Posts by Susan Harris

The search continues for a dentist in Chicago or maybe somewhere downtown!
Come on, everyone, this is getting critical 😁

Amanda Chavez said:Does she offer ultrasonic cleaning?

Regarding dentists, mine is absolutely wonderful, though her office is just near Central Park. Actually, I was just there yesterday 😁

She definitely does ultrasonic cleaning!
If you want her info, brother, just shoot me a private message.

Elizabeth James95 said:Hey,
you can actually get vaccinated even if you're older than 13—up to age 25, I believe. That's how I read it in an article where some prominent American gynecologists specializing in youth reproductive health (including my own doctor!) were discussing it. Girls starting at 13 receive the vaccination for free, essentially funded by the government, because it’s part of a major public health campaign to reduce HPV cases and, ultimately, cervical cancer rates. They settled on 13 as the baseline because it's generally considered the age when most girls haven't become sexually active yet, which makes the vaccine most effective. But that doesn't mean if you're older and haven't been sexually active, you can't get it; quite the opposite, actually. The series requires three doses, and the cost is around 3 $0.00, though I'm not entirely certain if that's per dose or for the full three-dose regimen. I suspect there might be options for partial or even full coverage for young women facing financial hardships.
I am 19 years old, I am not currently sexually active, and I am weighing the decision to get vaccinated. However, before I make a final call on whether to proceed, I plan to have a very thorough consultation with my gynecologist, who is highly knowledgeable regarding this matter.

Elizabeth James95, thank you 🙂
Yes, I heard the price was somewhere in that ballpark too...
I'll definitely need to look into potential discounts or assistance programs.

A small side note for those who are still feeling hesitant.
I was just having lunch with a friend and we ended up talking about this exact topic. She, unfortunately, has HPV. She mentioned that for her, the worst part is the psychological toll. It's this constant, nagging anxiety—this sort of psychosis—that something is growing down there...

I actually posted this in a different thread first because I could barely find you guys again 🙂

But first, let me be clear—my dilemma isn't whether or not to get vaccinated.

I see that most of you here are moms weighing the pros and cons of vaccinating your daughters. I assume you’re all probably a few years older than me (I'm 26).
Here’s how it goes:
Back when I was 19, girls on my college campus were whispering about something we didn't even have a name for yet, but there was an outbreak simmering under the surface. Of course, nobody was openly talking about it. Around that same time, I went for my very first Pap smear; it came back negative, but my gynecologist told me that nearly 90% of tests for girls my age come back POSITIVE!!!
Basically, this epidemic really exploded by the time you all already had your children, so your generation probably doesn't feel the weight of it as much as I do.
As for me, I don't have a single female friend who doesn't have HPV. We're talking women in their mid-20s who have to go in for checkups every few months because they have at least CIN III (which is just one step away from cancer), who have to explain to their boyfriends that they need to use a condom FOREVER, and who have to be extra careful during pregnancy...
And look, this isn't about girls who are jumping from partner to partner. Some of them caught it from their very first boyfriend. Because, you see, men don't really care much about it—they don't show any symptoms, they just act as carriers.

If there is even a tiny chance to lower the odds of all that happening to me, I'm not going to hesitate.
So far, all my Pap smears have been fine. I was just in for my annual checkup this morning, and after my Pap, my doctor mentioned that if this one stays negative, I can still get the HPV vaccine.

What I'm actually wondering about is this... Has anyone here gotten vaccinated after the age of 13, and what are the COSTS like? Because apparently, the vaccine is incredibly expensive. Then again, I've heard rumors that you might be able to get it for free through insurance or certain programs.
Does anyone happen to know anything about that?

Amanda Chavez said:Do you happen to know a gynecologist who fits that description? 😁 Location doesn't really matter—anywhere in the Washington, D.C. metro area works.

🤷 I don't personally know any gynecologists. I actually see Assad over at the local community health clinic. He’s a fantastic guy, truly. A close friend of mine saw him throughout her entire pregnancy, too. We have both had such wonderful experiences with him. In fact, I was just there seeing him this morning! 😁

I feel like I’m shouting into a void here because this is actually my third time bringing this up, yet all I get are guesses instead of actual facts...
SO, HERE IT IS:::

I am 26 years old, and so far, every single one of my Pap smears has come back perfectly clear. Well, I went in for my annual checkup this morning, had a Pap test done, and my gynecologist suggested that if this result is negative, I should consider getting the HPV vaccine.

That brings me to my questions... Has anyone here gone through the vaccination process later in life—specifically after age 13? And more importantly, what are the COSTS like? I have heard whispers that the vaccine is incredibly expensive. On the flip side, I've also heard rumors that it might be available for free through certain programs.
Does anyone actually have some solid information on this...

Thanks much

Well... to be perfectly honest, I’ve had some rather unpleasant experiences with female dentists in the past, which unfortunately led me to develop a bit of a phobia toward the whole profession. Because of that, I haven't actually sat in a dental chair for nearly two years now.😲
At this stage, I find myself searching for a dentist who meets a very specific set of criteria:

1. Location: Ideally somewhere near the Boston Celtics arena—so maybe around the downtown area or heading towards the suburbs, though central is fine too.
2. Insurance coverage: They need to accept my insurance, specifically Medicare, so that a portion of the costs is covered.
3. Bedside manner: They absolutely must be gentle.😍
4. Age range: I am looking for someone relatively young, or at least middle-aged. A friend recently suggested her dentist, but the woman is practically ready to retire! She’s been practicing since before kindergarten, if you can believe it. If I went to her, I'd be hunting for a new doctor again in a year or two, and frankly, I just don't have the energy for that cycle.

So, if anyone happens to know a practitioner who fits this description, please let me know. I really need to deal with these cavities and wisdom teeth via 911 levels of urgency! ☕