I have already blown my stack once this morning, and I would rather not do it again.
Got a call from the doctor’s office. I had that scan on Monday, and at that time I was told everything was okay with my internal organs. The technician did add, “You have a cyst or two, but that’s nothing–everybody gets them, as they age.”
So I get this mysterious call from the doctor, saying I’d better come in ASAP to consult about my scan. Now I can’t just throw several hours every week into a doctor’s waiting room, but I was compelled to wonder, “What the hell is this? What’s wrong with me now? What was there in the scan that the tech didn’t tell me about?”
Well, the doctor wants to talk about the cysts. I made the office manager tell me there was nothing in the scan report that hinted at cancer or some other disaster. But first I had to hit the ceiling before he would enlighten me.
Now, I believe the technician because she does this work all day, five days a week, and surely has seen more internal cysts than anyone who does not do what she does. She saw mine and said they were nothing.
Doctors have this habit of cloaking the most mundane information in mystery, which seems like to me a super-good way to alarm the patient and get him imagining all sorts of dire tidings. Even a dentist doesn’t know how to scare you half so badly as a doctor with his cryptic messages.
So I said I could not possibly make an extra trip to his office, and whatever he wants to say about my cysts can wait until my regularly scheduled appointment next week.
And now I have to go to the nursing home to see about Aunt Joan and discuss her care–so enough is enough.
The truth is that they call it a ‘practice’ for a reason. When my husband had a tumor removed from his shoulder, they told him they ‘got it all’ without even doing any follow-up. His primary care doctor had sent him to the doctor who removed it, who was supposed to have been an oncologist. Turns out, he was a plastic surgeon. (both were in the same office but my guess is that the plastic surgeon was a friend of his doctor). Now, finally, nearly 3 years later, they have discovered a mass in his stomach (after he had been complaining of pain in that area for two years). By the way, the doctor who found the mass was not recommended by his primary care doctor, but rather by a friend of my husband. All they really want is to line their pockets with insurance payments and co-pays, not to care for our health needs.
Thank God your tests came back with good results, Lee.
Well, we can hardly take out our own tumors, can we? But then–my father went to this guy who was supposed to be the greatest cancer surgeon in North America: and they turned out to be totally wrong, every step of the way. They did all this stuff to him and my father died anyway. He’d’ve been better off just praying.
I hear you both, Lee and Linda. I guess we have all been there, done that.
What a shame. I have continued to pray for the requests posted along with many others from various people in many places. I sometimes get very frustrated with myself for faith that doesn’t even qualify as mustard seed size. There are just so many things… and my energy level and strength seem to diminish exponentially. I do think it helps if we can share, though, and the Word tells us that where two or more of us agree, things happen. We just are equipped to see the big picture, and there is another place where faith in the Almighty and His sovereignty come into play. I went through two ordeals with husbands who had late diagnoses of cancer.
It is one reason I am so worn out now, I’m sure.
Be strong and take courage, and we are praying.
Shalom
Thank you so much, Erlene. Your prayers – and your understanding – are truly appreciated. You and yours remain in my prayers as well.
I completely understand your being worn out, too, as I have had a similar situation. My first husband died of undiagnosed cancer too – undiagnosed until 12 hours before he died, even though he faithfully saw his doctors every three months for 10 years.
My faith is in Our Most Holy God and Father of us all, not in doctors who may or may not have our interests at heart.
God bless you, sister, and thank you for your prayers.
Amen, Erlene, amen.
You are both very kind, and I appreciate this fellowship so much.