TMI--Annie & Jessica Got Me Thinking....

[Nonna2Dreja]

Okay, so Annie's post and then Jessica's post got me thinking....Probably not a good thing for me to do, but heck, every once in awhile it happens....LOL

25 years ago I gave birth to my daughter, my only child....Naturally I went back for my 6 week check up, but have never gone back since....My Mom said that is awful, that something may be wrong and I wouldn't know it....I feel that it is my body and after 45 years, I would know my body....I mean, I still get my monthly curse though I have long been ready for it to end....LOL

[CA Dreamer]

Hi Sheila!
I go every year. Until the last few years(when I decided that my child bearing years are OVER...so over!), I probably went to my Ob/Gyn more regularly than my GP.

[jessica31876]

not as often as I should...

[nikkiARNGwife]

At least once a year for my regular pap...

Usually though it ends up being more than that for whatever reason...for the past 6 years it's been A LOT b/c we were going through infertility etc. I think at one point when we were trying to conceive DS I was averaging 2x a month.

I also have a history of ovarian cysts so that gets me in for ultrasounds occasionally.

And then with my 2 babies I was in all the time...so my doc is like family now lol

[Nonna2Dreja]

Originally Posted by CA Dreamer

Hi Sheila!
I go every year. Until the last few years(when I decided that my child bearing years are OVER...so over!), I probably went to my Ob/Gyn more regularly than my GP.

Hi Robin! I actually had seen my GP tons of more times than I had ever seen my OB/GYN....Even my GP used to ask me if I had been for a visit lately and he would even offer to refer me to the Doctor his wife went to....LOL Now my GP has retired and I don't even have a GP yet....

[emmasmommy]

I go yearly...that's too sensitive an area for me to avoid it LOL

[mummytothree]

well lately I've been going ever week But whwn I'm not pregant I go once a year!!!

[meganmecrazy]

I go at least once a year.

[tuneskids]

I go yearly, because of cancer history in my family. My mom had cervical cancer when she was in her late 20s/early 30s, and then was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42. They now recommend being tested 10 years before a direct relation was diagnosed - so I have been doing my yearly pap tests faithfully, and I also have to start mammograms this year (was scheduled for a ultrasound mammogram last fall, but didn't have a reliable vehicle to get there to do it, still have to make the appointment again. ugh).
For a while, before I had Quinten, I was in every 3-6 months, for irregular cells in my cervix. But I think everything is fine now, nothing ever happened like it after I had Quinten.

[mummytothree]

Originally Posted by emmasmommy

that's too sensitive an area for me to avoid it LOL

I have to agree...you can have abnormal cervical cells with no knowledge or symptons. I had them when I was about 27 and didn't know it and they came on fast I had my yearly and everything was fine and I went back in a few month later for my first pre natal check up with my second child and I had abnormal cells that needed to be removed and biopsied!!! Thank god they came back NORMAL but my OB said it was probably because they were caught in a timely manner!!!!

I hate the doctor with a passion but I will always....ALWAYS go to my "yearly" check up!!!!

[my3hens]

I also dont go as much as I need to. Now that Im sure we are done having babies I need to stay on top of it but I am so bogged down with doctors appointments for my kids its easy to put myself on the back burner.

[ColleenSwerb]

I go yearly. A little longer than normal this year because I totally spaced to make my appointment and you know how busy and booked up they are.
I rarely go to my GP though. I have 2 specialists I see (a neuro and a gastro) so I generally don't go to my GP, lol.

[lauren grier]

when I feel like it. haha.. really, I'm so awful about going to the dr. A couple years ago- my dr said because i was in a commited relationship & hadn't ever had any abnormal paps I could go every 3 years instead of 1 year-- but life has obviously changed there. I did go and have all the fun stuff check up cause I needed bcp.. I only get a year of refills so I suppose I'll have to go again when I run out

[MamaBee]

GYN - yearly... in fact I have to go Wed for my annual. My family has a history of cancer, so I want make sure everything is happy down there. Since he has see *everything*... I feel more comfortable talking to him about other health concerns than I would a GP...

As for the GP... LOL, I don't even know who mine is on the insurance! I haven't been to one in over 2 years since we switched insurance and my favorite GP (who was also my migraine doctor) wasn't covered... now my insurance covers this GP so I should really go back... I wouldn't think I need to transfer any records since the only tiny thing that changed was that I gave birth...

[iJenny]

I go yearly. Always have. Plus, I have an IUD so its good to get its placement checked every year.

[newfiemountiewife]

I had abnormal cells when I was about 22, so I go yearly. For awhile I had to go every 3-6 months until it was confirmed they were gone.

