest 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
For heavens sake go to a Dr. and get your pap test. It is something you should have done every year. Alot of women get their test done on their birthday,it is a reminder for them. When you see the Dr. he will tell you about getting a mammogram. I had a friend who never got a pap test after her son was born. Then 10 yrs later had alot of pain and ignored it until it was so bad. Well,anyways she had uterine cancer,and died a year later. She was so young. So Please all women if you are sexually active get a pap test every year.
2007-02-26 08:40:04 · answer #7 · answered by snowowl81 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You should schedule a mammogram and a GYN appointment ASAP. Cancer has no age barrier. I know someone who has breast cancer and she is only 33. She has had two kids and there is no family history of cancer. It is better to be safe than sorry so get yourself checked on a regular basis.
2007-02-26 09:01:45 · answer #8 · answered by Me, Myself & I 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
make an appiontment right away and wait for it to come every woman needs a pap and mamogram/ if you have a daughter take her with you if you are scared, or friend, or somebody
2007-02-26 08:38:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would avoid that to. lol shhhhiiissss
2007-02-26 08:45:41 · answer #10 · answered by Livin it 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