I have never gone to the OB/GYN before. I am 26 years old. I know i know, this is bad. But in all honesty I am scared to death of doctors, esspecailly that kind. The last time I remember being in a doctors office they told me I have ADD! Would that make u want to go back?

I don't know what to expect or plan for? How much is it going to cost? will I have to tell them about my ADD?

Please help me!:confused:

I would tell them that you have sever anxiety and maybe get some xanax or something. the longer you put it off the worse it will be !!

You might want to take a dry run to the office just to meet the staff and check out the environment, so you can let all that sink in before you go. You might even ask if you can pick up any paperwork too, and get it all filled out and bring it back with you for your real appointment. The Lady doctor, is important to me, to have a good personality match with. I hope you have one that makes you feel very comfortable. A good one, knowing you are a newbie, will explain everythig to you before it happens, and let you know what it may feel like (a little pressure, just a bit of cramping), so look for that when you go, you can even ask the staff how your doctor is with newbies. Knowledge is power, girl! Best of luck, you will do fine with some headway!

IT'S really not that bad . . . honestly. It never feels great to have people poking and prodding at you, and the actual pelvic exam can be uncomfortable, but it's really, really not as bad as you think.

Kava kava is a great antianxiety herb if you don't want to take something prescription.

Here's how it usually goes. The nurse will take you back and get your weight, blood pressure, ask you if you have anything going on (infections, pain, etc). You go in to the little room and they tell you to remove your clothes and put on a smock, and they give you a paper blankie to put over your lap, and then you sit on the table and freeze (for some reason it always seems really cold!!) until the doctor knocks on the door.

The doctor may ask you some questions, then the nurse will come in. The doctor may listen to you breathe, etc. The doctor will ask you to lay back on the table. The doctor will palpate your breasts to make sure you don't have any lumps, and she'll (mine are always women) press on your lower abdomen to feel if all your organs are normal (that can be very slightly uncomfortable).

Then the doctor will ask you to scoot towards the end of the table and put your feet in the stirrups. They will say, "This might be slightly uncomfortable," and then they will insert the speculum, scrape a very tiny bit of cells from your cervix, and it'll be over.

For me, the weigh-in is really the worst part, LOL.

Isn't Kava Kava linked to liver damage problems? :O

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/alerts/kava/

re: Anxiety
I would suggest you talk to your Doctor about your Anxiety and Avoidance issues regarding your sexual health. This may help clarify things for both of you.

I haven't been to a gyn since my son was born 6 years ago. Even though I know better, in my mind it's labeled as "optional" (since it's preventative) and "unpleasant" (embarrassing and uncomfortable), which puts all the way to the bottom of the priority list. You know - deep into that no-man's land where I never go. Can't believe it's been that long - where does the time go? Anyhow, I'm a poor one to give advice - but I will say that making the appointment and getting there is harder than the appt itsself. It's actually over pretty quickly. I just try to focus on something else in the room, hold my mental breath in a way, and it's over before you know it. Good luck!

I don't think one dose of kava kava for an obgyn appt. would damage anyone's liver. I think it's chronic use over a long period of time that causes damage. And it's certainly better than forgoing an ob-gyn appt.!!

Pap tests save lives.

Phobias can often be cured very quickly with the right therapist. Dr. Phil once said the average phobia can be cured in about 12 hours of therapy. I haven't verified this information, but it is definitely food for thought.

It wouldn't hurt to seek the services of a good therapist re: accepting your ADHD diagnosis. My diagnosis was a relief, not a death sentence and I wish you luck in getting to that place.

For temporary calmness I take Rescue Remedy, a homeopathic tincture. Calm within ten minutes. Supposed to mix in water...I just put it right under my tongue full strength.

Requesting a midwife might calm you a bit. Ask the office if they have one on duty, my office has two and they do do routine check ups. Or making sure the doctor is female. That helps me tremendously. I didn't have a male doctor until I had some mastitis checked out.

