Meshel Laurie
My friend Nelly made me laugh the other day when she said that childbirth made her accept that she is an animal. You see Nelly, like myself is a head-dweller. We agreed that neither of us has ever felt particularly connected to our bodies. We were the girls who couldn’t tell the difference between period pain and wind. I for one have never had a clue as to why or when my body does most of the things it does.
I haven’t been laughing this week though, as I’ve struggled to pull myself back together after what I think would be regarded as minor surgery. I had an ovarian cyst dealt with. I say “dealt with” because I’m not exactly sure what happened while I was unconscious. I’m sure I got a pamphlet somewhere along the line, with diagrams and analogies, but somehow it got lost in my bag, or in the car, or in a book somewhere.
All I know is that I was perfectly relaxed before the surgery. I even managed a nice nap while awaiting my turn. Eventually I was wheeled into surgery, where I entered into a discussion with my female anaesthetist about Whitney’s tragic passing, as most women in the world were doing at the time. The next thing I knew a nurse was hovering over my face saying “You’re alright, you’re in recovery, you’re alright, you’re alright…oh she’s going to vomit.”
Apparently I didn’t vomit, but I’m very embarrassed all the same. I can’t even imagine what I must’ve looked like. I was completely freaked out, trying very hard to chill and go with the flow, to think my way through it all logically. I was trying to sleep, trying to stay awake, trying to focus on the endless strangers who’s faces hung over mine telling me what was happening next. Suddenly I thought of my father who had a heart attack and triple bypass surgery two years ago. In my haze I began to panic at the thought of ever having to go through anything like this again. “Why can’t I just be an animal?” I thought. Why can’t my brain just let my body deal with this instead of turning it into a terrible fear of something that may never happen?
I was able to return home that evening, and have recovered pretty quickly physically, but I’ve been suffering from terrible anxiety. I have an awful nagging feeling that my body might not keep chugging along as it always has. That it might not just “come good” as I always expect it to if I feel a niggle.
I tried to be grateful that I was not in hospital for anything more serious, particularly as this month is Ovarian Cancer Australia Awareness month, for which I am an ambassador. Ironically, I am exactly the kind of woman these guys are most concerned about. I don’t pay attention to the changes that take place in my body and I don’t have a GP. That’s right, I don’t even have a GP! I never get sick, and if I do I just pull into the first medical centre I drive past and grab a prescription.
Well, things have to change. I have to pay some attention to my body so I’ll notice when things change, and I need to sign up with a local GP who can help me keep tabs on my health. The symptoms of Ovarian Cancer are particularly subtle, so please take yourself to their facebook page here to remind yourself and pass them on.
To all the other head-dwellers out there, let’s make the effort to get a little better acquainted with our bodies.
Meshel Laurie is a comedian and broadcaster. You can catch up with her on Nova’s Drive Show with Tim Blackwell and Marty Sheargold 4-6pm on weekdays.
Comments
92 Comments so far
This is a very sinister cancer, please beware of any different symtoms, ladies. Our lives are very precious. My grand daughter’s friend’s mother was 46 and had back pain that I’m guessing she ignored like many of us, thinking it will get better. This dear lady died within eight weeks last year, she went downhill very fast.
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A big thank you to the lovely Meshel for helping to raise awareness of ovarian cancer! At Ovarian Cancer Australia part of our mission is to make sure that every woman knows the symptoms of ovarian cancer. There is no detection test for ovarian cancer (the pap smear only tests for cervical cancer) so it’s important to learn the symptoms.
The 4 most frequently reported symptoms are:
Abdominal or pelvic pain.
Increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating.
Needing to urinate often or urgently.
Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly.
Other symptoms include changes in bowel habits, bleeding in-between periods or after menopause, back pain, indigestion and nausea, unexplained weight loss or gain, excessive fatigue.
If any of these symptoms are new for you, and you experience them persistently over a 4 week period, see your doctor for a check up.
You know your body best and if you feel that something is “not quite right”, get it checked.
For more info on the symptoms, or if you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and need support, visit http://www.ovariancancer.net.au.
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One of my close friends discovered a lump about six months ago. She had been feeling bloated, her chiropractor had said it was just digestion issues, she kept ignoring it for about 3 months. When she finally went to the drs they found a 20cm cyst on her ovary, and in surgery they discovered they had to remove both ovaries and her uterus. She is a fairly small framed woman, one of the cysts had attached itself to her lung.
