Health Update: Dentist, Doctor, and Mammogram
This post is about my recent appointments for the dentist, doctor, and mammogram.
In the month of March, I go to my preventative care health appointments. Usually, I try to space them out so that I only have to go to one a week. This year, it didn’t work out like that, but it was close. I previously wrote about my six-month checkups with a new dentist and my current dermatologist.
At that dentist appointment, I found out I would need to return for another appointment to pick up my new night guard. Plus, I would need two appointments at the endodontist. The first of those won’t be until May because that‘s how far out they’re booking.
My internet search to try to find my old dentist has been fruitless, thus far. However, I did finally get a letter in the mail from my dental clinic informing me that she (and another dentist as well) have left “to pursue new opportunities.” To me, that sounds like a separation of multiple dentists under somewhat abrupt circumstances. I can only speculate as to the reasoning behind it all.
At my follow-up dentist appointment, the earliest available appointment was an hour later than my usual early appointment times. I was told it was the earliest one for my new dentist’s schedule, and I would be her first patient of the day. The receptionist that I didn’t see last time (and had assumed left along with my dentist and hygienist) was behind the front desk when I arrived. There were a few other people in the waiting room, and I managed to pick another broken chair with a sunken seat. (Or perhaps a lot of them are like that?)
Both the dental assistant (unsure if that is the correct title) and dentist wore their masks with me, the entire time this visit, even when I was walked back from the waiting room. It was a pleasant surprise since I hadn’t mentioned it to the receptionist during my arrival. Unfortunately, I had to be unmasked for almost an hour straight while my new night guard was tweaked to fit my mouth correctly.
There was one specific part of it that had to be ground down multiple times to have it level out. I am still on the fence about how I feel about transitioning from my soft night guard to a hard night guard. My new one fits much tighter than the one I’ve had for years and is a different consistency without the “bounce back” I’ve grown accustomed to with the soft one. Because of all of my other appointments, I decided to wait to try it out until April started.
I used to wake up with really bad headaches from clenching and grinding my teeth in my sleep. I asked if that could possibly start happening again while I was switching to a different night guard. I think she said no, that it shouldn’t, but she also said that I should give it like a week to acclimate to the adjustment. If I have any problems getting used to it, I should call them. Tonight will probably be the first night I try to sleep with it in, so wish me luck!
When I left that appointment, I felt better about both B**** (who was the one who helped me again) and the new dentist, than I had after my first visit. Although, it did feel slightly abrupt when I was leaving, like they were trying to get my appointment done before the hour was up. My spouse who was waiting out in the car for me made a remark that a bunch of people just came out, so “the 8am cleanings must’ve just finished up.”
I think technically I still have my next six-month checkup scheduled for September, but I don’t know if they will just automatically flip it to this new dentist or if I will need to set up a different one. If I can find the spoons one day, I will see if there is a different dentist that will work for me (but how do you really know, right?) and/or call to see if I need to change anything for that appointment. I would rather know ahead of time than have them tell me in September and risk having to push out my appointment into the months I’m trying to avoid going to the dentist.
My spouse is usually just the driver for my health appointments, but he goes in with me for my yearly physical exam with my doctor, per my request. I only started doing this a few years ago, but you may be surprised at how much differently people treat you when there is a white man there to witness the interaction. Plus, it helps to have someone else listening to what is being said when later on I’m trying to remember (unsuccessfully) on my own.
Usually, in the days before my doctor appointment, I make a list of my concerns, questions, and possible lines of action to help resolve them. I just type out all the health-related concerns I’ve been having and then try to organize them by priority. When I’m satisfied with the order and wording, I print it out to reference while I am in the exam room. This has repeatedly come in handy to help me not forget what I want to say/ask and gives me something solid to focus on while engaged in conversation with an authority figure.
The first few times I did this, I took the paper(s) home with me when I left. But one time (when I had printed out extra reference points) I gave all of the paperwork I brought to my doctor for reference. I think that time I also gave her a copy of my ASD diagnosis, so she left with a thick stack of stuff from me.
This time when I was preparing, I couldn’t really think of anything to write for her. It’s not that I don’t still have the same chronic health problems, it’s that I’m currently in a spot where I am managing things ok. I don’t have any acute problems (*knock on wood), so I don’t really want to change things up to unbalance the equilibrium.
When I mentioned to my doc that things were going so well that I didn’t even know what to write down to discuss with her, and didn’t even bring a paper of anything to discuss, she seemed legitimately surprised. She jokingly said, “I was bracing myself for it.” as she pretended to grab onto the desk like a life preserver that would save her. I didn’t really find it funny, but I just let it slide.
I told her that last year I learned that whatever chronic condition I have that causes flares, like my fibro or IBS, has the same level of pain as the onset of a kidney stone (before it hits the really acute phase). She told me it was probably endometriosis, and I said, “Yeah, they told me I have that too, but they haven’t gone in to confirm.” She asked me if I was still in pain, and I said no, not today. I told her that I just refocused my diet and my life last year, and the acute pain dissipated.
