Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Prayer for Wisdom
How do you even begin to choose a surgeon for reconstruction after mastectomy? I can't help but think that my outcome could be vastly different based on this choice. How to pick the right one? It's a long procedure with at least two different surgeries. I'm getting anxious and I want it done soon. But with whom?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Doctors on top of doctors!
(Side note: Who said it? Popular tv character responds to "I've been seeing girls on top of girls," with "Are they end to end or stacked like pancakes?")
My doctors aren't end to end or stacked like pancakes. But they are covering my calendar. I've got 8 doctor appointments in 7 weeks. It's about as fun as trying on bathing suits. It's plain ol' awful! It's stressful to have to arrange babysitters and switch up my schedule to accomodate so many appointments. And each doctor's office is an unwelcome reminder that my life isn't the same anymore.
I just got a call from the nurse at my oncologists office. They just sent off a blood sample last week so when she said, "Hey, do you have a minute?" I thought "uh-oh." Turns out she just wanted to refer me to a neurologist, but for thirteen seconds, my heart dropped. Every doctor and nurse calling to speak to a patient shold have to say immediately, "Hello. I have no bad news."
Anyway, I'm seeing the neurologist to check out my still-persistent elbow pain. It comes and goes which leads the oncologist to believe it's nerve damage and not cancer-related. It doesn't really hurt that bad. If I wasn't in remission from cancer I would totally ignore it. I've lost the luxury to do that I guess. No wonder my insurance company doesn't like me. I don't just have to pay for cancer treatment... I have to pay to get every ache, pain, bump, and lump looked at "just in case."
BUT- I'm not so far away from being sick that I can really moan and groan over a few doctor appointments. I remember verrrry clearly how bad it was to be sick and seeing the doctor. So in the grand scheme of things, I can handle some trips to and fro the medical center.
So, goodbye! I have no bad news!
My doctors aren't end to end or stacked like pancakes. But they are covering my calendar. I've got 8 doctor appointments in 7 weeks. It's about as fun as trying on bathing suits. It's plain ol' awful! It's stressful to have to arrange babysitters and switch up my schedule to accomodate so many appointments. And each doctor's office is an unwelcome reminder that my life isn't the same anymore.
I just got a call from the nurse at my oncologists office. They just sent off a blood sample last week so when she said, "Hey, do you have a minute?" I thought "uh-oh." Turns out she just wanted to refer me to a neurologist, but for thirteen seconds, my heart dropped. Every doctor and nurse calling to speak to a patient shold have to say immediately, "Hello. I have no bad news."
Anyway, I'm seeing the neurologist to check out my still-persistent elbow pain. It comes and goes which leads the oncologist to believe it's nerve damage and not cancer-related. It doesn't really hurt that bad. If I wasn't in remission from cancer I would totally ignore it. I've lost the luxury to do that I guess. No wonder my insurance company doesn't like me. I don't just have to pay for cancer treatment... I have to pay to get every ache, pain, bump, and lump looked at "just in case."
BUT- I'm not so far away from being sick that I can really moan and groan over a few doctor appointments. I remember verrrry clearly how bad it was to be sick and seeing the doctor. So in the grand scheme of things, I can handle some trips to and fro the medical center.
So, goodbye! I have no bad news!
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