So, two weeks ago I went ahead and had these two moles removed because they were looking suspicious and changing shape on me. Now I’m just sitting here wondering if someone can explain what on earth "showing maturation" actually means while I wait for my follow-up appointment next week. I'll just type out the main bits from the report here...
Specimen 1: skin excision measuring 0.6x0.3x0.2 cm containing a dark brown lesion 0.2 cm in diameter Specimen 2: skin excision measuring 1.3x0.7x0.5 cm containing a grayish-brown lesion 0.7 cm in diameter
Pathology Report: 1) Histologically, the lesion consists of an acanthotic epidermis with elongated epidermal ridges and darkly pigmented basal keratinocytes, along with nests of nevus cells within the basal layers of the epidermis and the underlying dermis where they show maturation. The described lesion does not reach the resection margins marked by tissue stain. The same stuff applies to the second mole too, including the pathology diagnosis listed below.
Pathology Diagnosis: compound lentiginous nevus
They told me everything looks fine, but I'm still stuck on this whole "showing maturation" phrase. Anyone? Thanks in advance! 🙂
coastaltiger7 said:Honestly, I have no clue... I always just grabbed a referral, did the excision plus PhD thing, and stuck strictly to surgeons.
Just wanted to give a quick heads-up... went in today, waited a little bit, and they finished the excision. Turns out you can get this sorted incredibly fast over in a place like Des Moines. 👍
So, I finally got an email back today that said: 'DEAR SIR/MADAM, IF YOU WANT TO SPECIALIZE IN SURGERY, SIGN UP WITH THE SURGERY DEPARTMENT, AND FOR PATHOLOGY, SIGN UP WITH THE PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT. BEST REGARDS.'
Wait... what does that even mean? Does this imply I actually have to trek all the way down there in person??
I remember having a mild case of heatstroke back when I was just a kid. I basically spent the whole day running around in the sun without eating or drinking a single thing... just total negligence, I guess. By the time I finally made it home, my head was absolutely pounding. I went to lie down, but then someone started ringing the doorbell, so I forced myself up—only to pass out right at my sister's feet. The last thing I remember was being unconscious, and then suddenly we're pulling up to the ER, and I’m just sitting there thinking, *Wait, where are we going?* I was out for about half an hour, and they ended up keeping me at the hospital for five days after that. Luckily, I didn't have any lasting side effects afterward.
Ugh, honestly, having them book me for a consultation first just to schedule the actual procedure in the city is totally redundant... I’ve already done the initial checkup and walked away with two referrals in hand—one to get that mole removed and another for the pathology report. So, yeah... I guess I can just sit tight and wait for an email response on Monday.
coastaltiger7 said:You can just email your referral to several different hospitals to see who gets you in the fastest. Just don't forget to cancel the other appointments if they don't work for you. Maybe things are handled differently in a smaller town, worth checking... I know for sure how it works at Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins because I was there recently.
Well, yeah, I’d obviously cancel the others. I just sent an email over to a clinic in a smaller city with my referral and test results to see when they can fit me in... though apparently, they don't do minor surgeries during the summer months. That would be killer if I could get seen within two weeks. God knows how long I waited just to see a dermatologist... anyway, we'll see once I start reaching out to more places.
Also, does anyone know how long it usually takes them to reply to an email and actually confirm the appointment?
So, turns out I actually have to book an appointment ahead of time or send an email... despite being told I could just show up whenever and wait my turn to get these moles removed. Typical.
Also, can you book at multiple hospitals? I was thinking about heading over to a clinic in a place like Des Moines—since that's where I had my initial dermatology checkup and got the recommendation to get them taken out—but I could also look into somewhere like Omaha, Chicago, or even Minneapolis. Honestly, I'll just go wherever the waitlist is shortest. Or am I stuck booking with just one specific hospital?
So, I just got two referrals in the mail—one for mole removal and another for some PhD analysis thing... and now I'm sitting here wondering if there's a ticking clock on these. Like, do I have to schedule everything within 30 days? Because looking at the waitlists for general surgery at places like Mayo Clinic or even local community hospitals, people are already lined up for ages... My primary care doctor told me I can basically take these to any hospital, as long as I double-check their hours for minor surgical procedures. Which feels... weird? Just walk into any hospital and wait my turn? Usually, if I get a referral for a dermatologist, it’s all super specific—like they tell you exactly when to show up, what time, and which specific clinic you need to be at... not just "go wherever you want."
Give me a real Coca-Cola any day... otherwise, I'll be listening to an orchestra playing in my stomach all night long. 🤣 The absolute worst is Trenta, good grief. That brown color? And the taste is just straight-up offensive. 🙂
Honestly, playback shouldn't even be a thing when a singer is just standing there or sitting on a stool... I really don't see any reason why they couldn't just sing live here. The only exception would be if they were actually sick or something, you know? Just so their voice doesn't sound totally trashed.
fadedbear92 said:so I was listening to the radio today and heard this track... recognized the voice immediately, but it was all in Italian or something... turns out it was just our girl Lady Gaga😲
I’ve got that same weird buzzing in my left ear... nothing in the right one, though. Sometimes if I hiccup or just yawn really wide, that low-frequency hum finally cuts out. Maybe it's just a fluke? But then I wake up the next morning and there it is again... just that constant *shhhhh* sound. It isn't super loud yet, thank God. It’s definitely from blasting music through my earbuds way too much. Some people swear it’s even from cell phones, too. I’ve officially quit using headphones until my ears get a total break—don't want to go completely deaf or anything—but honestly, my laptop speakers are garbage. They aren't doing me any favors.