I mean, I guess... why would someone even need to head all the way to the hospital just for an ultrasound? 🤷 Most gynecologists have their own ultrasound machines right there in their outpatient clinics anyway.
Elizabeth Jackson64 said:I got this referral that’s basically illegible, but I’m about 90% sure it’s for a transvaginal ultrasound 😁. My question is: how should I prepare for that specific kind of scan (is it like a standard gynecological exam or...?), and for anyone who knows—where is the best place to get this done in Chicago, and what are the wait times usually like? ...
Well, if you're a virgin, they won't do a transvaginal scan; instead, they'll just perform the ultrasound over your abdomen. The vaginal probe itself is shaped a little bit like a small remote control. It’s pretty straightforward—you just show up, lie down, and try to relax. The doctor is supposed to put a condom cover over the probe and gently insert it. You should be able to see your uterus and ovaries on the monitor right next to the bed. Honestly, it isn't scary or even that awkward. If you feel comfortable with your doctor, they can actually show you things, like whether you're ovulating or if you can see the corpus luteum and stuff like that. Personally, I always go to private clinics for my ultrasounds, so I really can't recommend any of the public hospitals or government facilities.
Dad's showing some changes on his Pap smear results. There's a whole thread about CIN if you feel up to reading through it whenever you have the energy and time... If those Pap tests end up pointing toward CIN, your doctor will likely send you in for some swabs just to figure out exactly what’s causing those changes.
I went through all of that myself when they first diagnosed me with CIN—it’s still pretty fresh in my mind, honestly 🙂 My gynecologist ended up performing an LLetz to clear out the abnormal tissue. I think I mentioned this before, but please, don't let it scare you too much, okay? Maybe just do a little Google search on CIN... it might help to see what we're actually dealing with.
A colposcopy is basically an exam where they apply a iodine solution to the cervix (I might be slightly off on the specifics there) so they can spot any areas where the cells are starting to change. When you hear the term "mosaic," it’s essentially just a mix of healthy and abnormal tissue—there are different levels too, like a mild mosaic or something more pronounced. You don't necessarily have to have genital warts to have these changes; warts are usually linked to certain types of HPV that are generally less concerning, whereas these cervical changes involve the more serious strains. If your doctor found something during the colposcopy, I'm assuming they mentioned the possibility of an LLetz procedure, which is where they remove that specific tissue and send it off for a biopsy to figure out exactly what's going on. Sometimes, the biopsy itself actually ends up clearing away the infected part. Please don't let this scare you too much; just try to get all the facts you need so you can hopefully lower your stress levels a bit. I really hope this helps.
If you go down to Times Square to get some blood work done in the morning, you’ll usually have your results back by the afternoon or even by the next morning, I guess... it really just depends on what kind of test they're running and which shift your doctor happens to be working
There are also those period panties with a plastic liner on the outside that really help keep everything held together—maybe you could give those a shot while you wait for Mirena to kick in.
I’ve actually stopped sleeping with a tampon in, mostly because I’m just constantly worried about Toxic Shock Syndrome. A few times now, I’ve had these weird moments where I start feeling dizzy or my legs just go weak... and then, strangely enough, the feeling vanishes as soon as I take the tampon out. I honestly can't tell if it's all just in my head or if those were actual warning signs of TSS. Maybe I'm just overthinking it, I don't know. I wouldn't say I have any majorly unhealthy habits, really. Though, I guess I might be a bit obsessive about washing my hands, and throughout the summer, I end up showering way more than necessary—sometimes just using lukewarm water without even using soap. Is that considered a habit? Or am I just being extra? I guess we'll see.
rapidpilot5, you really should go see a doctor. They’ll probably send you for some tests or maybe some blood work first. It could be anything... bone inflammation, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis... I'm just throwing things out there, honestly. It might even just be standard joint inflammation that's totally manageable with treatment. Whenever my own rheumatic issues flare up, it’s this constant stinging sensation that just jumps from one spot to another. But, well, there are medications for it, so it's easier to deal with once you have something.
