Rough Monday

Well, yesterday didn't go as planned.  The anxiously waited for phone call from the surgeon's office never came.  Instead, my Dr. called to inform me that the surgeon he referred me too needed him to refer me outside my healthcare system to one of two specialist in Virginia Mason (Seattle) that specialize in Pancreas Cancer.  Well, since my Dr. was out of the office Friday-Sunday, he didn't get the request until yesterday so back to the drawing board waiting for my healthcare provider to push my paperwork through their system.  I decided to call customer service and explain to them that I had already waited four days and needed the referral rushed.  The gal showed no mercy and said I just have to wait my 2-4 days for it to get processed.  Even after I asked her how would she feel if she was told she had cancer.  Still, "mam you just have to wait 2-4 days.  Needless to say I feel apart..............drove straight to Heather's house and drank wine and let my emotions out.  At this point, I feel like I'm just a name and a number a piece of paper being shuffled through some system.  I decided to email my Dr. one more time begging for his help.  He in turn called me twice last night explaining that I need to be very assertive in getting this appointment ASAP.  He went on to explain this is pancreas cancer and time is NOT on my side.  Today, I'm jumping ahead and calling both surgeons and scheduling a consultation assuming that by the time I get in to see one of them, my referral will be processed.  I'm really hoping today goes better than yesterday.  In the meantime, my Dr. is scheduling me for an upper GI ultra sound so they can get a better look at my pancreas.  This will be helpful for which ever surgeon is assigned to me.  I'm optimistic that I'm going to be in very good hands, it's just getting in them that is so frustrating.  My Dr. also told me to call him if I run into any more walls and he'll do what he can, although he has no control over the schedules at Virginia Mason.  I really feel like getting in to see one of these surgeons sooner rather than later is going to be the difference of beating this thing or it beating me!  LIVE WITH PASSION!
(thank you Heather for being there for me and getting me calm down)
DJ