My friend is 34!!
I never liked the prognosis, we have been holding our breaths quietly expecting those horrible words…
She has been through chemo ever since the operation started to heal, and it finally seems that she might be recovering, although it could be a long way yet. Everytime we get a little bit of good news we are a few days later hit with the worst case scenario once more, so noone is daring exhaling just yet.
Please ladies, if you in any way feel discomfort, lumps anything out of the ordinary, go see a doctor. And go see a doctor regularly. Thinking about my friend’s daughter and husband is heartbreaking, without thinking about what may or may not happen to my friend.
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my best wishes to her.
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dkmum thank you for sharing the story of your friend here. People should know that chiropractors are not medical doctors, indeed they are potentially dangerous, as the example above illustrates.
Best of luck to your friend.
Oh and if your back is ‘out’, go see a physiotherapist. Save your money for the professionals.
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I am not a Dr but I read that carrying excess weight is correlated with having Ovarian cysts….so us ladies carrying excess weight need to be even more mindful to check this out.
Good luck Mishel – hoping for a good outcome for you.
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Please don’t worry Meshel, I have suffered from multiple ovarian cysts for ten years and none have turned into anything more sinister. Some have been drained (filled a 300ml bottle) but most have been surgically removed. It’s something that I need to keep on top of as my body just keeps producing them.
Take care of yourself and learn to know the symptoms ( i get severe pains like i have a big stitch) so that you can treat them ASAP.
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Great article Meshel.
I had an ovary thing going on last year. It completely freaked me out (but turned out to be fine in the end) particularly as I was watching a good family friend battle Ovarian Cancer. She has been battling it for over 8 years now and is actually living her last days as we speak. Two weeks ago the doctors said she had only a couple of days left. She is still here. But barely. The whole thing is so tragic.
Anyway, my ovary thing sent me into a frenzy of anxiety which had be brewing just below the surface prior and then went bubbling over the edge of the volcano until I admitted I need to have a professional to speak to about it. Best thing I ever did. Do I still get anxious? Yes. Do I handle it better than before. Yes.
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After a routine check-up last week – pap smear, breast check etc, I have been told today I have a suspect lump in my breast after having a biopsy done on Monday. The lump needs to be taken out in a few weeks. I am a fit and otherwise healthy 38 year old and have two children. I hope this post is a wake up call to everyone to go and have regular check ups. Fingers crossed my news is good!
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My fingers are crossed for you too Mish
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Crossing everything for you xx
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Find a doctor who you can have a laugh with. Mine wears a cave diving torch on her head whilst she’s down there. Bloody hilarious. She had to explain to her teenage son what she needed the cave diving torch for – now that’s uncomfortable!
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Ugh….I am due for a pap smear…They make me so nervous!! I hate the whole procedure, even if it quick and harmless. I do it every two years cos I know I have to but god, I don’t deal well with it in the lead up….Ladies, how can I make this a smoother, better experience?
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Think about how much worse it would be if you left it too long and you needed serious surgery or worse, they couldn’t do anything?!
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I had a Grade 3 cervical abnormality – caught & dealt with – but I had to have colposcopies – which trust me make the normal pap smear no more traumatic than a blood pressure test! Awful things. If its the invasiveness of the procedure that makes you freak out, make it easier on yourself and find a GP you trust and are comfortable with. Tell your Dr about your fear & ask their advice. If their advice is along the lines of its really quick & painless/get over it, find another Dr. My Dr who also performs the colposcopies helps by talking nearly non stop about all sorts of silly things – it really helps distract me. Ive also heard some people taking a couple of panadol beforehand too but talk to a Dr about that. Key is a good Dr & open communication. As is said often with these sorts of things – dont die of embarrassment!
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have a child. You get so used to people probing your privates, a pap smear is nothing after a pregnancy.
I actually quite enjoyed my last one, it was the longest lie down I had in 48 hours.
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Find a good doctor (someone you’re comfortable with)… preferably one who compliments your lady department while they’re doing the job…. I’ve had a couple of Lady Doctors tell me things like ‘everything looks good’ and ‘lovely’ – I’m sure they say that to everyone but I like to think I’ve have a compliment worthy ‘shop’, makes me smile on my way out!
