the gynecologist

The other day I had a gynecologist appointment, I arrived to a waiting room which looked like it hadn't been decorated since 1984. The dirt/khaki color rug next to the tacky mauve floral print wall paper accented with a dusty faux palm tree. The lights were dim, perhaps to save on the electric bill or perhaps to hide the ugliness of the office. The staff greeted me with a hearty "we need to make a copy of your insurance card". I sat in the office surrounded by motherhood magazine...eeewwww as if I'm remotely interested in pregnancy @ this stage of my life. So I watched some morning talk show with a staff member who came out to hand me my insurance card and became enthralled with the show as she dangled my card just out of my reach. I was then called in to the exam room by a sweet young lady who never did introduce herself to me, there she took my blood pressure and gave me the usual paper garments with the instructions to put it on with the opening in the back. And there I sat... in the cold as my toes turned blue listening to the muffled tones of the staff talking and laughing outside the door for what felt like an eternity until the Doctor came in...He spent probably 5 minutes with me and I left with a prescription for a sonogram a surgical referral and a vague feeling that he didn't hear a word I said.

Later that day I had an appointment for a haircut and as a treat I decided I'd get a facial as well. upon entering the salon I was greeted with a friendly " Hi, Lisa". I was asked to please take a seat until my stylist was available, I was offered a beverage and a snack and there was better reading material available. As I was getting my hair cut a young lady came over and introduced herself to me and told me she'd be doing my facial. when my haircut was finished she led me to a quiet room gave me a soft robe to put on, I was instructed to lie on the table with my head on a pillow and she then wrapped me up in blankets and put a towel on my head. She covered my eyes with a cloth so the light would not bother me as I tried to relax and then she engaged in pleasant small talk as well as keeping me informed about what she was doing so I wouldn't be taken by surprise.

lying on that table just short hours after my gyn visit got me to thinking about the vast differences in those two experiences. I'm kind of speechless actually. It's my own fault for thinking so low of myself to stay with a doctor who specializes in women's health and yet so obviously knows nothing about the needs of the population whom he serves. I had an epiphany during the facial... I am worthy of an experience which preserves my dignity, an experience which leaves me feeling respected and validated...not empty and violated... I'm in the market for a new gynecologists...I will be printing this out and sending it to the old gynecologists in hopes that he will clean up his act...