Can you go out of town (a nearby town) to get it at least looked at quicker? Did you tell them upon calling that you had concerns about a spot? Maybe they would let you send a photo to either get you an appt quicker or to ease your mind that it’s ok to wait.
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Probably not out of town. Dermatologists in this area are very hard to come by and if you’re not an established patient, you’re out of luck.
Yes, I definitely told them I was concerned about a spot and re-iterated that point when she said February. And I figured if nothing pops up before H’s appointment, I’d send a pic with him.
It’s probably nothing. My grandmother and Dad, whom I favor physically, have (had) lots of weird moles that are benign. Nobody has had cancer and I’ve never had a bad sunburn in my life. H, OTOH, is fair skinned, covered in freckles and spots of all colors, shapes and sizes. He had several blistering sunburns as a kid and his Dad had melanoma. He’s definitely more at risk than me.
A follow-up to my own thread. I was getting panicky again, so I went online and found a chat with a dermatologist where you can send pics. The doctor said there were some abnormalities but it could wait until February. I pressed and she said there’s a chance it could be cancer, but not likely. It was $47 in case anyone ever needs something like that. And yes, I’m definitely keeping my appointment and hoping for a cancellation, and still may have H bring a pic.
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Years ago ihad a spit that was concerning to me and I called my dermatologist. The reception was quite rude saying I shouldn’t worry because skin cancers are slow growing. That dermatologist was great but the office staff was terrible. I switched to a new dermatologist at that point. I now see a dermatologist who doesn’t take insurance. She does a much better exam as she gives you a full 45-60 minutes for a full body exam appointment.
Dermatologists are hard to find everywhere. Mine was explaining that there aren’t a lot of residency spots. My dermatologist has the best life, works 3 days a week, no call. He knows how lucky he is.
I had an established relationship with my dermatologist. Had a spot that I wasn’t happy with, my primary said it wasn’t anything to worry about but I made an appointment anyways. Still waited 3 months. Melanoma, stage 0. Glad I listened to myself.
@ClassicMom98, I would be happy with the online consultation. Still keep your appointment.
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I’m glad you found a dermatologist who does televisits. I’ve done them with my dermatologist a couple of times, sending photos in advance. It’s been very reassuring.
In addition to what the doctor told you (which is far more important than my anecdote, but FWIW), I had an odd spot that I noticed at least five years ago. There’s a family history of skin cancer and I did get burned multiple times as a child in FL, plus I was one of the vain teenagers who used baby oil instead of sunscreen back in the '70s.
Being busy with other things, I didn’t see a dermatologist for over a year, probably closer to 18 months. She declared it was “nothing” and only did a biopsy at my insistence. It was a squamous cell carcinoma. I left her practice and had Mohs done at a nearby teaching hospital. A great doctor got clear margins on his first pass with no problems. My new dermatologist has since found a few other spots, both basal cell and squamous cell that the same surgeon has removed. Despite that, during a recent televisit the doctor felt quite comfortable with me waiting to return until next spring.
All that’s to say, please try not to worry. It’s good you’re following up, but it sounds as if it’s okay to wait until February. Whenever I’ve been concerned, I’ve asked to be put on their cancellation call list, so if someone cancels an appointment I can fill in on short notice.
We are going to a dinner this weekend for someone’s 70th birthday. This invitees were the support for her when her husband died several years ago. Everyone has been doubly or triply vaxxed. But, one of the participants whois immunocompromised asked that we all take rapid tests before dinner. So we will.
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No surprise that with the rise of Omicron, and now the IHU variant that is supposed to be very contagious rearing its ugly head in France, “post vax life” is once again pretty limited.
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Page about some of the decisions and choices that must be made if we accept that COVID-19 will become endemic.
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I live in an area where it appears most people are ready to accept Covid as endemic without actually understanding what that entails. They are just ready to move on, “dang” the torpedoes - full speed ahead. Whatever happens, happens. I feel like there could be an excellent episode of The Twilight Zone based on the actions of the people around me.
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@ucbalumnus thank you for posting the Wired article. This is what the future will look like.
Same here - whether they understand it or not. Most folks are as back to normal as we’re probably going to get. They may or may not mask (most don’t), but not much else is different.
In our state we are still masking indoors. I think that has helped keep our medical centers from being overrun. I’m very glad I got mom’s ears cleaned of earwax as I’m not sure when I will next take her in person to any indoor place, especially a medical one.
I went to a doctor’s appt yesterday - one I almost canceled due to Omicron being so pervasive around here. Yet the doctor’s office appeared the safest of anywhere I could have gone. Not many people at once, all staff wearing masks properly, and a bit of distance from others, including with plastic dividers around the entire staff center.
I’m glad I went. It’s the store or post office I need to worry about.
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Excellent article. Thanks for sharing!
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Or the bank. I having been going through the drive through since covid, but decided to go inside yesterday to deposit some Xmas gift cash. 9/10 people (employees and customers) were unmasked. Back to the drive through.
The dermatologist called yesterday and had a cancellation for today. Hopefully their office will be as good as yours
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Agree. From what I have seen, medical places are generally the most careful about contagion prevention. Unless it is a place that is particularly attractive to COVID-19 patients (COVID-19 testing?), it would probably be less risky than most other places.
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However, there are clinics like this that sell mask and vaccinations exemptions:
This doc was recently fined $30K by the state because of lack of masking in her office.
I have to say I am thankful where I live during this pandemic- suburban Chicago- still have a mask mandate and people comply- going to a bank or post office, grocery, etc. around here would be no different than what @Creekland medical office visit would be like. I feel for many of you what you have to deal with.
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Around here you’ll see maybe 10 or 20% of customers in a grocery store wearing a mask - none of them employees, and no masks at all anywhere else except workers in fast food take out lines.
I haven’t been in a bank lately. We use drive thru if we need one.
Even when I went to school yesterday, there was a sign on the door saying masks were optional and no one was wearing one that I saw - even as they were discussing the latest losses from Covid that included the parent of one senior at the school and the uncle of another, both within the last two weeks (aka during the Christmas season).
There’s a big disconnect that anything could be better. Que sera, sera reigns.
I’m glad the doctor’s office was different. The pharmacy isn’t. They match everywhere else. Only the pharmacist wears a mask and that’s only when he’s giving a shot to someone.
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