The Doctor Game

From 2001

When entering into a sickness there is always a starting point. Ya, that sounds weird even to me but it’s honestly true. Rather Cystic fibrosis, organ transplant or any other health battle, they all start somewhere. Even a cold starts with a sore throat.

At first signs of all the sicknesses I’ve battled it never fails, I ignore the symptoms and expect they’ll go away. Yep, who wants to be sick? Rather a cough, lump, pain or even a more obvious issue I will give it some time before seeing a doc. Please know I do not advocate serious issues should be ignored, I have gotten into serious problems being boarder-line stupid.

So yes, I have learned! If I encounter something Renee and I will talk it over and together we make a plan. This is the starting point, like it or not sickness must be talked out with loved ones. The macho crap I used to live by is no longer my attitude.

Defiantly panic and drama have no place for us but wisdom goes a long way, remember Peter and the wolf ? So caution works but awareness is just as important. If something is wrong it becomes the docs job to figure it out but it’s our own responsibility to make sure the puzzle gets solved, not just messed with a put back in the box.

Example, I had a slight sore area on my side just above my hip. I ignored it for a month or two, ok two months. In passing talk to my kidney doc I mentioned it to him yet as he checked alas nothing. It was explained away as maybe I bumped into something. Very believable and this doc is the man, we trusted him. Again, doctors practice medicine. They do not nor can they know everything.

We pressed on over time and after numerous scans, X-rays and doctors, I eventually had stomach surgery at Oregon Health Sciences Universty. They removed a 3” non malignant tumor. The system can and does work if we press forward.

Oh ya, during the surgery I woke up screaming and yelling, go figure. As a disclaimer and advocate, the new generation of surgery drugs has kept me from any more wake-ups!