We knew right from the start that we should and would get a 2nd opinion. It is always good to have a fresh set of eyes look at the whole picture.
For our 2nd opinion, we traveled to Buffalo, NY to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
We dropped our boys off with some of our dearest friends, Gary & Lynda. It was early in the morning.
I realized we have dropped the kids off with them many times very early in the morning. I have had many medical issues over the years that required early mornings and I am telling you, true friends will wake up before the crack of dawn to take your kids. They have even done it on their son's birthday! We couldn't appreciate them more. They truly are family to us.
Lynda took the kids to school along with her own kids. It was the very last day of school and so it was a half day. That meant she picked up the big kids at 10:15am and the younger kids at 11:15am. She made the day extra special taking the kids out to lunch and then back to swim in the pool. We wouldn't be back until just before dinner time.
In Buffalo, we met with a breast surgeon team there and absolutely loved them.
Our strategy was to not say anything about what our doctors back home recommended and just see what these doctors said.
It was a relief to us that they recommended exactly the same surgery. Literally exactly.
We were there for hours and had to go over all of my medical history. I had some complications to go over.
I have many autoimmune disorders including Hashimoto's, Lupus, and several other more minor conditions. I have most recently had issues with my hormone levels being extremely low.. including cortisol levels which could complicate surgery.
Those potential complications were a big focus of our discussions both with Buffalo and with Dr. Lisa and Dr. U back home.
The best news was that everyone was on the same page.
Before we left Buffalo, we met one more time with the breast surgeon to let her know that we had decided to have the surgery back home. We loved our team at home too and didn't want to have travel complicate things. She was very kind and understanding and away we went.
We got back home to get the kids and check out the year-end report cards. It was an exhausting day but worth it. I highly recommend at least a 2nd opinion. We were open to a 3rd opinion but decided we didn't need it.
So, the date stayed on the calendar. June 28th. Now, I felt an overwhelming urge to get everything ready. Freeze meals, clean the house, get the kids organized.
It was much like nesting before having a baby. For real. Nesting.
Plus I had to meet with the Endocrinologist and the Nephrologist prior to surgery to be sure I was cleared for surgery.
So much to do. 6 days to go.
For our 2nd opinion, we traveled to Buffalo, NY to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
We dropped our boys off with some of our dearest friends, Gary & Lynda. It was early in the morning.
I realized we have dropped the kids off with them many times very early in the morning. I have had many medical issues over the years that required early mornings and I am telling you, true friends will wake up before the crack of dawn to take your kids. They have even done it on their son's birthday! We couldn't appreciate them more. They truly are family to us.
Lynda took the kids to school along with her own kids. It was the very last day of school and so it was a half day. That meant she picked up the big kids at 10:15am and the younger kids at 11:15am. She made the day extra special taking the kids out to lunch and then back to swim in the pool. We wouldn't be back until just before dinner time.
In Buffalo, we met with a breast surgeon team there and absolutely loved them.
Our strategy was to not say anything about what our doctors back home recommended and just see what these doctors said.
It was a relief to us that they recommended exactly the same surgery. Literally exactly.
We were there for hours and had to go over all of my medical history. I had some complications to go over.
I have many autoimmune disorders including Hashimoto's, Lupus, and several other more minor conditions. I have most recently had issues with my hormone levels being extremely low.. including cortisol levels which could complicate surgery.
Those potential complications were a big focus of our discussions both with Buffalo and with Dr. Lisa and Dr. U back home.
The best news was that everyone was on the same page.
Before we left Buffalo, we met one more time with the breast surgeon to let her know that we had decided to have the surgery back home. We loved our team at home too and didn't want to have travel complicate things. She was very kind and understanding and away we went.
We got back home to get the kids and check out the year-end report cards. It was an exhausting day but worth it. I highly recommend at least a 2nd opinion. We were open to a 3rd opinion but decided we didn't need it.
So, the date stayed on the calendar. June 28th. Now, I felt an overwhelming urge to get everything ready. Freeze meals, clean the house, get the kids organized.
It was much like nesting before having a baby. For real. Nesting.
Plus I had to meet with the Endocrinologist and the Nephrologist prior to surgery to be sure I was cleared for surgery.
So much to do. 6 days to go.
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