Tuesday, September 16, 2014

I Grew A Tumor

After much strife, I received the results from my colonoscopy. The nurse from that doctor's office kept making missteps in her communications with me. She never had all her information ready when she called, she told me things that weren't accurate, she called on Wednesday after I had the procedure on Monday and told me to schedule the procedures. On that day, she told me I probably wouldn't get my results until this week, and she explained perfectly reasonable reasons why that would be. But then she called last Friday, and left a message asking me to call her, that it was about my results. Thirty minutes later I tried to return her call and could not get through to anyone. I finally called the number you use to make appointments and left a message there. 

On Monday morning, she called me, all bright and cheery, wanting to know how she could help me! I told her I had been returning her call on Friday and proceeded to tell her all about how thoughtless it was to call me and leave a message knowing I would not be able to get back in touch with her. It was a hot mess! She kept making excuses and explaining things. Finally I just told her "let's just drop all this and you tell me what I need to know."

She began fumbling around and said she had to find the results and did I want her to call me back. I told her no, that since we were connected, I would wait, if she thought she could get herself together and give me the information. She responded by telling me, "Okay, I'll call you back" and she hung up!

When she called back, she informed me that the tumor is malignant. My regular doctor had called late Friday afternoon and told me most of what was going on, so I wasn't surprised by the nurse's news, though I was still peeved at her for hanging up on me earlier when I had clearly said I wanted to wait while she got herself together.

Anyway, the gist of it is that he took out two precancerous polyps and discovered a tumor where my upper and lower colon join together. I did blood work this morning and I will soon be drinking a delicious berry barium smoothie in preparation for a cat scan tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

I have decided I am going to MD Anderson in Houston this time around, mostly in hopes that they can do laparoscopic surgery to remove the tumor. I worry about my stomach muscles and about scar tissue. But of course, I will go with whatever is best for my situation.

And so the next chapter begins. . .

13 comments:

  1. You sound like you are doing what I would do, with the exception I might squeeze the nurse's head like a pimple. Berry Barium sounds like a Halloween drink. I'm pretty cheesed with God over this, but I'm praying to cuddly baby Jesus anyhow. I love you.

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    1. I'm glad you're praying in spite of being pretty cheesed over it! Poor nurse, she just didn't get it. I forgot the part about where she told me she had taken her day off to come in and call patients. I would normally appreciate something like that, but all she did was waste her day off stirring me all up and then I had to go and chew her out!

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    2. Oh, and Cyn, I love you, too! :)

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  2. Oh wow - didn't know you had a possibility of laparoscopic surgery. That would be great! I hope it works out, but if not, I know you will be ok.

    That nurse! What a ditz, she said, more nicely than normal. You know that "everyone is fighting a battle" saying? Yeah. Her battle is with finding appropriate filler for all that empty space in her head.

    Really glad you are going big time on your hospital this time. Here's hoping it pays off in spades.

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    1. Rach, I'm mostly just hoping at this point for laparoscopic surgery. When I went before, the surgeon told me they could possibly do it in Houston (and they do mention it on their website). I don't know what was up with that nurse! If I'd have had to have gone back in to talk to them, I would have complained to the doctor. But since Nursie done spilt all the beans, I'm guessing I won't have to go back to him!

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  3. Good choice Diane... and like I said earlier, if not to you, to myself.... Nurses have no business giving results over the phone, especially in this case and especially with your previous weeks experience with her... I am proud you stood your ground with her.!!! Expletives deleted, but not in my head... I'm cussing her in a bad way. Dumb ass.
    I am sorry you have to go through this again, but lap surgery is a great choice. And the recovery time is less and I know you know all that. Remember to tell them you don't do well with anesthesia..... :) Also you might want to consider asking for another look at your slides, since more experienced Dr's and pathologists see things much differently in the big world.
    Long and short is I'm praying and I'm glad you got the tutti frutti spice it up flavor... beats the banana any day!!!

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    1. Thanks, Lori! I appreciate the prayers. I am assuming they will send all the reports and such to Houston. And I will ask my doctor about maybe bringing some of it with me when I go.

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  4. In my prayers, Annie. I'm at a loss for words at the moment in so far as the nurse.....

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    1. Thank you, Jim. Appreciate the prayers so much! I don't know what else to say about the nurse! They are new in that office, so maybe she hasn't totally settled in yet.

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  5. I love that you stood up for yourveryownself and did not let her get away with excuses and I hope she takes it as a wakethehellup call from the cosmos.

    I love that you are taking charge and taking the surgery to the big guns.

    And I love you.

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    1. Thank you! Yep, looks like I have to take charge here. Love you too!

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