The joy of being D/D free!

[jennandjamesinm]

Don't forget your local Planned Parenthood!! They are discreet and they have heard it all too. The staff at my local one is very kind and pleasant. They test for everything, and I think that there is a sliding scale on payment based on income.

Jenn

[txduo2000]

Originally Posted by jennandjamesinm

Don't forget your local Planned Parenthood!! They are discreet and they have heard it all too. The staff at my local one is very kind and pleasant. They test for everything, and I think that there is a sliding scale on payment based on income.

Jenn

I have found that the problem with the sliding scale is that it generally slides very generously in their favor.

I am not working right now, and my husband's company doesn't offer health insurance, but according to Planned Parenthood's sliding scale we make too much money for their sliding scale, but realistically we cannot afford their regular charges.

[couplewanting50]

Our county health department office does not charge for the tests. They encourage you to make a contribution if you can. A sign said the tests could cost as much as $60 elsewhere. I did give them $60, but they were not at all pushy, only having a sign encouraging a contribution.

[txduo2000]

Originally Posted by couplewanting50

Our county health department office does not charge for the tests. They encourage you to make a contribution if you can. A sign said the tests could cost as much as $60 elsewhere. I did give them $60, but they were not at all pushy, only having a sign encouraging a contribution.

Ours only charges $20 for full spectrum testing (excluding herpes) including the female pelvic exam, so I can tolerate the crackheads, prostitutes and the long wait for that bargain!

[starlinn]

Originally Posted by Spoomonkey

Wow...

What a dick...

That's the second similar story I've heard this week like that. How I long for the day when malpractice means a free blow to the head with something blunt, flat and slightly heavy...

Spoomonkey

Aint that the truth! Several years ago, I went to see a Doctor for my wrist swelling. I had started a secretary job, and the typing they required started some inflamation in my left wrist. I thought a high dose of an anti inflamatory would do the trick, but had to see the Doc to get it.
He examined me, my wrist, and other areas and told me that I was in the last stages of syphallis before brain damage!
I sat there for a second, in shock, got up off the examining table, told the Doctor he was full of shit, and walked out. He followed me out of the room, asking what I thought it was. Told him, funny, but that was what I was paying 40 bucks for.
Should have known better to see him. He also told me my daughter had strep throat at her physical. I looked at her throat and said, no, that is from the barbeque chips she ate on the way to the doctors office.
Sheeesh...and they go to school for how long?????

[Mrs Spoomonkey]

I didn't think about ours being on a sliding scale. They did ask how much we made on the stacks of papers we filled out but never specifically said anything to me about it. Mr Spoo said they did question him about his salary amount that he wrote down though. Either way, mine was $50 and Spoo's was $40. Considering he makes a lot more than me the sliding scale doesn't make sense. I assumed mine cost more after I got in the room and found out in addition to a blood draw I was getting a full pelvic exam too. I even told Spoo when we left that was probably the reason mine was more.

Mrs Spoomonkey

[BentLie0909]

My bf and I are going to the clinic this weekend and your post made things alot easier. i also know now what to expect. Thank you and congratulations.

[lovedoctor]

You sure have a knack for taking a tough subject and turning it into a fun and educational thread.

Getting tested = good idea
Getting negative results = priceless

[Honey_Tampa]

Reading this insightful thread raised a question for me.... when you check with your new potential swing partner about their D/D-Free health status, do you take their word for it, or do you ask them to produce some kind of ... I don't know .. some kind of paperwork, doctor's note, seal-of-approval?

Because it seems to me ... if some slimeball is willing to pass around his disease, he's willing to lie about his check-ups, too?

------------------------------
oh .. is it okay to start a new question on another's similar thread? I'm still learning the expectations here

[Spoomonkey]

Just like changing the batteries in your smoke detectors, I'm thinking people should have this done every time change...

Still doing it right - and with the right people. Still squeaky clean

Spoomonkey

[SW_PA_Couple]

Bringing this up for people to read and discuss is well worthwhile. JoAnn and I have never considered a visit to the county health clinic. Much of this sounds familiar from the days before I knew her. I remember having to wait for results -- i.e. call this phone number after three days and mention this secret code number. Nowadays, I get a free AIDS screening every time I donate blood. Anything else, I figure, will cause symptoms and I will get it checked. As others have already pointed out, JoAnn gets a gynecological exam about once a year. So, do 'yall think we could be doing more?

[sexcupid]

Well I have a full STD panel done at the time I have my yearly exam done. My doctor is pretty cool, and I have no problems being truthful with him.

Jeff also has his done at his yearly exam. It's just easier that way, they do the blood draw right there. He is also not a big fan of the swab....lmao

Maria

[Spoomonkey]

Originally Posted by SW_PA_Couple

Anything else, I figure, will cause symptoms and I will get it checked.

Personally, I think that it may be that you have symptoms AFTER you have passed it on to someone else. Or - in some cases, not at all. Not all STDs have obvious symptoms.

We get physicals and Mrs Spoo - of course - sees her OB. But they don't do a full spectrum test for STDs. The more we realize that in this lifestyle you end up making friends that you really do care about, the more seriously we consider testing on a regular basis - and about being more and more selective with our partners.

I suppose I could learn to live with having a disease. I don't want one, but I could learn to adjust. But what I don't think I could live with is passing one to a friend.

Spoomonkey

[rpu3]

Originally Posted by Spoomonkey

Just like changing the batteries in your smoke detectors, I'm thinking people should have this done every time change...

And being the obsessive worrier that I can be, I look forward to each blood donation, platelet donation and life insurance underwriting exam as a free HIV and Hepatitis test... So, I manage to have some sort of testing done every 59 days.

I do keep my full panel testing separate from my MD - it's cheaper from the clinic, and my insurer doesn't get its grubby little hands on my med record (yes, I hate insurance companies and their free-for-all information grab, even though I work for one).

[sweet_tna]

Thanks Spoomonkey (and Mrs. Spoo) for an entertaining and informative post. I just had my annual physical and testing last week. It wasn't nearly as post-worthy, but the results are all that matter--D&D free!

=)