Malka,

Yes, when I've had the dilation scheduled each time, I've looked forward to it. You can't swallow, you go to sleep, now you can swallow. No pain, no fuss, just Blessed results.

My cardiologist I've lost all faith in. My PCP let slip (to my son, who is caregiver & about to graduate from CNA training/school) that she would have drained the fluid right away, and then also know if there were cancer cells or not. She said "But I'm not the cardiologist". My gastroenterologist, when I first saw him last Wednesday about my throat, said "You look like Hell. What's going on?". That's when I weighed in at 79 lbs, my chest was tightening up so I had trouble breathing & talking, and I was so weak I could hardly walk even with my cane. He said that fluid around the heart is dangerous and needed to be drained, I was in a lot of trouble, and he sent me to the ER, calling to let them know I was on my way. He said he would take care of my throat after I was admitted.

Unfortunately, the local ER didn't look at my whole body - just my heart. After another EKG, Echocardiogram, and X-rays, they called my cardiologist and he said that draining the fluid is a risky procedure, there was no change since the week before, and send me home. I did NOT want to be in the hospital, but I know I really should have been admitted. My gastroenterologist had fully expected them to start feeding me by IV. My whole body was in pretty bad shape. But then this local hospital is not the greatest. They just killed another man earlier this year because they gave him a transfusion with the wrong blood type.

I did call the cardiologist last Friday, but still no answers or plan of action. If the call hadn't come in from my lung Docs at Shands on Monday, I had fully intended to ask my PCP for a referral to a different cardiologist this week. All family, friends, and any others I get advice from have told me I need to. I just got all caught up in the lung being added to the mix and now it's a holiday 4-day weekend. This cardiologist is the junior associate of the same Dr that my brother and I took my Mom's care from about 5 years ago because of inaction and her not responding well to any treatment he DID give her. She did much better after we had her transferred to another one.

About my PCP - the problem has been changing everything over to her after I started on Medicare & Humana. When I first met her a few months ago, I brought along a 7-page computer printout of my medical history. It's taking time (too much time) to get all the info to her, but we're getting there. She's been an angel and cares about her patients very much (I'm sure especially me ).

Lani