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I so clueless about my body I didn’t realise I was pregnant until I was fifteen weeks along. FIFTEEN WEEKS! I just thought I was getting a wee bit podgy, so I ran more and ate less cake. Also, my boobs hurt. And I was tired all the time. And hormonal as hell…. My poor body, screaming for attention, and I just wouldn’t listen
I’ve changed now! I knew I was pregnant with number two about three days in
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My 20 year old sister just found out she is pregnant – 29 weeks along!!! So I hope you weren’t too hard on yourself
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How did she not know until then?
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After ignoring or making excuses (to busy with the kids, had to work late, no time etc etc ) for not seeing a doctor for MONTHS I finally went and booked in to see my local GP about some little health problems I was having… I didnt feel ‘right’ and was tired ( ah.. EXHAUSTED!) all the time, was having shortness of breath, felt tight across the chest.. I kept thinking that it was ‘normal’ to feel the way I was feeling – I was stressed, working, studying and 4 children (inc baby twins) it was only logical that I would be ‘tired’ all the time. Right? Ah. No.
After an initial look-see by the GP, I was sent off to the hospital for scans… and then it was more and more scans and then the doctors started talking in panicky urgent voices about blood clots, embolisms, next of kin and the likelihood of survival…. Not fun.
Turns out I had 36 pulmonary embolisms in my heart and lungs. 1 is enough to kill you. The next year and a bit was not a lot of fun but it certainly taught me about the importance of looking after myself and listening to my body. Put simply, my placing the kids health above my own, almost cost my children their mother. Lesson learnt. Meshel – get a doctor and make them a regular part of your life – you have 2 very cute and very important reasons to look after your health. xx
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Sounds like a good GP!
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I owe him my life. He did a check, wasnt sure and instead of putting it aside, made the effort to investigate further. A card and a bottle of wine just doesnt seem like thanks enough..
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It annoys me that my husband isn’t aware of his body. Last year, just after knee surgery, he had chest pains. He wasn’t sure if it was indigestion or a heart attack, so just in case, we called the ambulance (at 1am), he got carted off and yep, it was indigestion. sigh.
I on the other hand am acutely aware of my body. I do think it helps having some medical knowledge though. But with my tumour, I knew there was something wrong. I found a blog post from October 2010 where I wrote that I thought something was wrong with me, and sure enough, a year later, they found it.
It could also be that I’m a hypochondriac, but at least I’m a hypochondriac with a brain tumour!! tee hee
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Oh Meshel, you’ve freaked me out even more! I have to have surgery on my cervix soon (a bad pap smear and subsequent proceedure showed I have stage 3 [out of 10] abnormal pre-cancerous cells).
Luckily I already have a vagina to get to my cervix and will not need “cutting open” but more than the fear that my 31 year old body is falling apart before I’ve had a chance to have kids, more than the fear that the cells may come back, is the fear of being under anaesthetic.
It just freaks me out!!
Lots of people die – like Olivia Goldsmith, the author of The First Wives Club – just from “going under”.
I also don’t like the idea of people doing things to me when I’m “asleep”.
Aughhhhh
ps. I am however, very grateful that I get regular pap smears and that this was caught early.
I encourage all other women to ensure they get regular check-ups
xx
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Hey alyssakt
I’ve had similar – mine was called a Lletz procedure where they removed the top layer of my cervix because of Cin 3 cells. It was uncomfortable at the time but it healed. I had to have 6 monthly then yearly paps and am now back to two yearly. Fortunately cervical cancer is very slow growing and it easier to catch early.
Take care, and best of luck x
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Thank you Haven Maven
Yes, that’s the same proceedure I’ll have to have.
Did you have to go under anaesthetic for it? Stay overnight at the hospital?
How long after were you able to go (or feel like going) back to work?
x
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I had that too! It was pretty simple, I think I was awake throughout, back to work the next day with a heavy pad.
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Oh yeah, that’s the other part I’m dreading. I haven’t used a pad since the day of my first period. Grosses me out.
Boo hoo to me! I’m lucky to be getting treatment (I just have to keep telling myself that!)
Thanks Archie, I’ll ask the gyno if I can stay awake when I meet him next week.
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I didn’t have any problems with pain particularly after I had a Caesar, but god I hated having to use pads afterwards. For like 6 weeks. I don’t know how anyone uses them by choice. Shocking.
