#$%&^&*&*%^$%#$ Doctors! Part 2

The anesthesiologist asked me if I would rather be knocked out through a tube in the mouth or a needle in the spine? I told him I could take needles in the arms and hands, even in the mouth (via dentist and Novocaine) but not anywhere else and he laughed and said, "So I guess it is the mouth>" He asked me a few questions and I told that, yes, I had congestive heart failure (last time I had been in this hospital) over the '99-2000 New Year's weekend and that yes I had a shunt put into my left leg in April 2000. This was about the third person I gave this info to.

Another nurse came in and send she was going to give me some medicine to relax me before I went in for the procedures: a cystoscopy, trans rectal ultra sound and prostate biopsy. She said I would feel light headed. I may be wrong but I think I fell asleep for a few minutes. Next thing I knew one of the nurses came in with my bag of clothes, told me to get dressed and that Dr. Fauer, my urologist, who was going to do the procedures. She then asked me if I would like something to drink-- coffee, juice--and I knew something was wrong--I told her I would like some coffee AND a cigarette--she bought me the coffee and showed me where I could 'sneak' a cigarette--okay, 'get dressed, have something to drink, have a cigarette and go out on my own??? Something was definitely wrong. (By the way by this evening for the first time in 6 years I have already gone over--way over--my daily allotment of 18 cigarettes!) When I came back Dr. Fauer was waiting--he said they couldn't proceed because I was scheduled to have a right carotid sterosis as my vascular surgeon thinks I have blockage in the neck. Now the surgeon knew this, my primary knew this as he had to give me a referral and both knew I was going in for the procedures today. I had scheduled the cs in two weeks. Dr. Fauer said that if I went under the anesthesia I could have a stroke.

Why wasn't I, or he, told this by my primary or vascular surgeon? I was so mad, after what I was put through to get ready--including getting up at such an ungodly hour, not eating or drinking, etc.--I finally told him, "Let's forget the whole thing!" as if I was punishing him!

I had to wait for Allen to come by and pick me up--he lives about 45 minutes from the hospital. As soon as he showed up I told him to head to Sloppy Joe's on the beach.

I'LL SHOW THOSE DOCTORS!

The heck with watching the saturated fat, the cholesterol, the smoking, the caffeine, the weight! I proceeded to have a sloppy Joe, French fries, carrot cake with ice cream, 7 cups of real coffee and carrot cake Ala mode! Again, I'll show them!

Okay--rant over--back to reality--back to healthier eating--back to 18 cigarettes, maximum, a day, etc. And, probably, tomorrow I'll be over my mad at the doctors :o)