Wow!

Ever since we've been in the hospital during this time, we've wondered if they were going to need to remove more fluid from her abdomen. We told every person who brought it up that she would need to be put under for the procedure. All the doctors and nurses that we talked to knew what we wanted.

It was scheduled for today, but we never knew what time. They showed up around 7am to say they are on their way to get her for the procedure. We again, reiterate the fact that she needs to be put under. "Yup.. yup, we understand". Donna wanted me to go as far as I could go before they would not let me any further before the procedure. So, we get down to the room where they are going to do the procedure, and out comes the same nurse that had been with Donna the previous time. I commented that she was the same nurse, and recounted the episode with her. She remembered Donna and again we talked about how bad it was and how she needs to be put under - she needs to not know what is going on or be aware during the procedure. With all that she's been through this week, the last thing she would need is another terrible experience with this thing.

The nurse understood, and went back into the room to "talk to the Dr." When she returned, she said they would give her something to decrease the anxiety, but that she would still be aware and may still feel something. Immediately, we both comment, "No, that is not going to be acceptable." The nurse again tried to talk her into it, saying things like, "The Dr. won't do it that way", and that they were going to use the CT machine to get more precise on the placement of the needle. Nope - still not good enough. We were not going to budge on this.

In the end, she was wheeled back to the room and the procedure was rescheduled for 8am tomorrow - with anesthesia. Her oncologist came by and we told him the story. He said they may try to work it in still today, but that it might still be tomorrow.

One thing I'm noticing about the medical profession - you (as a patient) need to keep very good track of what is going on and who said what and when. I'm keeping notes every time a Dr. is in the room. You need to stay on top of things. The information goes through so many hands, and their are so many people involved that the information can easily slip through the cracks. Even when we thought everyone knew what we wanted, it was going to be done the same way it was done the first time. Wow!