Lending my strength.

me too, my we both succeed and endure tomorrow

good luck!! 'meeting the doctor' includes 'becoming familiar with any ongoing or untreated health issues'. Doctors are aware of how insane it is to access healthcare, its expected that they will be writing referralls after a new pt appointment like this bc i think 99% of new patients are in the exact position you are in, with years long gaps in care. and im sure you already know this but doctors are trained to understand our health issues in objective and scientific terms, even if for us its embarrassing, and treat us gently around sensitive topics.

i have been having an Embarrassing Health Issue the last couple weeks which was painful enough that it was impossible to ignore out of embaressment, something that used to be the normal way i handled Embareesaing Health Issues. it has honestly been kind of a Corrective Emotional Experience to talk to multiple doctors and nurses about it, have it looked at, even having a pretty painful (but quick) in-office procedure, because every single professional treated me with a mix of sympathy and clinical competence. the embaressment just started taking up less and less space in my brain. i hope talking to your new provider about this issue, even if it is really hard the first time, will be a similar emotional experience that will make you feel safer and a little more confident the next time you need to talk to a doctor about a sensitive issue. You deserve to have your health problems treated and to feel better!! ok soap box done. <3