I made a health care decision 11 years ago rather matter-of-factly but it may explain why I’m still alive today. Back then, a physician at the VA Medical Center where I routinely receive treatment mis-diagnosed a growing kidney stone as a “harmless” cyst. The result was three separate trips to the O.R. for percutaneous stone removal.
While the O.R. visits were successful, the real damage was a permanently-blocked ureter—the thin tube that connects each kidney to the bladder, and a kidney that was far less functional. On the day that I was being discharged from the Medical Center, I had an informal hallway chat with a different doc who I knew there. He commiserated a bit about the need for the three O.R. trips, suggesting that I might be better off letting them remove that kidney altogether.
Thank God I was headin’ out the door! I didn’t take a minute to think about his advice because I was so anxious to get back home. Didn’t think about it much in the days, months and years that followed either, but here I am with that kidney still one of the two in my body, and it is still workin’ every day. Oh yeah, I’ve had my share of urinary tract infections over the years, but the point is that I still have two functional kidneys because I didn’t listen to that knucklehead’s bad advice.
Recently, I had a somewhat similar experience at the very same facility. One doctor was recommending a procedure but my wife and I wanted a specialist’s opinion. Turned out to be, “let’s not stir things up in that kidney.” Sound familiar?
Trust me, I’m not saying that doing nothing is always the right answer. I’ve signed enough consent forms and visited enough O.R.s over the years, and I have the scars to prove it. What I am saying is that each of us needs to take charge of his or her health care. Discuss recommendations from your physician with your family members, or in their absence, with trusted friends, get a second opinion from a different physician, then make your decision.
Sometime between 11 years ago and late August of this year, I decided to be in charge of my health care. It’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.