OK.... back at the hospital today for FL's Maxillofacial Review.
You probably won't be surprised to hear that although they had found his file this time, it didn't have any of the notes from his last appointment on it... so we had to start again, again. But as before, this had the advantage that the junior doctor had to call the Consultant, and FL had the benefit of a third actual Consultant-consultation. We like Mr R. He is a very fine man: he inspires confidence. "A gentleman and a scholar," you might say.
So Mr R. looked up the CT scan from two weeks ago on the computer: "Small bony defects, but no cysts". He also did a clinical examination (i.e. looked inside FL's mouth) and said that it looks much worse than the CT scan shows. This is a good thing. From where I was sitting I had a pretty good view, and FL has an area of exposed bone of perhaps 2 centimetres in length along his upper jaw, where there used to be teeth. This bone is clearly decayed. Not a pretty sight. The site of his extraction has not yet healed but it is not misbehaving, or in medical terms there is "no infiltration of pus ". This is an improvement on his last appointment. The antibiotics have done their work.
Mr R. was clearly frustrated that FL's notes had gone AWOL again. He said he distinctly remembered FL's case, and writing a letter to Haematology... but that was not on the file either. He instructed the junior to make sure the file went on his desk immediately the appointment ended.
He was quite matter-of-fact about the need for vigilance and oral hygiene. Although he does not want to see FL again for 3 months, we can call for an earlier appointment at the slightest hint of trouble. FL is going to have his case added to the UK's BONJ database (Bisphosphonate-induced OsteoNecrosis of the Jaw). A statistic at last, eh?! Mr R said he had seen another BONJ patient only that morning - a woman, who had "pus-y infiltration of the sinus". Uh huh.
Then Mr R. said: "Did you have a beard at your last appointment?" to which my brave lad replied in his best Highland accent*: "Aye... and I still do, Doctor!" Oh dear - ever the joker! It certainly lifted the mood.
So there we go: he's "fine".
* ETA: It has just dawned on me that I need to explain why a Highland accent was funny. FL was referencing Dr Finlay's Casebook. No, I don't suppose anyone else in the room got that bit of the joke either! They were all too young / not Scottish!
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11 comments:
I'm so pleased to hear such positive news!
YAY! Who thought a missing file could result in a better appointment. ;D
That's excellent news. But I am guessing that if he has exposed bone he is suffering. After I had a wisdom tooth extracted I had "dry socket" which is essentially exposed bone--and it was pretty nasty. The treatment was ancient: clove oil. Do they have any ideas to alleviate that pain?
How frustrating that there's so much disorganisation going around. But at least you got to see the Consultant! And a clear CT scan, yay! :) I'm crossing my fingers that it stays that way. :)
Oh dear, I think I got the joke! I'm not old enough to remember Doctor Finlay's Casebook on the tele, but my Mum used to listen to it on the radio when I was growing up, in the 70s.
Sounds like good news for FL :D
I am glad to hear FL manages to retain some humour! How annoying though to have missing notes sadly a too common occurence though, I just heard similar story last week of missing notes. Hope situation stays good.x
Hope you took lots of knitting to occupy you while you waited for results. Prayers for you and for your family from this direction.
I have run into "missing appointments" recently. Not me or my husband not showing up, but the office not writing them and then denying all knowledge of their existence. Once an office forgot to call us to tell us the appointment had been changed. Today- I think that the same thing had happened, but when the nurse looked up the doctor's notes she did find that he had said he wanted to see me in a month, which I knew. She said she thought it was about my knee I had asked about last time. He had made lots of tests -so I hope nothing unpleasant is there that can't wait until early April.
The worst and the funniest experience on that line was when I had had an appointment for two months, and they denied all knowledge and then said I was not even in their system, even though I was a former patient- had formerly been treated by that doctor.
Well, she said I was not in the system- but, then she blew the punchline, so to spak, by saying, " and is your address still-----."
I'm glad you all saw the RIGHT doctor this time- and I will continue to pray for your family.
LindaC
Glad to hear your good news. I have had no problems since my ONJ "bone defects" were removed two years ago.
Speaking of Missing papers and mistakes...My oncologist wants me to have a second endoscopy because when the first one was performed and an ulcer was discovered, they did not perform a biopsy (which is usually standard procedure)
so now I get to do it again! grrrrr!!
sorry all went so kaflooey with notes and files. but seems like it was almost meant to be that mr. r. happened. such good news that fl is doing well, and knows he has someone caring and responsible to go to if something looks suspicious. i know you must be so relieved. XO, karen
Very glad to hear that the failure of the system to keep track of things did not result in a failure of the staff to do the right things and to give you better news! Intending that FL continues to be as fine as rat hair and keeps his sense of humor intact as well, for the highest and best good of all concerned!! so be it and so it is! Whooooo!
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