Let's talk turkey

16 years 6 months ago #8013 by Rosemary
Replied by Rosemary on topic Let's talk turkey
Bill,

Isn't that an interesting question... Now that I think about it, I have no idea why they put me to sleep during my biopsy at UNC Chapel Hill. Actually, they gave me a spinal block and then a twilight drug, so I wasn't under general anesthesia. I had to fight for the spinal block.

I'm guessing it was because they were not sure what they would see when they got in there. My local Uro had not been able to get enough muscle tissue to obtain a good read for invasion, so I think this Surgeon needed to get really deep, and again, since my stage and grade had changed so quickly (from Ta G1 to T1 G3) in 6 weeks time, I seem to remember them saying that they weren't sure what they would find in there.

I was in a regular operating room for my biopsy.

Good question. It made me think!

Regards,
Rosemary

Rosemary
Age - 55
T1 G3 - Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006

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16 years 6 months ago #8010 by beglin99
Replied by beglin99 on topic Let's talk turkey
Rosemary...

Your statement "when I woke up from my biopsy" threw me a little... At my last cystoscopy the urologist took a biopsy... but I was wide awake and chatting with him at the time... Is it normal to be sedated during a cysto/biopsy??? It was negative thank goodness... Have had two TA G1 surgeries... I would love to be in LaLa land during a cysto... ugh!!!!

thanks... Bill

Retired USAF Col, father of 4, grandfather of 9, greatgrandfather of one.. Enjoying life to the max...

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16 years 6 months ago #8005 by Mike
Replied by Mike on topic Let's talk turkey
I agree %100 with you Rosie and when I am in the hospital and it has been a lot of times I ask them all many many questions like what are you doing, why are you doing that, etc. I don't just let them run me around when I am in the hospital they know I am there and the way I do it they like me lol and I am being a squeaky wheel and getting all my answers lol. Joe ;)

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16 years 6 months ago #8003 by Rosemary
Replied by Rosemary on topic Let's talk turkey
When I woke up from my biopsy in Chapel Hill, there was a female assistant to the Surgeon standing over me telling me that my bladder "looks great." Now that was good news, but, to be honest, I was very disappointed not to have the good surgeon giving me the news. I'm just assuming that he had moved on to another patient, who was in more dire need than me, and perhaps was busy saving that life by removing a bladder. Actually, I was told that he had another biopsy that day.

Ya'll have a good day!
Rosemary

Rosemary
Age - 55
T1 G3 - Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006

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16 years 6 months ago #7992 by Patricia
Replied by Patricia on topic Let's talk turkey
I know at Memorial Sloan you walk into the operating theatre..no pre-op drugs...they ask you to identify yourself ..they had a chalk board with all my stats and what was going to be done ..they asked me to look at it...agree or disagree...I agreed...jumped up on the table ...saw Dr. Herr in front of me..Hello...saw the novice anesthesiologist who looked much worse than me...2 nurses who said HI...and senior anesthesiologist who stepped in with much grumbling when new guy couldn't find my vien...they always say its your fault when they can't find the vein....Dr. Herr saying "Well are we going to have this procedure SOMETIME today?"...OK i was out..senior anesthesiologist jabs needle in.
This was also the procedure for my cystectomy at The Cleveland Clinic... I walked into the operating theatre....they were nicer...Dr. Gill gave me a big smile and hello and i met his attendings and nurses and fellows and was fascinated by the big screen where he views everything.(i was done laproscopically) Darn I really wanted to watch too.
I think more and more hospitals are adopting this procedure....keeps them from say cutting off your right leg instead of taking out your bladder.
But i'm glad you consulted your patient advocate Rosie...its good to know you can cross out what you don't like. I hope i never have to see one of those again but if i do I will have my pen handy..........Pat

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16 years 6 months ago #7988 by Rosemary
Replied by Rosemary on topic Let's talk turkey
Rosie,

When I was a little girl, we had something called "Sick Bay" on the Marine Base where I lived. One day I was there to see a doctor, I don't know how old I was, and I saw a long line of pregnant women standing in a queue against the wall waiting to be weighed and have their blood pressure taken. It reminded me very much of cattle and it was very traumatic for me, being female, I think was the reason, and knowing that someday, I might be treated like this...

Anyway, when I went to UNC at Chapel Hill to have my biopsy by a very distinguished Urological Surgeon, I never for one moment laid eyes on the man, either before or after I was put to sleep. If you put me on a witness stand to give evidence to the fact, I could not swear to you that he was even in attendance. When I said something to my local Doctor as a joke, that I wasn't even sure that Dr. X was there, my local doc seemed offended.

I don't know what the answer is...

Just my thoughts,
Rosemary

Rosemary
Age - 55
T1 G3 - Tumor free 2 yrs 3 months
Dx January 2006

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