Gesundheit!

I’m not a big fan of appointments. I seem to have this deep-seated resentment at being told what to do and when to do it. I’m a rebel, Dottie.

I slacked off a little bit last year in my preventive healthcare, but I’m back on board this year. I kind of like to get it all done in one fell swoop, so I’ve had three appointments this week, I have to drop off a specimen tomorrow, and I have a follow-up appointment on Monday. Ugh! I’m not having much fun with all of this, but I feel good about being proactive when it comes to my health. (The title of this entry means “Health!” in German. It’s what I always say when someone sneezes.)

It’s easy to forget that not everyone has access to preventive care. I was heartened to read recently that the number of uninsured in the U.S. continues to drop. Thanks, Obama! Really, I mean it. Thank you for caring enough about all Americans to get the Affordable Care Act passed. It is making a difference in people’s lives, and it was a wonderful step forward for our country. We should all keep working to make it better and get even more people insured!

I get my teeth cleaned twice a year. I get screened for various cancers and conditions. I get booster shots and additional immunizations as I need them. I get my eyes checked every couple of years, and I get new glasses a little less frequently. Every American deserves to have such screenings, and deserves medical care, without facing bankruptcy.

I am grateful to have had good health insurance throughout my life, and I want that for my fellow citizens. Who wouldn’t?

An ounce of prevention

I celebrated DB's birthday today by going for my yearly mammogram. [pointing to herself with her thumbs] This gal knows how to party!

I'm glad I got it done, though. I was a few months late, because someone who doesn't reside at Nutwood plowed through the health insurance last year, and I wasn't sure if it would be covered. In speaking with the lady who checked me in today, she was fairly sure that it would have been covered because it is preventive care, so I'll have to check with the company that administers the insurance, in case it happens again.

The bad part, of course, was getting the actual films taken. I've read some interesting descriptions of what it feels like to have a mammogram done. One was to stick your breast into the frame of the refrigerator and have someone slam the door as hard as they can. Another was to lay on the floor by your car, place your breast under the back wheel, and have someone back over it.

That's about right.

In an attempt to cut the pain off at the pass, I took three preemptive Advil before I left, and drank two beers. Not enough to impair me, but hopefully enough to take the edge off. I wish now I'd done a couple of double shots of tequila instead of a couple of beers. (Kidding, of course.) OUCH, I hurt. But it's important to have it done yearly, and I can endure a little pain in order to prevent the potential for a whole lot more. I was in and out of there in half an hour, and the actual painful part was only about 12 hours. Nah, it just seemed that way. Maybe two minutes of pain total? I can deal.

One the upside, the place I go to now uses all digital films. I asked. It's more accurate than traditional films, especially for someone like me. Not to go into too much detail, but the key word is dense, and I'm not saying I'm stupid. It's good to know that they use the more accurate and up-to-date technology. The other cool thing was that they had a display of art in the waiting room done by those with cancer or their families. There were acrylics, water colors, mixed media, photographs, etc., and all had a description of what the person was trying to convey, whether it was pain, hope, family, or achieving goals. I didn't have time to look at them all, but there were some remarkable works, and I enjoyed a chance to see them and read the stories behind them

So even though I ended up with my tits in a wringer, I managed to get a little culture along the way. [grin]

Here's my public service announcement. To all my female readers over the age of 40, or younger if you have a family history of breast cancer, please have a yearly screening. It could save your life, and we all want to keep you around for a while. Okay? Okay!

I had a nice surprise in the mail when I went out to get it. A package from Cousin Shane! Oh boy! I had no idea what it was, because he hadn't mentioned anything. When he was in New York, he went to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and apparently they had a nice Egyptian exhibit. He got me some really cool notecards with pictures of Egyptian artifacts on them! How sweet of him, and he knows my tastes, doesn't he? Sort of odd, too (we have what we call our Cosmic Cousin Connection), because I watched an Egyptologist on Craig Ferguson's show last night, and she was so cool. I was already planning to post an old interview with her on Facebook. The C³ is still going strong!