Tami re: Memorial

[Guest guest]

Hi again!

I really get annoyed when you tell me this stuff about your doctor. Has she no compassion? I've thought, at times, that if I didn't have my meds to help me (somewhat) with the itching, that I might take a gun to my head! It's unbearable sometimes. And, then the lack of sleep, facing the day looking like a freak...and she tells you, you can't handle it...I really don't get it. Even if she can't help you, she should certainly feel for what you're going through.

I go to an oncologist named Wolf, he's at New York-Cornell, also affiliated with Memorial, I think. I was given his name by my dermatologist who specializes in melanoma, and, of course, is also out of New York-Cornell. In the year and a half that Dr Wolf has been seeing me, I've had mixed feelings. There were some things that I didn't like how he/his staff handled them. Problems with test results, returning phone calls, things lost in his office and blaming others, etc. But, basically for what he does for me at the moment, it's fine. He really just checks me now and does blood. If I had anything, G-d forbid...Last year he sent me for all sorts of scans and they found several areas that looked like metastasis. (I've been through a lot, trust me.) He said, from the outset, that he felt that they were other things 'based on his 20 years of experience'. Of course, everything had to be chased down and it was awful for me, with test after test, X-rays, MRI's, sonograms, doctor after doctor, waiting for results, etc. But, he was right. They were false positives.

My illness had quite a story, a drama, and you just heard a piece of it. I say if you and find a doctor that, not only has a great reputation, but a good 'bedside' manner, stick with him. They are few and far between. I learned that the hard way. The mind/body connection does matter. All the doctors said that to me, but they didn't realize that their words and attitude were affecting my mind...LOL.

I think you said that you are pretty far out on the island. One thing I don't like myself is schlepping into the city to see the doctors. But, people say that the 'best' ones are there. I don't know if that is true. But, right now I don't have the energy to start with any new ones. It's too involved to set everything up. Maybe someday...

I hope you have a decent night tonight. Rest up and get ready to go into battle by 's side. With you, he'll be all right.

Love and hugs,

Tami

[Guest guest]

Hi Tami,

I'm not to happy about Memorial either, and even less so with this doc we're

to see. A tough cookie, so I understand. We saw someone on the Island who I

just loved. Very knowledgeable, held in high esteem by his peers, and's a

real " Mensch " . He told the waters are rough ahead but he'll be in the

boat with him the whole way. I was brought to tears! There's a head/body

connection in healing, this I truly believe. My Doc is a real little bitch!

If she tells me one more time the reason I stay on the Pred is because I

" can't handle it " . I've retorted the same thing each time, telling her

nobody could handle them any better than I. I told her I'd rather have 4

kids by natural child-birth than the nites of anquish with this itching.She

has no

compassion. I haven't been able to wear clothes most of the time now for 4

months,can't go to a

movie because if I sit to long I hive all over my back, buttochs and

thieghs. Last week I was

running a fever and I had such chills. but I couldn't get into bed as

wherever I lay, they pop out all over me. Look who I'm telling! As if poor

soul. you don't know. After all is said and done, where do you go for your

cancer car?. Did you stay at Memorial, with a different doc? Have

a good evening,and your kind words mean so very much. What a family we all

are!! Talk to you soon. Love, Ging Hugging you in my heart.