The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I want to thank you dear friend for all of your loving reminders (and those of others also!) to "take care of us" by getting regular mammograms, pap smears, and dental exams.
When caught up in all of the drama of the A, years ago, all I could do in Alanon was vent, it was all about getting heard and comforted from all of my pain. Eventually I got it all out and then the REAL work began, when I learned to take care of me no matter what the A did.
That was new...i was used to taking care of everyone else, no energy left for me. I hounded my A like crazy to go to the doc, hoping he would see sings of the alcoholism and persuade him to stop, he had a family history of prostate cancer, so I hounded him to get that checked too, when my daughter reached age 18, I had her go for a pap smear. But me? I never went...
I kept working on myself, and eventually got to the point that I at least THOUGHT about getting myself checked out. After all, I was 45 and long overdue for a "woman's" type of checkup, still I put it off...
Then I kept reading your loving reminders for all of us to get this stuff done. I always admired your recovery and program, your gentle wise words to others, always spoken with love and kindness. So, when I read yet another gentle reminder for us women to care for ourselves, I decided I "want what you have", that peace of mind that comes from getting ourselves checked out and I went.
After fifteen years of neglecting that part of my health, I finally had a pap smear, breast exam, and mammogram! It was scary, but I found a female doctor who helped me through my anxiety. I was blessed and fortunate to discover that all was well with that part of my health!
With that newfound strength I visited the dentist for a LONG overdue check up. Thanks to your reminders, he found THREE cavities that were nearly root canal level! I seriously did not have a clue, they were not chipped or cracked or painful. The worse kind of cavity since you know nothing is wrong until the root of the tooth is dead. The dentist said a few more months and I would have needed THREE root canals!
I just got my third and last one filled, and I had to say thank you.
I feel SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better about myself!!! I had a nagging fear that something would be wrong with me for neglecting myself for so long, so what a relief to find out that it was not too late for me to change, and get regular checkups and stay healthy!
This "taking care of me" stuff is addictive, LOL, no more nagging fears in the back of my mind that I have cancer when my period lasts an extra day or something simple like that!
i just wanted to say thanks for your efforts to help and support all of us on our journey to true self love by taking as good care of ourselves as we did of our families.
I also have to thank Pipers, LOL, seeing how much you love her and care for her, I called my vet about my kitties shots, which he has never had. He is a totally indoor car, so I thought he didn't need it and asked my vet what he thought about that. He told me I was risking my beloved kitty's health since there are serious air borne cat diseases that he can catch from a stray kitty walking by an open window. YIKES!!! I like to open my windows and we have a lot of stray cats roaming around...
I am so glad I no longer inflict my neglecting my health attitude on my sweet little feline friend.
Thanks again friend, for sharing your recovery journey and showing the rest of us the way. Thanks to everyone else that also post reminders about women's health care, since it all added up to waking me up from my denial.
Your making me blush. I have to admit sometimes I forget to get those "woman" things done. Lukily I have a niece who reminds me. I now make it easier on myself by making certain appointment in January and October. January b/c it's at the beginning of the new year and easy to remember. It's also nice to get it out of the way. October b/c it's breast cancer awareness month. It's empowering.
I'm glad you're okay. I often wondered if those posts have made a difference. Now I know they do. As for Miss Pipers, she's my child. I would be lost without her. If there is one thing I can't abide by, it's people who neglect their pets. This Thanksgiving my vet was collecting pet food for people who are having difficulties. It's a great idea. People can take care of their family or their needs and not have to worry about feeding their pets or giving them up because they can't feed them. So it doubly pays off. Paying it forward in more ways than one. Thank you again for your kind words. You made my day. Give your baby an extra scratch for me. Much love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong, Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
__________________
It's your life. Take no prisoners. You will have it your way.
I have to admit sometimes I forget to get those "woman" things done. Lukily I have a niece who reminds me. I now make it easier on myself by making certain appointment in January and October. January b/c it's at the beginning of the new year and easy to remember. It's also nice to get it out of the way. October b/c it's breast cancer awareness month. It's empowering. 
