Something Other Than Petty Drama

When we were little we thought we were invincible. There were no responisbilities, no worries, no decisions- I mean my mom cut the crust off my sandwhiches until I left for college. Its like we were all rushing to get older and now I would do anything for a MIP. Now that im 23 with a UT degree I feel like more responisbilities have been put on my plate than I can handle- but then I take a look around....

A Planned Parenthood Experience:



Today I went in to the Planned Parenthood to get the vaccine Guardasil- something every lady should invest in. I went to this place for convenience really, I dont have a doctor in Austin and they provide the shot at the same price at any other clinic. When I got to the building which was situated in the middle of the Mexico a panic attack overcame me. I walk in the door and not only was I afraid of shotbut just sitting in the waiting room made me feel like I was going to contract the HIV. While waiting I made friends with a sweet girl and her 2 year old baby- she was a single mother and 15 years old at most, sad. Finally after what felt like 3 years of waiting I got called to the back. The nurse asked me more questions concerning my medical history and I when she couldnt pronounce the word "hypersensitivity" my panic feeling turned hysterical. Is this place really licensed to give medical advice? I was then asked to wait in the closet of an office for the doctor to come see me. I tired to keep my eyes closed and fan myself with a SIDA pamplet but the closed doors made me closterphobic so the nurse came in to give me a paper bag to control me from hyperventalating. Trying my hardest just not to look at the filthy room I glanced down and found a rat trap in the corner, there was peanut butter slabbed on the biggest rat trap I have ever seen. I quickly alerted the nurse that I was not doing ok and WTF was that trap about, but quickly told me to calm down and not to worry cause there was another one right behind me so the rat cant get me. I cried, I cried really hard. Then I started to hallucinate that rats were running around the room- this just made me cry harder. I WANT MY SHOT AND I WANT TO GET THE F OUT OF THIS DELAPETATED SHACK OF A BUILDING- FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. So finally Cynthia the doctor strolls in, the nicest lady really, but with needle at hand I wanted to slap her and run, but I stayed brave. She stuck me, I screamed, I cried and when it was all over I demanded a band aid. She tried to argue that it wasnt necessary but I still demanded the bandaid. So now I am 1 out of 3 shots down to preventing me from the 4 critical strands of HPV, this means that in 6 months (November 2007) I will not contract the 4 strands of HPV that cause cervical cancer- so in the meantime I could still contract this awful disease and the $500 I have invested would be completely wasted. Statistics say that 95% of the American population have some strand of HPV. 8 out of 10 woman have it and give this virus to guys. It not only NOT harmful to the guys, the carriers of this epedemic, but they show no symptoms and they CANNOT BE TESTED. They are clueless that they are infecting girls all over the country. Scary.

Human Papilloma Virus:
There are more than 100 different human papilloma viruses (HPVs). They cause a variety of warts and other conditions and can remain in the system for life. Studies suggest that as many as three- quarters of adults in the U.S. have been infected with at least one type of HPV. About 40 of these HPVs are genital and affect sexual and reproductive organs. A few casue genital warts, but most genital HPV infections are not visible and have no symptoms. Some of these cause cancer of the cervix, vulva, penis, anus, or vagina. Ever year, more than five million Americans are newly infected with genital HPVs- about 20 million woman and men are now infected.

Common Symptoms:
-warts appear on the genital, in the urethra, in the anus, or in the throat
-genital warts are soft to the touch, may look like miniature CAULIFLOWER florets, and often itch
-untreated genital warts can grow to block the openings of the vagina, anus, or throat and become quite uncomfortable

This little lecture IS meant to scare everyone who reads it. I strongly suggest you get this vaccine as soon as you can. Its so imperative for us to take care of our bodies and if three shots can prevent cancer causing warts- be smart about it.

Even after this traumatising experience, I now wish to volunteer at the Planned Parenthood- and after that I want to save the world.