ideas for friend

[juanita]

got another co-worker, i've written about her before probably. last april she found this lump and after an inconclusive biopsy they did surgery and removed the lump which turned out to be infection. she said it has hurt since then. and a month or so after surgery she had to go back on antibiotics because she had another infection there. she's not physically abused but emotionally so she hasn't felt "worthy" of having it all taken care of or to be forceful about getting the treatment she needs. anyway, a month ago the infection got so bad it split open the incision scar. the surgeon wants to wait and see if it goes away on more antibiotics. she blames him for the whole thing anyway because it was just an infection and she thinks they shouldn't have done surgery. right now she's looking into switching to a different doctor, if we can stay after her to follow through. so has anybody heard of infections like this? she also had a mass on her renal gland on her kidney that she hasn't taken care of. and now she's just afraid to find out about that, she's afraid of bad news. i have tried to convince her, even offered to go with her, but these doctors just keep telling her to wait. please help with any ideas on what to tell her to convince her to go in or what could be behind this.

[Becky]

Hopefully she can still run and run fast to another doctor for advice, opinions and care. She needs both medical problems dealt with promptly and professionally. She could lose her breast to something besides cancer - something I have never heard of. That infection can spread - even to her bloodstream and kill her. And God only knows what the mass on the kidney is?

I would tell her that she needs a second opinion and if that opinion tells her to wait (and to explain why she has to wait) then she should - but I don't think anyone is going to wait on either of these problems and someone will act to bring her to good health.

[juanita]

we got her to call today and make an appointment for a new doctor for next thursday. hopefully she keeps it and doesn't cancel. this is just a pcp, (same one i go to) and he is pretty thorough. really stays on me about my health.

[mariapiedra]

Hi Jaunita, sorry that your friend is having so much trouble. I recently had an infection with my chest port. (Never even got to use it.)The incision opened up, I was put on an antibiotic, had the chest port removed. To make a long story short I ended up in the hospital for five days an had a very strong antibiotic by IV. I missed a week of chemo, but I'm back on track- I have my fourth chemo on Monday. (only 8 more to go) Maybe your friends infection is not responding to the antibiotics they are giving her. I know my situation is different because of chemo and my white cell count dropped really low but, it is very serious if they can't get rid of the infection. A second opinion sounds like the best course of action.

[DanaRT]

Juanita,

I am glad to read that your friend called another doctor. Keep encouraging her to follow through. She's lucky to have you for a friend.