An Apology from Dr. #*@

Hmmm. Dr. #*@% sent me a letter of apology. It arrived sometime in the last week, maybe while we were in Portland, but I just opened it today. Things have just been too busy - I thought it might be a survey or just info about OHSU, so I didn't open it. I must admit to being surprised at getting the letter, but I'm glad that he wrote it.

In the end, there was some kind of miscommunication between him and me. I don't think I framed my questions in such a way that I could get the information I wanted from him and for his part, he didn't take the time to really listen to what it was I was asking. I also still think that he implied that I should give up on the idea of a new implant or getting rid of the "dog ears" because I had bigger things to worry about.

He did say, and rightly so, that he would fix the dog ears if I ever wanted to come in and schedule the procedure. I just haven't scheduled it because I was waiting for a time when I reached stable disease again. I didn't think I should go through such a procedure while on chemo, for example. It was two months after reconstruction when I found out that the cancer had metastasized to my lungs. While the lung tumors seem to be resolving, the one under my armpit hasn't, so the time for such a procedure has never presented itself.

He also said that he couldn't have prepared me for the removal of the implant. It wasn't so much preparation I needed so much as a simple, "I'm going to take out the implant right now" would've sufficed. When I showed up that morning with the implant showing through the wound, he said, "it has to come out" and I said, "Yes, I understand. But when will you do it?" and he never answered. He just proceeded to take it out.

I accept his apology because he seemed sincere and ended with this statement, "I went into our last meeting as a surgeon feeling inadequate that I had nothing to offer you. You remind me that as a person I could have done much better." I doubt, though, that I will go to him again. After seeing the surgeon and plastic surgeon in Portland, there was such a difference in empathy and spirit. I felt no arrogance or dismissiveness from either of them.

I really like the surgeon here in town - in fact, I saw him this evening when we went up to see my dad and he joked about whether or not I sent out any letters. I told him that I asked my dad's surgeon to not bark orders at my dad and to request things in a gentler bedside manner. He just chuckled and said something about how there were maybe 8 other surgeons like my dad's in town.

I think I need to process this a little bit more . . . but it was an interesting find this evening!

Need a Personal and a Professional Secretary! Holy Cow!

Yesterday, I had three appointments and then I tried to attend to some details at work. Took care of some details on Monday but didn't get to all of them. I felt unsettled all day. I couldn't remember what it was I needed to do at work - luckily, I printed out stuff I needed to respond to and finally got to that today.

Then, I had to sit and think about those things I needed to follow up on with regard to my medical stuff. I ended up spending 45 minutes on the phone this afternoon talking to the wound care supply company (yes, I need those dressings sooner than the 30-days that was authorized; the wound is draining more! It's 15cm x 11cm big! I go through 8 packages of drain sponges and it's still been leaking out onto my clothes! - I said that three times, I think) and also waiting on hold with the surgeon's office in Portland. That office was supposed to call me back yesterday. I also had to call my oncologist's office to see if they refilled my Flagyl prescription - I crush the pills and sprinkle the powder on my dressings to cut down on wound odor. They had forgotten to have my doc authorize the prescription on Monday and apologized for their error so they took care of it this afternoon - I can pick that up any time.

Luckily, the wound care nurse has supplies that I can use until I get the reordered supplies from the wound care supply company.

The doctors' office in Portland apologized because they realized they had forgotten to call me yesterday to tell me that they need to have the surgeon make the call about whether or not he can squeeze me into his schedule sooner rather than later. They will see him tomorrow and will call me back.

I need a personal secretary to help me keep track of these phone calls to doctors' office and wound care supply companies.

My mom just told me that she put the clothes that I washed into the dryer because I forgot about them.

I also need a Professional Secretary to remind me who I need to respond to on email. I got about 50 messages today, about 15-20 of which needed answering . . .

I needed to take care of these details because I will be spending the next few days with my son, who will be attending his first academic tournament with his school. He is on the Knowledge Bowl team, who compete tomorrow. We are staying in Portland for this and I expect to have fun. He'll be able to play in the pool at the hotel with his school buddies. We hope to go to Powells and maybe to Ikea and to visit with some of my friends there in Portland.

Then, Monday afternoon, I fly to Vegas for two nights. I will be hanging out with my friends from Hawaii and we plan to go to Red Rock Canyon and to see Cirque du Soleil Zumanity!

Life settles down a bit after that - oops, no wait, I will spend a weekend at a cabin in the woods cowriting an article with a colleague. Then life settles down a bit.

That is, of course, until I have surgery.

Then spring term classes start again.

Good thing I'm drinking a glass of red wine tonight! Ha!

Referral Tag - Why am I always "it"? LOL

While I was in Hawaii, both my (ahem) former plastic surgeon and my regular oncologist referred me to surgeons at OHSU in Portland. I figured I'd wait until today, after I got home, to call to make appointments. I was too busy to call.

I decided that I should call the regular surgeon (referred by my oncologist) first and get his referral for a plastic surgeon before I make any appointments.

So, I verified the OHSU surgeon's name with my doctor's office and called to make an appointment.

The scheduler said that she can't schedule an appointment until she receives my records from Dr. K.

I called Dr. K's office and told them that while Dr. K may have already discussed my case with the surgeon - and the surgeon has apparently already agreed to do the surgery - the surgeon's office still needs the records.

Dr. K's office said that they FAXed my records to the OHSU surgeon's office sometime last week. But just in case, they would FAX the records again for me.

Sigh.

I called the OHSU's surgeon's office and reported that Dr. K's office FAXed the records last week. The OHSU surgeon's scheduler said she hadn't received them. I informed her that Dr. K's office was sending them again.

So. I wait.

Somehow, I became the go-between "it" person in the tag game between these doctors.

The OHSU surgeon is apparently out of town until the first week of March, so now I have no idea for when my surgery might be scheduled.

I can't make plans - like colleagues taking over my classes - until I know more.

Ah, there's a lesson here. Live in the moment! LOL

I forgot to tell you . . .

I forgot to tell you . . .

I sent the letter to Dr. plastic surgeon. I sent copies to my oncologist, the general surgeon, and to the plastic surgeon's immediate supervisor.

We took a scenic drive up Kamehameha Highway today, to Haleiwa. I wanted to try paddle boarding or kayaking, but we decided to go to Waimea Valley instead, and Waimea Falls. We saw maybe 1/3 of the birds in the valley, interesting plants, and Eddie swam in the pool at the base of the falls.

We had dinner in Haleiwa and walked around a bit. We were all bushed so we didn't do much walking by then. I have more blisters on my feet (thanks to Abraxane, I am prone to them) because I walked barefoot on the beach yesterday morning. Eddie said his hip hurts when he walks too long.

The scenery along this drive was beautiful. Thanks to Scotty for driving.

Eddie woke up early again today, so got up to see the sunrise. This time I walked north on Kailua Beach, all the way to the end. I saw several fishermen. I think I saw a turtle. It was sunny blue skies all around. Gorgeous.

Then, while Eddie played for about 45 min in the water, I read a book in a chair. He went back in after drying off some. I finished my book. So, I walked about an hour this morning. Read a book on the beach for an hour and a half. Then we drive an hour and a half to Waimea Valley, walked a mile and a half round trip to the Falls. And, then back home.

No wonder I'm tired. But it's a good tired. A tired from lots of physical activity and sun.

Tomorrow we're going to the Marketplace at Aloha Stadium, then maybe snorkeling at Hanauma Bay (well, the boys will snorkel), then to see the Halona blow hole. Then, more beach time. Relaxing.

It's a good thing.