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I know, Kris, uuurrrrggggggghhhh
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I had a CIN3 too – Lletz procedure. I only had a localised anaesthetic – was all over in about 45 minutes – didnt have to stay in hospital. I went back to work the next day – but I sit at a desk all day so I would say if you are active at work probably take the next day off too. The pain level was like really, really bad period pains. Completely manageable with regular panadol every 6 hours. I wont say dont freak out – because of course you will if you are an ordinarily healthy person any experience in hospital is a big stress – but Im sure it will be fine! Try to get your procedure in the morning so you can spend the rest of the day chilling out – plus your Dr is more likely to be on time! Mine was many years ago & has never returned.
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Thank you Linda, that’s reassuring
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I too have had lazor on my cervix , years and years ago & I have been so fine ever since. Lots of ‘things’ lay dormant in our bodies but we need not dwell on them.
Think positively look after yourself & you’ll be dandy I am sure.
Sending positive well wishes your way
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Thank you
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I thought Olivia Goldsmith died from liposuction, a notoriously risky procedure. Yes she went under, as did the author of this post, but I think going under for lipo is different, given how many people die from it (like Kayne’s mum?)
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She went in for a “chin tuck” and reacted to the anaesthetic before her surgery started
“Before the surgery had even begun, problems developed. “They had literally just put her on the table,” says a hospital source.
Goldsmith had apparently opted for general anaesthesia, more dangerous and not standard for the operation she was having. At Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat—considered one of the best hospitals for such procedures in the city—as at many hospitals, specially trained nurses are permitted to administer anaesthesia under the supervision of an anaesthesiologist who might be responsible for more than one operation at a time.
Goldsmith was in distress even before her surgeon went to work. Nothing that was attempted to revive her seemed to help. “There were spasms,” says a source. “Enormous ones.”
Within four minutes, she was in a coma from which she’d never awake. All for a face-lift.
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I had the same abt 15 yrs ago and the sorted it very quickly with a similar procedure. The good news is its pre cancerous so Drs are on to it. I had another go round last year and was at stage 1 and my Dr said they quite often just watch them now, given my history he removed the cells and last week I got the all clear. As women, and lots of us are wives, mothers and partners to loved ones, spend the time and get checked
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I’m having a colposcopy soon after my first pap smear showed ‘possible high grade abnormalities’, at first I was scared but now I just want it all done and over – waiting to be seen through the public health system draws it out – Pap smear was on the 16th of Nov and I’ve been told I won’t be in to have the procedure til March!
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Hi Caris
I also received my bad pap smear result in November, and saw a private gynecologist who my doctor recommended for my colposcopy the next week. That was expensive but I got $150 back from Medicare. (And it was like a longer, more uncomfortable pap smear.)
If I’d been able to afford the $1500 her for my Lletz procedure as well, I would have had it the following week. Instead it was just before Christmas that I received a letter asking me to confirm an appointment with a public hospital doctor on the 23rd Feb. After this they’ll book in my procedure (hopefully soon after??).
I’m really looking forward to this all being behind me.
Good luck with everything Caris
x
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I think there is something primal about reproducing. It makes you realise whwt you have in common with other mammals etc.
I see my doctor regularly thanks to serious health issues and that takes of my health checks. No getting out of it for me.
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I had one removed a few years ago too – it was very big – 7cm in one direction, and they had to take the whole ovary out. Luckilly the other ovary takes over for the one that’s missing, which makes me feel very well designed. They found it while I was pregnant, I had put the mild pain down to just being one of those other aches you get when pregnant, so I was lucky they picked it up during an ultrasound.
It was my first operation, and I remember asking the anaesthetist if he’d just given me morphine, it felt so nice. Felt awful afterwards though, it was like the worst hangover and lasted about 2 days, but I had to go home to breastfeed my little one.
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Hi Meshel and all the other wonderful woman out there!
I was actually the complete opposite to you Meshel, I had several womanly issue growing up and became very conscious of all the pains I had. A few years ago I knew something wasn’t right as I was experiencing a number of different symptoms ranging from blood in my urine to severe stomach cramps and pains shooting through my kidney area. The doctors kept saying I had kidney stones which I did but there was an underlying reason. I had what is referred to as a dermoid cyst (google if you dare) in my right ovary. It wasnt found until they performed CT and several scans. These cysts are referred to as benign tumors and grow very slowly but can in come cases turn melignant, essentially I’d had it for years and didn’t know. If it wasn’t for my persistence with the doctors and recognizing in myself something was wrong the outcome for me could have been much different. Since having the cyst removed I have calmed down with the anxiety I have over feeling pains…but I can tell now in my body when something isn’t right.