It has been almost 2 years since I've gone this time, and I have to get an appt before I move.

[crystalbella77]

I have been going every year...

[Sarah8914]

Well, since I am still having babies and they are about 2 years apart, I haven't had a regular yearly check for awhile--actually, I take that back. After the 6 week check, my doc likes to see you 6 months later and then yearly. So I go to that one 6 months later and then get pregnant again the time I'd be due for another.

With La's info about 3 years, I will likely go every 3 years after I'm done having babies. I have never had an abnormal pap and my husband and I have never been "with" anyone besides each other and we are very committed. So yeah, as long as I don't have abnormal paps, maybe I'll try this 3 year thing instead of every year.

[Julie Billingsley]

every 2 years. That is what my doc has said since I'm done with babies and have only 1 partner.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women have their first Pap smear about three years after they become sexually active or by age 21, whichever comes first. Subsequent Pap smears should occur every two years thereafter with a liquid based Pap test or annually with a conventional test.

Sheila, my mom was the same way. She hadn't had an exam in over 30 years and I finally talked her into going. It wasn't nearly as bad as she thought it would be. Any woman over 35 should also have a mammogram. Make an appointment, we want to keep you healthy!!

[DawnMarch]

Once/year. I'm not sure I agree with your reasoning on this one, Sheila -- I don't think things like early stage cervical cancer or breast cancer are the types of things that you necessarily feel, even if you "know" your body. And it they are far enough along for you to feel an effect from them, that's probably not a good thing!

[Leila]

Yearly, though I'm running behind schedule this year. I despise my doctor, so I'm doing everything I can to avoid her. Yes, I could switch...but the other options here aren't any better. None of them are "fat friendly." (As in "everything that's wrong with you is because you're overweight. NO, it doesn't matter that you had the same exact symptoms when you were 17 and only weighed 110lbs. No, it doesn't. It's because you're overweight.")

[kscwgirl]

I don't have an ob/gyn right now. Mine moved to texas. I haven't gone since my 6 week check with JJ and he's 3 1/2. Sigh. I keep meaning to find one, I just haven't.

[Shawna]

I haven't been since my 6wk checkup after my youngest was born over 2 yrs ago. My ob/gyn, who I absolutely loved and was my doc for all 3 of my kids, retired from her practice shortly after that and opened a weight loss clinic. So I have to switch to a new doc and have just been putting it off.

[MissKim]

I don't have an OB/GYN. I see my general doctor for a pap once a year, and I only do that because they won't refill my bcp without a yearly pap. Nazis. Just found out our regular doctor is leaving and some man is taking her place. I'm not thrilled, but the clinic is 5 minutes from my house, so I suppose I'll keep going. This makes my 4th doctor in 2 years.

[junebug]

i haven't gone since after i had Aidan. he'll be 3 in November. the only reason is because DH is no longer in the Army and i have no insurance. if he ends up getting his 100% permanent disability through the VA we'll get Tricare insurance again for the kids and me, plus other benefits. i really don't see DH ever working again because of his ptsd and depression being so bad.

[ajf9597]

I know I need to go and I did go yearly when I was on BCP, but since having my DS, I had not went back until I got pregnant with my DD almost 6 years later. And more than likely since I'm not on BCP won't go back, I know I should, but just don't take the time to do it.

[profiler_mar]

25 years???!! I can't imagine. I have to go every year to keep getting my birth control pill. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer this time last year and it was her OB/GYN who found it during her annual check up breast exam and subsequent mamogram, so I recommend going...

[AmyM]

Only if I have to. Should be going yearly, I know...but really I hate it. Would rather sit in the dentist chair, scoop the cat's litter box, eat dirt......anything but laying on that table.

[Nonna2Dreja]

After reading all of the replies, I have to say that "I know that I should go for a checkup AND as soon as I can get the nerve up AND find a Doctor, I will....I also need to get the nerve up to find a new GP so I can go get back on my medication for Anxiety/Panic Attacks....I guess no one likes going to the OB/GYN, they just go because they should....I just have to keep reminding myself that they've seen one, they've seen them all....

Thanks so much everyone for your votes in the Poll and for your replies....

[LibbysMommy]

I go yearly. I don't necessarily like it, but I do it, lol!!

[kim21673]

I ALWAYS go for my yearly appt...sometimes more if I need to.

I had years of abnormal cells (they have been good for several years now thank goodness) and my mom had uterine cancer (it was 100% taken care of with a hysterectomy and NO chemo thank goodness...and at an older age which is even better) so I make sure I always get an exam!!!!