Damsel in Distress In Need of Advice

SavvyPRpro,

You have to understand that if you have an infection they cannot do any sort of surgery or even treat you until it clears up...It sounds like he wants you on antibiotics to get rid of the infection and inflamation before he proceeds...You are at a top facility, and these Dr's and office staff are dealing with life and death issues daily, they are extremely busy, and the waiting list just to see the Dr. is long, and his surgery schedule is full...He is only one man...If you have your dates, and they are trying to fit you in sooner...then I suggest you wait to see if it can be done...If you are un-happy with what they told you, you always have the option to go somewhere else. But no reputable Dr./Surgeon will touch you while you have an infection.

Again, nothing can be done until your infection clears up...but if you need pain meds, or are having serious bleeding you should go to the ER, They did tell you that did'nt they?


Karen

I think my top doc said asap but then the schedulers show the first "on paper" as Aug. 11 - so I think they figure, that's it and accept it. No one has called to ask me how I'm doing post surgery. If I go to ER, I get any old doc, resident or such. I thought of that. I am thinking of emailing him though he told me to not email or call or to find another doctor. I am damned if I do and damned if I don't.

What does the biopsy say? When is your next appointment with the urologist?

They are limited to what they can do until your infection clears up, so on that point they are doing the right thing...If they tried anything while you still had an infection it would spread and create bigger issues?

Are you on anything like Xanax? Or maybe tylenol or Advil PM to help you sleep? I am sure if you called your gyno, or the urologist they would call a prescription in for you....

The Feb/March biopsy said "benign", but cuz I have all cancerous symptoms - the urologist/top doc said he wanted to redo TURBT and biopsy again to rule it out. It's been 9 days and no one has called to explain my results. One nurse emailed me and it says denuded and inflammation. Due to size and location of tumor, removal is hard and my urethra, bladder are at risk. Plan is surgical removal -- if not transurethral then major surgery. I cannot come to Cleveland. I cannot even leave my room. I pee every 20-30 minutes. When I go to top doc/hospital, it's an agonizing 40-60 minute drive.

I still have the tumor which is large and pressing at base of my urethra. I have major infection, inflammation, pain, and a week ago passed bloody tissue. My gun. onc. is the one who sent me back to urologist - since it's inside my bladder. The new biopsy I got a copy of but NO ONE HAD COURTESY to call me and explain what it means. The gyn. cannot help me. I am on verge of nervous breakdown. I know it's due both to sleep deprivation, constant pain and also the anti-biotic affecting my hormones (which tend to make me anxious, bitchy, irritable). I want to figure how to "get thru" to my urologist. If I email him, he may get pissed off. I may not have cancer, but my condition is serious and threatens to impact my kidneys.

SavvyPRpro,

I want to tell you that I am sorry that you feel you are being mistreated somehow...That is very frustrating, and when you are in pain, it just makes it all that much worse.

First, my advise is to try and calm down a bit..you need a level head, if you are not able to, or if you are in too much pain, you need an advocate that can deal with the office for you. It may just be a personality conflict...those are tough to deal with especially when you are in pain...Rest assured that you are at a top facility with a top Dr. If your biopsy came back and he told you it was no cancer, I would tend to agree with him. Thus, there may not be the urgency for surgery that there would be if it were cancerous...You must realize that those people who do have cancer would be scheduled first...as you would want to be...but even with that being said, Second opinions are always a good idea. If you are looking for great hospitals, you couldn't be in a better part of the US...NYC has some of the top Hospitals in the country for Urology...You could ask for your reports, and slides and take them to another Dr. for their opinion...But I think a bigger issue for you now is to get out of pain, and whether the bleeding is normal...that should be address immediately...

Your sister mentioned that you are having bladder spasms/contractions, there are drugs for that, for instance one is called Urelle...it is also an antiseptic...and for pain, you may need something stronger than ibuprophen. If you call the service today I am sure you can get something called into your pharmacy.

Take a Deep breath, you know that you will do what has to be done, but adding so much stress to the situation is not what you want to do. Relax, make a list of questions, and concerns, make an appointment with your current Dr. calmly, and if you feel you need to make another appointment with another Dr. for his opinion, do it.

I wish the best for you,
Karen