Adina,

Thanks for the post. I went to the doctor today for blood tests. I feel good except for a tightness in my chest, It's annoying and a bit of a concern. They took an EKG and monitored my oxygen levels. They were OK. I was supposed to call the Dr. back or they were going to call me, but I fell asleep so I'll call tommorow.

I plan on making a GYNO appointment this week also. I've never been happy about anyone viewing that part of my body because of the clitorectomy and vaginoplasty. I usually go nuts, when they say it was done for my own good. After all, they say, "You would of been tramatized if you didn't have it done." I just want to ring a doctor's neck when they say this. They are so smug and they think they are so right.

For me, the opposite happened. I was tramatized because I had it done. It was the "norm" of society that was tramatized with the way I looked and wouldn't accept my existence.The clitorectomy made things a billion times worse for me. The nicest man in the world doesn't want someone with a clitorectomy. It doesn't matter how long you have know them. I gone from having a relationship to being a really good "friend" as soon as they have seen the results of those surgeries and with no nerve sensation, it is the kiss of death. I remember a DR. telling me, " oh well ...eh...(shrug) ..what are you going to do ....it was the 70's "  Ain't nothin but a lab rat to them.

Also, a prior experience with a gyno exam was an awful experience The exam was done by a female endo and she's telling me that yes....I do feel something down there and I'm like no I DON'T ...I mean geeeez .... listen to the patient ....I've just about given up on any type of doctor.. BUT  I realize that most people feel weird about having an exam there anyway. I feel like that Tom Petty song " The world keeps on pushing me around but hey ......I won't back down......no, I won't back down......." ( geeesh ...a little venting ....sorry). I went to a therapist. He's tells me my anger is understable. I try to deal with it but sometimes it just doesn't work. I talk to GOD.....that seems to help the most. I look to God to give me the strength to understand why other people do the things that they do.

Adina, I do have a question for you. What would be the benefit for someone with LOCAH in taking DEX vs. Prednisone?  I've heard so many horror stories about DEX and I was wondering if your doctor had talked about Prednisone ? Arizona is so beautiful, I've only seen pictures from a trip that my DAD took there.  

Note to Mr. Carlton: I hope that my use of the subject of surgery was OK in this post. I am talking about a surgery that isn't done anymore and I'm only talking about a surgery that happened to me and my own views on it. For me the surgeries that were done have had an effect on many parts of my life and it's hard to make it a seperate subject when it is so inter twined with other subjects such as a regular gyno visit. I hope the use of the topic of surgeries was acceptable in this content. I am aware of the parameters that you are trying to acheive with separate message boards of different topics. If I have crossed this boundary, it was not my intent to do so.

Sincerely,

Aimee