Friends,
Yes, little do most of us know that the day when we happily ring that bell to celebrate the end of radiation and treatment, our trials are just beginning. Like most of you, the hardest part of my entire treatment and recovery, was once the twice a day radiation ended, and there I was sitting at home, finsihing my 8 AM tube feeding with nothing much to look forward to except my 12 noon feeding. It was quite depressing and I got depressed.
As great as they were at MDACC with saving me, the medical staff seemed insensitive or ill-informed about the wellness issues. On my own I contacted the social worker in the wellness section at MDACC and learned about a men's support group and free psychological counseling for cancer patients. Actually after a few weeks, and a daily two mile walk I began to feel much better. I would plan a little errand or two each day, and maybe have a friend or relative stop by, and along with the walk, as I said, things started rapidly to improve.
I also got angry at some of my medical people at MDACC at that time. I was single at the time, but now married, my wife says.."those people saved your life...why do you give them hell?". I have always told her that sometimes they need someone to give them a little hell. My wife volunteers at MDACC every week, pushing a coffee cart around the hospital to provide free coffee to patients and their families and one thing that she has to agree with me about...the head and neck section always has patients waiting interminably.
I seldom go in for check-ups anymomre, but the last time I went, I got a little p.o.'d when the ladies behind the check-in desk at Head and Neck, instructed me to stand behind a line to wait to be called to the counter, this new procedure being instituted supposedly to comply with the privacy requirements of HIPPA. I felt like, and stated to them that I was being treated like those poor folks at the City, rudely being told wherre to stand and put into long lines in order to pay their traffic tickets. I was indignant and let them know it.
A patient relations lady who happened to be there, tried to calm me down and actually agreed with me.
I don't mean to be too much of a curmudgeon, but damn, we are enduring having cancer and dealing with difficult medical treatment, and you are going to tell me to stand behind some damn taped line on the floor! I don't think so!
Anyway, the good people at MDACC did save my life and for that I am very grateful, although I did have to be a squeaky wheel from time to time to avoid getting lost in the system. I was never angry about getting sick, and never angry about having to deal with the symptoms and side effects of treatment, but I was sure as hell angry from time to time when the medical folks were insensitive to simple needs.
Take care,
Danny G.
