1st Rheumy visit next week--should I postpone?

[skibum]

I posted here a month or so ago about having very high ANA test values, among other things, and got your wonderfully wise advice & perspective about what to think about. I need your advice again. After waiting nearly 2 months for my first rheumotologist appointment and an immunologist appointment the next day (to check for immunodeficiency--that appointment made 4 months ago), here's the situation I'm in. Last Wed (two weeks before these appts) I had emergency colon surgery, losing my right ascending colon and its associated lymph nodes, due to a rupture and possible cancerous mass. This was a massive insult to my system and lots of things went haywire: I developed an infection for a few days associated with the rupture (contents of the colon spilled out into the abdomen--not a pretty picture even if this happened subsequent to a colonoscopy), I temporarily developed stress-induced diabetes, became anemic, had to have 7 or 8 units of potassium (or more--I lost count), etc. You get the picture. On the other hand, the infection and diabetes cleared quickly and I was released from the hospital 3 days earlier than expected. Now home, I'm recovering, weak as a kitten.

So--what should I do? Will any blood test base lines be *way* off? Is it worth going? I should add, the rheumy appointment is up in San Francisco--a 40 minute drive. I'm not sure I'll be able to drive myself so I'd need to organize that to be able to go and I'd be pretty wiped out by the trip. If I postpone, I'll likely need to wait another month or two at least for the rheumy and several for the immunologist (both are specialists and very good).

Any advice very much appreciated.

Andy

[Aileen]

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[helloos]

HI Andy.

Totally understanding your situation, I would try to get someone to bring me since you have waited so long for these appointments. I would inform them when you get there that you had the surgery, etc. and maybe they can give you a room to lay down in while you wait, also maybe moving you to be the next person seen up on the list.

REcline back in the car or lay down in the back seat.

If it were me, I would go and get it over with, but only you know how you feel. I would just hate for you to have to wait all over again for those appointments.