I confess, I’m not good at seeing the “silver lining”. I’m much better at seeing the dark gloomy clouds, especially when it comes to my health. I don’t spend time being grateful I don’t have a rare hereditary disease or flesh-eating bacteria. Instead, I focus on what IS wrong with my health, not on what isn’t.
I was scheduled for surgery on Halloween, after a CT scan showed a tumor on my appendix. I originally told the surgeon I didn’t want the surgery AT ALL. I’d done some research and it seemed tumors on the appendix are usually no cause for alarm and there was little to no harm from just letting it be. However, the surgeon argued I absolutely MUST have surgery.
The surgeon wanted to remove not only the appendix but, depending on the size and location of the tumor, also remove a section of my large intestine. I did NOT want a part of my colon removed. I like having a colon and didn’t want it cut out just because it had the misfortune of being located near the appendix. I eventually told him I’d agree to an appendectomy, but not a colon resection.
The hospital staff wanted me at the hospital three hours before my scheduled procedure. Checking in went alright other than the consent form still listed a possible colon resection. So, I refused to sign it. The surgeon came to talk to me and we went “head to head”. He tried the caring approach, the scaring approach, and the outright over-bearing approach, but I refused to budge. They finally revised the form and I was wheeled off to await the chopping block.
I woke up many hours later in the recovery area. The nurse had me rate my pain, 1 to 10, and gave me pain medication. Why do they wait until after you wake to give you pain medication, anyway? Does anyone wake up and say “Oh, I feel fine! No need for pain medication for me!” Once the pain was bearable, my friends were allowed to come see me. Later, the surgeon came by to speak to me as well.
There was no tumor. I asked the surgeon if there was ANY sign of disease or inflammation with the appendix. There wasn’t. I was in surgery for hours as he’d explored my small intestines and other organs in the area, but he could find NOTHING wrong. I guess there must have been a mistake with the CT scan. I’ll certainly have some questions at my follow-up appointment.
I should be grateful I don’t have a tumor – but I never had a tumor. The doctors didn’t think removing a diseased appendix would improve my symptoms, so it certainly doesn’t seem like removing a perfectly healthy organ will help. If removing healthy organs benefits my health, maybe I should arrange to donate a kidney or part of a lung. I guess the “silver lining” of this dark cloud is the pain from the unnecessary surgery has taken my mind off some of the original symptoms for which the doctors still have no explanation.
Submitted for publication in the Greeley Citizen
Update 11/11/2011: At my follow-up appointment, the surgeon said there was a fibrous mass on the appendix (non-cancerous) and that’s why the CT scan indicted a tumor.
I’m glad to hear you didn’t have any tumor. However, in this day and age of medical marvels, it’s quite amazing how they can screw things up. I’m wondering if your MRI got mixed up with someone else’s, which resulted in your going through unnecessary surgery and the other person receiving an incorrect and dangerous “clean bill of health.” It’s certainly going to be interesting to hear how your doctor and the radiology people explain how this happened. Please keep us posted. Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery. It’s unfortunate you had to go through this, but I’m sure you’re happy with the fact that there is not medical problem. I guess we have to be thankful for small favors, whatever they are. Get well fast!
You have got to be kidding me? Lynette, I am so sorry that you had to have this surgery only to find it wasn’t necessary at all. I wonder what the follow-up will reveal. Probably nothing but you would think that at least your insurance company will go after them for something. Can we ask for second and third CT-scans? Is that what you are reduced to? Asking for second and third opinions would not have been enough in this case as everyone would have been looking at the same CT-scan. Bloody stupid if you ask me.
Now that I have ranted, I just want to hug you and tell you that I am glad it wasn’t a tumor and that you stood your ground on all of this.
-Teresa
Thanks, ((((Terry)))
I wish I’d stood my ground firmer on not having the surgery AT ALL, but hindsight is 20/20.
Sad thing is – my GI specialist (who originally ordered the CT scan) presented my case to an entire BOARD of specialists at this hospital… and apparently not ONE of these specialists thought to say “Gee, maybe we should confirm this very rare tumor actually exists with a second CT scan or ultrasound”? Given this is the same hospital that: 1) 15 years ago couldn’t diagnose my GI complaints and 2) 10 years ago misdiagnosed my kidney stones repeatedly for six months before getting it right and 3) never thought to check my vitamin D levels to see if a deficiency was causing the kidney stones (which was the case)… I’m inclined to think the doctors at this hospital STINK.