Meanwhile, on the same day, August 11th, around 3 PM as I was getting home from the cardiologist appointment, I get a call from the radiology department of Rio Grande Regional hospital (RGR). They are calling to schedule the cryoablation for my right kidney. It will be on the 23rd. It’s an out-patient procedure, that rarely requires an overnight stay for observation, and the recovery is 2 to 3 days. A full week before the major surgery. That’s fine. This is what Dr Adamu wanted. Zap the right tumor before removing the left kidney.
However, Dr Chang, the one that will perform the cryo, does not have the images from the CT with contrast. Apparently, it is the patient’s responsibility to get those images to him. The sooner the better, because he needs to evaluate the images, and walk me through the procedure. The RGR radiology department closes at 4:30 PM, and the STHS hospital records department, where I need to request the CD-ROM images, closes at 4 PM. If I hurry, I can get RGR the CD and Dr Chang has 2 days to review them before meeting with me. If I don’t get this done this day, I would have to wait until Monday to turn them in. Great.
I make a U-Turn, and head back to the medical area. I make it to STHS records department, finally get my CD by 4 PM. I then get in my car and rush to the RGR radiology department, but I park, by mistake, on the wrong side. Before I realize it, I have to walk about 100 yards, following posted signs, to make it on time. It’s 4:25 when I get there. I am out of breath, and can barely speak. The attendant/clerk takes my envelope (with the CD inside) and tells me she was expecting me. I walk out of there, and slowly make my way back to the car. I notice, that if I had parked on the ‘emergency’ side of the RGR hospital, I would only have had to walk 15 yards to the radiology department. I sigh and shake my head. Note to self: Park in the ER section next time.
By the next week, I was visiting the medical area about once a day. I don’t recall each time, but if it wasn’t the urologist, it was the cardiologist, or it was the radiology department from RGR. Oh how I wish I only had to make one or two trips a week, rather than once a day.
Monday, August 14th, I meet with Dr Chang. He’s a tall man, and is very friendly. We sit in his office, where he has 3 computer monitors set up on his special desk. (He can choose to stand or sit, as it moves up and down). He shows me the images, and how he will be positioning the special 9-inch needles into my tumor. He thinks 3 will cover it. I will be face-down inside a CT machine, which will take periodic pictures, guiding him on his ‘ICEFX Cryoablation’ (CX) needle placements. Each tip will produce a sphere of ice, instantly killing the bad cells, once all CX needles are placed. Then the tissue will be quickly thawed, and needles removed. Only a bandage patch would be used to treat my punctures. He says I will probably need to be on painkillers for 2 to 3 days.
I am mesmerized by his computer setup, and really loving how down to earth he is. The whole meeting is only 10 minutes. This time, I was glad I parked in the ER section. Easy in and out for me.
By the time I get home, I get a call from the urologist office. I have ‘orders’ to pick up. Again, I have to drive back to the medical area. I opt to go the next day, as I am very tired. Did I mention that since I was discharged from the STHS hospital, that I have been getting tired more easily? Well, I was getting tired pretty quickly, especially with just driving everywhere in this Texas heat. My parents offered to drive me to these appointments, but I refused as to not be a burden on them. I changed my mind, however!
The next day, Tuesday, August 15th, my (87-year-old) dad takes me to the urologist office to pick up the important ‘orders.’ Turns out, it was a letter stating I had an appointment with Dr Chang. That’s all it was. A notice of a referral appointment with the radiologist, which I already had, the day before. The day they called me. They called me to let me know of my appointment, after, said appointment was already over. What a waste of gas and time.
Strike six.
Sometime later that day, I get a call from the cardiologist office. My ECG is scheduled for the next day. They were able to change it from September 8th, to August 16th. Great news.
On Wednesday the 16th, my dad takes me to said appointment. It’s a 45-minute procedure at the heart hospital clinic area. I go home.
On Thursday, I had to go back to the medical area, but I cannot remember why.
On Friday the 18th, I have the appointment for the 72-hour monitor, at the cardiologist office. Once again, my dad takes me. I go in, and the nurse/tech places a small device over my heart. It’s only about 1 inch by 2 inches, with an extra 1 inch ‘tail’ with 2 sensors on it. It’s water proof. She then gives me a box, and instructs me to place the device in the box after the 72 hours are up, and drop of at any UPS store. A third party does the evaluation and report. Sigh.
Sometime later that day, I get a call from RGR radiology. Apparently, there is a back-order on the special freezing gas, and they will not be able to perform the cryoablation on the 23rd after all. They don’t have an ETA. Great.
Strike seven.
The next Monday, August 21st, at 2 PM, I place the device in the box, and immediately drop it off at the UPS store. I take note of the tracking info. It’s going to a neighboring state.
I get a call from the urologist’s office. My surgery orders are ready to be picked up, and I will need to pay my co-insurance portion up-front. I think to myself “How can the report be ready, if my clearance isn’t ready? Isn’t that part of the procedures?” I decide to wait. Why pay for a procedure that may not happen in the given time? Maybe I was wrong, but forgive me for being too frustrated to even fathom getting my ‘orders’ while I have yet to be cleared. I attend a birthday party for my granddaughter. At night, after giving a ride to one of my daughters, my car dies in the parking lot of the H.E.B. grocery store in Edinburg. Luckily, I have AAA service, and after a long hour and a half, my car is towed home. It’s the starter. That’s fine. We have 2 other vehicles, and a 3rd one that just needs registration to be street legal.