Life has its frustrations: No word from Birmingham, so I called up there, and got an answering machine this AM--by 3:30 PM, no return call, and I called again. The secretary said "I am very busy"---hadn't even checked the answering machine.
The secretary would check with the surgeon--who was in surgery. She called back-"-your on for Oct 15th". I explained the prognosis--she called the surgeon back--and then it was moved up to Oct. 11th. I called my cardiologist, who was quite upset with this.
A bit later the Secretary called and had the UAB doctor on the line. "Those doctors in private practice don't under stand how busy we are at the university--we take the patients they won't. I do 2 cases a day, 5 days a week. What do you want me to do? Cancel another patient? Not go to a meeting I have scheduled next Friday? or find you another doctor?"--my response was "Are there any other doctors at UAB as good as you? (no answer to that one). I don't expect you to cancel a patient or your day off. However, I trained under Mike Debakey and Denton Cooley in Med school, was full time at UCLA School of Medicine for a couple of years, and worked about 80 hours a week when I was in private practice so I do understand your situation very well.". He said that he would see what he could do. About an hour later I got a phone call from the secretary that "she had made an error in the schedule, and there was an opening for surgery on Oct 4th.". Not ideal--and several weeks from when my cardiologist wanted it done. Now I just have to hang in until then and hope I don't have to call 911 (or have any more frustrating days, such as today)
Thanks for all of the good wishes....