# Happy holidays to me: Abnormal mammogram & I'm out of a job. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 29, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245 "2006-11-29T20:53:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/1 "2006-11-29T20:53:23Z")
I admit that I used to watch “Hee Haw.” I’m entitled: I was born & raised in Oklahoma. “Hee Haw” often featured this little ditty, which seems appropriate to me right now: Gloom, despair, and agony on me, Deep, dark depression, Excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on me. Yesterday two bombs fell in my life. My doctor’s office phoned to say that my recent mammogram looked abnormal, and further procedures will be scheduled. Later in the day, I got the news that the company for which I’ve been doing contract work (my only source of income for four years) is shutting down the service I was working for. So why am I posting? Dunno. Maybe I want to be cheered up. Maybe I want a shoulder to cry on. I am in a daze right now, and even gloom, despair and agony would be better than feeling blanked out, as I now am. ---
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/2 "2006-11-29T20:58:05Z")
Crap. I’m so sorry! I hope everything comes out to be a false alarm. Does it at least make you giggle that the google ads are for treatment of bipolar disorder? ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/3 "2006-11-29T21:05:36Z")
I’m sure lots of Dopers in addition to me can tell you personal tales of “and it turned out to be nothing” with an abnormal mammogram. {{{{{{{{{ **pinkfreud** }}}}}}}} ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/4 "2006-11-29T21:08:11Z")
[QUOTE=Jelymag] Does it at least make you giggle that the google ads are for treatment of bipolar disorder? [/QUOTE] Hm, I’m getting tasers and Kevlar vests. Zap that freakin’ boob! Hang in there, **pinkfreud** – and know that the thoughts and prayers of many, many Dopers are headed your way. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/5 "2006-11-29T21:08:24Z")
[QUOTE=freckafree] I’m sure lots of Dopers in addition to me can tell you personal tales of “and it turned out to be nothing” with an abnormal mammogram. [/QUOTE] I will be one to say that the “it turned out to be nothing” mammogram situation happened to me. ::hugs to you, **pinkfreud** :: ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/6 "2006-11-29T21:15:53Z")
Been there, came out o.k. on the other side. Hugs to you, and here’s hoping all is good for you on a future day. I’ve had a couple of “abnormal” mammos, one even resulting in a biopsy, and they were false alarms. There’s actually a debate going on as to the true value of all the preventive screening we do, specifically because of the relatively high rate of false positives. If I can find the article I saw today, I’ll come back with a link. On the job thing, yeah it sucks to be out of work. Will you be eligible for unemployement benefits? If the whole section is being shut down it is obviously not your fault, and if you’ve been there 4 years you have certainly put in enough time. Check with your state’s unemployment office. Of the two, of course the job loss is definite, but here’s another way to look at it. I bet that a couple of weeks from now you will have confirmed that the “abnormal” mammogram was not caused by anything dangerous; you will be so glad to hear that, that the temporary loss of a job will be trivial. ---
**Author:** ![docandjean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7993a0/32.png) [@docandjean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/docandjean)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/7 "2006-11-29T21:16:56Z")
Another “it was nothing” mammogram experience. Also, on the retake, the tech had to do the picture over because she was too shy to squeeze me flat enough. :smack: Sending good thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/8 "2006-11-29T21:23:38Z")
{{{{{{{ **pinkfreud** }}}}}}} [QUOTE=pinkfreud] “Hee Haw” often featured this little ditty, which seems appropriate to me right now: Gloom, despair, and agony on me, Deep, dark depression, Excessive misery. If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. Gloom, despair, and agony on me. [/QUOTE] I sing that, too. I didn’t know it came from “Hee Haw”. My parents taught it to me, and they used to watch “Hee Haw”. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/9 "2006-11-29T21:28:45Z")
_cookies and hugs for **pinkfreud** _ Keeping my fingers crossed (and prayers ready) that it’s nothing at all. ---
**Author:** ![ILovCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@ILovCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILovCoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/10 "2006-11-29T21:56:29Z")
**pinkfreud** :::BIG HUG::: prayers that everything turns out to be a tempest in a teapot in the boobie dept At least in FL they recommend filing at the earliest moment for UC so hop to it to deternine your next course of action and best of luck on finding something new. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/11 "2006-11-29T22:03:36Z")
_hugs_ I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, **pinkfreud**. Go ahead and cry all you need, and cuddle those kiddies. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/12 "2006-11-29T22:04:58Z")
:smack: That should be _ki **tt** ies_. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/13 "2006-11-29T22:05:28Z")
No mammograms yet, but I did have a “false positive” Pap smear once. As for the contract work, I’m sorry to say that you’ve fallen into the freelancer’s folly of “all your eggs in one basket.” Lots of us do it, but it sure is risky. I have four major baskets myself, and a few smaller ones here and there, and some think that’s not even enough. Take a few days to wallow, and then dust yourself off and use your experience to get some more baskets. Ask for referrals from the people you worked with. Start doing some serious networking, get your name out there. Tell everybody you know and meet that you’re looking for work and what fabulous skills you have. If you have biz cards, hand them out like candy. If you don’t have biz cards, get some! They’re a good investment. Good luck to you! Keep us posted and keep your chin up. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/14 "2006-11-29T22:05:33Z")
I appreciate the support, y’all. Regarding unemployment compensation, I’m ineligible. I was an independent contractor, not an official employee. No benefits, no health insurance, no severance, no unemployment comp. Nada. Just an email saying that they’re shutting things down Friday at midnight and thanking us for our “tremendous contributions and dedication.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/15 "2006-11-29T22:07:51Z")
☹ Sorry for your troubles. Here’s hoping it’s all a big nothing. We have lots of success stories here and I’m sure you’ll be one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/16 "2006-11-29T22:09:01Z")
Sending good thoughts your way **pinkfreud**. Is there a friend whose house you could go to and drink cocoa (or whatever) with and just have some sympathetic company? Do look into unemployment, I don’t see why you wouldn’t qualify for something. I’ll be thinking of you, and wishing you the best. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/17 "2006-11-29T22:10:52Z")
Sorry about your bad luck, do you have any idea for a job lined up? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/18 "2006-11-29T22:11:25Z")
I just saw your post about being ineligible. Ouch! ☹ Here’s to hoping you can find at least a temporary pick up job that will hold you until you can find more steady work. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/19 "2006-11-29T22:14:39Z")
Another “abnormal mammo turned out to be nothing” here. They did a couple more views, then a follow-up sonogram, and told me it was just a couple of fluid-filled cysts, absolutely nothing to worry about. Here’s hoping yours turns out to be nothing, too! And good thoughts towards you finding another job quickly! ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245/20 "2006-11-29T22:24:57Z")
[QUOTE=pinkfreud] the company for which I’ve been doing contract work (my only source of income for four years) is shutting down the service I was working for… I was an independent contractor, not an official employee. No benefits, no health insurance, no severance, no unemployment comp. Nada. Just an email saying that they’re shutting things down Friday at midnight and thanking us for our “tremendous contributions and dedication.” [/QUOTE] :eek: That’s terrible. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-holidays-to-me-abnormal-mammogram-im-out-of-a-job/382245.md?page=2)