Printable View
Sweetheart, you can't let something like the gender of the surgeon influence your decision. Some of the most empathetic docs I have known are male. The worst vets I have dealt with were all female. ;) Go talk to him next week. Sit down face to face and you will get a much better feel of who and what he is. Don't let YOUR emotions guide you. ;)
Hi Pattie, sorry to hear your Lupus has flared. Stress is so bad for Lupus and you've had plenty lately.
I am guessing that Dr. Bruyette wouldn't know how many surgeries the female person has done and her statistics since leaving his facility. It is probably good though that they have referred you to their senior surgeon?
You'll need to make out a list of all the questions to ask him when you meet.
Get some rest.
hugs
Sharlene and molly muffin
I agree with what Barbara said and I wouldn't worry to much that the surgeon is male, some female doctors I have seen are colder than any male doctor, but the main point of talking to the surgeon is to get facts. and with those facts you will decide what is best for Tipper, so IMO even if the surgeon is not as empathetic as you would like, as long as he gives you accurate facts and options, that is the main thing.
My advice is not to pre judge him based on his sex.
so, you have a lot to think about. i agree with the other posters; gender has nothing to do with the skill of the surgeon.
go and meet him and ask him a whole list of questions.
0.3 cm is not much growth in a whole year.
but remember surgeons do want to operate, it is what they do to earn their money.
i hope the thunderstorms are over so you can relax and walk the dogs and have a good night sleep.
Very difficult decision i must say...
Try to get some first...a tired body makes a tired mind (and vice versa)
Hi Patti,
I do agree with the others as gender should not play a part in deciding who will be Tipper's surgeon. Experience in this type of surgery would be the first important thing to me in picking a surgeon.
I do believe Trish's list of questions are excellent ones and I will include them here:I know whatever you do decide will be in Tipper's best interest as you and only you know Tipper best.Quote:
Part I - Questions to ask when considering if surgery is an option for your dogs adrenal tumour:
1. What type of tumour do you suspect, ?functional, ?non-functional, pheochromocytoma, benign, metastatic
2. Expected life span for my dog in a normal situation. If your dog is close to, at or past his expected lifespan for his breed is surgery going to be of any benefit?
3. Prognosis for my dog if we treated medically i.e. with Cushings medications. AND if we do not proceed with surgery how long do you think it would be before the tumour started adversely affecting his quality of life?
4. If he is miserable now, does the benefit of potentially risky surgery outweigh his current quality of life?
5. Are there any other health problems that could impact on a positive surgical outcome, for example: if your dog is overweight or has heart, BP, liver, kidney or lung conditions
6. Is there any sign of tumour spread imaging should be done, including ultrasound and on advice of specialists either CT or MRI to check whether there is local invasion around the tumour, into blood vessels including vena cava or spread further away in the body to lungs etc
7. Surgeon recommendations would he/she do it for their own dog?
8. Psychological impact for the owner: It is important to understand this is risky surgery, sadly current guidelines indicate 1:5 dogs do not make it, and some recommendations are not even that high. Can you accept it if your dogs dies during or in the postoperative recovery period surgery? This is where it is important to weigh up whether the benefit of your dog being fully cured is worth the risk of possibly losing him.
9. Financially can you afford it? Find out estimate of costs.
10. Hopefully this will not happen, but if your dog collapses, e.g his heart stops either during his surgery or afterwards what emergency measures should be undertaken, do you want your dog to have CPR, how far are you (the owner) willing to go for your dog to be saved in such circumstances
Part II - Surgery has been recommended as treatment for your dogs adrenal tumour, here are a few suggestions on what questions you should ask your surgeon:
1. Are you board certified? How many operations of this type have you done? What complications have you experienced? What were the outcomes?
2. Please explain to me how you will do the surgery, which part would likely give you the most trouble? Will you be doing the actual surgery or a resident in a teaching situation? If so, is their close supervision?
3. Will there be a specialist anaesthetist available for the surgery?
4. If it hasnt been done, do we need a CT/MRI scan to look at the tumour more closely to check for vena cava involvement or any other tumour spread?
5. What are the risks associated with this surgery, including
Bleeding (including trauma to blood vessels or other organs during surgery)
clots
Blood pressure or heart problems such as arrhythmias
pancreatitis
pneumonia
kidney failure
infection
wound problems
bowel problems
anaesthetic risks
adrenal insufficiency or electrolyte abnormalities
death (sorry but you have to ask that risk too)
6. If we proceed with surgery does my dog need preoperative treatment with Cushings meds, antihypertensive if high blood pressure is a problem phenoxybenzamine recommended preoperatively for dogs with pheochromocytoma, anticoagulants or anything else?
