Decisions, Decisions...
This afternoon, well, evening really, we met with another surgeon for a second opinion. I didn't want to like her mainly so that I didn't have to choose between the two. She almost made the decision for me when she kept us waiting an hour for our appointment.
But then she called me back. First I had a physical exam. She did an ultrasound of my lymph nodes, which hadn't been done before. She couldn't see any lymph nodes that were enlarged, so this is a good sign. While I got dressed, she called Mom & Dad back to join us. I was still trying not to like her. Then she spent about an hour going over my options, discussing different treatments and making sure I was comfortable with the choices I need to make. She addressed things from a female perspective and answered questions I didn't even know I had.
While the first doctor waited for us to ask questions before answering them, she gave us all of the information and then asked if we had any questions. She was very concerned with my comfort and spent a lot of time telling me where she would make incisions for the least visible scarring. I have no idea where the first doctor was planning to cut and it really hadn't occurred to me before that I needed to ask.
She also offered to insert a port for chemo during the same surgery; since the other doctor didn't mention this, I don't think he was planning to do it at the same time. She also made a point to describe where this incision would be made to minimize visible scarring. Doing this at the same time would eliminate the need for more anesthesia at a later date to insert the port. The port would allow me to receive chemo without needing to have an IV started each time and blood draws could also be taken from this port. I have puny veins, so this eliminates the constant search for a good vein that often leaves me feeling like a pin cushion.
I don't want to give the impression that I didn't like the first doctor, because up until 6:15 this evening, I really did. But doctor #1 is a general surgeon and doctor #2 only does breasts. Doctor #2 spent a lot more time with us and offered a lot of information without us asking for it. She also thinks she'll be able to fit me in soon. I think this is the greatest factor in her favor because I'm so anxious to get this underway. I'm going to see when she can schedule me; if it is before Dr. #1, I will most likely go with her. If it is after Dr #1, I'll have to decide if I'm willing to wait. I'm not very good at waiting.
I meet with the oncologist tomorrow at 2pm. I'll let you know what she has to say. Though today's doctor said she doesn't see anyway that I'm going to get out of this without chemo.
But then she called me back. First I had a physical exam. She did an ultrasound of my lymph nodes, which hadn't been done before. She couldn't see any lymph nodes that were enlarged, so this is a good sign. While I got dressed, she called Mom & Dad back to join us. I was still trying not to like her. Then she spent about an hour going over my options, discussing different treatments and making sure I was comfortable with the choices I need to make. She addressed things from a female perspective and answered questions I didn't even know I had.
While the first doctor waited for us to ask questions before answering them, she gave us all of the information and then asked if we had any questions. She was very concerned with my comfort and spent a lot of time telling me where she would make incisions for the least visible scarring. I have no idea where the first doctor was planning to cut and it really hadn't occurred to me before that I needed to ask.
She also offered to insert a port for chemo during the same surgery; since the other doctor didn't mention this, I don't think he was planning to do it at the same time. She also made a point to describe where this incision would be made to minimize visible scarring. Doing this at the same time would eliminate the need for more anesthesia at a later date to insert the port. The port would allow me to receive chemo without needing to have an IV started each time and blood draws could also be taken from this port. I have puny veins, so this eliminates the constant search for a good vein that often leaves me feeling like a pin cushion.
I don't want to give the impression that I didn't like the first doctor, because up until 6:15 this evening, I really did. But doctor #1 is a general surgeon and doctor #2 only does breasts. Doctor #2 spent a lot more time with us and offered a lot of information without us asking for it. She also thinks she'll be able to fit me in soon. I think this is the greatest factor in her favor because I'm so anxious to get this underway. I'm going to see when she can schedule me; if it is before Dr. #1, I will most likely go with her. If it is after Dr #1, I'll have to decide if I'm willing to wait. I'm not very good at waiting.
I meet with the oncologist tomorrow at 2pm. I'll let you know what she has to say. Though today's doctor said she doesn't see anyway that I'm going to get out of this without chemo.
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