Monday, April 9, 2012

Jim's Cancer


Jim started exhibiting side effects of the drug Sandostatin at about 1 a.m. in the morning of April 7….after receiving two shots of it on Friday, April 6.  We were not informed of side effect;  however, I looked them up on the internet. 
He was sick for two solid days.  We were not aware that there was a doctor on call at M. D. Anderson, The Woodlands, on weekends:  so we refrained from calling and decided to e-mail the problem.  We were told to go to the ER at St. Lukes on Monday morning by Tennile Campbell, nurse to Dr. Coscio. 
Jim was clearly suffering from side effects of Sandostatin.  He was finally beginning to recover and felt much better on Monday morning when we heard from Dr. Coscio’s nurse, and she said to go to the ER at ST. Lukes.  (we sent the e-mails on Sat. or Sun……why didn’t somebody pick them up then if there was a doctor on duty?)
The ER at St. Lukes tested Jim for everything BUT…..everything but symptoms of side effects of Sandostatin:  they tested him for blood clots, heart problems, lung problems, intestinal blockage.  They wanted to bring in Dr. McTague, Jim’s emergency room surgeon in Conroe, who did his first surgery in September. ???? We said that if we needed a surgeon, we would use Dr. Fleming at M. D. Anderson in Houston and have him take out the carsinoid tumors in addition to anything else that was there. 
I am concerned that this lack of empathetic treatment of Jim and the lack of appearance by his oncologist at the ER when we followed her nurses instructions to go there are indicative of lack of communication and possibly more serious problems.  Certainly lack of communication. 
At this time I feel as if the whole situation is going to kill my husband rather than help him.  We certainly hope that that’s not the case. 

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