She asked me what I had been doing, and I said that since I am no longer working I have really slowed down my life. I am focused on caring for myself through a specific diet (because certain foods cause me symptoms including-but-not-limited-to abdominal pain), and I use digestive enzymes to help process some things that my body doesn’t digest well. She asked me if I can eat legumes as they have a lot of fiber. I told her yes, that I do eat some of them including pinto beans and lentils.
I told her that I have been incorporating stretching into my daily schedule. (With this app I am using, I do 1 minute of stretches a few times a day, mostly sitting. After about 60 days straight of that, the focus on my neck, shoulders, arms, and upper body has almost completely worked out the knot between my shoulder blades that I have had for years!) I also do some of my physical therapy exercises and yoga. (Although, I should definitely do more.) And I meditate regularly, even though I fell off from doing it daily.
I blamed the winter/weather for the reason why I haven’t restarted walking around the neighborhood, but in reality, it is because I don’t feel comfortable doing it myself. And the one person I would feel safe walking next to unmasked is very rarely in the mood to go for a walk. Today, I’m going to set the treadmill back up because I can walk on that alone in any weather.
At the begining of the physical portion of the visit, I said to my doctor, “If it is okay with you, I would prefer to keep my mask on. But I did bring some photos of my mouth, if you would like to see them?” She seemed a little surprised, and when I swiped through the pictures on my cell of my tongue sticking out, my tongue lifted up, and the back of my throat with my tongue down flat, she made a little sound that led me to believe she was impressed with the forthought of the images. She also said thanks too.
I wore a midi dress with no bra for my appointment, so when I was up on the exam table, I just lifted it up for my doctor to do my breast exam and feel my abdomen. We talked about how my mammogram was scheduled for the next Monday. My spouse chimed in and reminded me to ask her about the timing of those as when I went last year they made mention I wouldn’t have to come back for three years. But I got a letter earlier this year saying I needed to come in for my yearly mammogram. My doctor said that breast cancer in younger women grows faster, and she was referring to people around my age (40+) as the women over 55 have more slow-growing cancers. So in her opinion, I should do my mammograms every year. She checked my file which said every two years and updated it to say they should be yearly.
I did have to remove my knee-high boots and knee-high socks for her to feel the pulse in my feet which she said was good. My blood pressure had been a bit high at the beginning of my visit (nerves), but after a few deep breaths, it was back in the “normal” range. We talked about how my dad had high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and I asked if we could do a test on my cholesterol and recheck my A1C while I was there.
My doctor also mentioned that it was good to see that my vaccines were all up to date. I told her that we will get our covid and flu shots again in the fall. She said that we should wait until October (which we historically have) because people who get their flu vaccines in August won’t be protected for the full season, it’s too soon. I reassured her that we usually go in October, but before Halloween, because that’s usually the start of when another covid wave pops off from everyone beginning to gather in larger groups for the holidays.
She sent in refill requests for my prescriptions, so I would have approval for another year. The medications I get through her, along with the other supplements I take, really help to keep some of my symptoms in check. I didn’t walk away with any referrals to other specialists this time, which might be a first. (Last year, we learned that there is technically no one available that specializes in fibro, as the specialty we both think it should be says they don’t do that.) After a brief stop at the lab to have my blood drawn, and more small talk about the weather, my spouse and I were good to go. It took 45 minutes which is one of the shortest yearly doctor appointments I’ve had.
During my appointment, our conversation flowed like people able to banter with small talk, but afterwards when I’ve had time to process, I always feel differently. Like when I say that my fibro/IBS causes extreme pain, the response is to immediately blame endometriosis instead as though it has to be my reproductive system. Or when I say that I’ve been doing yoga and meditating, I hope my doctor doesn’t just use that as confirmation those things solve chronic conditions…because to be clear, I do not believe that to be the case, even though I do use both of them in my arsenal to manage my chronic health issues.
Oh, I also forgot to mention that my doctor asked if I had applied for disabiliy. I told her that I hadn’t because I don’t want to deal with the stress of that long and arduous process. She also spent a few minutes talking to me about who I could reach out to and potentially get back to working, prioritizing my ability to participate in our current economic system of capitalism. I just listlessly replied that, “It is good to know those resources are out there.” I think one of the main reasons that my health is in the spot it is in now is because I am not working. As long as my spouse can handle supporting our entire household, I do not plan to re-enter the workforce. I understand the luxury of this position, and I continue to fight for a world where it is an option for anyone and everyone to have their needs met without having to trade their time and labor for them.
As almost an afterthought, I mentioned that since I am no longer working I have been able to focus on my Trauma Healing. I told my doctor that I have been attending virtual summits, with the leaders in the trauma healing community, a couple times a year, and my spouse says he thinks it is more like quarterly. It seems so blasé as I talk about it, even though it has been a really crucial part of my care for myself over the last few years.
