Now that we've calmed down....

Okay, yesterday was no fun. The results were good (the scan showed no new tumors, and the areas of concern were deemed "okay."). For that, we are very thankful. Now to the frustration.

It took a great deal of effort and aggravation to even get yesterday's test scheduled, because Duke insisted that once you have had a doctor do any type of "scope" procedure, no one but that doctor could ever do another scope. So, we had to coordinate her test yesterday with the doc who did her first scan at Duke, and that was tough. Finally, we got that scheduled, nearly three weeks after the initial order for the test (lots of other openings were available sooner, just not with her assigned doc). Then, we had to get the consultation with Dr. Bendell scheduled for after the scan; this was finally set up for Monday, 12/04.

We get to the pre-op area for prepping Dee Dee for the scan, and sure enough, her doc is NOT even in town. Instead, the doc is someone we could have had do the procedure two weeks ago. We maintained a sense of humor, and let it go. The procedure lasted about 50 minutes. Normally, the patient is sedated at the beginning, and wakes up after it is all over. They have a scope down the throat, into the stomach, and this scope is pretty large in diameter. Well, they did not give Dee Dee enough sedation, and she kept waking up during the procedure. She would try to tell them she needed more meds, and they just told her to be still, or to be patient, they were almost done, yada yada yada.

This started shortly after they started the procedure, and it hurt basically the whole time. When they got me to her after it was over, I thought I was going to have to restrain her she was so upset. The doc came and apologized, but that did not erase a pretty bad afternoon. Her throat was very sore the rest of the day yesterday, but today has just been "not normal."

Okay, the venting is over. We are very pleased at the results of the test, even if the test itself was tough. I already emailed the doc at Mayo, and he responded that this is further proof to him that we should not do the stomach surgery. At the very least, we are sure that we will not have any further procedures at Duke. The last 2-3 experiences have been....well, bad. From a scheduling standpoint, from a compassion standpoint, from a pain standpoint, they've just been bad. It seems as if in their desire to practice great medicine, they forgot to practice preat patient care. There's more involved than just the stomach; there is a whole person attached to that stomach! In their zeal to do surgery on her stomach, it feels to us as if they have forgotton to care for the woman. Oops, I think I vented some more!

Thank you all for praying about yesterday. The results were good, and we are grateful for that. Pray that we don't smack anyone at the last appointment on Monday. Also, we are going to at least talk to the folks at MD Anderson (a great cancer clinic in Houston); not sure yet if we are going to go for official consult, but may just talk to them about their philosophical approach to this condition. Pray that we would be wise about that as well, and that the path to doing either of those courses of action would be smooth.

This is Saturday night, so I pray that you have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow.

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

1. Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

2. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;

Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above

Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

3. To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;

In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,

And wither and perish - but naught changeth Thee.

4. Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,

Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;

All praise we would render; O help us to see

’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!