Hello All:
I have been weighing in on your experiences and admire the strength but empathize with the pain and worry brought about by this disease.
I'm going to vent for a moment and express how frustrating it is to wait for answers after tests, surgery, etc. My husband has developed fever since his RC and neo on 8/7 and has gone in for a complete urine culture and blood workup this morning. Results will be reviewed by the doctor and then sent to the surgeon to order treatment. Meanwhile, we wait. And we wait some more. His GP is out this afternoon so no results today. I am anticipating a long night of worry and imaging the worst. I wonder if doctors know how agonizing it is--even just one evening--to wait for the phone to ring with answers regarding the health of a dear loved one.
Is it just me or does anyone else feel that way? Makes me want to scream.
Debbie
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So much waiting
- By DebbieMP
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 6:20 pm · 12 replies
- In Life after radical cystectomy
- Shared with the public
12 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By joybob
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 6:24 pm
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Debbie you are preaching to the choir. You wait and wait, and thats it. The doctors forget you the minute you leave. I waited 6 weeks for path results. I got an assistant giving me the all clear and then a week later the doctor calling and saying yhour husband needs chemo. I give up, you have to be persistent, even that doesn't help sometimes. don't they realize they have cancer patients and stress is not what they should b e suffering from. Keep after them and get the answers you need. Joycee
- By cat22
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 6:32 pm
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Debbie. Vent away. It is very upsetting to wait, wait, wait. Praying for good test results and that your hubby feels much better real soon.
Cathy
- By 15yrsurvivor
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 8:24 pm
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Doctors, being human, range widely in their competency.
Joycee is right that if you have one of those doctors that
is not good about reporting back, it's up to you to keep on them until you get the information you are after. Be that thorn in their side if you have to.
Best of luck to you and your husband! And venting is one of the things we are all here for, so feel free.
- By nancynursez637
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 9:04 pm
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If you don;t hear to morrow, call the surgeons office your self and ask them to contact the doctor as it appears you ahve an infection and do not want to wait until it becomes a major deal
then let us know!!
NancyN
- By mycopper
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 9:25 pm
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Trust yourself. Call his surgeon. You are the only person your husband can truly rely on. Let us know how things go. Prayers and good thoughts go with you both.
Candy
- By roadrunner
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 10:28 pm
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Its amazing how they just drop news and then say wait....wait? how long? we have to be abrasive sometimes when getting what we want,but its our life,so we deserve answers,,,call his surgeon,,,get to the bottom of it,,,and let us know ...were waiting with you... ginger
- By EricAndre
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 1:12 am
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Debbie,
This wanting I am very familiar with it as many members here.
This is something that we must learn to live with since after one worry comes another one. eventually you learn to live in the present and forget about tomorrow.
Most of my worries in over 7 years of fighting this has proved to be for nothing.
It is not like I had the best diagnostic. But because this disease forced the patient to have many tests, treatments, surgeries we are almost in a constant state of waiting for results. FOr survival purposes one is forced to "control" the emotions. Each in his/her own way. But constant worry is definitely worst that the thing we worry about.
I guess everyone has to find that peace for themselves
since the peace found by one has proved to be not transportable to others. SO best of luck....
EricAndre
- By silgal
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 9:02 am
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Hi Debbie, I so hear you !! vent away! I have been waiting and waiting... some days, I feel like: ok if it was that bad they would have called me and other days I feel like it could be taking over my body while I wait.
I just wanted you to know you're not alone.
Good luck.
michelle
- By jj803
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 4:45 pm
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I agree that the waiting is terrible. Not knowing and imagining all the possibilities. The urine culture will take a while though. The earliest possible would be 24 hours and that depends on bacteria growing enough to be identified within 24 hours. If no growth at 24 hours, then incubation continues and it's another 24 hours before checking for growth again. So it may be 2-5 days, if negative before reported as negative in a final report. Again, if something grows you get info quicker. The doc and his office may be able to check on the culture's status by checking with the lab, but I feel sure that would take some patient/caregiver pressure. Hope all turns out for the best.
JJ
- By JeanneS
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 10:17 pm
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All I will say is..........
I HATE THE WAITING!!!!!!!!
- By Mike-PW
- Posted October 29, 2009 at 12:57 am
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Vent away.
Lord knows I need patience,
AND I NEED IT NOW!!!!
Seriously, I was diagnosed just 3 months ago. I was "patiently" waiting for lab results when the appointment desk called to schedule my BCG.
"What is a BCG?" I asked.
"It's the standard treatment for Bladder cancer," she said.
"I have Bladder cancer? Does that mean the doctor has the lab results?"
"He must. He ordered the BCG."
I didn't hear from the doctor until the following week, after I left a few messages.
See, we all need to vent at some time or another,
Mike
- By Leslie45
- Posted October 29, 2009 at 3:19 am
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Debbie,
The waiting is most definetly the most frustrating part once you are diagnosed with bladder cancer. Stay on top of your doctor(s) and demand not only answers but copies of all path any other type of test reports.
Keep venting away and I hope your husband starts feeling better soon.
Keep the faith.
Leslie
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