Got The Call

My phone rang at 9AM today. I never answer the phone and each call is screened.  Sandy from Dr. Previte's office left a message that I have a scheduled 'surgery' at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen and needed to provide a urine sample on June 28th (at his N Andover location).  There was nothing more left in the message.  It was so brief, by the time I picked up the phone she was gone. So I returned the call and got their answering service who took my information for a call back.

Around 10AM, I received a call back from Sandy who told me that Dr Previte wanted to start the procedure.  I was surprised that a surgery was scheduled for July 6th in the morning.  It sounded like I was going to have a biopsy.  She couldn't provide a whole lot of information other than, I will go under anesthesia and will need a ride to and from the hospital.  I've had biopsies before, but I'm guessing that this is different because of the location.  She added that I will be receiving three calls (unlike the three spirits that Scrooge dealt with).  The first will be a nurse for medical history and logistics, second for Covid protocol (and proof of vaccination).  The third will be the day before the surgery for the time.  I'm assuming it will be in the morning and I'll need to be there quite early.  She did say that she was going to send me a letter with all this information.

I know while talking with Dr Previte yesterday, he had mentioned that there would be a biopsy to determine the presence of cancer (assume that he'd need to determine what it's like in there since my last surgery was January).  He did mention that the BCG could not be administered if I was bleeding or if I had an open sore.  So I'm concerned that any snipping will require some recovery time before the BCG.  In the past, doctors have all given a 6 week time frame for healing.  I sure hope that's not the case, because that will bring me into August before I can actually start.  But these are just my thoughts and I have little control over the situation.  I'm sure there are steps to be followed and this is merely a first step.

I did receive an email appointment notification for my urine sample at 9:40AM on 6/28. So that's what I have at this moment.

Post Script:  Received a call from the Salem office where I provided a urine sample yesterday.  Apparently I have a UTI (no symptoms).  They called in an antibiotic to Walgreens that I have to take for about a week then go back and give a new urine sample. Geesh!

More to come!

Finally Something To Report

I had my consultation today with Dr. Steven Previte of NE Urological Surgery at his Salem, NH office.  I had an appointment at 1PM and was told to be there 15 minutes early for check in and complete another round of SAT paperwork.  I was there, but there was a note on the door that that attendant was at lunch until 1PM, with instructions to please come in an be seated in the waiting room.  So much for being early.

Close to 1PM a male attendant acknowledged me, but said that "Donna" was out to lunch. He did say that I was required to mask and had one for me, but I came prepared and slipped mine on.  He also said he would check me in but he didn't know how to.  [So much for cross training].  I waited a few more minutes and Donna arrived and indicated that she would be checking me in shortly.  I waited.

Donna looked up and said, " I'll check you in now but I need to go over some Covid questions and take your temperature".  [Normal protocol these days].  She reviewed my file to verify that information was complete and accurate.  She took copies of my medical cards and soon said that the co-pay was $50.00.  I repeated while asking Five - 0, fifty?  Yes, she said.  [It is what it it, but I thought it was going to be $15 like every other place.]  She asked a few other questions, then gave me the SAT booklet to complete.  Kind of crazy, cause much of the information we had just reviewed was being asked again, but bureaucracy lives in the medical profession. I returned to me seat and started completing the paperwork.  I had two pages completed then Dr Privite introduced himself and asked me to follow him.

Of course he asked many of the same questions.  I guess they were making sure I didn't change my story. Then he said, 'Start form the beginning and tell me everything'.  I did and he took many notes (from what I saw it was typical doctor scribble, but if he can read it, then great).  When he heard that I had seen three doctors already he called his assistant in and requested all the files form the doctors.  I thought that it might mean that he had to review everything then I'd need to see him again.  The assistant left and he examined me.  As I was told to cough, he said I had a hernia.  I was surprised, cause I thought I just had a hiatal hernia, and not down there.  He then quipped, "Forget I said that". [That's not the first time I had that comment.  A few years ago I was told I had a hernia and I asked my primary care doctor about it and he said, "Are you exhibiting any symptoms or pain"?  I said no.  He said then don't worry about it.  [Still odd]

Dr Previte inquired about my last colonoscopy and if I experienced any night time urges to 'go'.  Of course my last colonoscopy was to have been March 2020, then all elective/preventive procedures were halted.  I did have a colorectal screening that was negative (last month), but nothing more was discussed.  I did get the greasy finger and kind of a good sign grunt from him. [Still no dinner and a movie].

His assistant arrived with a stack of paperwork.  Apparently she got all the notes and tests results he had just requested.  Now this demonstrates a time when technology works.  He quickly reviewed the notes and put dates next to some of his own notes.  He said, "And you had AAA surgery"?   [ Well he caught me.  After writing the same thing a few times, I seem to have forgotten to mention that.]  'Yes', I said.  "It was Endo-vascular surgery and stint implant that I get checked every 6 months'. He wanted to know who did it and where, to which I updated him to include into his notes.

He gave me a pamphlet about bladder cancer (which I had already read online).  He said that I have TA or T1 cancer - superficial, non evasive but very aggressive.  He said that BCG was right for me and he wants me to start soon (I'll get a call).  I'll be having 6 treatments (once a week) administered by a nurse at his other office (Andover/N Andover).  I will be given a catheter, BCG injected (assume the catheter comes out) and sent home to lay on each side for 15 minutes then 'pee it out'.  He did say that it's important that I have had no bleeding so the treatment doesn't get into my body.  He said that if it does I'll have a fever of 105 and chills.  He said in his 40 years of doing this he has seen one case.  [When it comes to health odds I seem to hit the lottery.  So I hope I don't make it number 2 for him].  He added that after the six weeks (or so), I'll have another cystoscopy and he'll take a tissue sample and test for cancer.  If cancer is still there, he'll do a TURBT again and another round of BCG.  If no cancer is found in the tissue, I'll have a cystoscopy every 3 months, then 6 months, then every year.  He said the success rate is 65%. But he added that mine was caught early and cleaned up, so he feels confident that I won't need radiation, chemo or bladder removal.

So I'm waiting for the call to start this next chapter.

More to come!