I had an IUD put in earlier this year...boy do I wish I had a female doctor for that one. It was just too invasive to not have someone with empathy. Though afterwards I got quite a chuckle when he started explaining where my cervix is, to check the string from the IUD is still there. Oh I've discovered things there...cervix being the easiest to find. ;)

That's funny, Chel! I find that humor goes a long way in relieving anxiety!

One thing about the OBGYN being male or female, I've had terrible docs of either gender, and my favourite overall was a male. I know some have a preference no matter the bedside manner, but I don't limit myself to one or the other.

the worst OBGYN beats dental, that's for sure.

One thing about the OBGYN being male or female, I've had terrible docs of either genderYup. Same thing with nurses. In fact, I remember when they pulled a male RN from a unit and the female patients protested. :D

Male vs Female for that all seems to be preference. I have a friend who's attitude is, "I wouldn't let someone who's never driven work on my car, why would I let someone without the same parts check out mine?" My thought is more along the lines of, "I can work on a car, and still not drive one." I think it's most important getting a doc (in anything) that you're comfortable with, be it male or female. I had an awesome OB/GYN when I lived in TX who was male, and a blast. Excelent bedside manner, and he really listened to me and my concerns.

I know alot of people kinda freak out about the pap, and the pelvic exam, but I've never found it to be all that bad. A little unconfortable at times, but no worse the when you really have to pee. :) The most important thing is to relax. It will go worse if you're tense.

You don't have to tell them about your ADD. But it will go quickly. He will give you a quick test and probably give you the results later. It probably won't last more than 10 minutes and a nurse will be there the entire time to supervise if the doctor is male. But it's okay. Plus you should not have to go often maybe twice a year. Have someone wait for you in the waiting room if that will make you feel better.

I've had female doctors until the last couple of years. My female family doctor retired. It's hard to find a doctor here who is taking new patients, so I went to a walk-in place and figured I'd get who I get, and it happened to be a male. I have no preference one way or the other, as long as they know what they're doing. I find it kind of amusing, because the doctor usually blushes when he does the pap test. Plus there's a nurse in the room too.

The test itself isn't too uncomfortable for me, but I've had enough of them I'm used to it by now. There's a cervical cancer screening program here, and they send out a letter telling you if your test was normal. They recommend getting it done yearly, and send a reminder when it's time for the next one.

When is your appointment ? Odviously I'm writing this Hoping that you haven't had it yet.

The explaination that amigrace gave about a Pelivc Exam & Pap Smear is good. The spectulam may be cold, depending on if the doctor uses a metal one or a plastic disposal one. (I'm 53 so I've had more done with the metal ones than the plastic ones.)

The nurse/doctor may ask some questions that you could be embarrassed by but they are legimate medical questions & they need the answers in order to be sure that they have as much medical info about the things that you do in your personal life so they will know what to be on the possible look out for. As well as what rx's you may need & not need.

And please don't be embarrassed about waiting so long to go. Because I waited even longer..even though I was younger than you are, I was married & carrying my first child before I had my first Pelvic Exam. By the way I've had 6 children & believe me after having 6 kids those types of exams don't make you as anxious as the first one but they never become something that you don't feel a bit awkard while they are being done. Let us know how it goes.

BlessedLady

ahhhhhh!!!! i hate the OB-GYN!!! :eek:


not only do you have to get weighed, and get naked in front of two complete strangers... you also have to show this stranger your vajayjay, and then let them poke your organs with giant metal tongs in a freezing cold room.
and then she (or he) will probably feel you up to see if you have breast cancer.

and then she may or may not lecture you on your eating habits, and what it means for your reproductive health.

...definitely the most awkward experience of your life. get ready! :D


hah.:p

Sorry there is 1 thing that I forgot. I guess this is optional for a OB/GYN if you already have a dr that is treating you for your ADD.

When it is PMS time for women with ADD, for alot of them during that time it is kinda like not taking your ADD meds/not taking the usual amount. Some doctors even tell their female patients to take a little extra in that time frame. If the dr does give you a rx for Anything that you haven't taken before...if you don't want to ask the dr and really even if you do it won't hurt to get another opinion from your pharmist. Ask if that rx will in any way interfer/have any side effects if taken with your ADD meds.

BlessedLady