The alarm went off at 6 a.m. I remember laying in bed just waiting for the "buzzer" to pierce the silence of my home. Within a few hours I knew I was going to be having a very personal and candid conversation with a female physician I have never met. Not exactly the way a woman wants to start off her week.
Once the alarm went off and the day was "officially" underway, I made my way to the bathroom to get a shower. Of course, for the men who might be reading this, the following information may be too much for you to handle...T.M.I. So now would be a good time for you to move forward to the end of the blog. For the women reading, I'm sure you will totally understand what I am talking about and why I felt the way I did.
In the shower I had everything I would need to be certain that my new doctor friend wouldn't be scarred for life by what she saw. Soap, poofy, shampoo, razor. Outside the shower, on the vanity, was the deoderant, lotion, polish for toenails. All needed to make sure I had a nice scent, smooth, moisterized legs, and a sassy pedicure! For this particular visit to the doctor, less time would be spent on hair and make-up and more time spent on those more inconspicuous areas. (I told you if you were a man this would be TMI, but was I right? Women "get it". This is why when we have our OB-GYM appointments we run home at lunch time to take ANOTHER shower BEFORE we go to our afternoon appointment.)
Once ready, my husband, who had been particularly quiet this morning, went out and warmed up the car and I grabbed a Diet pepsi and a breakfast bar, a cup of coffee for him, and we were on our way to the big city!
It was probably one of the more quiet trips we have made. Normally, we would chat about what we were going to do while we were in town, where we would grab lunch, and just plan out our activitites. Usually, the radio would be playing and inbetween sentences I would sing along. But today it was just quiet. Both of us knew where we were going and why. I'm not sure what Brad was thinking as he drove, with his eyes straight ahead on the highway. As for me, I was wondering if this procedure/biopsy was going to hurt? Would I cry? Did I take enough ibuprofen? Would the doctor have a nice bedside manner or be more matter-of-fact? Inbetween thoughts, I would pray. "God, please give me your comfort. Direct the doctor's hands and give her the wisdom and skill she will need for the procedure. Oh, and God...if it wouldn't hurt...much...that would be amazing! Thanks. I love you and I know you have got this!"
When we arrived at the hospital we walked in quietly and searched the BIG directory of names looking for where we were suppose to go. I have never seen so many names with M.D. behind them. My doctor was on the thrid floor. When the elevator arrived my husband and I loaded on, along with another woman, about my age, maybe a little older, and two younger women who were very much pregnant and beaming from ear to ear!
The elevator doors opened and we all walked into the doctors' suite. Beautifully decorated in nice warm, cozy colors and furniture. I made my way to the reception desk to check in. Brad sat down and looked relieved that he wasn't the only man in the waiting room. In fact, there were several.
Within a few minutes a nurse came to the doorway, holding a chart, and without looking up said, with a storong voice, "Karen". Two of us stood up. Looking at one another in surprise, the nurse then quickly announced, "Dye". We all laughed nervously, because we were probably all thinking the same thing..."Honey I would gladly change places with you. You don't want to go through what I am about to go through!"
First came my favorite part...the weigh-in. Then my next favorite part...the height check to make sure I wasn't shrinking. From my vantage point it appeared I hadn't shrank vertically and actually grew a bit horizontally!
Next stop, the exam room. This is where the very personal information comes into play. The nurse that was taking my information and health history was a very serious young woman with bright blonde curly hair. She was attractive and I wondered if perhaps the reason she was so serious and intense was because she was beautiful and afraid that people wouldn't take her intelligence seriously. Whatever the reason, I knew I better not crack any of my jokes, otherwise, I might get that unexpected complimentary enema.
The nurse closed her laptop after completing the interview, handed me the sheet and said the doctor would be in shortly. 20 minutes later in walked a very YOUNG woman with a ginaormous smile. She reached out her hand and introduced herself and took my hand in a warm, tight grip. I liked her. We visited for several minutes and she explained what the ultrasound had shown. A cyst on one ovary. A tumor, most likely a fibroid, on the uterus, and an endometrium lining that was thicker than it should be. Her next sentence was, "Karen, 99.9% of these types of things are benign. However, because of the thickening in the lining, we want to make sure there are no cancer or pre-cancer cells present. Which is why we are doing this biopsy today." I then asked a few more questions, she answered, then stood up and said she was going to get the nurse and we would begin. As she went toward the door, she stopped, turned around and said, "Karen, this will be very uncomfortable. It will hurt a little. You won't like me. But no one has ever passed out, and you will have the results withint a week." She then smiled that comforting smile and walked out.
I will save you the details of the remainder of the visit, however, I am happy to report that the record still stands, no one has passed out. But....I'm certain that I squeezed that nurse's fingers so tightly she probably didn't have blood flow back to her hand for several hours after.
On the way home my husband and I discussed how hard it is to wait a whole week for the results. If the results are good, then my condition will most likely be treated with medication. If there are cancer or precancerous cell present, then surgery will be the treatment plan. I am believing for the best report!
If you are wondering how I am feeling tonight about all of this....God is not surprised by it. He already knows the results and has a good and perfect plan for me. So many friends and family members are praying for me and that is so reassuring and comforting. Many, many women go through this type of procedure and many go through things much worse, I am not the first, and will not be the last. I am blessed to have a God that heals, and a Father that adores me and loves me enough. I am blessed to have friends and family who are willing to take time to lift me up in prayer. So I am good. No, actually, I feel great! Granted, I am a little droggy tonight, and a little sore, but that is to be expected. Tomorrow will be better in that regard.
Finally, I am happy to report that my extra time in the shower this morning paid off. Not only did I not pass out...neither did my doctor! The bad news is, the pedicure wasn't really necessary because I kept my little white socks on the entire time! Why, well, because it was freezing in that exam room, and secondly, they matched my sheet!!
I am the Lord who heals you. EXODUS 15:26
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