This morning I received a call from Dr. Patel - he had just spoken with Dr. Phillips to inform him that he wants the port replaced. I made the right decision after all!
So kind and considerate is Dr. Patel; he wanted to personally speak with me because he wanted to assure me that his decision was not based upon test results that indicated my cancer had returned. Rather, his decision was in consideration of my comfort and the practicality of using a port for the tests I continue to have each month and quarterly.
The fact of the matter is that monthly blood draws are more comfortable if the blood is drawn from the port and I would much rather use the port for the contrast dye injection during a CT scan.
Maybe I will never need the port for anything else and if not, then I will not have lost anything.
Next week I should hear from Dr. Phillip’s office to be scheduled for the surgery consult followed by the actual surgery.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
I Dun-no-oh!
When my grand daughter Madison was little she loved to play hide and seek at our house. She would hide in the pantry, the shower, under and behind furniture, and in the closets. I would count out loud and as I headed out to find her I would always call out, "Where's Madison?” her precious response would always be, "I dun-no-oh!”
There are just some things in life that without a doubt you know you will never-ever forget ... I dun-no-oh is high on the unforgettable list for me.
As for my port, I dun-no-oh! I arrived on time at the surgeon's office with the intake forms completed and the check for the co-pay already prepared.
I waited only a few minutes then was called in for the usual blood pressure, temp, and weight. I waited a little longer in the exam room and then the surgeon spent about three minutes in the room with me. First of all, he said he liked my last name; then he looked at the port and knew immediately it was not his work; he said he knew the surgeon who put in the port; and then he asked me if the port was being removed or replaced.
My first thought was to say, "Are you kidding me? That's what I've been trying to find out myself!" However, being the "in-control" person that I am I did not speak those words.
OK, OK, but would you be sarcastic with the guy who will hold the scalpel over you? I mean come on; I don't want to make him dislike me!
As politely as I could I responded that I had not seen Dr. Patel since the dye test but that I was assured by the staff of both offices that the two doctors would communicate and then he (the surgeon) would inform me of what Dr. Patel wanted. Nope, the file contained the reports of the two dye tests but no directive from Dr. Patel. But he says, "Oh come on, we'll just take it out".
I took control ... I put the brakes on ... I got off that runaway train ... "It's not in my best interest to potentially go through two procedures. I really want to know exactly what Dr. Patel wants to be done before we move forward.” I say.
Three minutes, I was with the surgeon for three minutes and then I was back at the front counter. I will be called and scheduled for another $25 co-pay (consultation) after the two doctors communicate.
This afternoon I left a voice mail for Dr. Patel's medical assistant. I received a voice mail from her shortly before 5:00 - she had not heard from the surgeon's office but she thinks Dr. Patel wants the port removed and not replaced. I'm back full circle, I dun-no-oh!
On the bright side, I got an extra hour of sleep this morning and had no physical discomfort - today was a good day.
There are just some things in life that without a doubt you know you will never-ever forget ... I dun-no-oh is high on the unforgettable list for me.
As for my port, I dun-no-oh! I arrived on time at the surgeon's office with the intake forms completed and the check for the co-pay already prepared.
I waited only a few minutes then was called in for the usual blood pressure, temp, and weight. I waited a little longer in the exam room and then the surgeon spent about three minutes in the room with me. First of all, he said he liked my last name; then he looked at the port and knew immediately it was not his work; he said he knew the surgeon who put in the port; and then he asked me if the port was being removed or replaced.
My first thought was to say, "Are you kidding me? That's what I've been trying to find out myself!" However, being the "in-control" person that I am I did not speak those words.
OK, OK, but would you be sarcastic with the guy who will hold the scalpel over you? I mean come on; I don't want to make him dislike me!
As politely as I could I responded that I had not seen Dr. Patel since the dye test but that I was assured by the staff of both offices that the two doctors would communicate and then he (the surgeon) would inform me of what Dr. Patel wanted. Nope, the file contained the reports of the two dye tests but no directive from Dr. Patel. But he says, "Oh come on, we'll just take it out".
I took control ... I put the brakes on ... I got off that runaway train ... "It's not in my best interest to potentially go through two procedures. I really want to know exactly what Dr. Patel wants to be done before we move forward.” I say.
Three minutes, I was with the surgeon for three minutes and then I was back at the front counter. I will be called and scheduled for another $25 co-pay (consultation) after the two doctors communicate.
