Well last week was a full week of visits to doctors, mostly because they say I had a TIA a few days after the two surgeries in less than 10 hours. Took the prostate out and then decided to repair inguinal hernia (4 hours) first surgery. Then at 2am cut me open again to stop a bleeding artery. I think all that is why I had a TIA if I really did have a TIA? ER visit showed MRI and CT of brain fine, but still wanted me to follow up with neurologist, urologist surgeon, heart doctor and I already had appointment with oncologist already planned. All in same week!
Neurologist said because of trouble talking, I most likely did have a TIA. He wants me to have a Transthoracic echocardiogram (which they still haven’t scheduled been almost a week). Then If transthoracic echocardiogram is without significant abnormality, consider TEE, loop recorder for possible subclinical atrial fibrillation. That loop recorder is a small thing they stick in you for 3 years. It’s a tiny thing they showed me, that sits under skin and calls into the office. Told doctor I didn’t want that. They said think about it.
Next went to urology surgeon who pretty much said nothing, said pathology not too bad and we would do a PSA test in couple months. No he wouldn’t send me to Pelvic PT until I healed up more maybe 3 months. Not to worry about all my leakage, it’s still early. He is the one that tried to make my visit with a phone call, but I insisted on office visit. Think surgeon just wants to cut on you, he is not known for being a great people person, but supposed to be good at surgery.
Next went to oncologist, he was really great! Young guy just not long out of med school at KUMC, but working here in Topeka. He wants uPSA in 2 weeks which is 6 weeks from removal of prostate. Much sooner that surgeon, which I think is good idea. Said PSA should be undetectable (less than 0.1 ng/mL). Would then watch my PSA every 3 months. If it does not decrease to undetectable or it recurs (past 0.1 ng/mL per NCCN, 0.2 per AUA), would consider salvage radiation given his multiple high risk features. Also, doing Anemia work up plus lots of other blood test as I lost so much during multiple surgeries. This guy really listen and seems to be great.
Then my last doctor visit of the week was heart doctor as the ER people told me to go to. Right away, he wanted to do the TEE, loop recorder for 3 years. It must be some standard if they think you had a TIA. Told him I really didn’t want it. Then he reviewed the reasoning for the transesophageal echo recommended by Neurologist. Since I didn’t want the TEE Loop recorder, he said he wanted me to do at least 30-day mobile telemetry. Some kind of holter monitor that actually sends live data back to the office. I said okay, it will arrive in a couple weeks and I am suppose to put it on myself. I had a 5 day one a couple months ago and all was normal, but they didn’t care. Want to see if I am having Afib or something like that.
Lots of test coming up, but no doctor visits next week. Well I may have to go in if they ever schedule the Transthoracic echocardiogram. Prostate removal is bad enough, didn’t need this TIA thing and it has to be because of those multiple surgeries with a 79 year old man. And there is no way to know if I really had one.