January 21, 2010

Today was to be the day for my surgery on my foot. Originally it was supposed to be January 14, 2010 and then it was changed to the 21st for some unknown reason. I had my pre-op interview over at the Univ. of PA on December 30th. At that time I had an EKG, blood work and a chest X-ray, things that I thought were necessary to get ready for the operation. Last week Dr. Levin's office called to say they hadn't received clearance from my primary care physician. I was stunned to learn that I had to actually see my family doctor to get the approval. Whether they told me and I forgot or they used the word "we" which I thought meant them and they thought it meant me, would have to get clearance from the primary physician.

I immediately called for an appointment and got one for Jan. 18. The nurse said my blood pressure was perfect and I hadn't gained any weight. The doctor (Dr. Westinberg) was substituting for the other doctors who were off for Martin Luther King Day. She asked if I ever had shortness of breath. Sure I do when I'm climbing the hi-speed line stairs. Who wouldn't!
By Wednesday afternoon after I cleaned my desk, finished up miscellaneous jobs before I left work, I received a call from the surgeon's office saying they still didn't get the clearance.

Apparently this Dr. Westinberg noticed something on my EKG. She was to have called me on Monday to let me know that I now had to see a cardiologist before she would clear me for the operation. To top it all off, the office worker said I might have to wait maybe two months before I can get the operation. At that, I hung up the phone. So upset was I at hearing this news, I just screamed. Surprised for sure were the people who saw me at work this morning. I did get an appointment for Monday morning with a cardiologist here in town that my brother goes to. Hopefully after that appointment I can get an idea of when the surgery will be hoping of course that Dr. Levin doesn't have a full schedule for the next couple of months.

Maybe this was meant to be to avoid worse things down the road. God in his greatness is protecting me. And I have to be thankful for that. Bill Getman, in our weekly staff meeting, gave a reading about things, one of them being fear and overcoming it. It gave me a calmness that day to stop worrying about things that could go wrong and just pray to get the operation over with. I calmed the fear and I was protected with the delay.

Will let you know what happens after I see the cardiologist. Thanks for taking the time to read my rantings. It's so nice to have friends who care.

Betsy