Surgery

I had an interesting meeting with a general surgeon this morning.  This is the surgeon who performed a mastectomy on my left breast (can I use that word in a blog?) in 2000.  He worked in conjunction with a plastic surgeon who, in the same surgery, inserted an "expander" to create a cavity that would later receive an implant.

I'd thought we could do the same thing again, same hospital, same surgeons, different breast (there's that word again). 

Not so much.

Neither of the surgeons have privileges at the hospital (Banner Thunderbird) where the first surgery took place.  And neither have privileges at the same hospital anywhere.  So much for their working together, at least simultaneously.  They can collaborate - but for surgery purposes, it would be one surgery by one doctor at one hospital, and a later surgery by another at a different hospital.  That just does not seem like good business to me.

It's okay.  Things change.

So Plan B is this:  appointment in two days with a general surgeon who does work with the same plastic surgeon, with hospital privileges at Arrowhead.  Then the first of next week I'll meet with the plastic surgeon.  Between the two doctors, I'm expecting a surgery strategy - and am hopeful (maybe stupidly optimistic of me) that it can be completed and my recovery far enough along to be able to attend Family Reunion February 16. 

I'm grateful for choices and for early appointments and for time.  Sometimes giving up control is difficult (hah! that control thing is always a challenge) - but we are so fortunate in this country:  lots of great doctors, great hospitals, treatment plans, education available to make sound choices.  And I'm grateful to have health insurance.  More about that another time.