Vorlon Whispers

June 20 Morning Update

I have just returned from seeing my oncologist. He did his cursory exam and pronounced, “You look good.” But, he ALWAYS says that.

His exam consist of feeling the lymph nodes in my arm pits, thumping on me from the back, listening to deep inhalations from the back, listening to my heart and listening to my gizzard. Then he presses on my gizzard asking, “Does this hurt?” I respond, “No.” I asked him, how do my lymph nodes feel and does my gizzard gurgle sufficient well.

He said they’re not doing Neulasta as my white cell count was on the high side. I told him I had wanted skip Saturday and only do Sunday as a booster shot, but the nurse talked me into doing both days. I told him, that in retrospect, I was right. He acknowledged that my judgment was probably the correct one.

I sort of apologized for being the pain in the neck that I am. He responded with, “You say that, but really you make us think and that’s a good thing.” I think you can see why I like dealing with him.

I said, “You’re going to have to hurry up and cure me as you’re so busy you need the opening for other customers.” “Well,” he responded, “I don’t know if were really THAT busy.” I said, “Oh, so now you’re afraid of losing me as a customer.” He chuckled. That’s a victory, getting you doctor to laugh. My experience is they have no sense of humor.

I then launched into his back pain problem. I related the Vorlon Father’s experience and, although its not 100% cured, he claims an 80% improvement. Asked him if he had a myelogram performed. He said, “No.” I told him the Vorlon Father had one and it proved to be a great diagnostic tool. I also told him how the Vorlon Father had approached the myelogram with trepidation because of his previous experience many years ago. But now they have new chemicals and this time it proved to be a piece of cake.

I suggested he consider getting one so they could pinpoint the problem. He said, “I don’t like the idea of people sticking needles into my back.”

I chuckled inside.

As he left, I gave him my parting words, “Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.”

He’s just not in enough pain to do what he needs to do.

How many patients give advice to their doctors?

I’m staying home today to recoup.

Posted by The Vorlon at June 20, 2006 10:08 AM