Okay, so today I went back to consult with my old gynecologist, who’s now at St. Joe’s. This is the hospital I decided NOT to be treated at for the alleged “cancer” (their pathologist’s term) that was discovered by their mammography unit, not because I don’t love my doctor but because some years ago I had a very negative experience there.
It’s beginning to appear that maybe I should’ve overlooked the fact that their front office ER staff damn near killed me through their neglect…
Patiently, Dr. C, as we’ll call her, listened to my now epic-length story.
The part I haven’t updated here happened yesterday. Yesterday afternoon I visited Dr. P., the Mayo surgeon, who said that I did not have a breast infection, and that the swelling and redness were caused by a hematoma. I said…well, then, how do you explain the 100-degree temperature? She shrugged.
She now has me scheduled for a THIRD lump excision on Monday. If that fails (as you can be sure it will, the way things are going), then the next step is a mastectomy. And she said to quit taking the cephalexin.
Uh huh. Now a little alarm was going off: if she didn’t think it was an infection, why did she prescribe Cipro, a very powerful and potentially dangerous drug that is not supposed to be given to people over the age of 60? In fact, since I’m pushing 70 and am known to be sensitive to medications in general, why did she prescribe Cipro at all?
I thought, y’know…I need to talk to somebody else. So today it was off to Dr. C.
Dr. C. said she did not believe the swelling, redness, pain, and heat are signs of a hematoma; that they are symptoms of a breast infection. She also remarked that she would not want to cut into the breast in its current state. Since the cephalexin (the drug I ended up on after the Cipro worked some baleful effects) seemed to be working, I should get back on it. That advice was off the record, she added: “I don’t want to get in the middle of another doctor’s surgery.”
Right. Fortunately, I’ve only missed two doses since seeing Dr. P at the Mayo yesterday.
Dr. C referred me to two of her colleagues, a medical oncologist and a surgeon. She advised me to delay the Monday surgery until after I can talk to them.
So now I have an appointment with the new surgeon on Tuesday and the venerable medical oncologist on Wednesday.
Oh God! What a horror show this has turned into. There’s nothing I hate more than going to doctors. Now we’re looking at going through this on and on and on and on. I feel like I’ve been sucked into a vortex that I can’t get out of.
Dr. C. was shocked when I told her Dr. P. had given me a choice, which I could exercise this afternoon after talking to the radiation oncologist. If I want to bring a quicker stop to the surgery merry-go-round, I can just ask her to do a mastectomy on Monday.
Dr. C said, “Are you sure you want to do that?”
I said, “I just want this to stop. I can’t stand any more of it. One of the women at the choir had seven surgeries by the time they finally did a mastectomy! All I want is to make it stop.”
Dr. C. said I might want to consider reconstruction after all. I said I’m not looking for a man, there’s not a man on this planet who will give me a second look, and besides, at this age, all the good men are either married or gay. She laughed and said well, that may be true, but in fact a breast is an essential part of being a woman. It’s not a light thing to just take it off. I pointed out that if the growth is as large as Dr. P says it is, the likelihood of a recurrence is much higher, and I would not like to have future surgeries complicated by the presence of a reconstruction. She agreed that would not be good.
Moving on, then…
Y’know, one of these new doc’s offices asked me how far back they should ask for my records. I looked at my calendar: it goes back to the end of June! My perception that this mess has wrecked my entire summer is right on.
I read your posts each and every day and I think my husband is sick of hearing about you. LOL! However, I wanted to say how sorry I am that you have to go through this, but how thankful I am that you are willing to write about the ordeal. Such candor is not readily available in most people’s daily life. Your determination to hold the medical community to a higher standard where your health is concerned hives me courage to do the same should the need arise. Again, thank-you and may you see better days soon.
Ditto what Mischelle said. I also share your blog with my husband. Wishing you success in ending this ordeal on a happy note.
Another “pat on the back” for sticking up for yourself and getting that 2nd opinion. IMHO in life there are good mechanics and bad mechanics….good doctors and not so good doctors. Though docs for whatever reason are reluctant to say another doc made an error. I for one am dumbfounded with todays tehcnology that two doctors can come up with two seperate conclusions with the same patient. You have got to be beside yourself!…This is YOUR life for crying out loud! Well tell ya my Dear Dad whose battling lung cancer has had more scans than I can count. And for whatever reason the professionals have been very open about his treatment and what is working and what is not. These scans have been a valuable tool in his treatment…and tracking the progression or retreat of the cancer. To share that you have not been scanned to hell in back is just unacceptable. Thank you for standing up for what’s right…
May I “third” what Mischelle said? And add that by this time I would have offered Dr. P the opportunity to send my records on to someone entirely else before getting the F out of my life. She sounds marginally competent at best.