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I was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer at 26. Fighting fit today
My suggestion (based on nothing more than my experience) – when you get a pap smear done, ask your doctor to feel your ovaries (from the outside). They know the drill, although apparently that practice is not as common as it use to be. That way, in addition to being mindful of symptoms, you’re at least getting some check done every 2 yrs. That’s the way they detected my cancer, and i’m eternally grateful they got it when they did.
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Great to hear that you are fighting fit Anon! good suggestion to ask about the ovaries check
I’m surprised to hear that the ovaries check isn’t as common as i thought. every single GP that has done my pap smears has checked my ovaries too. My GP also throws in a free breast check too
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Thanks for this post Meshel… I am finally facing my fears and seeing a doc today – though this is for my head instead of my body. After long-term suffering and the insistence of my friends I am coming to terms with depression. It’s tough in a ‘show no weakness’ workplace such as teaching too. Hope it all goes okay, I’m really nervous!
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Don’t worry Mellyjh! I work in medical research around mental health and trust me, it is much more common than many think. The beauty in this is that, these days, we have the gift of choice with how to deal and treat depression.
I always remind those who may have judgement to pass on others suffering from such a debilitating condition, that for most it is literally a chemical imbalance within the brain and is in no way a sign of failure or weakness.
Hopefully your doctor will be able to offer you some helpful options in your treatment. You’ve done the right thing simply going to a doctor in the first place! Best wishes
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Is there any way you can check yourself for ovarian cancer? How do you know you have it, I though tit was called the silent disease because you don’t know???
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You can’t self check like you can with your breasts. What you should do is make yourself familiar with the symptoms, get to know your body, and see your GP regularly. We often write off symptoms because we think we know what they could be (or we are in denial). We need to take charge of our bodies and help ourselves.
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Meshel, if you don’t have a GP, then who do you see for your regular Pap tests????
Cos, you DO have them….DON’T YOU???? !!!!
xxx
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I DO, I DO! But again, I just pull into the first medical centre and say, “Great news! I’m here for a pap smear!”
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Can’t beat a drive thru bit scrape….
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Personally I have a phobia of needles and anything medical. I actually had wisdom teeth out in a chair so I could know what was going on rather than going under general.
I get fillings without any anesthetic because I’m too scared of the needle. I cry during blood tests and just to get me to a needle in the first place normally takes a few attempts, and a whole lot of sugar to keep me conscious (hello tetanus shot. I know I need you but I’ve successfully avoided you for 26 years so I’ll continue).
I do think we’re all a bit too hard on ourselves about this kind of thing. Yeah, so you felt ill, so you didn’t cope with it 100%, that’s not a big deal really. You don’t have to be infallible all the time.
We all have little things we find difficult. For me it’s needles or surgery, for you it was the idea of surgery, for some people it’s crossing the road or washing their hands, having people in their house. For some it’s bigger things.
Let’s all give ourselves a little bit of a mental hug and remember: We’re not superman. It’s OK not to cope sometimes.
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I am a massive needle phobe ( ran out of emergency so i didnt have to get a tetnus shot, with my mum chasing me when I was 8 (read: 18)…
The needles at the dentist are so good I honestly, cross my heart didn’t even feel the needle not a pinch, scratch or anything- bliss!
although the dentist did say you can feel it a bit when you have in on the lower gums…
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You can. I’ve had 7 teeth removed.
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Dental needles must be better than they used to be – I had several needles in my gums when I had my wisdom teeth removed 3 years ago and I can honestly say they were more painful for me than when I had my baby! I need to go to your dentist
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My dentist puts a numbing gel on before jabbing me, does the trick!
Unfortunately I must have really slow circulation in my jaw, because it takes about 15 min for the jab to work, by when they’ve usually had a couple of goes at my teeth and jabbed me a few more times. So by the end of it all I’m numb for the rest of the day due to all the needles. It’s a treat when you find yourself drewling on the bus!
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You can buy emla cream from the chemist. It’s an anaesthetic cream that you put on before you get a needle. You put on the spots you’re likely to get injected etc and wipe it off just before. Unfortunately you’ll have to face your fear when you fall pregnant. One of the first things they do is send you to get blood tests.
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It’s not the pain. I can’t feel needles, I’m far too busy hyperventilating. And I have an AMAZING doctor and an AMAZING dentist. It’s a fear of having one.
I have tried a few things to overcome it, including seeing a psychologist who determined it’s a fear that there will be something wrong in there. That they will do something wrong.
