Category: Doctor

MRI/MRA Results (?)

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

I don’t know if it’s bad new or good news, or just simply no news, but apparently the MRI/MRA didn’t show Dr. D’Angelo what he “needed to see”….so I now have to have an angiogram.

I’m not too pleased with the reason I was given or the fact I have to endure the angiogram again. MRIs are just annoying, but angiograms are a bit more serious.

Of course, his receptionist is on vacation all next week, so it won’t be addressed again until after she’s back in two weeks. Then I don’t know if I’ll be having the angiogram here in Maine or I’ll have to go to Boston. Dr. Kwan performed my last angio.

We’ll see.

What’s Next

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

I’ve been too busy and tired to post again, but better late than never if anyone out there is still reading this.

I had my appointment with Dr. D’Angelo a couple of weeks ago. I had all my questions ready to go and written down and I even tasked Dave with taking notes because my hand writing is so horrible, I didn’t want to miss anything.

We no sooner go into the appointment, when the Dr. got a phone call and cut our appointment very short. He was on-call and there was an emergency, so I certainly don’t expect him to drop everything for me and I completely understand that, but after driving all the way down there, I did feel a tad slighted. Not his fault, but still very disappointing. I wasn’t able to ask any of my questions.

He did shed a little light on where Dr. Kwan is and that they’re searching for a replacement, but that going to Boston to have any serious procedure isn’t a bad thing. He claimed he DID remember me, but I doubt it. LOL He’s seen so many people since then I highly doubt he’d remember little ‘ol me.

I took all of my Angiogram, MRI and CT scans on disk with me, but he said he needed to see more recent images, so I was told he wanted to me to have an MRA. Which is an MRI, but with contrast. His office called a week later and this coming Tuesday I’ll be going down to Maine Med for my MRA.

However, when pre-registration and radiology called tonight, they said it was for an MRI, so I need to call the Dr’s office back tomorrow to make sure everyone is on the same page on what it supposed to be done.

I’m obviously hoping everything looks good, but I’m hoping I get another opportunity to speak to Dr. D’Angelo and ask those questions I’ve been wanting answers to. With no one treating me locally anymore for my neuro issues, I’m feeling a tad lost and abandoned. I had high hopes for this one appointment with him, only to be in his office less than 10 minutes. Again…I know that wasn’t his fault.

As the 2nd anniversary of my annie creeps up, again, I’m recalling this time of year in 2006 still. I wonder how many years this will go on? It’s odd.

I’m feeling relatively good, so I’m having good thoughts about the MRA/MRI. And I’m hoping they’ll let me know the results sooner rather than later so I don’t have to wait it out.

Follow Up

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

Well, obviously, since I haven’t posted in awhile, that either means I’m really ill and can’t do it, or I’m feeling pretty darn good and don’t have much to report. I’m happy to say, it’s the latter. Until now.

I have finally started to make some arrangements for my 2-year follow-up. Since Dr. Kwan has left the area, and I’ve only heard rumors about a recent hiring in MA, I contacted his old office and was told he had referred me to Dr. D’Angelo, the neurosurgeon who attended to me first at Maine Medical in Portland. In fact, I saw Dr. D’Angelo more than I did Dr. Kwan…he was also the one who gave me my “walking papers” when I was finally released. He sure made me smile THAT day!

Anyway, I have just an appointment to see Dr. D’Angelo in Scarborough, Maine on Sept. 8th where he will then determine the next course of action. Either an MRI or an angiogram and then to determine WHERE all this will be done. I’m hoping it can all be done here in Maine, but we’ll see.

Neurosurgery and Spine Associates

Of course the last couple of weeks I’ve been having headaches, but I think it’s more due to starting to work harder on the catalog and the natural stress that puts on my brain. It’s hard work to think! LOL I find my eyes are very tired at the end of the day…but I have to drive that 30 miles home, so no resting until then. I need to make myself get up from my desk and rest my eyes and brain for 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon. I remember I did that a lot last year….I guess I still need to do it.

I’m already nervous about ANY testing being done, but it probably won’t come for a couple of months yet. I’m glad I’m going to meet with Dr. D’Angelo though. He’s highly regarded in the area and I have great trust in him. He was brutally honest to me in the hospital, and I appreciated that. He didn’t sugar coat the seriousness of my situation and how he really didn’t want to operate on that area of the brain and was very hopeful that Dr. Kwan would come in and do the coiling….I am too.

Things are moving ahead, so I’m glad something has been taken care of. I’m still not happy about no interventional radiologist in Maine though.

Struggling

Published on by heiditeaLeave a comment

I am hoping that other survivors will read this post and understand what I’m going through…no one else seems to know.

Last Friday I learned that Dr. Kwan, the man whose handy-work is in my brain, whose hands God guided to very likely save my life, who is the only Dr. who does what he does in the state of Maine….no longer practices medicine. I haven’t officially been informed, but a fellow patient of Dr. Kwan’s heard it from his office.

This is very scary and concerning. If something were to happen to my coiling…I’d have to go to Boston probably. Not that I don’t think they’re qualified, but it wouldn’t be the man I trusted and looked to to help me and guide me. He’s one of my “support team” as my therapist says. Also, since I don’t know WHY he isn’t practicing medicine, I’m a little concerned about the work he did on my brain! How could I not be?

Well, he’s the third of my “support team” to leave me in the last 3/4 of a year. My OBGYN and my neurologist left the state. So now, not only do I have to find two new people to trust, but probably one of the most important people, is gone. I’m very scared.

Add to all of that… I learn on Tuesday that my job is being changed at work.

So, is it any wonder I’m stressed? Is it any wonder I’m so freaking scared about my future, not only at work, but for my health? And now I can’t even get a note from my Dr. who did the coiling to say I need to take some breaks at work. Lovely.

I’m hoping someone out there will understand. My therapist is on vacation and others just don’t seem to get it. I’m really, really, struggling with all of this and there are no easy answers.