It is amazing how, one small thing, occurring in the smallest of moments, can flip your whole way of thinking upside down.
One sunny morning, a few years back, Hubster was casually checking his email, and found in it a list containing the names of all the men and women being shipped to Iraq in less than two months. And there was Hubster's name, halfway down the list.
On a slow night at a downtown bar, several years ago, a group of guys decided to check out the joint, despite the cheesy atmosphere. And the tall, handsome one started making eyes at the Beer Tub Girl in the gold halter top.
It's funny how you can be floating through life, thinking everything's OK, going through your regular routing of getting the kids ready for a playdate at a friend's house, when, for no particular reason, you flip through the mail as you bustle about the house....and do a double-take on the long, cream colored envelope from Ob-Gyn Associates.
"Hmmm, not expecting anything from these people...."
And in that moment, in those three seconds that it takes to read three terse paragraphs, my world went suddenly unstable, and what I thought was certainty, now a vivid memory.
"As you may be aware, issues have risen concerning the use of certain Intrauterine Devices (IUDs). In response to a Department of Health Compliance Order, we are notifying you that our records indicate you may have received an IUD that lacked certification of FDA approval...."
"What the heck does THAT mean?" I commented to The Hubs.
On the way to our play/dinner date, through the marvel of modern technology, (and a great 3G connection) I found out exactly what that meant, courtesy of The Providence Journal, via my iPhone.
Ob-Gyn Associates had been purchasing their IUDs from Canada.
No, not necessarily MADE in Canada, just SOLD there.
Not even necessarily approved by the CANADIAN health authority peeps.
But apparently deemed good enough to be used by one of the largest gynecological offices in Rhode Island.
Because they were HALF price.
And they thought they'd be slick and bill the insurance companies FULL price for them.
I know, it's a lot of information to digest. Take a break if you need to....
In any case, the Department of Health has informed me (via the stellar FAQs page of their website) that I have no need to fear of anything like infection, since the smarmy docs had been doing this for a year and half and have had no ill effects reported in any of their patients.
BUT, they are worried about the "effectiveness" of these illegally obtained birth control devices.
(Don't worry, Mom, I promise I have never done S-E-X. I just got one cause all my friends were doing it!)
And they have exclaimed, in all capitalized, bold-faced type...
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE DEVICE YOURSELF!
Well, good thing they said something! Hubs was in the midst of collecting his bendy flashlight, his grilling tongs and a big bunch of pillows on the bed.
I don't know what this means for me yet.
I know I'm alarmed and disgusted and very distrustful of the medical community as a whole.
Obviously, first things first, we've gotta get this thing outta there. (No, Hubby, I said put the flashlight DOWN!)
My letter very curtly informed me that I can "contact Joyce or Lillian at OB-GYN Associates, Inc...if (I) would like to discuss this issue further."
Um, right. No thanks, Ob-Gyn Ass., I think I've heard about enough from you. I'll be finding a new (hopefully) qualified professional to take care of things from here on out.