I know I’ll have to face it. And I do. I recently got a blood test done and although I cried and spent the whole afternoon in a panic, I did it.
Apparently it stems from watching Inner Space as a child (I think I was 5?). You’d be scared too if you were convinced someone was going to inject Dennis Quaid in your bottom
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So did the psychologist do any sort of therapy afterwards? It’s just knowing how invasive a lot of medical procedures are and pregnancy is one thing that happens to most of us, I’d hate to think of you having the fear of Dennis quinidine going into your bum. As weirdly amusing as that sounds.
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Quaid not quinidine, damn autocorrect and I can’t edit for some reason.
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Hahaha!! Yeah, I’ve done a few different things to deal with it. I haven’t gotten past the fear but I know enough to actually GO and get them. But I’ll still cry and half the time I’ll faint.
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have you watched Inner Space again? just curious
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I have! And I know it’s a comedy. I find it funny these days (except for the whole face changing bit, that’s a bit creepy).
No idea why it bothered me considering I watched Predator at 5 years old too with no issues. Never know what’s going to bother you until it happens, I guess!
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I used to be the same (blood tests were OK, I’ve had a few of those!) with needles, until we had to get a whole heap of them before we left Australia – tetanus booster, 3 hepB shots, rubella, etc. All over the course of 2 weeks! They weren’t nearly as bad as I had made myself remember them to be, if that makes sense!
My issue is anything I have to swallow whole (tablets). I know I can do it, I used to be able to. But my brain stops at the swallow part, and won’t let anything move. I am so afraid of chocking! In my defense, I have actually had the pleasure of having one of those huge iron tablets lodge itself in my throat and I gagged until I lost my breakfast. Literally. So I guess that’s my issue!
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My doctor told us to swallow Smarties as practice for tablets when we were younger. It worked, but in retrospect seems like a much less enjoyable way of consuming chocolate!
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I guess though they’re good to practice with because they don’t taste revolting if you do keep them in your mouth the way a medicine pill would?
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My Mum’s best friend, otherwise known as Aunty Sue, died of ovarian cancer in 2010 – just a little over three months from diagnosis. She was a full time carer for her partner who has emphysema (him surviving her is something none of us ever expected), so she ignored the changes because she was too busy looking after him to look after herself. She put the back pain down to moving him, the bowel movement changes down to diet, the fatigue to the stress etc, etc, etc. By the time it was diagnosed it was so spread that there was no option other than palliative care.
If diagnosed early, ovarian cancer has really high survival rates. It is very treatable, but they have to find it and there is no early detection test yet.
So PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ladies pay attention and look after yourselves. If something is different, get it checked. Monitor your moles, check your breasts once a month for lumps, if your period, bowel movements etc change get them checked. If you are inexplicably fatigued, get it checked.
And get to know your GP, plus keep a copy of any test results. My GP recently retired and I needed to change. I can’t afford the enormous amount it will cost to get my medical records from my old GP so I’m reconstructing them myself. From now on, I’m keeping copies of everything myself.
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There shouldnt be a huge cost involved in getting your medical records transferred from one GP clinic to another, possiblty just a small administrative cost. Im pretty certain it can be made available directly to you by going through Freedom of information.
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Unfortunately under Freedom of Information they can charge anything that they think is a “reasonable administrative cost” for the work involved in putting the records together. When Mum looked into it (it was our family GP so we all had to change) they were quoting at minimum hundreds of dollars for the time it would take them to get our extensive records together. I doubt it would have been that much but unfortunately just before he retired the practice was bought by one of those internationally owned super clinics and the costs appear to have gone up dramatically.
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You shouldn’t have to go through Freedom of Information. Your new GP should get you to fill out a form that they send to the old surgery and the records should be sent. Yes the superclinic may charge an administration fee, but it shouldn’e be any more than $50. If it is you should complain to your state health ombudsman (the title varies state to state – could be Health comissioner etc) or even to your local Federal MP, after all the Federal Government is pushing for an electronic record so practitioners can easily access patient records.
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Meshel – thank you for this article. I recently went through the whole drama of testing for Ovarian Cancer, PCOS, etc. Scariest time in my life.
Imagine how it feels when you walk into a women’s health clinic to get an ultrasound done because they are checking for other things than a baby and you are awaiting a potential death sentence? It made me so sad and uncomfortable watching all these excited soon-to-be parents and I wanted to cry because the one thing in life that they were excited and happy about was going to be potentially taken away from me. After all the testing and prodding and poking – i was diagnosed with a cyst, and i have been put on birth control again (last time i took birth control for acne).
