The Rant

I try to be a positive, optimistic person. It's just who I am. However, there are times that negativity and distrust creep in.

I am currently feeling those emotions due to two recent personal appointments to the OBGYN and my dentist. So bear with me while I rant for a moment. . .

First, I went for my "annual" exam at the OBGYN last week. As all women know, they put you on the scale when you first arrive. I hated that the scale actually confirmed what I knew about my weight; evidence had been creeping up for months from tighter pants, stretched zippers, etc Then, as the nurse recorded my weight, I saw that I weighed less last year, and trying to be upbeat I said, "Guess I shouldn't have looked at last year's weight." The nurse quipped back with "I sure wouldn't have looked if I were you." THANKS!

The fun doesn't stop with the weight check. You then sit in the office wearing only the shoddiest, ugly, flimsy gown having a discussion about the most private aspects of your body with a person you barely know. The doctor must have said to me five times "When you get older" in reference to things that I will need to begin worrying about because I am now "older." OLDER? Since when is 33 older? Stop the madness! She mentioned worries like losing bone mass, mammograms, and cholesterol! I felt like looking behind me to ensure that someone else wasn't in the room. Older?? Not yet!

After my debacle at the doctor's office, I also had to go to the dentist yesterday. (I try to squeeze in all my appointments in the summer while I am off from school.) I took all three boys with me, which is adventure enough for one day. They actually sat nicely and just played their gameboys.

The hygienist I had was loquacious (a 5 dollar word for talkative) and kept me giggling throughout the appointment. As she finished, she told me that my teeth looked great. She didn't feel any sticky spots on my teeth. I am doing a good job, etc.

Feeling confident, I watched the dentist walk in and the hygienist deliver the same news to her. It was as if the hygienist had thrown the gauntlet down for the dentist. She scoured every inch of my teeth and ultimately found what she described as a "very small" cavity on one of my molars.

When the dentist left the room, the hygienist assured me that I could not have prevented the cavity because my teeth have deep grooves. I wanted to scream that I could not have prevented it because "IT DOESN"T EXIST!" Are they making up crazy minuscule cavities just to be able to sadisticly drill into my mouth? There were no X-Rays done! Are they sure? Now, I need to go feel like I am having plastic surgery because my lips will lack feeling for hours after the drill my itsy bitsy teeny weeny non-existent cavity! Arrgghh. . .

Yes, the logical part of me knows that none of these professionals were out to do me harm, and yes, this was all for my benefit. I just needed to vent, so that I can feel better. Thanks for listening.