Gynecologist, Trick or Treat?

Visiting my OB/Gyn is definitely not at the top of my list of favorite things to do, especially when it’s for a non-routine visit. However, I may start booking my annual visit on Halloween, and this is why.

I suffered my third miscarriage earlier this month, this one being a missed miscarriage, and was referred to a wonderful doctor by my midwife. I move around often, so I’ve not had the opportunity to forge a relationship with my “woman doctor”, and this, my lady friends, is an important relationship to have. I have to have trust in my OB, because s/he is the authority on my lady bits.

I was suffering some mild uterine discomfort after my D&C a couple of weeks ago, and placed a preemptive call to my new OB/Gyn’s office (my follow-up appointment wasn’t scheduled for a few more weeks). My [new] doctor was able to see me the next day (a miracle!).

I stroll into my doctor’s appointment, oblivious to the fact that it’s Halloween (I’m a little concerned about my lady bits at this point), and am greeted by a raucous crowd of admins, nurses, and doctors. It’s Friday, and I appreciate the spirited atmosphere of the office, as my last visit was a grim occasion (and I’m hoping this one won’t be as well).

I’m led back to the examination room, told to strip from the waist down, and begin the wait. Even with my socks on, my feet are freezing. I would usually be anxious, or a little peeved about waiting in there for ten minutes, but the sound of laughter in the hallway makes me smile (and I’ve tucked a book in my purse, just in case). A soft knock sounds at the door, and in comes my doctor…dressed in costume as a gypsy! If there was any seriousness surrounding this unexpected appointment, my doctor, looking beautiful in her gypsy garb, provided a bit of levity.

My doctor performed an internal exam (fun times), rooted around for a bit to see if she could locate the cause of my discomfort, and pronounced my uterus to be in good shape. She asked me to sit up, and we began talking about the next steps (testing to find out about my recurrent pregnancy loss). After all of my questions were answered, my doctor stood up, whipped out a bag, and told me to pick a treat. Now that’s what I call a great visit to the OB/Gyn! Finally, I receive a treat after a thorough internal exam! (I picked chocolate, in case you’re wondering)

When I returned home, I jokingly told my husband that my doctor rooted around “down there” and came out with a piece of candy for me. In all honesty, I loved this experience; I loved the fact that my doctor got into the spirit of the day, when many OBs I’ve seen were so…clinical, and that she allowed me to channel my inner child at the end of a tense appointment. Most importantly, the levity of this visit, and my doctor’s light demeanor, allowed me to feel entirely at ease, and see her as a person, not just a doctor. This is incredibly important, as I switched to a midwife after one too many clinical gynecologist visits. Friends, I’ve finally found an OB/Gyn I feel comfortable with, a “lady doctor” that I feel I can trust, and this is incredibly important as I begin my journey towards answers.

The moral to this story is that you should definitely try to book your OB visits on Halloween, there might just be a treat in it for you!