winged phantom where are you? Need your expertise pllllzzzzzz - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

nero · 10-28-2003, 05:47 PM

As posted earlier I have been advised my dr. broke foot badly and coming home this weekend to have surgery shortly thereafter.

His secretary called to put me on notice but not cancelling. She said she wondered how he was going to stand for six hours but we will have to hope and pray.

I got off phone completely stunned. Told my husband and he told a company lawyer/friend who said the same thing i felt... "there's no way I want the dr. operating on me unless he is at the top of his game".

When I called to secretary (office closed till Nov 3 my preop appt tomorrow and not allowed to have patients call in and my dr. appt is nov 4 with surgeon-surgery on November 10) she challenged by concerns and basically said that I would be put to the Spring on and indefinite list and not to worry just come to the appointments scheduled.

My husband and i talked again tonight and he agreed it would be pretty bizarre to want to entertain having a dr do the surgery who is under the weather. Otherwise what are they calling to warn me about... that he may not be able ...

Am I being overly concerned? I feel not and i would rather wait and take my chances than take my chance on the November 10. My first surgeon who said yes than no as the disc seemed to compress would see me again i am sure and probably get me in in the winter 2004. Its a gamble and i feel like screaming.. why is this happening.. I was nervous but packing.. my kids psyched and now who will i get to do the things i can't if i am screwing their schedule around...

please advise.. you seem to always have constructive criticism advice and answers. i am so tired tonight.

nero

mistyone · 10-28-2003, 07:25 PM

i dont blame you nero. i wouldnt want my doc to be sick at sea either!!!! i just found out today that my n/s put in the wrong size plate in to my neck on the back and the new orthopod coundnt tell me if my neck was fused or not form the xrays, meanwhile back in may, the xrays i had taken from post op my n/s said it was , now who do i believe? i have more faith in the new guy so far. i hear he is cleaing up all messes made from the other n/s as all the old paitents are now coming to him for help. be very careful that you make sure your doc is not 'sick at sea' here with you!!! i think i may talk to another malpractive atty about this other n/s who messed up here. right away, he saw it was too long for my neck size.

nero · 10-28-2003, 07:56 PM

Thanks for responding Mistyone!

I feel I have the right to have trepidations about the surgeon's well being when he is having his own surgery less than a week before. He's a big enough man in his mid 50s and I cant' imagine that he'll not find it hard to stand.. then his secretary goes and says she is concerned if he can stand for six hours.

I have read your story.. its amazing you have survived all this and are able to spread insightful words from your experience. Far to often everyone's intentions are to rid you of the pain and gladly most of us aim for that but at a bigger price. I am already bulging at another level and I have had to fight to get them to examine the veracity of doing both and avoiding a return in 2 -5 years. Only my chiro sees the sense of that and has told me to put that forward... meanwhile some of the drs have gotten offended that I dare speak to that issue. Currently my NS has been great but surely he can understand the qualms I now have. Why am I being put on notice of cancellation if not for the fact that he may not be capable.

I am going to follow through with my pre op appt. and see him on the 4th but he has to stand before me for six hours straight before i'll ask him to do my surgery. Just kidding but God what do these people think... were so desperate we have no brain in our heads.. its frightening that they wield so much power... God help those poor souls who suffer with cancer... such a big fight and sometimes mostly a losing one.

Thanks my dear...
NERO

winged phantom · 10-29-2003, 01:08 PM

Hi Nero,
Sorry I'm late; I've been trying to live my life.

No problem....

I think you are being squeezed between a rock and a hard place and also "blackmailed" into taking a gamble when the doc's own secretary is having her own doubts. This is certainly not fair! Your doctor should be making better decisions about when he will be able to do his surgeries MORE than just capably! If you still want to go with this guy, discuss the fact that you were previously bumped with no warning (I read your other thread a few days ago. This may not get you anywhere; I think most patients are made aware in one way or other that that possibility exists for emergencies, etc..., and he'll probably pull rank on you)...

I think you already know the answer to this, but of course it's tough to actually make the irreversible decision. Make appointments with your old surgeon and with any other good doctors on the area for some time right after Nov 10 (I doubt they'd get you in earlier, anyway); this gives you some wriggle room. Think long and deep.... If necessary, do some more research on this doc and try to talk with some of his old patients; remember, if you get names from the doc's office, there will be bias. Check out your other surgeon and any other possibilities. If your gut feeling is still "no", listen to that feeling and go with it. Sometimes things happen for a reason; always listen to the little voices of your inner self.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide. Just make sure to cancel any appointments you will not use.
wr

PS... Wow, I was just reading down the list of topics. I didn't realize that no one had responded to you before.

[This message has been edited by winged phantom (edited 10-29-2003).]

nero · 10-29-2003, 08:23 PM

Thanks WP.

I was awaiting your wisdome and was lucky to have Mistyone respond in the meantime.

At my pre=op appt. today the one nurse said she had just been made aware of the dr's illness and the Anaethsiologist was quite stunned.

I am frightened as they told me to today my surgery being six hours sets me up at greater risk of swelling in the throat area and i'll have breathing tube for a while after surgery till they see how i am breathing. this surgery is just getting me down now with all the upset of possible cancellation and I feel like its not meant to be.

i have waited so long to get this and now all this bunk happens. It's so freaky it feels surreal. My husband is completely concerned I would even consider it with the dr.'s potential state and I wonder what will become of me.

The only saving grace was a nice big compliment for the Anaethesiologist who told me it was amazing I still treadmill five times a week with double disc herniations... I feel 44 going on 74 and I am getting down with this... I feel like opting for percocet and nightcaps because no one promises much hope.

NERO