lisa marseau
10-02-2009, 04:11 AM
I finally screwed up enough courage to ask my Family Doc. about hormone therapy and telling him about my body issues. To my surprise, Not a glimpse of reaction from him. That was not the way that I pictured it going down (did I mention I live in S.Carolina?).
Anyway, I got a referral to see an endocrinologest in Charlotte, NC. The date...9/29 10:00 am. Okay so now starts my list of a thousand questions. In the back of my mind I am thinking this guy is going to send me to some shrink for maybe a year or so. At a hundred bucks an hour and I start thinking ok, I can get rid of my street rod and maybe my trans-am to pay for this. I read through a few notes that I have been saving through the years and checked this site. I asked a quick question and a few quick replies ( Thanks ).
The morning comes and I figure to go as suggested to make it certin that I am for real and to go as Lisa. Do a complete shave and expect a complete physical exam. Two hours and one plugged-up drain later I was ready for hair and make-up. I made sure that I did not get carried away and look like a "flaming" freak!
As I walked in my heart was pounding :o . I filled out the forms on a tablet p.c. and not on paper. Wow! A modern Doctor. Blood pressure check...130/80! Pulse 110. The nurse asked me if I was nervious. I think my reply was...Duh. Doctor came in (nice guy kinda young by my standards down to earth) and started off by trying to make me relax by closing my eyes and take a deep breath. There were no dumb questions like why do you want to change or why are you here? This guy has experiance was the thought that I had running through the back of my mind. After about the third question I felt a great weight was lifted and the nerves went away. This was an interview not a consultation. We talked for a half hour about family, friends, loved ones, work, med. history and life style. At that point he said that I needed to wait because we needed to talk some more. He had another appointment waiting (not rude at all). He gave me some pretty glossy bi-folds to look at and a form to read and sign. He handed me a pen and left the room. As I sat there and read the form and picked up the pen I noticed that the pen said SCC 2009 and had two hands shaking.
Doc came back in and I asked. Did you go? He looked at me and said..." I gave that pen to you on purpose. I wanted to know if noticed." He then told me a another patent had given it to him. (thanks cd.com) He then told me that he was supposed to be a speaker at the conference but had to back out. We went over some more history and then he asked if I had any questions. I reached for my bag and... Damn, I left my question sheet on my desk! Most of all the questions were answered any way.
He told me that I had to make a choice. Smokes or estrogen. I cannot have both. The risk of blood clots would be too great. I am already on Chantix and have been for a month. I still like to take a drag though. I have been a heavy smoker for a long time. I have already decided to quit a while ago so no big deal right? Wrong! Smoking is HELL to quit! As I write this it is my third day with-out a drag or anything (God please help me to be smoke free) When I am certain that I have quit I need to go and have my blood tested. Then I can go back to the office and tell the receptionist that I am ready and in my file there are two scripts for me.
Anyone who was a smoker and has quit knows how hard this is. All friends and members... I need support. Wish me luck. I would have never come this far on my own with-out the knowledge and support of like minded people on this site.
Lisa
Anyway, I got a referral to see an endocrinologest in Charlotte, NC. The date...9/29 10:00 am. Okay so now starts my list of a thousand questions. In the back of my mind I am thinking this guy is going to send me to some shrink for maybe a year or so. At a hundred bucks an hour and I start thinking ok, I can get rid of my street rod and maybe my trans-am to pay for this. I read through a few notes that I have been saving through the years and checked this site. I asked a quick question and a few quick replies ( Thanks ).
The morning comes and I figure to go as suggested to make it certin that I am for real and to go as Lisa. Do a complete shave and expect a complete physical exam. Two hours and one plugged-up drain later I was ready for hair and make-up. I made sure that I did not get carried away and look like a "flaming" freak!
As I walked in my heart was pounding :o . I filled out the forms on a tablet p.c. and not on paper. Wow! A modern Doctor. Blood pressure check...130/80! Pulse 110. The nurse asked me if I was nervious. I think my reply was...Duh. Doctor came in (nice guy kinda young by my standards down to earth) and started off by trying to make me relax by closing my eyes and take a deep breath. There were no dumb questions like why do you want to change or why are you here? This guy has experiance was the thought that I had running through the back of my mind. After about the third question I felt a great weight was lifted and the nerves went away. This was an interview not a consultation. We talked for a half hour about family, friends, loved ones, work, med. history and life style. At that point he said that I needed to wait because we needed to talk some more. He had another appointment waiting (not rude at all). He gave me some pretty glossy bi-folds to look at and a form to read and sign. He handed me a pen and left the room. As I sat there and read the form and picked up the pen I noticed that the pen said SCC 2009 and had two hands shaking.
Doc came back in and I asked. Did you go? He looked at me and said..." I gave that pen to you on purpose. I wanted to know if noticed." He then told me a another patent had given it to him. (thanks cd.com) He then told me that he was supposed to be a speaker at the conference but had to back out. We went over some more history and then he asked if I had any questions. I reached for my bag and... Damn, I left my question sheet on my desk! Most of all the questions were answered any way.
He told me that I had to make a choice. Smokes or estrogen. I cannot have both. The risk of blood clots would be too great. I am already on Chantix and have been for a month. I still like to take a drag though. I have been a heavy smoker for a long time. I have already decided to quit a while ago so no big deal right? Wrong! Smoking is HELL to quit! As I write this it is my third day with-out a drag or anything (God please help me to be smoke free) When I am certain that I have quit I need to go and have my blood tested. Then I can go back to the office and tell the receptionist that I am ready and in my file there are two scripts for me.
Anyone who was a smoker and has quit knows how hard this is. All friends and members... I need support. Wish me luck. I would have never come this far on my own with-out the knowledge and support of like minded people on this site.
Lisa