Doctuh, Doctuh!
Friday I had my doctor appointment. I didn’t find out anything useful about my headaches because “headaches can be caused by so many different things” and it’s hard to even know what’s causing them or how to make them stop. She did assure me that there’s nothing wrong with me, but advised keeping a “headache journal” to see if any patterns emerge. I considered the idea for a moment but quickly realized it was pointless. A journal that reads…
Day 1: headache
Day 2: headache
Day 3: headache
…and so forth isn’t going to be very helpful. So no relief from the Constant Headache yet. But I did find out I have a heart murmer, which I never knew. The doctor was listening to my chest when she casually asked, “Oh do you have a heart murmer?” Um… I hope not because nobody’s ever mentioned it before! To somebody who doesn’t know that a heart murmer is usually no big deal, “heart murmer” sounds kind of like “serious heart condition that will cause you to die in a matter of days.” She explained that that’s not the case, that I was totally fine, but hey, let’s get you in for an Echo just to be sure. Apparently the hospital will be calling me this week to set up an appointment.
When I called my mom on the way home to ask about some family medical history I blanked on at the appointment, I mentioned my new-found condition.
Me: So guess what. I have a heart murmer.
Mom: Oh really!
Me: Why are you excited about that?
Mom: Because I have one too.
Great Mom, what other medical ailments can we bond over? Apparently my mom’s is benign though, meaning it’s not a danger to her at all, so here’s to hoping that part’s hereditary.
That’s about all from the doctor. Except I have one little question for the ladies. So, when you’re, ya know, getting your pap, and you’re laying on the table with your feet in the stirrups, don’t you think the doctor should have all the necessary tools at arm’s length? Nobody wants to watch her doctor roll over to the counter on a wheeled stool to grab a swab when she’s got a speculum in her… well okay, you see what I’m saying right? The exam rooms at my new doctor’s office obviously need remodeling.
Wow, you have to have en EKG, too? I got the results back from mine. I have an irregular beat, but the nurse assured me that it’s not life-threatening, so that’s good, I guess. I wonder if my insurance will cover that test? Probably not. Le sigh.
Good luck with those mysterious headaches. I have constant headaches, too, but I’m too scared to mention it to the doctor, knowing he’ll probably tell me the same thing your doctor told you.
Here’s to hoping our heads don’t randomly explode.
I’ve got that beat!
At my VERY FIRST gyno ever, the doctor forgot equipment in another room! Yeah, she left the speculum inside me, OPENED THE DOOR and walked out, apparently retrieved whatever she’d forgotten, lightly knocked at the door and walked back in. WTF?! I cried.
That was some doctor here in DSM my freshman year. After that, I went to my mom’s gyno, who showed me pics of her children and warmed all the tools before the exam.
I have a murmur too. No one has ever acted like it was a concern. They always mentioned it casually as if I should know…I didn’t know. Now, some will mention and others won’t.
I can’t believe you have to go have an Echo. Sounds cool though. I think that stuff is neat. Yes, I’m a little strange, I know.
Um, yeah. That’s so weird about your doc reaching around and grabbing things. My doc or PA always has a nurse in the room too (I think more for liability reasons these days). So usually the nurse is handing instruments over so the doc or PA isn’t reaching for things. That’s just odd and uncomfortable.
Maybe adding a food log to your headache journal would help. I know a couple of people who found that their headache was caused by a food allergy or food irritation. Just a thought.
that would totally bother me … not the heart murmur but the pap exam dashing around for equipment, eep! your poor head!! hope it clears up soon and its got to be encouraging that your mom also has a heart murmur … seems like its not anything to worry about to much …
Lindsay – what a nightmare! During your very first exam too, that’s horrible. I can’t even imagine!
Ha! My first gyno appointment EVER happened to be with my mom’s gyno. Already weird… anywho, I was nervous and the speculum is in place and he’s all up in my junk when the nurse asks, “So how’s your mother doing?” Not exactly the most appropriate time.
Thanks for the sympathies. ……… Hey, we’re still waiting to hear what Brad got you…
I’ve had many paps, and I’ve never had the doctor not have everything at arms length. haha… Don’t they usually put all that stuff on a silver tray before you even go in? Hmmmm… By the way, if you ever need a good gyno, I know a very good one, I’d recommend to anyone.
1. I think the log is more to see if there is a pattern concerning time of day or foods you ate. You know, instead of whether you have one. But I may be killing the funny here so just ignore me if you already knew this.
2. YES I THINK THAT. Do not insert things into my vagina and then go away. That’s all.
i have heard that heart murmurs are really common. in college i had panic attacks and my heart would do t hese weird things. i had an ekg and it was normal; the doc told me that heart arrythmias are really common in women, especially in their 20s (i was 22 at the time; i’m not sure how old you are) and that often when women find out that they are not life-threatening, they go away! how weird is that!?
I’m convinced that paps are so unrelentlessly awkward, no matter what. Even the word “pap” is awkward.
Also: I routinely blame my mother for all things not genetically desirable. She loves it. I always end up telling her that I inherited her ability to guilt trip, too.
Do they think the headaches are migraines (typically pounding, on one side of the head, sensitivity to light, nausea)? If so, get them to give you Amerge or Maxalt, which have worked wonders for me.