Pleae share your experience with full body checkup at dermatologist

[snapppyd]

I finally made the appt. for DH and I to get checked. We spend a lot of time at the beach, go to Florida approximately once a year, sometimes twice.

I found a mole on my back that bleeds if I scratch it. That scared me.

What can I expect to happen tomorrow? I know I could ask over the phone but I really want to hear from all of you what it was like going for that first check up.


thanks

 

[Happy Snowman]

Just had one done last month, dr basically looked over your body and noted anything that needed further examination. He did look through my hair at my scalp but that was really the only physical touching he needed to do. The whole procedure took about 10 minutes, maybe.

 

[Disneychix]

I went for the first time this year too.
I was asked beforehand to narrow down to any specific moles that I wanted her to look at. I had 4.
She came in and looked at those first, told me that one wasn't even a mole- asked some questions about the others and then ruled them out as being dangerous. She then quickly looked over my body (QUICKLY!) and said "remember to use sun screen and we'll see you next year"

Good luck OP!

 

[phorsenuf]

I've had a couple moles checked and they did a quick punch biopsy then and there. Just a shot to numb the area and then they put a cylinder looking thing over the area and it cuts the area out. Then they gave me a stitch. Not a big deal. I actually have 2 I need to get in and have looked at.

You'll do good.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I get one yearly.

Make sure you do not wear nail polish so derm can look at your nail beds.

They have me change into a gown. The derm looks at all areas of my body, including scalp. If I have questionable areas they are noted in my records.

If any of the spots are immediately suspect, I am given the option to....

1) Have a biopsy in which she can cut it at that appt. and have it sent off.

2) Schedule for a complete removal and biopsy. Complete means surgical removal.

I always schedule for a complete removal and biopsy because I want it out of me. If you have a suspect spot there is no reason to keep it there. Even if the spot is nothing it could later grow into something. Why have it in the first place.

I have to watch out for melanoma so that is why I take this seriously. I have had a biopsy come back "atypical" which is pre-melonoma.

My mom had 2 spots of melonoma removal, one of which was with a plastic surgeon because it was on her neck/face region.

 

[scrapquitler]

I had a precancerous thing removed from my leg about 10 years ago and my Mom had skin cancer, so I go for a full body check every year. It's really no big deal. I go in, get undressed and put on the gown, but leave my bra/underwear on. The doctor comes in and looks at my body checking for any signs of new moles/changes in the ones I have (she measures one of them every time and writes that down), she also checks in my hair/scalp. That's about it. Takes about 5 minutes (after I've waited a good 30-40 minutes).

 

[snapppyd]

When I made the appt. they did not mention nail polish or makeup. I thought that was odd, thanks for the tips. You leave your underwear on?

 

[Happy Snowman]

When I made the appt. they did not mention nail polish or makeup. I thought that was odd, thanks for the tips. You leave your underwear on?

I had to take off my bra but left my underpants on, but I did have to lower my waistband so he could check lower down .

 

[Mkrop]

When I made the appt. they did not mention nail polish or makeup. I thought that was odd, thanks for the tips. You leave your underwear on?

I most likely did not have nail polish on, but I am pretty sure I had makeup on. I had to take off my bra and out on a gown that was like a crop top, I thought it was pointless. I had underwear on.

They checked all over, the only place he touched me was my scalp. He removed two things and noted others. All tests came back negative.

Funny story...so right before I left for my app I was talking to a coworker who unfortunately has to be checked quite regulary bc the meds she is on for her transplant make her skin more susceptible. She has had a lot removed, but she also is one to make a joke about all her medical procedures. So she tells this story of how she forgot about her appt and threw on a thong that day. Calling herself a 40 year old ****! She was a riot making fun of herself. She gets there and is mortified wondering what her Dr must think of her. I tell her I am sure they have seen it all. I tell my nurse her story and she says you have no idea, a thong would not even make us blink!


Oops did not realize it would star out a word, insert a four letter word that begins with s and ends in lut lol

 

[anniemae]

Full body check only takes minutes. I go every year. You take of everything but underpants and they give you a gown. The doc moves the gown around to look at one section of your body at a time. If something is suspicious, they take a biopsy sample, it does not hurt, just a little sting from the numbing needle. Biopsy only takes a few seconds and you are done. They contact you if it needs further attention, otherwise you get a card in the mail saying everything was fine. That is how my derm works anyway.

