the process continues
Admittedly, I really like my current doctors. Both of my ENTs have good, fun, sarcastic personalities (which totally resonates with me); and my thoracic surgeon seems to be a no-nonsense kinda guy with a lot of experience.
But, then I remember how every procedure in the past had me feeling like I liked my doctors, and then I often ended up committing myself to something that turned out to be unnecessary (see my last post, here, where I talk about why I ended up having exploratory surgery and a tracheostomy when I later deemed them both to be unnecessary).
So I decided to act like a grown up about it and...seek a second opinion.
I know I need the surgery that is being recommended. No one is really arguing against that.
But I am in search of someone who will fix BOTH parts of my airway--not just one.
A friend of mine who has had this exact surgery, and lives in Denver, recommended her doctor to me. Upon further research, I learned that he is literally the best in Colorado, and highly recommended amongst those in the ISS (idiopathic subglottic stenosis) community.
So I made an appointment.
And today we met.
And he's wonderful.
He didn't provide me with any sense of false hope--but I did communicate my desires to fix all of my airway, not just part of it. And I also relayed my concerns about what that could mean for me if something were to go wrong.
No voice, forever.
A tracheostomy, forever.
But I need to know if the risks will be far outweighed by the benefits. Because if they are, then I think I am willing to take that chance.
So I will go in next Tuesday for yet another bronchoscopy. I shouldn't have any pain, maybe a scratchy throat, because he isn't going to be dilating my airway. He just wants to get a "lay of the land" before he can truly discuss my options in a genuine, meaningful, and productive way.
I like that. I like that he seems so thorough. I like that he seems genuinely interested in how to fix me.
I like that he has small children at home.
He knows what's at stake.
Also, tomorrow is my birthday. It's funny how, as we get older, birthdays mean less. What's even funnier is that I saw my parents go through the same thing and I always thought to myself, "Man, I will never be like that! My birthday will always be so fun and important!" Lol.
I have another doctor's appointment in the morning, to get some straight answers from my Rheumatologist about her decision last year to declare me as no longer having Wegener's Granulomatosis. My doctors want to confirm this "non-diagnosis" because it will likely have a significant impact on my surgery. Those WITH the disease have a far smaller success rate, than those without. I am still keeping my fingers crossed that I am in the "without" category.
After that, lunch with my parents and my uncle; grocery shopping; and hanging out with the kids and Tom.
It'll be a real party 'round these parts. ;)
P.S.--We sold my childhood rocking chair (and thus, Charlotte's childhood rocking chair) to a local mama who was in need. Charlotte wasn't too thrilled with my choice, and it was bittersweet--so I took her photo in the chair, that way she always has the memory.
But, then I remember how every procedure in the past had me feeling like I liked my doctors, and then I often ended up committing myself to something that turned out to be unnecessary (see my last post, here, where I talk about why I ended up having exploratory surgery and a tracheostomy when I later deemed them both to be unnecessary).
So I decided to act like a grown up about it and...seek a second opinion.
I know I need the surgery that is being recommended. No one is really arguing against that.
But I am in search of someone who will fix BOTH parts of my airway--not just one.
A friend of mine who has had this exact surgery, and lives in Denver, recommended her doctor to me. Upon further research, I learned that he is literally the best in Colorado, and highly recommended amongst those in the ISS (idiopathic subglottic stenosis) community.
So I made an appointment.
And today we met.
And he's wonderful.
He didn't provide me with any sense of false hope--but I did communicate my desires to fix all of my airway, not just part of it. And I also relayed my concerns about what that could mean for me if something were to go wrong.
No voice, forever.
A tracheostomy, forever.
But I need to know if the risks will be far outweighed by the benefits. Because if they are, then I think I am willing to take that chance.
So I will go in next Tuesday for yet another bronchoscopy. I shouldn't have any pain, maybe a scratchy throat, because he isn't going to be dilating my airway. He just wants to get a "lay of the land" before he can truly discuss my options in a genuine, meaningful, and productive way.
I like that. I like that he seems so thorough. I like that he seems genuinely interested in how to fix me.
I like that he has small children at home.
He knows what's at stake.
Also, tomorrow is my birthday. It's funny how, as we get older, birthdays mean less. What's even funnier is that I saw my parents go through the same thing and I always thought to myself, "Man, I will never be like that! My birthday will always be so fun and important!" Lol.
I have another doctor's appointment in the morning, to get some straight answers from my Rheumatologist about her decision last year to declare me as no longer having Wegener's Granulomatosis. My doctors want to confirm this "non-diagnosis" because it will likely have a significant impact on my surgery. Those WITH the disease have a far smaller success rate, than those without. I am still keeping my fingers crossed that I am in the "without" category.
After that, lunch with my parents and my uncle; grocery shopping; and hanging out with the kids and Tom.
It'll be a real party 'round these parts. ;)
P.S.--We sold my childhood rocking chair (and thus, Charlotte's childhood rocking chair) to a local mama who was in need. Charlotte wasn't too thrilled with my choice, and it was bittersweet--so I took her photo in the chair, that way she always has the memory.
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