poked and prodded

Right now, things are a little nuts around here.  I’m trying to get my health forms completed for my Fulbright, and it’s really a frustrating process.  I’ve had blood drawn twice, gotten a physical, gotten a gyn exam, gotten PPD, and now we’re going to look at my immunizations. No more needles! I’ve learned a few things though -

Test results freak me out. I don’t know why, but I get very anxious when I’m looking at them (even though I don’t expect anything but normal).  There were a few abnormal, but they’re up to interpretation.

I can’t stand the sight of my own blood.  I’m ok with wounds.  But I can’t watch my own blood filling up the vial.  It’s not scary or gross, it’s just surreal.

The health care industry is confusing.  If I didn’t already work in the field, I would be quite baffled.  What does “family history” really mean?  What’s the difference between an HPV test and a Pap test? How often should you update your immunizations? What does the “normal range” indicate?

Straight men should not do pap smears.  That is all I have to say about that.

I should be all done with this madness by Monday, at least until next January or so, when I have to get the immunization updates!