Rising Effervescence

I learned something eye opening today. Yesterday was doctor day.

Dr. Guaglianone was pleased to announce that all the scores on my blood test were good and that, when he listened to my chest, my lungs were clear.

Dr. Yoon said much the same thing he has said, week after week, but it was somehow different yesterday. The young, serious Dr. Yoon’s attitude has been rather upbeat since my third treatment. Yesterday, he seemed to bubble – not the big, floating bubbles but the sort that form and then rise on the side of the glass of carbonated drinks.
Kendall and I may not have responded to his report in the way he wanted because, twice, he said, “You don’t know. You just don’t know.” Of course, he’s right. We haven’t the information and experience he has. Still, what that meant, we didn’t know.
Today, I mentioned to nurse Janet that Dr. Yoon had seemed very upbeat yesterday and that I had, since, wondered if he’s like that with everyone. I’d listened to him speak to patients while I was waiting for the second blood pressure reading and had decided that he seems to maintain the very serious manner he’d had on our first meeting. Janet told me that he was, surely, that excited and went on to explain that, as I was on the most aggressive program of chemotherapy and radiation and had no problems, I was just doing that well.

I didn’t know (Kendall didn’t either) that I was on their most aggressive track. What we knew was that Dr. had reported improvement immediately after my third radiation treatment.

Now that I think about it, I should have had a better clue. When the case management nurse from my insurance company talked about following my case and making sure the doctors knew which drugs and treatments were on or off the company’s list, she mentioned hospitalization and home helpers. As I was in the midst of stressful diagnostic testing, I hadn’t paid enough attention. I just wanted to get off the phone and take a nap. I’d worry about the rest when forced to the point. Meanwhile, I just wanted to survive the day so I could return to testing the next day.

It’s clear to me that I did things in the order needed. First, prayer requests and, then, everything else – explanations, for instance.

I think Dr. Yoon was pleased to check my back and find the rash he’s been predicting from the first. I rewarded with a handful of creams to use and with a nice coupon. I think he feels better when he can show his care mode. I’ve needed little of such but we do know that he is trying hard to keep abreast of everything.