I've been feeling 'fired' by this Dr. Manchild who I will now graciously call Dr. N. Two phone messages and two emails since last Thursday and then presto... just like that he called me late yesterday. Not sure who scored on this round - him or me. Dr.'s get respect - why shouldn't patients - I'm just sayin....
Now that we're back on level ground, we conversed - about stuff I really didn't want to know but unfortunatly must deal with. New talk about this 'blockage' in the old ureter/kidney so now we have to determine what it is. Could be a tumour, could be a stone, could be ?? I'm going with a stone - better than a tumour methinks. Now he's in action mode - wants it done ASAP - booking clerk calls 11 am today - I'm booked in May 4th for the procedures - and yes that's plural! Wait a minute, that's the day after I'm supposed to have a colonoscopy. In the theatre of your mind imagine - colonoscopy one day, urinary system invaded the next - not gonna happen!! Which one do I want to do more - tough call if you get my drift. So a date with Dr. N. May 4th it will be - yahoo.
Is this all more information than you need to know?? Such is the life I lead...
Stay well my friends
Rest easy Wayne.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Snap
Lots of things snap - turtles snap, rice krispies snap, suspenders snap, mousetraps snap, you snap your fingers, elastic definitely snaps but me... I never snap. Until this last Thursday. Maybe I was just ornery that day in general but after waiting one hour for the urologist I left. I like to think that I'm a relatively patient person but being a good patient isn't always the easiest job.
C'mon - 60 minutes to anticipate something I really don't want to hear! I understand doctors get behind, I understand that sometime the patient just needs more attention - lord knows I've been there - but how about a little communication. My 10:30 appointment started off well enough - right on schedule they led me to the consultation room, where I sat waiting for 30 minutes with just a large poster of the urinary tract system on the wall for my reading pleasure. Fair enough I guess, he is a urologist after all but how much do I really want to know. Then Dr. oh-my-gawd-you're-just-a-manchild comes in, opens my file and says 'didn't you just have a CT? - yes I replied - 2 weeks ago. At now 11:05 he says well it's not in the file so I'll just go print it off the computer - be right back. Right back turns into another 10 minutes and he pops his head in the doorway - I'm still studying the layout of a male's urinary tract - and says won't be long now. THEN he proceeds to in the next consultation room with another patient. I am now provoked into action - how long is 'won't be long'? I'm no longer in the mood to find out since it's now 11:30 and I've missed my coffee date and could probably draw a urinary tract from memory. So I'm done - I'm gone.
The end of the story you think?? Not so. When I get home there's a message from Dr. Man-child left @ 1:15 pm - is that how long 'won't be long' is? I've calmed down somewhat so I call him back - like he asked. Now another 10 minutes trying to connect with a human voice but no I can't talk to him. Can I leave a message? 'She' replies - he'll probably call you back later - he usually does. No really I'd like to leave a message. 'She' replies - if I see him I'll tell him you called.
And now it's Sunday and guess what - haven't talked to him yet. Maybe Monday.
C'mon - 60 minutes to anticipate something I really don't want to hear! I understand doctors get behind, I understand that sometime the patient just needs more attention - lord knows I've been there - but how about a little communication. My 10:30 appointment started off well enough - right on schedule they led me to the consultation room, where I sat waiting for 30 minutes with just a large poster of the urinary tract system on the wall for my reading pleasure. Fair enough I guess, he is a urologist after all but how much do I really want to know. Then Dr. oh-my-gawd-you're-just-a-manchild comes in, opens my file and says 'didn't you just have a CT? - yes I replied - 2 weeks ago. At now 11:05 he says well it's not in the file so I'll just go print it off the computer - be right back. Right back turns into another 10 minutes and he pops his head in the doorway - I'm still studying the layout of a male's urinary tract - and says won't be long now. THEN he proceeds to in the next consultation room with another patient. I am now provoked into action - how long is 'won't be long'? I'm no longer in the mood to find out since it's now 11:30 and I've missed my coffee date and could probably draw a urinary tract from memory. So I'm done - I'm gone.
The end of the story you think?? Not so. When I get home there's a message from Dr. Man-child left @ 1:15 pm - is that how long 'won't be long' is? I've calmed down somewhat so I call him back - like he asked. Now another 10 minutes trying to connect with a human voice but no I can't talk to him. Can I leave a message? 'She' replies - he'll probably call you back later - he usually does. No really I'd like to leave a message. 'She' replies - if I see him I'll tell him you called.
And now it's Sunday and guess what - haven't talked to him yet. Maybe Monday.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Things 'n Stuff
Okay so I got tired of being laughed at every time I took my circa 2001 cell phone out so I stepped over the edge and got a SmartPhone. Today already I'm stressed at trying to figure this thing out although I have to say I looks pretty chichi when I whip it out of my purse!! Today's mission is, at the very least, to figure out how to answer it should anyone happen to call me.
Speaking of food - my freezer is full! Eating well is not one of my specialties. But thanks to my buddy Deb who loves to be in the kitchen, she offered to spend her Sunday afternoon in my kitchen cooking up some delights to freeze and thus, should eating occur to me I wouldn't have to think about what to eat - I can now simply open my freezer and decided WHAT to eat!! Stuffed potatoes, chicken dishes, meatballs, mac 'n cheese.... mmmmmm good - you are the best friend my friend!
And speaking of being on the brink of health I feel better this last couple of days than I have in a long while. Wednesday was my marathon day at the clinic - tests, appts and treatments. After lamenting over every pain and itch and every other minor and major discomfort of this last 4-5 weeks, my Dr. concluded that I should have a treatment of hydration along with my Pamidronate. And holy feel-better immediately! Even when I was 'in the chair' I could feel the burning in my hands/feet subside and now they no longer feel like they're going to explode. Even my energy level seems to have improved. Between that and taking a few extra days off before my next round of chemo - 17th round - we're hoping that my side-effects settle down. Here's hoping.
Sending a huge bouquet of loving thoughts and endless hope to my friend Susan - she has just had her first TheraSphere treatment and considering the harshness of this type of therapy seems to be coping well. Susan is so very positive and upbeat and brave and doesn't really have time for this cancer nonsense - her outlook and attitude so inspires me.
Stay well my friends
Speaking of food - my freezer is full! Eating well is not one of my specialties. But thanks to my buddy Deb who loves to be in the kitchen, she offered to spend her Sunday afternoon in my kitchen cooking up some delights to freeze and thus, should eating occur to me I wouldn't have to think about what to eat - I can now simply open my freezer and decided WHAT to eat!! Stuffed potatoes, chicken dishes, meatballs, mac 'n cheese.... mmmmmm good - you are the best friend my friend!
And speaking of being on the brink of health I feel better this last couple of days than I have in a long while. Wednesday was my marathon day at the clinic - tests, appts and treatments. After lamenting over every pain and itch and every other minor and major discomfort of this last 4-5 weeks, my Dr. concluded that I should have a treatment of hydration along with my Pamidronate. And holy feel-better immediately! Even when I was 'in the chair' I could feel the burning in my hands/feet subside and now they no longer feel like they're going to explode. Even my energy level seems to have improved. Between that and taking a few extra days off before my next round of chemo - 17th round - we're hoping that my side-effects settle down. Here's hoping.
Sending a huge bouquet of loving thoughts and endless hope to my friend Susan - she has just had her first TheraSphere treatment and considering the harshness of this type of therapy seems to be coping well. Susan is so very positive and upbeat and brave and doesn't really have time for this cancer nonsense - her outlook and attitude so inspires me.
Stay well my friends
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