It reminded me of a conversation I had recently with one of my friends where I talked about how usually February is the worst month of the year for me, both mentally and physically. I said that this year it wasn’t bad at all though, but I wasn’t sure why. My friend immediately responded, “Because you’ve been doing all the things you’re supposed to!” And it honestly shocked me because I hadn’t realized that the things I’m learning about and applying to my life had actually been the reason why my health is in a good spot. I’ve never been in this position before though, so it is all foreign to me. The longer I marinate on my friend’s words though, the truer they feel.
My mammogram appointment was in my calendar for 7:45am on Monday morning. Per usual, my spouse got us there early, so I did a five minute meditation in the car before I went inside. At the check-in desk, I was told my appointment was actually at 8am, and since I had done the e-check-in online I didn’t have anything to fill out. At the end of our interaction, I casually said to the receptionist, “Could you please request that whoever is doing my scan today please wear a mask while they are with me?” She said yes, and as I walked away, I heard her call someone to pass my request along.
I had just enough time to snap a pic of the empty waiting room, text my spouse that my appointment wasn’t actually until 8am, and open up a game of solitaire on my cell when A**** came out to get me. She was masked which made me feel more comfortable. We chatted through my entire appointment, mostly about how she was going to the Twins’ homeopener in a few days and how at our age (because we’re the exact same age she said after I confirmed my birthdate) sometimes the hangovers aren’t worth the fun.
As she was handing me a hospital gown, I handed it back and said, “If it’s cool with you, I’m just going to take my top off, so we can get this show on the road.” She said, “You’re not wearing a bra?” And as I started undoing my shirt, I said, “No, I came prepared! I wore this shirt with snaps, so I can just take it off and put it back on.” She kind of chuckled and told me a little anecdote about a small man who recently wore a snap shirt to an appointment too.
I put my shirt over the arm of the chair to walk towards the machine, and I said, “This is not my first rodeo. But I don’t remember exactly how I’m supposed to go into the machine.” She said not to worry, that she would help position me. I am so glad that I remembered to request she wear a mask as her face (and breath) was very close to mine while she was adjusting my arm and breast. I think we did two angles on each breast for a total of four times where I had to hold my position and breath while the images were taken.
I snapped my shirt back on as she told me that my results would be released to my online chart, probably later that day. Since I didn’t have anything out in the waiting room, she took me down a different hallway to leave the suite. All-in-all my mammogram appointment was around ten minutes long, and I was back in the car before it was even 8am.
Of all the medical appointments, exams, and scans I’ve done, I think the mammogram is the easiest one. However, I do have sideswept, saggy breasts, so they fit into the machine more pliably than smaller, firmer ones might. In full disclosure, I always remove my nipple piercings before my mammogram, and even though I have “dense” breasts, I never feel pain or “a pinch” during the process. If you have to do a diagnostic one (as opposed to the preventative kind) which I did last year, the process does take longer, as they do it manually, in a separate room, after the first machine part.
That day I went into my online chart to learn that “no malignancies” were found in my mammogram, my A1C is .1 into the space that qualifies as pre-diabetic, and I have high cholesterol. I am still waiting for my doctor to send me a message about my bloodwork, but I have feeling when I started eating meat again, I let the pendulum swing too far in that direction. Oh, and I do love cheese too.
I did a little bit of online searching to learn how I can lower my cholesterol through dietary changes, which I plan to suggest to my doctor as my plan of action prior to any potential medications. Next week is my spouse’s birthday week, (I love aries!) so after we celebrate, I will get serious about my food choices again. I am also hopeful as the weather continues to warm up I will be able to be more active as well.
I assume I will have to go back to the doctor for a blood test, but I don’t know if it will be in three months, six months, or a year to see where my cholesterol is again. But besides the endodontist in May, I’ve made it through my preventative visits without having to have a bunch of follow-ups. I don’t have 2026’s doctor and mammogram appointments scheduled yet, but I will probably set them up whenever I’m back in my chart, probably when my doctor messages me. I like to just set up them as soon as possible, so I don’t procrastinate and put them off forever. Usually, I try to schedule during my visits before I even leave. This system works really well for the dentist and dermatologist, since I see them twice a year.
Even with the high cholesterol news, I’m still feeling pretty good about where my health is currently. I know the choices I’ve been making to continue masking and isolating have definitely helped me manage my current chronic conditions. I feel extremely fortunate that I can take the time and space to focus on myself and my trauma healing, and I hope that anyone and everyone who needs it will be able to do the same for themselves.
Special shout-out to my spouse, who not only financially supports my existence, but also supports me by taking me to my appointments, attending them when requested, and partners with me on creating a life we love, in a safe and stable home, where I can heal and grow. 😘
~The Overstimulated
