I don't understand the need for all the photos if you aren't having reconstruction done. Plastic surgeons love to take photos to show the before and after for advertising, but in a mastectomy, I would question the little click-happy dude to be sure all the photos were necessary. Maybe he has plans to talk you into expensive reconstruction and part you from your hard earned cash. My eye doctors and my dental doctors are the only ones of my doctors that haven't seen me in the nude. I love those nude walks I have to do for the neurologist. He wasn't amused the last visit when I put some sashay in my walk. "Just walk normally, Ms. Fox." He says. "I am walking normal, it is part of my lucrative business and just comes natural," I sassed. He didn't appreciate my joke but did allow me to put my panties back on for sitting spread eagle on the table for the hammered knee reflex test. I thought about having a super reflex and kicking him in the "you know whats" and seeing how he handles pain.
Isn't that the dream, hun!!! I love my PCP also and she is in her early 60's and so knowledgeable as well as fun to visit with, but now they have to refer you out and at our age and medical maladies, a once a year visit for a checkup and chit chat doesn't exist.
I don't blame you for wanting your robe back on. I'm very modest and it ticks me off the way medical personnel seem to forget about that. I was in the ER back in March? Maybe... My tits are out and I got techs sticking monitors to me and in walks the registration gal wanting her money. She expects me to go for a dig into my purse for my cards with a broken rib and in the midst of being tended to and the second I got mad they all left her there. I was mad that she interrupted my care and I was more mad that she did it in the middle of me being half naked. I told her it's bad enough they have to see me in a state of undress. She doesn't need to. I asked her why this couldn't wait till they were done with me. I was there till 1 AM because of that. On the bright side...you can get a reasonable size now. I wish I could have something done with mine. They're too much. They're interfering with my breathing too.
I believe the photos were mostly for him to refer to to create his game plan for the surgery. He said he would be trying to maintain symmetry in the areas around the breast. The aesthetic flat closure to eliminate "dog ears" will extend farther under my arm than a typical mastectomy. He doesn't want that side to be wonky looking (on my side), but smooth. He can refer to the photos to see how things look from different angles before surgery. I have heard that they actually turn a patient onto their sides and sometimes sit them up on the operating table to make sure the closures aren't going to be pulling skin in a weird way. I have always been extremely modest, even in front of my husband after 34 years. I'm not the type to "sashay" and physical exams are very difficult for me. For the most part I can deal with it but it isn't pleasant. The photos were just another thing I had to endure.
I have a great relationship with my PCP and I credit her for quick response to my "pink bruise" on the breast last December. She is very responsive to emails and I believe she's the best doctor I have ever had. She's the total package of responsive doctoring plus bedside manner; a dying breed. When I had shingles in 2017, I emailed her a picture of the rash and she dispensed prescriptions immediately; I didn't even have to go in and see her.
Yes, there's no doubt that medical exams are difficult for modest people. I don't blame you for being angry at the registration idiot; how unprofessional was that?? I'm not getting reconstruction or any "reasonable size" adjustments. They are removing the cancerous breast and I just want a tidy scar that doesn't look like Frankenstein.
I credit my PCP with saving my life at least twice. I have been through so many medical tests that I finally overcame my shyness about total nudity and realized that the robe was just a mental game and once I was out I was totally exposed. I always request no medical students and no one there that isn't necessary. Old age has helped as I can't imagine why any medical professional would want to see my old body except to do their job. I always try to go to women doctors, but my female neurologist had me going to this male neurologist a few times for MS testing. The male doctors I try to avoid are urologists and gynecologists. The gynecologist that specializes in cancer that I was sent to was a guy and so was his nurse and the nurse said if it makes me more comfortable, I could keep on my bra. I thanked him and remarked that yes I am more comfortable with my bra on while he explores, biopsies, and photographs my personal girl business, and thanks for the option. I don't think he caught my sarcasm.
So here's an annoying thing. The peach fuzz is just barely returning to my head and I have 10 eyelashes, but that damn single chin hair is baaaaaack.
I have a dear friend who is having episodes of severe tachycardia. She called her doctor earlier today and he told her to go to the ER. She has been sitting there for SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS. They did an EKG on her when she first arrived, then sent her back to the waiting room with all the unwashed masses. She lives in the Atlanta Metro area.
Random Thoughts. I'll never understand the tacky jewelry and tattoos for cancer. Aren't the damn scars enough? Does anyone really need a reminder? "Oops, forgot about my cancer, I'd better put my pendant on!"
Oh, the goofy stuff like in gift shops... pink ribbons, cancer hats, key chains... you name it. So freakin' annoying since it's junk that doesn't benefit any cancer research or serve any purpose.
Now she's been there over 8 hours and she said there are 2 waiting rooms FULL of people. One man has been coughing up a lung for hours. It just sounds horrible.