Mammography Misery

7/7/11 Sitting in the waiting area of the Methodist Healthcare Breast Center, I was struggling with both fear and dread. "I know~ I know!" "In everything give thanks"(I Thessalonians 5:18) and that would include mammograms. I am grateful for this early detection, possibly life saving procedure. What I'm struggling with is past memories of the pain brought on by that tall, COLD, stainless pancake machine with the acrylic "flattener."

But God....had the receptionist hand me a "pile" of forms to fill out with the important stuff highlighted in pink. Forms to keep me "in the pink." Pink highlights to remind me that I use pink when I want to display text in my reading that has prayer references. I even had my pink highlighter with me, clipped to my "A Praying Life" book---already full of "pink." A gentle tap to remind me to pray.

I entered waiting area #3 (diagnostic side) in a spa-type robe, chosen over the dreaded hospital gown---thankful for a choice. The exam, though not exactly painless only required one "repeat" and was relatively quick for 8 views. I was then relegated to waiting area #4 until results were read and I could leave---depending on said results.

So....then I began to worry because it was done so quickly. Had the tech been thorough? (I forgot my thankful prayer for "speed" in this procedure.)
God covered that and had tech call me back for 2 ultrasounds. Dotsy wants thorough, Dotsy gets thorough! (and wet and time consuming and uncomfortable) Doctor reading results said "the girls" looked okay and she'd see me in a year.

A Germantown fire truck followed by an ambulance arrived as I was heading out the door. There are miseries worse than mammograms and I began to pray for the person that was getting ready to take that ride.