A Visit to the Dermatologist

"Okay, well, I'm going to do a biopsy. Hop up on this and we'll get started," said my dermatologist.

Umm what? Biopsy? I didn't sign up for this! I thought you were just going to look at it. 

I nervously climb up on top of the bed, laid down and stared and the sterile white ceiling. On the walls are photographs of birds and wildlife. I spotted similar ones in the lobby and wonder if he is a photographer.

I watched him move about his instruments - a little bit of this, a little bit of that. And a nervous, childish question slipped from my lips. "Is this going to hurt?"

"Only the needle," he replied


I went to go see a dermatologist about the rash that has been slowly forming over the course of the past month. I really didn't know what to expect. I thought he would take a look at it and then be able to say something about what it was.

Oh how naive I was.

After talking to me about the rash, how its appeared before and other aspects of my health, he told me that he wanted to do a biopsy. I don't know much about biopsies except that they're used to diagnose cancer. I didn't even know that skin biopsies even existed.

He was talking to me. Telling me what he was going to do, but my mind was too busy freaking out. I barely remember the type of tests that he was taking these for. I know what they're for, but I don't remember the name of them. One is a general test and the other looks for lupus I think.

Once the needle was in that was it. I didn't feel anything else. I don't know why I didn't clue into the fact that of course he would use anesthesia.  If you think about it, its not different than the needle they give you at the dentist when you have a cavity. Easy peasy. Nothing to worry about.

Until I looked down - that was disturbing. Why did I do that? Blood and thread going everywhere. Breathe. It'll be fine. 

As he was sewing me up, I asked him about the photographs. Turns out he did take them all. It was a form of exercise. A way for him to get out and about.

My results will come back in about 10-11 days. I'm booked for a follow up appointment to remove the stitches and he is hoping that they'll have some answers. But for now, I have 2 lines of stitches going along my chest.

My first ever stitches in my life. And it was over a rash.