Second opinion Tuesday

First off, thank you for the good wishes and thoughts, along with the prayers. The second opinion surgeon was great, as was the rest of the staff in his office and elsewhere on the medical campus. 

He agrees with the first surgeon that the mass on my kidney is NOT a solid mass. He also agreed with the first surgeon that the mass has fluid in it and is cystic. So YAY finally I have two people saying that. However, he said he couldn't be more specific until they did an MRI and that they had radiology folks who are RCC / kidney specialist. So YAY again. He was going to put in a request for me to come back ASAP and have that done. I asked if there might be any chance that could happen that day (yes, I know, you medical types are probably laughing about that, not to mention anyone who's waited... and waited... for an MRI). To their credit, they didn't laugh, found out there was a cancellation later the day, sent me over for STAT labs to check kidney function, and we were business for being able to have the answer as to what specifically the cystic kidney mass was and what we were going to do about it. 

Or not. I have an HMO, and they waited until so late in the day to refuse approval that it was too late to get an MRI done at an in-network facility. Not to worry, they would send a STAT request to a place by my home that would make both them and the HMO happy. This morning, the nurse called, delighted I hadn't eaten because there was an opening less than two hours. So off I scurried, wearing comfy metal-free clothing, ready for my MRI. 

Or not. I have a latex allergy, including being sensitive to airborne latex protein bits, and it hit while things were getting set up. Fortunately, I realized what was happening while I was still cognizant enough to get my butt out of there and before the EpiPen had to come out. So glad I wasn't half nekkid in a hospital gown in the parking lot. In contrast to the non-solid renal mass which provides me with no symptoms, a latex reaction makes me feel like a 6 or 7 on the 1 to 10 lousy scale. GAH. 

When will I have the MRI is what I'm asking right now, too. Where I live, there are not too many options that I know for in-network MRI locations. I will NOT be going back to the site where I had the reaction this morning. The whole process was squirrelly, unsure of what they were to scan, giving me a hard time about allergy concerns, not paying attention when I said I was starting to have a reaction and my throat was swelling, not checking symptoms, monitoring, etc. 

Fortunately, I'm not sensitive to spandex. But the airborne crumbs of latex protein are ubiquitous little things if ever there has been latex used. They use nitrile gloves, but there were other things that may have very well been latex. Plus the residual. 

Don't know, yet, Jan. That's what the MRI will be for. Looks as though it's going to be another trip to the teaching hospital. As soon as the insurance's approval (which apparently has been given) catches up with the folks at the teaching hospital, I'll be able to make my appointment. 

So glad this sucker doesn't grow like kudzu!

I survived the MRI this time. OK, more than survived, but after the last attempt, "surviving" was my baseline. The people were amazing, the tech was professional and attentive, had a sense of humor, answered my questions, I was carefully monitored during the procedure.... It went well, I felt safe. 

I'm still waiting for the results, which should've been to the doctor Friday. Not sure of the doctor's schedule Friday, but I figure I'll hear something this week about my follow up appointment. 

Previously, I didn't see any need to travel farther away to have my surgery done, but after the MRI nonsense last week, I'm reminded that the quality of the support services staff is important, too. We shall see... 

Jerzy