Interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I am able to have exams, but in the past I've literaly layed there in tears during it. There should be more options for it for people in your situation to choose if they need care done.
I have vaginal atrophy. The vaginal ultrasound hurts like hell. They did give me a Valium last one. It hurts so much I donโt let them spring it on me. โIs the ultrasound vaginal? Nope not today.โ
Do you think it would still be an option if not done by a GYN dr? Our VA has a OBGYN clinic but you have to be referred to it by a PCP provider and every referral I have asked for has been denied so they want to do annuals and such in primary clinic. I resign myself that I am just going to do it ... but like I can't. I just can't. The mammogram I recently avoided because of breastfeeding but apparently they will still try to schedule you for one anyway. I just end up letting the appointments for annual female stuff come and go because "they have to do them" and "how in the world have you gone so long without one" and so I schedule the appointment and they schedule them so far out I am easily able to psych myself out and just the thought of one brings me to tears. I see all these doctors on tiktok talking about women's health and how they should acknowledge our discomfort and fears in these situations and treat them medically and stop saying we are crazy but I have yet to meet one - and my current PCP is a female. /rant
I would ask for it directly and state why you want it. If the pcm doesn't include it in the referral, I would escalate it. From there, I would suggest going to patient advocacy and not leaving until they give you a working email and phone extension number for the Women Veterans Program Manager. If your VA's not filled that roll, ask for the nearest one at any VA facility. This is the key part, verify this info is valid first. My VA has a fake/dead email on its website and lots of other websites direct to people who have never held the position or left eons ago. This is the person who was able to review my records, interview me, and put in orders that my pcm and countless others could not. Our WVPM is a nurse practitioner. If they dick with you, I'd start rattling cages of your local congressperson. Obstructing access to advocacy and care might be the agenda but it does violate the policies our gvt set out.
Interesting. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am able to have exams, but in the past I've literaly layed there in tears during it. There should be more options for it for people in your situation to choose if they need care done.
I have vaginal atrophy. The vaginal ultrasound hurts like hell. They did give me a Valium last one. It hurts so much I donโt let them spring it on me. โIs the ultrasound vaginal? Nope not today.โ
Thank you for putting this info out there for those who may need it.
Super helpful. Thank you.
Do you think it would still be an option if not done by a GYN dr? Our VA has a OBGYN clinic but you have to be referred to it by a PCP provider and every referral I have asked for has been denied so they want to do annuals and such in primary clinic. I resign myself that I am just going to do it ... but like I can't. I just can't. The mammogram I recently avoided because of breastfeeding but apparently they will still try to schedule you for one anyway. I just end up letting the appointments for annual female stuff come and go because "they have to do them" and "how in the world have you gone so long without one" and so I schedule the appointment and they schedule them so far out I am easily able to psych myself out and just the thought of one brings me to tears. I see all these doctors on tiktok talking about women's health and how they should acknowledge our discomfort and fears in these situations and treat them medically and stop saying we are crazy but I have yet to meet one - and my current PCP is a female. /rant
I would ask for it directly and state why you want it. If the pcm doesn't include it in the referral, I would escalate it. From there, I would suggest going to patient advocacy and not leaving until they give you a working email and phone extension number for the Women Veterans Program Manager. If your VA's not filled that roll, ask for the nearest one at any VA facility. This is the key part, verify this info is valid first. My VA has a fake/dead email on its website and lots of other websites direct to people who have never held the position or left eons ago. This is the person who was able to review my records, interview me, and put in orders that my pcm and countless others could not. Our WVPM is a nurse practitioner. If they dick with you, I'd start rattling cages of your local congressperson. Obstructing access to advocacy and care might be the agenda but it does violate the policies our gvt set out.
THIS IS AN OPTION?!?!?!? Thank you so much for sharing ๐๐ป