This afternoon I left a voice mail for Dr. Patel's medical assistant. I received a voice mail from her shortly before 5:00 - she had not heard from the surgeon's office but she thinks Dr. Patel wants the port removed and not replaced. I'm back full circle, I dun-no-oh!
On the bright side, I got an extra hour of sleep this morning and had no physical discomfort - today was a good day.
Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20
Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
You will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:3
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
To Be or Not To Be ... In Control That Is
So you think you are in control...? Have you ever driven home - the same route you always take only to at some point come to the realization that you don't remember some part of the drive? Were you in control?
You plan the week's dinner menus and the shopping list only to arrive at the grocery store and find out that the stock of _____ is not fresh and that blows two of the dinner menus. Are you in control?
You are an excellent employee but the promotion is just not happening. Are you in control?
Your appointment with the client is at a specific time however, the client shows up 20 minutes early or 20 minutes late. Are you in control?
Things happen all the time that cause us to alter our plans and really, the only thing we can consistently control is our self - our reaction, our emotions, our thoughts, and our words.
I have practically no information about my leaking port ... the only information I have is that this Thursday at 9:00 AM I have an appointment with a surgeon.
One of my co-workers had her port removed in the surgeon's office. One of the ladies in my support group had hers removed in the surgeon's outpatient surgery center.
Another member of the support group planned to have her port removed in the surgeon's office but instead it was removed in the outpatient surgery center. AND, then the line to the port snapped off from the port as it was being removed and then coiled in the vein leading to her heart. She was sent to the hospital to have the line removed through the major artery in her groin! YIKES! For six hours in recovery heavy pressure was applied to the groin to insure that the artery did not bleed. Her choice was to remain in the hospital overnight or to be accompanied home and watched over for the night. Her recovery was not from a simple incision.
Will my port be removed or will it be replaced? I have no idea - I can't find out. The oncologist's staff says that he will have informed the surgeon - the surgeon's office say they don't know but they are sure the oncologist will have informed the surgeon. OK, I say and then ask the surgeon's office if they know if I am having a consult or if the port is being removed that day? After all, it would be good for me to let my supervisor know if I will be in to work that day. Of course, the staff does not know ... that is the doctor's decision. I try another tactic; if the port is removed on Thursday will I feel like going to work? After checking with another person in the office I'm told that it would be entirely up to me. I give up ... the only control I have is to arrive for the appointment on time with the forms completed.
Oh yeah, I'd better find those forms ... and leave a little early for the appointment because after all I will have no control over traffic that morning.
You plan the week's dinner menus and the shopping list only to arrive at the grocery store and find out that the stock of _____ is not fresh and that blows two of the dinner menus. Are you in control?
You are an excellent employee but the promotion is just not happening. Are you in control?
Your appointment with the client is at a specific time however, the client shows up 20 minutes early or 20 minutes late. Are you in control?
Things happen all the time that cause us to alter our plans and really, the only thing we can consistently control is our self - our reaction, our emotions, our thoughts, and our words.
I have practically no information about my leaking port ... the only information I have is that this Thursday at 9:00 AM I have an appointment with a surgeon.
One of my co-workers had her port removed in the surgeon's office. One of the ladies in my support group had hers removed in the surgeon's outpatient surgery center.
Another member of the support group planned to have her port removed in the surgeon's office but instead it was removed in the outpatient surgery center. AND, then the line to the port snapped off from the port as it was being removed and then coiled in the vein leading to her heart. She was sent to the hospital to have the line removed through the major artery in her groin! YIKES! For six hours in recovery heavy pressure was applied to the groin to insure that the artery did not bleed. Her choice was to remain in the hospital overnight or to be accompanied home and watched over for the night. Her recovery was not from a simple incision.
Will my port be removed or will it be replaced? I have no idea - I can't find out. The oncologist's staff says that he will have informed the surgeon - the surgeon's office say they don't know but they are sure the oncologist will have informed the surgeon. OK, I say and then ask the surgeon's office if they know if I am having a consult or if the port is being removed that day? After all, it would be good for me to let my supervisor know if I will be in to work that day. Of course, the staff does not know ... that is the doctor's decision. I try another tactic; if the port is removed on Thursday will I feel like going to work? After checking with another person in the office I'm told that it would be entirely up to me. I give up ... the only control I have is to arrive for the appointment on time with the forms completed.
Oh yeah, I'd better find those forms ... and leave a little early for the appointment because after all I will have no control over traffic that morning.
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