The doctor is out
Todays’ visit to Dr. Kavan wasn’t too “productive” (Gilly supplied the term, and continued…). “Until he showed up… when he did, you were not there to ask all the questions you wanted to ask. Therefore, it was not a successful day.”
To explain, Dr. Kavan was not even in the building until more than an hour past our appointment time. Upon our arrival, Dr. Garoufalis asked abut Gilly’s current condition and proceeded to complete a neurological examination. She apologetically sent us back to the waiting room to await the head hauncho’s return. I did not waste a second of time; I started to grade some papers, until it occurred to me that we could be using this time even more effectively. I stopped Dr. Garoufalis in the hallway and reminded her that Maria, the medical oncology nurse was supposed to meet us today. I suggested this might be an excellent time for the meeting to take place. Less than a moment later, we were ushered into Maria’s office.
I asked many questions about the medications he will start taking this Sunday and requested specifics about diet. I also supplied information on Gilly’s status. Mr. Positivity tends to answer “Great” to everything, which is very optimistic. This is crucial to his recovery, but not all that informative.
I have noticed a bizarre pattern; I have more to tell the medical ‘people’ than they do us. When I mentioned last Sunday’s episode, Maria guessed that he may have had a mild seizure. She asked about the anti-seizure medication and took careful note when I said that he was no longer on it. Gilly insists there’s no way he had a seizure, but the theory makes a lot of sense to me. It is a common risk associated with his condition.
I had to leave before Dr. Kavan showed up. I felt badly, but Gilly insisted I not miss teaching my class. I had not cancelled it nor used up another one of my lifelines thinking I’d make it back in time (I always use ‘call a friend’ when I’m stuck. ‘Polling the audience’ doesn’t quite cut it). Another lesson learned. I left Gilly some taxi money and drove white knuckled back to the college on the other side of town. I arrived with 20 seconds to spare. Phew!
Very little information was dispensed in my absence. A new prescription was written for some meds. Maria had explained earlier that during the radiation / chemo experience, there will be increased swelling, beginning around the 4th week and tapering a couple of months later, so the anti-swelling and anti-seizure medications become necessary again.
Tomorrow we begin with an appetizer of B12, and move onto dinner and theatre (the masked man strikes again, followed by lunch with Rosanne and Sharon if time permits). Is it Thursday again already?
To explain, Dr. Kavan was not even in the building until more than an hour past our appointment time. Upon our arrival, Dr. Garoufalis asked abut Gilly’s current condition and proceeded to complete a neurological examination. She apologetically sent us back to the waiting room to await the head hauncho’s return. I did not waste a second of time; I started to grade some papers, until it occurred to me that we could be using this time even more effectively. I stopped Dr. Garoufalis in the hallway and reminded her that Maria, the medical oncology nurse was supposed to meet us today. I suggested this might be an excellent time for the meeting to take place. Less than a moment later, we were ushered into Maria’s office.
I asked many questions about the medications he will start taking this Sunday and requested specifics about diet. I also supplied information on Gilly’s status. Mr. Positivity tends to answer “Great” to everything, which is very optimistic. This is crucial to his recovery, but not all that informative.
I have noticed a bizarre pattern; I have more to tell the medical ‘people’ than they do us. When I mentioned last Sunday’s episode, Maria guessed that he may have had a mild seizure. She asked about the anti-seizure medication and took careful note when I said that he was no longer on it. Gilly insists there’s no way he had a seizure, but the theory makes a lot of sense to me. It is a common risk associated with his condition.
I had to leave before Dr. Kavan showed up. I felt badly, but Gilly insisted I not miss teaching my class. I had not cancelled it nor used up another one of my lifelines thinking I’d make it back in time (I always use ‘call a friend’ when I’m stuck. ‘Polling the audience’ doesn’t quite cut it). Another lesson learned. I left Gilly some taxi money and drove white knuckled back to the college on the other side of town. I arrived with 20 seconds to spare. Phew!
Very little information was dispensed in my absence. A new prescription was written for some meds. Maria had explained earlier that during the radiation / chemo experience, there will be increased swelling, beginning around the 4th week and tapering a couple of months later, so the anti-swelling and anti-seizure medications become necessary again.
Tomorrow we begin with an appetizer of B12, and move onto dinner and theatre (the masked man strikes again, followed by lunch with Rosanne and Sharon if time permits). Is it Thursday again already?
posted by Gilly at 6:16 PM
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