7. How will you treat to prevent clots postoperatively?
8. What would you do if you found anything else during the surgery i.e. nodules in other organs e.g. spleen, opposite adrenal, liver, kidney. Would you remove them and what are the risks associated when doing additional abdominal surgery together with adrenalectomy
9. How long will it take and when will you contact me so I know all is OK, when can I visit after surgery?
10. How will the postoperative period go, how long would you anticipate he would need to stay in hospital? How will we manage pain?
11. What monitoring would be needed, e.g. heart monitoring, oxygen levels in the postoperative period
12. If your dog has an adrenocortical tumour affecting cortisol production will he need to be on steroids following surgery and for how long?
13. If there are problems when I take him home, who do I contact? Hopefully the surgical team until all is stable.
Hugs, Lori
Hi Patti - I am checking in on your thread after having been absent a while.
I am so sorry about that mistake. What a terrible mistake to make, but at least it turned out for the better and not the worse.
I actually believe CT's are used more for the planning of surgery in removal of tumors, but I could be wrong.
I urge you to meet with the surgeon, without Tipper there (so you can focus 100% on them). Ask your questions and then go home and process.
You'll make the right choice, whatever it is.
Patty,
I've had bad and good femaie and male doctors so in my opinion, gender doesn't play a role at all. Qualifications and experience all the way. Hugs.
Since the tumor has only grown a small bit, is surgery necessary or is that what you'll be trying to determine once the surgeon examines Tipper?
I hope that you feel MUCH better soon.
HUGS
Hi Everyone:
Thank you all for your help.. Renee thank you for checking my thread I appreciate your input, and Vicki, and Leslie, Sharlene, Lori, Valerie, Iraklis, Iris, Barbara, and Lori thanks for posting the questions for the surgeon.
I have sent the IMS a list of questions since she was not able to talk to me the day of Tipper's ultra sound. When she answers I will post all of it as it could help someone else in this situation. Tipper has been drinking a lot of water the last two days, I am hoping the cortisol is not climbing. She had as bad episode of tremors when going to sleep last nite, I could not get to my tablet in time to video it! Just my luck! I am playing catch up, as wen I am away for a whole morning the work is still here waiting when I get back! I have food for the critters to do, and clean up etc. I need to get my stuff ready for Monday morning for the cardiologist appointment as I am usually there all morning. Then next week is my regular Dr. Appt in Pittsburgh again. The week after is when I am thinking I will go back to Pgh. and talk to the surgeon about Tipper so that is a lot of trips and a lot of stress. In the midst of all this I look out the window and see the sheriff at Deloras house. I saw my nosey neighbor run out and start asking him what was going on. Then he ran to the nursing home on a pretend visit to Delora hoping she would tell him what was going on. I called her and she told me her house was being taken over and will be sold. I am assuming the son either put a mortgage on it and did not pay, or did not pay the original mortgage note. The sheriff put the papers in the door. All Deloras clothes and personal belongings are still in there! They will pad lock the house too! She is so upset, she said her son told her not to tell anyone!! This poor woman has had enough, the social worker has been visiting her daily!! She said she misses her house and her cat, it is just pathetic what she has been thru, and I feel so bad for her, but there is nothing I can do. I must now concentrate my energy on Tipper's well being. I do know one thing, I will fight this disease with a vengeance. I will find some way to help my girl no matter what. I am hoping the IMS answers me in a timely manner as I am stressed about all this. This is definitely a good time for them check my heart as I am stressed to the max with this. I am not really worried about the gender of the Dr., just thought I would have preferred a female. All I want if I decide this is experience with a good record of outcome. I don't care if this Dr. owns the hospital, all I care about is his record. I did tell the tech for my IMS to not set me up with anyone except the most experienced surgeon you have with this particular procedure, so we shall see. Blessings
Patti
wow...Patti, the Delora story never ceases to amaze. How is she doing with her cancer? Is she being treated at all? After reading what's gone on with her, her house, her son..I have to admit I'm so curious about what will happen next.
Does the neighbor still have the cat? What a shame this poor woman has had a lousy life the last number of months. It's a sad story.
I hope surgery will not be necessary for Tipper though if it is I think you should be confident with the Dr. Bruyette trained vet, especially as you think highly of Dr. B.
Has Tipper been out a lot after the rain storms...maybe the exercise has increased the water intake??
Barbara