My biggest issue with the health system was that Private and Medicare do not cover gynacologycal services such as the scans. (if I am wrong please correct me) I kept getting sent to a private medical place and didn’t realise that the scans could be done via medicare (the doctor insisted on sedning me toa private practice as they are considered the best) and had to fork out 400 each time. I had to have a fertility test which is not covered by medicare or private not my choice to have one, it was part of the process.
Also, my private health cover doesn’t give a rebate on Birth Control – because its Birth control!!! what a crock of rubbish!! My argument was and is – i am being prescribed birth control to manage the cyst.
It has actually decreased in size since I began taking them.
Why is the healthcare system (medicare and private) selective in what they cover especially with womens issuses?
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You might be able to get a letter from your doctor to your private health about the pill?
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Yes I have done this and dealing with a department at the health fund! so stressful!
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Scans are stll covered under medicare but if you go to a private clinic that doesn’t bulk bill then there will be a gap fee. Depending on the scan, medicare rebates about $60. Some private health funds will cover prescriptions but generally non pbs ones and the pill would be on the pbs. Make sure you ask for a generic brand and you shouldn’t have to pay too much.
I’m sorry that you have to go through all this, it can be a worrying time getting tests done, but at least now you know.
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Thanks for this – the pill I have been prescribed isn’t on the PBS its Yasmin
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Make sure you get a pharmacy reciept then (not just a transaction receipt, you have to specially ask for them) and see what your health fund says. But even with some scripts I’ve had, they only cover a small percentage.
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Change health funds or covers to one that does cover what you need. You don’t need to sit out any waiting periods apart from anything that the new one covers that the old one didn’t. So if you’re covered for optical on your current health insurance, you have already sat out your waiting period on the new one. It’s not hard to change. Good luck!
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I am so with you Meshel. I wish I could be more like an animal and separate my body from my mind. I am constantly anxious about any twinge I have and even twinges I don’t have!
Ovarian cancer particularly freaks me out because the symptoms are silent. So how can we protect ourselves?
Not asking you specifically for answers, just expression my fear.
See? I need to be a dog. They don’t worry about things that may never happen.
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Meshel – you have twins don’t you? I found I didn’t need a GP until I had kids and then I was suddenly at the doctor ALL THE TIME.
Has that changed anything for you?
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So far we’ve been blessed with twins as tough as their mum! (Touching a lot of wood.)
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I love general anaesthetics. Is that weird? I love that feeling of going under…..
maybe because I’m such a control freak!!!
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I hate it for that reason! When I had my wisdom teeth out, I apparently tried to climb off the bed when I was coming too, convinced I was late for meeting friends…..noooooo! I still shudder at the mental image of the nurses picking me up to put me back on the bed (especially since they were my mother’s work mates, since it was at her hospital!)
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I like that feeling, too! Mainly, I think, because I’m bloody terrified leading up to surgery so the relief of drifting off is tremendous.
When I had my caesareans I quite liked the warm feeling the spread throughout my body when the spinal block was put it. I liked less with daughter 2 when the spinal block didn’t work first time and I could feel the obstetrician drawing the incision marks!
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Last general anaesthetic I had, the anesthetist gave me midazolam as a pre op. that stuff knocks you around that’s for sure. Best pre op ever.
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Great column Meshel…..brava.
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Yay! Another Odette!
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Also I should add that I have been under general anaesthetic twice and promptly spewed each time after I woke up
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Haha I’m the same. Though I do have a GP I probably go once every 6 months just to get my pill prescription and to say hi. Yesterday I was feeling off but couldn’t explain it. My boyfriend kept asking “nauseous?” “no”, “headache?” “no”, “flu/cold symptoms?” “no…” It took me all day to realise I had a tooth ache and that’s what was making me feel yuck.
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Oh the stories my husband could tell about me coming out of anaesthetic! Frightening.
I love my GP. This may have something to do with the fact that I am a hypochondriac but at least I am aware of my body
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I love my GP too, Lana! She is young, lovely, always gives me compliments (‘gee, your hair is getting long!’), is always up for a chat rather than rushing me through, and most importantly confronts my mild hypochondria with clear and gentle instructions and explanations. She’s a gem!
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I feel my mother channelling through me when I say ‘GET A DOCTOR!’ ha ha.
But seriously. Make that happen.
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