Hi Kat,

  Thanks for the good ideas, I am about to take Amber for her first Gyn visit, and  - I was going to ask for suggestions and pointers. I also want to know if there are any problems taking Birth Control and having CP. Amber has suddenly gotten a very heavy flow and painful cramps and I know many times doctors prescribe BC pills for this. Thoughts, experiences? Thanks Joy for bringing up the subject. We were in Florida, also - Orlando then Palmetto. I am just catching uyp on the 7,000 e-mails that piled up!!

                          Trisha

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kathy
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 7:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Reproductive freedom


I use my GP doctor for my pelvic exams/pap smear.  I've found it usually goes
smoothly if I ask for the following:

1) Plastic utensils instead of metal ones which can be cold and make my
spasticity worse.  If they have to use metal, ask that they warm them up
first.

2) Have a female do the exam - just my preference as I've found female doctors
more intuitive than male doctors in this regard.  Of course I have friends
who swear by their male doctors so this is a personal thing.

3) Make sure they have a nurse there - she can help hold your legs if she
needs to - if she grips too hard, just tell her.

4) Tell them if it hurts -- they may be able to change something or it may
indicate something's wrong -- you need to communicate frankly with them.

If you want more specific details or suggestions, please email me off-list to
spare the men on this list any further embarrassment.

Kat

On Wednesday 11 May 2005 10:42 pm, Joy Welan wrote:
> Linda and everyone else,
>
> Can I ask how you found your OB-GYN?  I don't mean to gross out the guys on
> the list, but I just went for my first pelvic exam and pap smear this past
> winter, and it was an extremely painful and unpleasant experience.  The
> gynecologist I went to had no idea how to handle the spasticity and lack of
> range of motion in my legs.  I had a really hard time getting up on the
> table, and I just couldn't get in the right position, since it's really
> painful for me to move my legs away from the midline of my body.  I don't
> think I got a thorough exam, and it's not an experience I'm looking forward
> to repeating, but I know it's important, especially since cervical and
> ovarian cancer run in my family.  Is there some sort of resource that helps
> people find doctors who are knowledgeable about dealing with people with
> disabilities?  For most things I can go to a "normal" doctor, but this just
> didn't work out.  Any tips would be much appreciated.
>
> ~Joy~