I don't really have a solid argument here, honestly. Growing up, everyone around me was always lecturing me about not sitting on cold surfaces—you know, like concrete or stone—because they were convinced I’d end up with some kind of pelvic inflammation or kidney issues. They even used to say the same thing about walking around barefoot too. And then there was the whole thing about having bare skin exposed, like when you're wearing a shirt that doesn't quite cover everything. To be fair, I've never actually dealt with any of those health problems🤷 though, I suppose, I still make sure to avoid sitting on anything freezing just in case. But I really love this whole idea regarding "heat theft." It’s actually a concept that makes sense to me for once.
Well, yeah, I mean, aspartame definitely isn't exactly the gold standard for healthy eating. 🙂 Maybe it might be a good idea to reach out to your doctor if you're genuinely feeling like something's gone wrong?
Honestly, lately I’ve been preferring the stuff from Walgreens, so I keep some of that on hand too CVS some Vitamin C effervescent tablets band-aids a thermometer, some gauze cash—you know how it goes Virox—for when herpes flares up on my lip because my immune system decided to take a nap Rojazol gel—which is just wonderful for those mouth ulcers that pop up whenever my immunity hits rock bottom👍 Gastal—for those times I wake up at 4 AM, especially if Amy Lee18 🙂 decides to have a snack... man, I swear, I hate having to deal with 24-hour pharmacies when something starts hurting; driving halfway across town? No thanks, I'll pass Ibuprofen in various dosages, because my bones and joints certainly deserve it
Looking at this list, I see a few things here that I could actually afford to treat myself to 😬
Just a little bit off-topic here—does Trinovum still actually prescribe for women? I mean, I’ve been taking it for over ten years now, and I honestly thought they might have pulled it from the market or something... especially since there are other pills out there with much lower hormone doses available these days...
Honestly, just head over to your doctor and ask them to send you in for some full testing. I went through something pretty similar a few years back when my joints started acting up. It was awful—the pain would just intensify hour by hour until I couldn't even pull on a pair of jeans or grab my toothbrush without struggling. My primary care physician ended up sending me for rheumatoid arthritis screenings, but everything came back negative. Turns out, it was actually a form of rheumatic issues that just flares up every once in a while. Whenever it starts acting up, I just take an Advil. Bone and joint pain isn't all that uncommon, really. So, please, don't let fear hold you back—just get those tests done as soon as you can!
It’s possible you're experiencing some spotting during ovulation, though I guess that usually isn't quite this heavy. But, rather than us just sitting here guessing, my honest advice would be to actually check in with a doctor, because they really are the ones who know best.
Beyond just being controversial, the way women are pressured into giving consent for this kind of "screening" makes their personal autonomy feel incredibly shaky. To me, mammography feels like a form of "diagnostic violence" (I. Illich)—it essentially turns our everyday existence into this endless, pathological hunt for disease. When you live under the shadow of constant mammograms, life starts to feel like nothing more than a calculation of risks, weighed down by unnecessary anxiety and fear, which just strips away all the beauty and joy from living.
Given this shift toward a more critical view within the medical community, I suppose we might see a massive exodus of women opting out of mammography departments altogether.
What "mass exodus"? There aren't even enough women participating to call it that. Honestly, this is just nonsense—I can't call it anything else.
I have to say, that article from The Council Voice really got under my skin. Honestly, it feels like it’s not even the first time they've published something without actually fact-checking it first. Plus, I’m just naturally sensitive when it comes to women's health issues, and I know firsthand that a huge number of women don't really jump at the chance to go for free screenings. Usually, women start heading in for mammograms once they hit their 40s, if I remember correctly—maybe even a bit older than 40. I honestly feel like the real struggle here in the States is that a certain group of women over 40 is going to have issues getting to those appointments regardless, but this kind of coverage might actually make it worse for more people, maybe due to how they were raised, their social circles, a lack of information, or just their general attitude toward their own bodies. I don't know enough about thermography to really weigh in on that, so I won't bother writing much about it. As for mammograms, I do know we have those mobile screening units that travel around to help women in rural or underserved areas get checked out. And look, I get that things like chemotherapy and radiation aren't exactly "good" for the body while it's trying to fight off cancer, but until a better, more accessible option shows up, hospitals are still going to stick with what they have.