Arrrrrg!!! Probably won’t see the consultant until Mon/Tues.
My surgery is on Thursday, but I have no idea how big it is going to be, nor how long I’ll need to be in the hospital.
I had an MRI on Thursday last week, but the consultant radiologist (yes, just one of those in Aberdeen for the MRI) was on holiday until yesterday, and is away again today. They had got her to promise to analyze mine and write the report yesterday. I envisioned some time this week after my consultant had seen it, digested it, spoke it over with his team (as he said he does), I would be asked back. They’d talk me through the results and what they want to do. I’d take hubby along. We’d talk about it and make our decisions. Some time next week would be a pre-op assessment and surgery on Thursday. I’d have time to stock up on food and cat things if I need to be in for a stretch, buy post-op things I might need (do I need a masectomy bra, for example), arrange help with the kids. As it is now, I’m in limbo. I might be in the hospital 24 hours, or on up to ten days.
This morning I phoned the breast care nurse (Sheila) and left a message on her machine. I got a call back on my mobile about 3:30. My neighbor and I took our kids to a nearby park (Hazlehead), then went around the other side of the park to check out the horse stables. We were in the middle of the stables, watching a horse get new shoes, when she called, so I couldn’t be as persistent nor blunt as I would have liked. She said the report is done (good), but it is being sent to the consultant at the private hospital (Albyn), so he wouldn’t see it straight away. ??!? She said she’s over there this afternoon, so she can’t get a copy of it until she is back at the NHS hospital (ARI) tomorrow. ??!?!?? She then said, well, surgery isn’t until Friday is it? Nope, it is Thursday. When will I see the consultant? Probably not until Monday or Tuesday. I protested that I have no idea the extent of the surgery on Thursday, and kinda need to know before Monday or Tuesday. I will certainly have some options to mull over, unless it really is just a lumpectomy. If they offer a masectomy, should I consider having a double so it can’t come back? Should I have immediate recon? What kind? She decided she could offer to get her hands on a copy tomorrow, have a look at it, and talk to me on the phone about it. Which makes me wonder why my insurance is paying for a consultant, if the nurse can do this.
They know I have no family to fall back on here. It is just me and hubby. Sil has said she could come up from York, but she does have a job. I have two young kids I can’t just shove in a cupboard until I’m feeling better. Friends are willing to help, but that has to be organized, too. And it makes a big difference if I can be home on the weekend or have to stay in for another week. And whether or not I can drive the car.