Ranting and Raving

[geminigirl]

With new insurance means new doctors. Especially since I've switched to an HMO. So I was quite pleased when they managed to get me an appointment quickly with a nurse practioner for an anual exam. And I'm quite vocal about having a latex allergy; I've learned in the past that I need to remind the doctors about it. So I mention it to the receptionist who's putting together my chart, the nurse who does my vital stats, and the doctor when I'm talking to her. There's even a big box of nitrile gloves...bright purple ones, right there. So after we go through the basic questions and information, she writes me a new script for my birth control pills BEFORE the exam. She also explains to me that my old pill isn't on the formulary, so she wants to switch me to a different pill. Then, she procedes to begin the exam and pulls on the latex gloves. It's now noted in my chart, and I've told her point blank, up front that I'm allergic. Thank goodness I was sitting up and looking, or I'd have been in quite a bit of trouble. I'm glad I had enough voice to speak up and say to her "Are those latex?"

It would be one thing if it hadn't been written in my chart, or if I hadn't made a point of reminding her...but I did what I was supposed to...say it. In the 5 minutes or so between when I mentioned it and when she put the gloves on it seemed to have disappeared from her mind. *sigh*



Next question...anyone ever switched between lo-ovral and levlen? I was very happy with lo-ovral, but it's not on the formulary, so she said to try levlen. According to the NP, the progestin in levlen is a more pure form, and the dose is a bit lower. The estrogens are the same. I'm wondering if anyone's noticed a difference?

Thanks.

yeast and periods

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

My whole life so far, I've considered myself near yeast-proof. I spent a long time with chronic itching, but eventually realized that it was an allergy to laundry detergent, and not yeast.

One year ago, I went in for a pap smear and the doctor said I had a yeast infection. I had no discharge that I could see, no smell, no itch, but I was cottage-cheesy around the cervix. She gave me meds, it cleared up, and I had the pap the following month.

Now I'm insanely itchy again. I was thinking it could be detergents, but I've been running around nearly pantsless for a day, and it still itches. (I also wash my undies with almost no detergent, and that a very "pure" detergent, and I haven't had detergent-related itching in years.)There has been no smell, no discharge. What have I been doing differently? Oh! I just finished a massive treatment with Keflex! I'll bet this is a yeast infection. So this morning I decided to go to the doctor tomorrow to ask, and what should arrive but my period, with no warning. (I've gotten so used to particular PMS symptoms that I rarely check the calendar.)

I'd like to self-treat, in the meantime. I can't imagine, with my first-coupla-days flow, that I'll have visible yeast symptoms. But I can't see yogurt working well when I've got the faucet running full bore, either.

What treats yeast during menstruation? Should I skip tampons and use pads only? What'll help the itch?

Mary, yeast-itch clue-impaired

(no subject)

[sugarpuss.livejournal.com]

My period is behaving super-strangely.

I'm sort of crampy, and there have been a few little smears of that almost-blood that I get before my period... over the past 24 hours. But I'm not really bleeding yet, which is weird.

This ever happen to anyone?

(I'm definitely not pregnant, just in case I should say that.)

(no subject)

[wait.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to mention (and brag) about a really positive experience at the GYN's office. :)

I saw a new LPN and she was fantastic. Gentle, kind, asked lots of questions. Better yet, actually bothered to listen to me. Can you imagine that?

I mentioned that I had been reading news stories about studies that said it was okay to skip the placebos in birth control pills -- but what was her opinion? She replied that, "it is medically unnecesary to have a pill-induced period." I asked if that meant that I could skip them all the time, and she replied, "absolutely."

Tee-hee. No more periods for me! Sorry, OB & Always.