There's nothing like being around a hospital make one grateful for basically good health. I went to UCSF for my surgery yesterday because statistics show better outcomes in a teaching hospital. My surgeon was a woman! So is her chief resident, who looks Gillian's age 0_0 Dr. Kirkwood is amazing. She had a patient before me who had pancreatic cancer. Her surgery went 5 hours over as she took out a pancreatic lobe, spleen and gallbladder....through the belly button. It was 8:00 p.m. before I got into surgery. She bounced, yes bounced, in to see me at 7:00 and I asked if she still had energy left for me! Her pearls jiggled in her scrubs, her African turban shown brightly as she said, "Sure just let me get something to eat." (She is white). Instead of those tacky blue shower caps you see on TV they do some stylin' at UCSF with the head covers, but Dr. K's turban had 'em all beat. It takes a very distinct type of person to do this work: the constitution of an Olympic athlete, the confidence of a Marine commander. She picked up some other info on her internal camera and suggested a consult with a gastroenterologist who may be able to help with with chronic pain problems I've since 2004. I'm really excited about that! Going to an outstanding medical center puts you in touch with people on the cutting edge. I should have gone over there to a GE earlier. Somehow got to work in that trip to Olympic trials in and amongst these medical visits. Well, the surgery is surprising pain free, comparatively. I've not needed any narcotic meds since we left the hospital at 1:00 a.m. Some ibuprofen, a nap, and lots of reading and drinks. Tomorrow its on to Chicken soup, and then the culinary world of fat filled food again! (Well, not enough so as to put on the weight I've lost so painfully).
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Whew! Glad the surgery went well. Will keep my fingers crossed about the gastro thing.
Posted by: Pattie | Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 12:38 PM