Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog

     My recent surgeries and extended stays in the hospital were an eye opener into our in-patient healthcare system.  Despite the doctor missing my fractured femur, I feel I otherwise got good medical care.  But, I sometimes also felt confused and overwhelmed.  There was a team of physicians who saw me during my admissions: Hospitalists, (5 different ones) Surgeon, and surgical residents Oncologist/Hematologist Infectious Disease specialists, (5 different ones)      The hospital is a large medical center and teaching hospital, so I expected there to be residents and medical students.  What I didn't expect was the number of different attendings that would be involved in my care, and my resulting confusion...I needed a medical point person. With so many physicians coming to see me every day, I started to ask them each, �Who's my quarterback?"  Interestingly, there wasn't one answer.  Most said it was the hospitalist, b...

Spring at Wynn and Luna's      As of yesterday, I've been home six weeks.  In this time, I've gotten significantly stronger, but I still have a ways to go.   No more walker and the rental wheelchair has been returned.  I need to use a cane, but am trying to get around the house without it for increasing longer periods.  (My limp is  significant, however.  Gotta work on that.) Wound vac...gone two weeks ago.  This was a big step forward for me.  No more being attached to a 4 lb. pump by 4 feet of tubing. The incision is slowly healing and I only have to see the wound care PT once a week now. IV antibiotics...done last week.  Now I'm on three oral antibiotics, but with the end of home IV treatments, I'm done dealing with tubes.  The hospital bed was returned three weeks ago because I am strong enough to make it up our stairs.   After a few practice runs, I'm back to driving.  PT 3x/week continues to...