Quite Honestly It Sucks

It’s just troubling this happened around 5:00 PM the night before the actual surgery. This has been on the schedule for nearly a week. My sister and brother-in-law flew in from Wisconsin. I’ve taken the cleanse. Coverage at work was rejiggered. Oh yeah… there’s also cancer in me that needs to come out.

I got a call from my surgeon’s office early this evening. Bad news. My operation is getting pushed back.

My surgeon and cardiologist agreed on a protocol for my anticoagulant — when to start and stop. The anesthesiologist disagreed. Everyone involved is allowed to hit the stop button. I can’t fault him for using his best judgement.

It’s just troubling this happened around 5:00 PM the night before the actual surgery. This has been on the schedule for nearly a week.

My sister and brother-in-law flew in from Wisconsin. I’ve taken the cleanse. Coverage at work was rejiggered. Oh yeah… there’s also cancer in me that needs to come out.

Stuff like this isn’t without stress. I’ve done a lot of thinking about the operation over the past few days. I know what faces me. Now I’ve got to go through Days 3, 2, and 1 again.

Quite honestly it sucks.

10 thoughts on “Quite Honestly It Sucks”

  1. Geoff,
    I commented on your previous note and then went on to other things on the computer—-playing my usual games—my settle down or ‘thinking’ time. That’s when it hit me—the blood thinner—was it possible that there wasn’t enough time between the stop date and the surgery date. Minor surgery, you may have gotten by with, but something as complex as a Whipple—you want all the numbers to add up—there’s no such thing as a “little” bleed. As frustrating as all this is, one can’t take that risk. As for the cancer –it is not going to spread or enlarge in this short of a period. Quite often up several months can elapse between diagnosis and actual surgery date. And just think–if we had socialized medicine as Canada or so many of the other countries, you would have been put on a waiting list for surgery and hope you made it. Your sister must feel like they are riding a boomerang–at least it isn’t Winter in Milwaukee! I’d say, swallow the frustration, but you don’t need more indigestion. It will all work out for the best. Like I said before, tie one more knot in that proverbial rope!

    1. If surgery is needed in Canada you don’t get put on a waiting list. It’s a myth. I have relatives and my Uncle needed surgery from cancer was taken in almost right away. I’ve been waiting almost 2 months on brain scan. So it isn’t always a waiting list in Canada , USA some just take longer going from specialist to specialist isn’t fun.

  2. How frustrating! But knowing the concern is due to blood thinners I’d want to err on the side of caution and isn’t the anathesiologist the one watching all your vitals? I’d buy him in charge!

  3. Ugh that does suck. But better safe than sorry – it’s a big operation and you want to take no chances there. Amazes me they actually made the call the night before. I’ve actually made it into pre-op and then had the button push. It’ll happen – just frustrating I’m sure especially when you feel the ticking clock in your head, and you and your family were prepared. Hopefully not a long delay. All the best – hang in there!

  4. Geoff I feel your frustration and know you want this behind you but also appreciate your understanding of why the anestheologist did what he did. You are fortunate to have a team that is being conservative and really cares about what is in your best nearest. As a nurse for many years I have come to believe that things happen for a reason but not necessarily within our understanding. It will happen when it is supposed to happen. God speed.

  5. OMG! This sounds platonic, but better to be safe!! I can’t even begin to understand how you are feeling at this point! Many prayers and positive thoughts are being sent to you and your family! God bless!

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