Things have been moving ahead ever so slowly on the health care front.
In the good news department, the neurosurgeon’s office called to schedule an intake appointment! I’m seeing him on July 30th. This is a great big step in the right direction. I have no idea how long his surgical wait times are, but I feel much better now that I’m no longer sitting in limbo, gathering dust.
Meanwhile, my breast tumour appears to be sitting in limbo, gathering dust. After they remove a breast tumour they send it to the pathology lab where it’s carefully examined and subjected to numerous tests. This is because every tumour is different, and each individual’s treatment plan must be tailored to each individual’s unique tumour.
At the conclusion of all these tests, a pathology report is prepared for the surgeon. The surgeon then conveys the results to the patient, and refers her to an oncologist who uses the pathology report to prepare a treatment plan.
Anyway, this whole process normally takes two weeks. My tumour went into the system three weeks ago, and hasn’t been heard from since. No pathology report. No referral to an oncologist. No treatment plan. Just more waiting, and once again, more worrying. (What if they lost my tumour? What if they found something really freaky about my tumour so they had to do extra tests?)
The nice thing about having two big health issues at the same time is that you can use one to distract yourself from the other. I probably worry far less about my breast cancer than most people because my back problem is more demanding. Breast cancer can be deadly but at least it’s painless and quiet. Back pain, on the other hand, is like a two-year-old locked in a perpetual temper tantrum.
zoom zoom zoom
I don’t need the wheelchair all the time. I don’t need it around the house, fortunately, since my house is a veritable wheelchair obstacle course. And I don’t need it for things that consist mostly of sitting down. But I do need it for anything that requires me to walk or stand more than three consecutive minutes. Like the Farmers Market, or Canadian Tire, or the art gallery, or the corner store, or going out for a ‘walk.’
I have mixed feelings about the wheelchair. I’m still not used to having it in my house, so this morning when I came downstairs and saw it there, I felt a bit of an emotional jolt.
My self image is incompatible with a wheelchair. I’ve always been a walker, and not just in the sense that I have legs and I’m human. I loved walking. I walked way more than anybody I knew. It was my primary mode of transportation. I walked everywhere. I was a natural born walker.
You see what’s happening? I’m talking about walking in the past tense. Because now I can only walk for three minutes, and there’s a wheelchair in my vestibule.
On the other hand, I’m kind of excited about the wheelchair, because it represents a little freedom. I can start doing things again. I can get out there. Besides, it’s only temporary, right? Until I get my legs back.
Hooray for your appointment in two weeks! Boo for the endless breast-tumor-pathology-results delay! Hooray for getting wheels! Boo to the back pain for necessitating the wheelchair!
Virtual hugs from the Sunshine State®,
Toni
I say we do time trials. Once each around the block in the chair. Are you in?
Hey Zooooooom nice wheels I am sure you will not need them for long. Hang in there Kiddo.
Yes it is only temporary. We got a walker for my Mum when she was coming out of the ICU and within a week, she didn’t need it any more.
I would starts calling Dr. A. daily for the pathology results. That is ridiculous!
You WILL get your legs back! Im absolutely sure!
Too bad you need the chair for now but there are 2 things you can do to help.
1/ Get a temporary disabled parking sticker so you can scoop the best spots and piss off the able bodied people who usually steal them.
2/ When you go to the market you can panhandle. You’ll do really well from a wheelchair and could probably pay for all your shopping.
Get on these right away cause you’ll only have a little window of opportunity here.
I personally expected the photo to involve the wheelchair being occupied by a very able bodied critter, as that is what would happen within seconds in our house (anything that’s new becomes their new favourite spot, and they fight over them)
Of course it’s only temporary. I know that walking is my sanity, so I feel for you.
I was surprised at how long pathology reports take. On television (and in books) they get results immediately or at least the next day. We waited weeks for my daughter’s tumor biopsy results. I had pictures in my mind of all the little petrie dishes lined up waiting their turn under the ‘scope. I hope yours is nearing the front of the line.
I’m glad you finally got the wheelchair!!! It is huge to see something like that in your house, I know; but you need to remind yourself of the fact that it is only temporary. It simply lets you get on with your life outside the house while you await surgery. I imagine things will move pretty quickly after your July 30th meeting. And shortly thereafter, so will you!
I agree with Julia – call every day. For some reason this post reminded me of the first time I ever saw you — it was in a photo on Robin’s blog and you were walking to work through a blizzard wearing many layers of clothing and a big backpack. I had stayed home that day so I gave you major props for being the most urban pedestrianest person I know. Muscles have memory, so because you did so much walking in the past, when you do start walking again it will take you no time at all for your legs to remember what they need to do
This may be completely off the wall, but for exercise, have you tried cycling? Will your back tolerate that?