 

[lucas]

I finally made the appt. for DH and I to get checked. We spend a lot of time at the beach, go to Florida approximately once a year, sometimes twice.

I found a mole on my back that bleeds if I scratch it. That scared me.

What can I expect to happen tomorrow? I know I could ask over the phone but I really want to hear from all of you what it was like going for that first check up.


thanks

I'm so glad you posted this question. I want to make an appointment for a full body check but am scared as not sure all that will happen during the appointment. From the replies it sounds easy enough!

Let us know how it went, ok?

 

[LisaR]

I went for my first full body check last year and it really surprised me how "surgical" the room was. There were HUGE lights like they would have in an operating room and the doctor was able to move them around. It just seemed very sterile to me. No biggie, but it did make my mind wander a bit while I sat there for 20 minutes waiting for the doctor. I just didn't expect it to look like I was going in for surgery!

I've taken my DD to multiple dermatologists over the years for acne. She has always been in a typical room one would find at any office so the room I was in did throw me for a bit. But again, no big deal.

 

[rlduvall]

When I had my first full body check several years ago, I had stripped down to everything but my underwear and placed the gown on. The male doctor walked in, barely said Hi, didn't make eye contact, pulled my gown straight out, looked down the front and left. All I could think was, "Gee - couldn't you have bought me dinner first?"

Of course, he came back in and did a thorough check and then severely chastised me about my tanning; yes, I know I deserved it, that's not my point. But he was pretty overweight and when he told me "You need to stay out of tanning beds" I so wanted to tell him "Well, you need to stay out of restaurants."

And I only thought that snide remark because of his snide bedside manner.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Hope all goes well Snap.

I had a question: do any of your derms use an eyeglass thingy, like a magnifying glass when they check you? Mine never has, yet every time a see a video or something on TV, every single doctor is using one.

Snap, I've had 3 spots removed on my back and one on my buttocks (so yes, they will move your underwear to get a better view).

And I have to say, it wasn't pleasant. Not the procedure or the recovery, but I think that's mostly where they were located (2 on bra lines) and the doctor. I need a new doctor. Not going back to that one again.

 

[Pembo]

I just had my 6 mo skin check. As others have said, stripped to undies and put on the gown. The doc checked me out including the buttocks. She did not use a magnifying glass unless she was looking at a spot specifically. I've also had them take pictures of certain spots for reference. I have LOTS of freckles so it's hard to decide if any of them are changing. I've had 2 spot biopisies and Mohs surgery once for a basal cell.

The skin check is the easiest part.

 

[anniemae]

I have had dr.'s use the huge magnifying glass thingy and others that have not.

 

[snapppyd]

Thanks everyone, I feel a little better now. I really have put this off for too long, can't wait to go and get it over with. I'll have an update on Monday, no computer for the next few says.

 

[jbcheerchick93]

The more responses the better I suppose...I have a decently sized mole on my belly, my derm always takes an eye piece to that one to look closely at it. She asks if I've noticed any significant changes, if I actively go tanning, or if I'm worried about anything. She will sometimes feel larger moles to see how raised/bumpy they are. It was in a normal Dr. type office and a nurse was in the room with us the entire time. I wore a gown and she briefly checked along my waistband of my underwear both front and back.

 

[asta]

For what it's worth, mine was done fairly discretely. Going in I had this fear that I would stand there naked while the doctor looked over my body but that wasn't the case. I was in a gown and the doctor moved it around to view different areas. That felt much less invasive.

On the topic of skin cancer, I say have everything that is suspicious to you biopsied. I had a spot on my arm that I showed to two different doctors several times over the course of 2-3 years. They both said it was nothing but the dermatologist finally agreed to biopsy it just so I would stop worrying about it. The spot turned out to be a Basel cell and I finally had MOHS surgery to remove all of the cancerous cells.

I strongly advise you to not ask them if something looks like cancer, just ask to have it biopsied.

 

[threeboysmom]

I've never been to a dermatologist before, but I know I should since I spend way too much time sun bathing (always have).

What is an approximate cost for a full body scan?