Ok so I have insomnia beyond belief. I am out of pain pills, which is actually good because I am so constipated you would not believe. Yep count em 4 bm's since Feb 20. Sooooo Dr. Austin was concerned and started me on mineral oil. She explained things. She is researching. My sister checked on my insurance coverage for her about cancer centers in Boston and Houston. Also she can help me fight but I also feel ike she can help me die when it comes to that. She examined me, she listened to me, she explained things. she explained things about cancer and drugs and why she wants to research. She was patient. She is off the chart smart. She treated me like a human. People have said she lacks bedside manner. I did not find that to be the case at all. She is not the warm fuzzy girl, she is the brainiac in your corner.
Anyways, I can feel every little pain. Half of it is probably my small intestine.
When I went for my surgical follow up, Dr. J had not looked at my chart. He knew nothing about the nodule that Dr.Croft cut out of my vagina. It was on the fucking or notes. Dick. Then at the end he said how are we treating you? I was like uh you were going to call MD Anderson. He hadn't even thought about me in the last week and didn't even glance at the chart to wing it. Last week I got a speech about treating his patients. This week he had not looked at my cat scan. Ignored the whole constipation issue and cracked up because I called it do do. He had no explanations about chemo except that it was all bad and did I want to forgo it. I questioned him about TAP one of the standard protocols. He said it was brutal and he didn't like it but he did not offer up anything else. He went into the quality of life speech and how i did not have to suffer through chemo. He danced and dodged me. Finally I was like you opened the door with the quality of life speech so I am going there, what are the stats on this disease. He told me. You won't be here in 2 years or even one statistically. but the bottom line is he has no plan. He just wants to send me off to MDA and then send me across the hall for the chemo. And you were right Nancy, they send patients to the ER. I really shoul dhave not asked the bottom line question but I have read about my cancer. It is a beast. So I need a Doctor that is going to help me fight and I am confident that Dr. A is the right choice.
So Dr. J may be a great surgeon and the first surgeon to operate robotically in the state of Fla. but he is not a healer. So I left upset. Because dickhead could have called and gotten the ball rolling. He doesn't even have a fucking name out there he just goes through the protocol. I have a name I am giving Dr. A. My sister has a buddy at MCG that worked with one of the gyn oncs out there at MDA. My sister is researching. We can do the standard protocols but Dr. Austin is looking on to more. She could bring me in tomorrow and start but she wants to know more. I appreciate that. My friend Nancy took my chart to other gyn oncs and presented my case. That is way more than Dr. Jenkins has done.
So I am going to watch this really bad Goldie Hawn movie and try to sleep.
I got all this out and I feel beeter.
I don't like this cancer, I know chemo will suck, but can't my surgeon read my fucking chart. I
am so done with him.
I really appreciate your help Nancy.
I like Dr. Austin.
Night Night
Ellen, what about Dr. Jillella at MCG? He was my sister's doctor and is the department head of cancer at MCG. My friend Val is a MD there and says Dr. Jillella is the best - bar none.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.georgiahealth.edu/cancer/people/ajillella.html
Can you use the "Smooth Move" herbal tea? This is a great natural remedy to clean out the system.
ReplyDeleteI need something more. I need to go to boston, mayo or Mda because of the type of cancer i have,. I need some different ideas. There are standard ways of dealing with each type of cancer and then out of the box things. we are looking out of the box
ReplyDeleteyes but I am using mineral oil because that is what Dr. a suggested. I will try smooth move tomorrow if I have not gone.
ReplyDeleteIt always makes me sweat and stay chained to the toilet.
Ellen, was your tissue sent to a gynecological pathologist? Were your biopsy results reviewed by a tumor board at the hospital? (I am not sure if this is done at all hospitals or just at teaching hospitals). If so, your doctor should be telling you what the recommendation of the tumor board was.
ReplyDeleteThere are several gyn oncs at MD Anderson: http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/departments-programs-and-labs/departments-and-divisions/gynecologic-oncology/faculty/index.html
Gyn oncs, as I am sure you know, have had an extra 3-4 years' training, usually as a fellowship, after their gyn residency.
I am very proud of you for saying "doodoo" to your doctor. You get gold stars for that, so pretend that these are gold: *********
ReplyDeleteOne of my mom's doctors told her that Sloan-Kettering is tops in cancer treatment too.
A drug that I take for my Interstitial Cystitis can constipate a bitch too, so I use psyllium husks. All you have to do is mix about a tablespoon of the husks with a glass of water and drink it. Tastes like ass going down but will do the trick. Beware of taking to much, though, or you'll get the Tijuana Two-Step something fierce.
You go girl!!!! After your 1st follow up CT when you have had a great response to chemo...let's meet for margarita's and toast to these jerks that don't know what the heck or WHO the heck they are dealing with!!!! Nancy
ReplyDeleteAll I could think reading this is if you want something done right you have to do it yourself. I'm glad your sister and your friends are researching and suggesting, and I'm beyond thankful that Dr. Austin is the brainiac in your corner. I'm going to keep praying that God shuts all doors that will be a waste of time, and opens all doors leading exactly where he wants you to go. //Laura
ReplyDelete