After some discussion, Ma has decided that she will go back to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for her February treatment. We had scheduled a February treatment at Marquette General so that Ma wouldn't have to travel to Minnesota in the middle of winter, but after the experience at Marquette General's Cancer Center, she does not want to go back there. And who would?
So we called yesterday to inquire about dates and Dr. Hartmann set up the appointments for Thursday, February 18.
Blood tests are scheduled for 7:30 am. There is an appointment to meet with Dr. Hartmann in the afternoon and then a chemo treatment is scheduled after that.
Sylvia has decided to drive to Baraga to pick up Ma and from there they will make the eight-hour drive to Mayo.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Better
Thankfully Ma woke up this morning feeling much better. So the trip to the ER was called off.
ER
I spoke with Ma this past weekend and everything was fine. No complaints.
But last night Mavis called to check up on Ma. She sounded terrible and complained that she was feeling pain and heavy discomfort in her abdominal area. Yesterday she had gone to the tribal health clinic to seek help and the doctor there told her she should take Milk of Magnesia. (Editorial side comment: this is a prime example of the poor quality of rural health care there and the number one reason she is a Mayo Clinic patient). If you have a serious illness with painful and acute symptoms, you should take Milk of Magnesia?
So ignoring thebuffoon tribal health clinic doctor, and after a couple of conference calls with me, Sylvia and Mave on one line and Jim and John patched in through another line listening in through my cell phone, we decided to get in touch with the oncologist on-call at the Mayo Clinic to see what to do.
After hearing all of her symptoms from Mavis who made the call, the oncologist at Mayo recommended that Ma be brought to local emergency room. By this time it was about 11:30 at night and undertandably Ma didn't feel like going anywhere in the middle of the night.
So this morning we all have our phones close as we wait to hear what's going on. Jim is on his way to pick her up in Baraga and from there they are going to the ER either at Portage View Hospital in Hancock or back to Marquette General.
But last night Mavis called to check up on Ma. She sounded terrible and complained that she was feeling pain and heavy discomfort in her abdominal area. Yesterday she had gone to the tribal health clinic to seek help and the doctor there told her she should take Milk of Magnesia. (Editorial side comment: this is a prime example of the poor quality of rural health care there and the number one reason she is a Mayo Clinic patient). If you have a serious illness with painful and acute symptoms, you should take Milk of Magnesia?
So ignoring the
After hearing all of her symptoms from Mavis who made the call, the oncologist at Mayo recommended that Ma be brought to local emergency room. By this time it was about 11:30 at night and undertandably Ma didn't feel like going anywhere in the middle of the night.
So this morning we all have our phones close as we wait to hear what's going on. Jim is on his way to pick her up in Baraga and from there they are going to the ER either at Portage View Hospital in Hancock or back to Marquette General.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
No Mayo Clinic
So Ma and Jim went to Marquette General Hospital's Cancer Center last week.
Where do I start?
First, the callous unprofessionalism. In the middle of a busy chemo room with no privacy whatsoever, one of the doctors apparently blurted out to a patient the news that he has cancer.
Second, the nurses insisted on wrapping Ma's feet and hands in ice, even though there is no medical evidence supporting said practice - according to the Mayo Clinic.
Third, the doctor tried to take over Ma's treatment plan. For example, he ordered a whole slew of tests, including blood tests every week for the next three weeks until the next chemo treatment even though this is nothing that Dr. Hartmann has ever ordered. Keep in mind that the nurses are not good at poking veins there. It hurts and blood should be drawn only on chemo days.
Fourth, the doctors did not follow Dr. Hartmann's instructions. The treatment plan says Doxil. That's it. NO pre-treatment drugs are necessary because Ma is tolerating the treatment just fine. Who wants to sit there for longer than absolutely necessary?
Fifth, the doctor is not up to speed on the research. He felt the need to give Ma a prescription for a medication to help with the neuropathy in Ma's hands. We called Dr. Hartmann to ask about this prescription and she advised that the researchers have found it ineffective.
Sixth, out of nowhere Portage Hospital in Houghton is now involved. Apparently the Cancer Center at MGH scheduled the February chemo treatment to take place there. We have no idea why.
Seventh (I can't believe this list is so long either), the appointment should have been for a consult only but the doctor ordered chemo so now the schedule is off by a week. The chemo should have happened on January 11 not January 4. Now the whole schedule is off.
So now you know: Marquette General Hospital is no Mayo Clinic.
Where do I start?
First, the callous unprofessionalism. In the middle of a busy chemo room with no privacy whatsoever, one of the doctors apparently blurted out to a patient the news that he has cancer.
Second, the nurses insisted on wrapping Ma's feet and hands in ice, even though there is no medical evidence supporting said practice - according to the Mayo Clinic.
Third, the doctor tried to take over Ma's treatment plan. For example, he ordered a whole slew of tests, including blood tests every week for the next three weeks until the next chemo treatment even though this is nothing that Dr. Hartmann has ever ordered. Keep in mind that the nurses are not good at poking veins there. It hurts and blood should be drawn only on chemo days.
Fourth, the doctors did not follow Dr. Hartmann's instructions. The treatment plan says Doxil. That's it. NO pre-treatment drugs are necessary because Ma is tolerating the treatment just fine. Who wants to sit there for longer than absolutely necessary?
Fifth, the doctor is not up to speed on the research. He felt the need to give Ma a prescription for a medication to help with the neuropathy in Ma's hands. We called Dr. Hartmann to ask about this prescription and she advised that the researchers have found it ineffective.
Sixth, out of nowhere Portage Hospital in Houghton is now involved. Apparently the Cancer Center at MGH scheduled the February chemo treatment to take place there. We have no idea why.
Seventh (I can't believe this list is so long either), the appointment should have been for a consult only but the doctor ordered chemo so now the schedule is off by a week. The chemo should have happened on January 11 not January 4. Now the whole schedule is off.
So now you know: Marquette General Hospital is no Mayo Clinic.
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