Shopping...

...for a surgeon.  I was going to title the post with "Shopping for a Surgeon", but I figured I'd lure you in first.  

It's no secret that I have been looking into reconstructive surgery to help regain some symmetry and give me less aggravation with wearing clothes.  Although I found a plastic surgeon that I really liked,  my caring, compassionate, competent, intelligent, adorable former :( surgeon suggested I go with someone more local.  So, because I respect him so much and he has always steered me in the right direction, I decided to make an appointment based on his referral.  

Well, I'm sad to say that this time,  he sent me the wrong way. Basically this surgeon lost me at "hello".  We spoke for a total of about 3 minutes before she left the room to retrieve her camera and I already had three strikes against her.  

They are as follows:

1. Please talk to me like I am your patient and not a fellow plastic surgeon who understands and comprehends your jargon at record speeds.

2. Please do not remind me that my breast cancer was at an advanced stage.

AND

3. I also don't need reminding that the Tamoxifen I am taking can cause blood clots that "could be fatal and" I "could die".  I'm thinking there may be a more tactful way for you to back up your reasoning for stopping the medicine two weeks prior to surgery.

Keep in mind that these were the initial 3 strikes.  There were several more beyond these after she came back into the room.  

Basically, this particular surgeon was not a good match for me.  Honestly, I'm not sure she is a good match for many.  I was mostly disappointed with her lack of compassion.  She spoke to me as though I was part of a science project, one that she was hurrying to put together hastily the night before it was due.

I'm not really sure what my point in writing this post is...probably mostly to vent.  But, also to remind us all that we are in charge, we make the calls, we need to advocate for ourselves.  If it doesn't feel right, question it, look deeper.  Go with your gut.

I scheduled my surgery today with my original choice.  It definitely felt right...

"You have to master not only the art of listening to your head, you must also master listening to your heart and listening to your gut."