11.19.2006

More on S

Well, the MRI showed that his spinal cord is compressed in his fourth vertebra (C4) and the doctors say he should go stay for two nights for a CT scan with contrast and other tests to determine how they should surgically proceed at a later one month hospital visit. The administration called today to say they had a bed for him from Monday morning and he is scheduled now. The only problem is that he says he has never heard of the university to which the hospital belongs (he only acknowledges the top 3 universities in Japan and the rest are all inconsequential to him) and is suddenly considering cancelling because they might mess up and they looked terribly young to have a medical license...

This could go two ways:

1. He'll go to one of the two central Tokyo university hospitals which actually list themselves as having spinal cord specialists within their orthopedic departments (Tokyo U. or Keio U.)

2. He'll go to a local chiropractor or acupuncturist to see if they have any better advice.

If he refuses to go for the inpatient check-up nearby, I'm going to push for the hospital I found that is staffed mainly by Keio U. doctors and specialists. He is a Keio graduate so he can't complain about the dubious qualifications and it's easier to get to by train (on the way to the cancer center in fact).

If he needs to be in the hospital for a month, we may have to hire our top student to teach a few classes because I know I can't teach 7 afternoons and nights a week and still feed the kids. The student came over today and has indicated the times he will be able to fill in for S so it looks like we can manage.

I've been writing a list of questions I'd ask if it were my neck on the block but S is convinced it's an old sports injury and not congenitally narrow or arthitically induced so he may not ask. I doubt that he'll let me go with him to speak with the doctor, but I'll print out the questions anyway and see if it makes a difference. Maybe I can figure out a way to e-mail them to the doctor...

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

>>I've been writing a list of questions I'd ask if it were my neck on the block but S is convinced it's an old sports injury and not congenitally narrow or arthitically induced so he may not ask. I doubt that he'll let me go with him to speak with the doctor, but I'll print out the questions anyway and see if it makes a difference. Maybe I can figure out a way to e-mail them to the doctor...<<

I am going to be blunt, Kathy, so sorry if this is not the approach you need to hear right now. If it feels less than supportive, I apologize. My DH has serious health problems and I doubt if I could put up with a DH with an attitude like yours. I am irritated just reading his 'reactions', and I think he should 'get on with the CT scan hospital appointment' as a first step and realize he is not required to do surgery there at all. But first he needs to know his condition (not guess at it) and then he can go to a different hosital.

Now, if I were you, I'd take the list of questions to the doctor myself after having made a private consulation (without your husband for the first visit) and get the answers you want. Then you can go with your husband. The reason you can do this is because in Japan, historically, hospitals are used to dealing with the families first - talking to the families and then to the patients. No doctor will find it strange that the wife wants to know EXACTLY what the situation is separately from her husband (who may be wagamana, or ganko, or both, about his health, and not listen - perfect reasons for wanting to uncover the information yourself.) I have this relationship with my husband's doctor/s and I make sure I see them and talk with them. We are still at the point where we both hear everything, but I have noticed that when they speak with me, some small nuances, and facial expressions or tone of voice are different. With him they are keeping a kind of 'brave, supportive face'. Go for it yourself. It is peace of mind for you, and you can offer better suggestions and advice from the sidelines for his future care needs/decisions.

Good luck with it all. What a huge downpour from the heavens for your family. I send strong energy waves that surgery and a month in the hospital will take what it needs to deal with the compressed disks.

Much love,
Tamah