Praise then darkness, and creation unfinished

I have just heard back from someone at my doctor's office, who assured me that my mammogram (2 weeks ago) was negative. Negative means, in this case, that they found nothing, which is exactly what we hope for.

I am just back from having a (purely routine) mammogram. I left work early, and timed the transit well (the place my GP normally sends people is in Yonkers. I think I should look for a new place for next time, just for convenience). This meant very little waiting around, and I spent part of that sitting on the carpet, helping the tech's granddaughter with her arithmetic homework. She was puzzling over it out loud, and the tech had other things to deal with (mostly involving the patient before me). So I went over and said things like "that's a plus sign" (she kept reading + as "equals" and trying to make sense of "two equals three" after counting blocks or hearts or musical notes) and "if you aren't sure you can count them." I also showed her how I make a figure 9, since she wasn't happy with what she was doing (it was coming out as an oval). Not something I'd want to do full-time, or even for a full hour, I suspect, but pleasant for five minutes, and with a child who was somewhat confused but not frustrated.

The procedure itself was as it always is, namely unpleasant but not horrible. The tech also praised my coelacanth tattoo, after I asked if I could drop the gown on the chair instead of opening it partway. According to the front desk people, my doctor should have the results in two days; I figure I'll call on Monday or Tuesday.

I had a mammogram this morning. In Yonkers (for some reason, all the labs and radiology places and such that my doctor uses seem to be up in Yonkers). When I went there last year, womzilla was kind enough to drive me there and back. But this was a 9:30 appointment, and it wouldn't have been kind to ask, so I did it by bus and train.

All well and good, had I done my research. In that case, I would have known that what I thought was the most convenient station on the #4 subway line is closed for renovation. I might even have known that they're also doing weekend track work on that line, so trains are running express-only northbound. Nonetheless, I got to the subway (with the help of a free shuttle bus), and eventually to the Yonkers bus, and thence to Inter-County Imaging on time.

The mammogram itself was uneventful. Unfun, but uneventful: the technician didn't have to retake any of the pictures, for example, and was cheerful about answering my questions. I did remind her to keep the door closed, having overheard a fair amount of what she said to the previous patient. (Her explanation that she speaks loudly was not exactly reassuring: and I had seen the door open an inch or so during some of what I overheard.)

Thence home. No shuttle bus this time: I decided to walk the one subway stop along Jerome Avenue instead of waiting around. Along the way, I found an Asian market (so labeled). I went in looking for chutney, but this turned out to be an east rather than south Asian market, so I came home with hoisin sauce, pickled ginger, and some of those shrimp-flavored chips/crisps/crackers. And, eventually, apple raspberry juice and chocolate chip–pumpkin "bread" from the Greenmarket.

Also, I have tea, I have cattitude and julian_tiger here (the latter in fierce mode again, *sigh*), and roadnotes is coming to visit.

I've had my first mammogram. Frankly, sitting in the waiting room for 45 minutes with an over-loud TV playing obnoxious cartoons, and someone very loudly explaining over a cell phone that she was quitting smoking and (blah, blah, blah...) was less pleasant than the actual procedure. I wouldn't recommend it as a recreational activity, but it was both quicker and, for the most part, less painful than Saturday's hair removal. Quick is good.

My right foot is currently wrapped in a compression bandage; I'm applying an icepack on and off, and taking ibuprofen. I have high hopes that it will be better tomorrow, but I will NOT go to the gym tomorrow, because that would be stupid. Probably not to Rose's either. *sigh*

womzilla generously drove me to the radiology place, picked me up when I was done, and drove me home via a drugstore (for the bandage). Thank you again.