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I tend to procratinate my pap smears and pelvic exams as much as possible. My last pelvic exam was a nightmare! I had been really lucky in the past living in Los Angeles and having great gnynecologists that made it more bearable by making it a quick in and out and using a child's speculum. Now I live here in Israel and I am dealing with socialized medicine. A robe? what's that? They make you undress here, no money to give people robes. I told them about my problem with the speculem, there is only one size. Then by the bed I see a tray with dirty forceps and some iodine and some other dirty tools in the sink. Gross! She treated me like I was a hypochondriac, relax, relax, they are not dirty, it is iodine. The iodine is used to sterilize the tools. As far as I know iodine does not sterilize tools, only an auto-clave does? When she started doing the pelvic exam my muscles tightened up ( it is a reflex, not in my control). I later found out this is common in IC patients and or Vulvodynia patients, but this doctor was misinformed and thought that the anxiety was all in my head and not something physical. She diagnosed me with inorganic vaginosis and gave me a referral to a sexuality clinic. She kept telling me to relax my pelvic muscles, but because of the pain. my pelvis just cramps up and it is out of my control. To make a very long story short ( a horrifying 15-20 minute pap smear), I was sweating bullets. I thought thank G-d this is over, she said. Oh no, its not over, we got to do an ultra-sound of your pelvis now. I thought to myself OK lets just get this over with. She inserted the " thing" ( my own medical terminology) and moved it around and around and said I'm sorry your bladder is too full. I need you to go empty your bladder and we have to do this again. That was my last straw. I told her I was late to an appointment and I would have to have the ultrasound done on another day. So to make a longer story shorter, I have still not done this ultra-sound and it has been about a year or so since then. I have been having some " issues" and need to get it done. After the last ultra-sound I developed a bad UTI, and Matia had to treat me with herbs.
The ultra-sound gel is blue and full of chemicals and irritants and flared me like crazy last time. Has anyone come up with something that I could give the technician to use instead of the standard ultra-sound jelly they use. Jojoba oil will not work. I was told by a technician that it needs to have a certain gel consistency and have water so the machine can pick up sound waves.
I remember when I lived in LA there used to be a natural un-petroleum jelly they sold at Whole Foods, but I have a feeling that would not work either because it's not a water based gel.
Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Cecilia
So sorry you had this crappy OBGYN experience! You would think that since this is a OBGYN issue that they would have more compassion/information? I had a similiar AWEFUL expereince for my last PAP right before I went in for treatment with Matia. And I just had an ultrasound on my breast for a lump- (benign) and I too flared bad from the gel. I didn't think about the gel so I was unprepared that I would be feeling badly! I actually was totally fine the next day. It started about an hour after the gel was applied and then Matia told me to take an extra dose of my formula and I just waited it out. I was fine the next day to my surprise so after a year and 7 months my flares are usually over by the next day. I have my first PAP since treatment and I got a different OBGYN care giver. she seems much nicer but I will find out for sure on Friday. I found out my last one had a terrible track record for bedside manner which for a OBGYN- that is a big deal to me. If you are going to touch my sacred ladyparts then you better have respect and kindness and warm that speculum up! I wonder if in the sea of socialized medicine you could find a caregiver that has a concept of sensitivity to IC/VV and wholistic sympathies at least? I do not know of a IC safe gel - Aloe Vera? hmmm... maybe not Aloe can cause pain. I would just do damage control post visit if you cna't find an IC safe ultrasound gel. jojoba oil for soothing and hot bath? insist on some things ahead of time in your call- can you do that in your system or is it "everyone gets the same crappy level of care kind of thing?" explain that you got a UTI last time! you were there and that you are VERY sensitive - like AIDS patient level of sensitive immune system and explain how this is real and you are not a hypochondriac. It's bonkers how even though our system is autoclave sterile yoru socialized medicine experience was not much better than my South Carolina one! Thanks hope this helps you.
Thank you Honeybee
I'm totally lost though at some of your advice. What did you mean by damage control post visit? Insist on some things ahead of time? Whad was your suggestion for me to insist on? I wonder if your aloe vera gel idea might work? Maybe it is a better option, even though it irritates I would imagine it is less bad then the gel they use?? As for your suggestion of me telling them about my immune system being similar to an AIDS patient, that would be a really bad idea. They already think that I am overexaggerating my problems and doctors only go by black and white clinical findings. I would only lose even more credibility.I appreciate though your willingness and eagerness to help!I"m sorry to hear that things are similar in South Carolina.
Cecilia, a word every doctor
Cecilia, a word every doctor understands and is afraid of is "allergic". Afraid, because they know you can potentially sue them if they do something to you and it causes a severe reaction. Just like restaurants :). I forbade my gynecologist to ever use lubricant during the exam all throughout my pregnancy! He was totally perplexed, telling me that it is hypoallergenic, blah, blah, blah. I basically told him that I start having horrible skin eruptions/inflammation inside and out that last for weeks at a time. I made it up, of course, but it worked! Since he couldn't check it anyway, he definitely did not want to be blamed for it later on. Hence, when I was giving birth, I was the first patient in his 35 year practice that wouldn't let him use any type of gel during the delivery. I understand that this will not work for your ultrasound, but at least you can protect yourself during regular exams. They will just use water, it will do exactly the same thing!
Natasha
Thank you Natasha