Frustrating does not begin to completely explain my emotions today. We have waited, and waited, to get into an appointment with the back surgeon. We were told very early in the appointment, after I filled out a mountain of paperwork, that we needed a new x-ray. The assistant told us that with the x-ray that we carried in with us being two weeks old, that there could be many more fractures. Ok, so off come the clothes. Lovely fashion gowns that hospitals and clinics adore goes on... at least they handed us a robe to put over the open back. Down to x-ray, and back to wait on the doc. One of the first things out of his mouth, was, "I am not sure how aggressive we should be with your health condition...." He went on to say that osteoporosis has set in very hard core, and asked who was treating Virgil for that. I stated that we had not been told there was a problem with the bones. I also explained that I was not shocked, as he was put into adrenal failure by a medical error, and was coming down on the med, but would never be off of it. He tried to talk us into seeing a new doc that their clinic just had open a new clinic. We have so many docs in our lives already. We are patients of an awesome doc inside the same practice that does deal with osteoporosis. I explained that we would call the doc today, and seek treatment for the OA immediately. He suggested a brace at first... saying that they do heal in time for anyone. I mentioned the pain level due to the compression, and that the brace would not fix that. He agreed. The only fix for that was to stretch him back out that additional inch that he lost... and cement it. Virgil spoke up at this point, and states he does not want a brace... that it needs to be fixed.
So tiring to have docs judge quality of life. Without knowing the patient, I don't feel anyone should do that for another. Period. He has so much to live for. The days that don't have severe pain are awesome. Yes, he has trouble breathing. We have learned to deal with that. Quality... that is what we are striving for. Not Quantity. Without quality, there is not a reason. And, it is what he wants.
We did get the doc to understand. Doc agreed to move forward, and get the workup done. He pointed out with the osteoporosis, the x-rays are so faint, he could see the fracture, but not the detail he would need for an operation. I recalled that Virgil said he was going to ask for stronger pain meds, as what he has is not working at all to cover the pain. So, knowing that doc was wrapping up the appointment, I asked about a stronger pain. Request, with justification, and you will get. MRI was next on the agenda. Found that the office had an opening, due to bad snow storms. Wild horses could not have kept me from that appointment today. A severe blizzard is nothing to a determined woman. I am thankful they had to opening. So we dressed Virgil, literally back into street clothes... to walk across a hallway, and have to strip down again to scrubs. Into the squeeze shoot with him for the MRI. Good thing he is not claustrophobic. While he was in the MRI, I called the other doc in the practice that we use for rheumatoid arthritis. Got a chance to actually talk directly to the nurse, and explain what we had just been told about "severe osteoporosis", and the fact he was going to be going into surgery very shortly for the fractured vertebra. They got the ball rolling right away. As soon as he was done with the MRI, we went to another area of the clinic and had a bone density study done. Tomorrow, they worked an appointment for him to be seen with the doc after he goes through three more tests that we could not get done today. Miracles and mountains do move sometimes.
We escaped the craziness after 4 1/2 hours of poking and prodding, to a quick and quiet lunch before the last appointment. Heart failure clinic. Found out that the last two weeks of barely eating has resulted in a ten pound weight drop. Not the best way to lose weight, by any means. Finally, after arriving at 8 am, we were on the road home at 2:30. Slip sliding would describe it. First real snow this winter. Strong winds whipping snow all over. Ice on the bridges, and people trying to go faster faster faster. Kept an eye on the other drivers, and renamed the Buick. She is a sure footed, solid beast. Her name is Bertha. She is decked out in black, but she knows how to maintain herself smooth and forward. A true lady. Laughed my tush off when we bought the beast... love that car now...
So... have to take another entire day off work. No other choice. Need to start therapy on the oaseoporosis ASAP, like 6 months ago. Either that... or talk the reluctant surgeon into doing more of these repairs... and I am not sure how far he can be pushed... Not going down that road....
So tiring to have docs judge quality of life. Without knowing the patient, I don't feel anyone should do that for another. Period. He has so much to live for. The days that don't have severe pain are awesome. Yes, he has trouble breathing. We have learned to deal with that. Quality... that is what we are striving for. Not Quantity. Without quality, there is not a reason. And, it is what he wants.
We did get the doc to understand. Doc agreed to move forward, and get the workup done. He pointed out with the osteoporosis, the x-rays are so faint, he could see the fracture, but not the detail he would need for an operation. I recalled that Virgil said he was going to ask for stronger pain meds, as what he has is not working at all to cover the pain. So, knowing that doc was wrapping up the appointment, I asked about a stronger pain. Request, with justification, and you will get. MRI was next on the agenda. Found that the office had an opening, due to bad snow storms. Wild horses could not have kept me from that appointment today. A severe blizzard is nothing to a determined woman. I am thankful they had to opening. So we dressed Virgil, literally back into street clothes... to walk across a hallway, and have to strip down again to scrubs. Into the squeeze shoot with him for the MRI. Good thing he is not claustrophobic. While he was in the MRI, I called the other doc in the practice that we use for rheumatoid arthritis. Got a chance to actually talk directly to the nurse, and explain what we had just been told about "severe osteoporosis", and the fact he was going to be going into surgery very shortly for the fractured vertebra. They got the ball rolling right away. As soon as he was done with the MRI, we went to another area of the clinic and had a bone density study done. Tomorrow, they worked an appointment for him to be seen with the doc after he goes through three more tests that we could not get done today. Miracles and mountains do move sometimes.
We escaped the craziness after 4 1/2 hours of poking and prodding, to a quick and quiet lunch before the last appointment. Heart failure clinic. Found out that the last two weeks of barely eating has resulted in a ten pound weight drop. Not the best way to lose weight, by any means. Finally, after arriving at 8 am, we were on the road home at 2:30. Slip sliding would describe it. First real snow this winter. Strong winds whipping snow all over. Ice on the bridges, and people trying to go faster faster faster. Kept an eye on the other drivers, and renamed the Buick. She is a sure footed, solid beast. Her name is Bertha. She is decked out in black, but she knows how to maintain herself smooth and forward. A true lady. Laughed my tush off when we bought the beast... love that car now...
So... have to take another entire day off work. No other choice. Need to start therapy on the oaseoporosis ASAP, like 6 months ago. Either that... or talk the reluctant surgeon into doing more of these repairs... and I am not sure how far he can be pushed... Not going down that road....
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