1.
Dr. Kendrick said I will be meeting with a nutritionist
while I’m down there and in the hospital.
This is still the plan, correct? “Absolutely!”
2.
Dr. Kendrick said there will be no follow-up
appointments after surgery with him. Is
this correct or should I be following up with my doctor here? “There should be no follow-up appointments
with anyone unless you are feeling like something isn’t quite right. In that case, you can surely see your doctor
there or Dr. Kendrick depending on the situation.”
3.
I hear a lot of people end up having to have their
gallbladders removed after surgery whether a few months or a few years down the
road. Is it possible for him to just
remove that, too, while he’s in there if that may be something I’ll need down
the road? (Kill two birds with one
stone, right?) “That’s a great question
and one I would certainly ask him when you meet with him Monday and see what his
thoughts are because it surely makes sense!”
4.
Will I still have heartburn after surgery? (I’ve read that a lot of people do still have
some after and depending on what they eat, they may need to be propped up while
sleeping to help with it, BUT I’m REALLY sick of carrying tums with me.) “You
really shouldn’t and let us know if you do.”
(SWEET!!!!!!!!!)
5.
BIGGEST-FATEST-QUESTION I HAD-----What are the chances that
I would have a laparoscopic surgery vs. open surgery AND what would hinder the
completion of it being done laparoscopically?
“Dr. Kendrick really does like to keep it laparoscopic if he can for
your sake and his. I would say that 94%
of his surgeries done ARE laparoscopic.
If it turned into an open surgery, it would be because his tools couldn’t
get to the places they need to be through the incisions made or there is too
much blood to be able to see exactly where he needs to be.”
I had a few other questions that she answered, too, but these were the ones that were REALLY weighing on my mind and I’m glad she was able to answer them!!
Heather, you will do great, you are in great hands.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I would recommend is getting a private room. They have roll away beds down there and someone can stay with you if you want, but you have to be in the private room. The extra cost for the private room was less than what we would have paid per night for a hotel room for my wife. Just a though..
I have you surgery on my calendar at work and will be sending prayers up for you all day.
Thanks Roger! I sure hope so. Nerves are starting to set in a little bit, but I think that's normal. Yes, I have requested that per Dr. Kendrick every time I have talked to someone and everyone said they can't help me since they are Mayo and not St. Mary's. FINALLY found out that we just have to tell them we want a single room when we check in the day of surgery. Does that sound right from what you remember? I hope so because that was the FIRST time I got an answer on it. But yes, I think Dr. Kendrick had said back in March that you can request a single room for $50 extra/night which is NOTHING compared to a motel room! :) Thank you for the heads up and yes, please do be sending prayers upstairs....I will take ALL I can get!! :) You're the best, Roger!
DeleteHi Heather, I had open surgery and have a scar from between my breasts to 3 inches below my navel as I had 1/3 of my liver removed as well. It healed very nicely and if you are lucky to not have open surgery, I wish you well. I was doped up with morphine anyway so didn't suffer anything from the large cut. Being well before surgery as opposed to me being sick, you will recover well, the hardest thing will be sorting out eating and food. But now it is all just natural to me and I have never suffered from heartburn or reflux. xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteP.S. I was surprised to read that there were no follow up appointments for you. I guess things here in Australia are different. The specialist that took out my stomach came to see me several times while I was in hospital, and then after getting out appointed one of his Drs. under him to see me for several months. But this was probably because my stomach was just huge mass of cancer and I did not know. It is called the silent killer here.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie!!! That's how they told me my incision would be, also, if it's an open surgery. Otherwise, 4 small incisions and one larger one. I'm hoping and praying for laparoscopic just so I heal that much quicker!!! I am hoping to have no heartburn or reflux like you....REALLLLY hoping! I, too, was VERY surprised by NO follow-up appointments unless issues. ESPECIALLY when we even had follow-up for my daughters ear tubes and that surgery is NOTHING compared to this one! I'm hoping by him saying no follow-ups that it's because it will be a piece of cake. ;) Wishful thanking, I'm sure!! And yes, I remember my mom having a TON of follow-up appointments because she, too, had cancer take over 80% of her stomach and touched on her liver, too! That DARN cancer!!!!! Argh!
DeleteI am sorry to hear about your mum and that she did not survive. I have had no chemo or radiation treatment also nothing when I had a lumpectomy. I am just letting life take its natural course and if I get cancer back again I have opted to have no treatment. I am 77 as opposed to you being nice and young I am just living life to the fullest until my time on this earth comes to an end.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I think it's great you have already thought about the "what-ifs" and have a plan set in place. Too often people are shattered by the news and don't even have time to think. I pray you do NOT have to go through all of that, again, even just hearing it's back!
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