Today’s Monday Mental Meanderings is in the nature of a Public Service Announcement, with an added attraction for those of you who like to point and laugh at others’ discomfort (you know who you are). Tomorrow, I go for a mammogram.
NO, I do not expect any of you are crass enough to be amused at the thought of my mammary glands being squished and photographed. At least, I hope not. The discomfort I was going to share for your amusement is that I have now gone over a week without coffee. I cry a little even as I type it.
I don’t suppose non-coffee drinkers will understand, but I know some of you are raising your hands in horror at the thought. In fact, a number of females have told me they were never advised to stay off caffeine. When I made the appointment, the nurse told me I could drink decaf, and the reason for it is that the caffeine makes one’s breasts more sensitive. I don’t remember a mammogram hurting that much to begin with, but it has been at least seven years since I’ve had one.
Ah, here is the Public Service Announcement part: DON’T BE LIKE ME! Get your cancer screening tests at the recommended intervals.
Back to the laughing at Cindy portion of the post. I eased into things by having one small cup of coffee in the morning for two days. Then I had tea for two mornings. I had some decaf filter bags a co-worker had given me. Yes, there is still caffeine in decaf. The lady told me I could drink decaf, so that was what I had for my usual mid-morning cuppa. On the fourth day, I started having decaf from a filter bag for my first cup as well. Oh, it does not taste as good. It does not make me feel content to be out of bed and ready to face the day. I suffer.
Almost every day, I have been tempted to just have a damn cup of joe. All these other women have had mammograms and never been told to stay off coffee. I don’t remember a mammogram hurting and even if it’s awful, it can’t last that long, can it? I’m a tough girl! I can take it!
Well, I can be tough enough to stay off coffee, too. For one reason, I can be pretty stubborn once I have made up my mind to do something. For another reason, once you have gone so far with something, you might just as well go all the way.
So now I am really, Really, REALLY looking forward to that first cup of coffee. Alas, my appointment is at three tomorrow afternoon. I fear if I immediately indulge, it will keep me up all night. However, Wednesday morning will be a wonderful time for me.
And once again, to all my female readers: Get your mammograms!
Mohawk Valley Girl 