The Guinea Pig

Today was Julianne's doctor's appointment up at Primary Childrens Hospital, to see about her trigger thumb. I had gotten online and done some research and realized that the only way to fix it was to have surgery. So I was prepared to set a date for surgery and for the doctor to pretty much tell me what I already knew. That was not the case.

He actually told me that I had two options. One was surgery, but he wouldn't do that until she was three, because there is a chance that her other hand might do the same thing and he didn't want to operate twice.

Or...

We could do nothing. Apparently the lastest research coming out of Japan and Korea on this condition is showing that if you leave it alone, there's a good chance it might fix itself in five to six years. The doctor we were seeing was actually doing his own study on a hundred patients to see what will happen. I could tell he really wanted us to go with option number two. He said it probably won't bother her, affect her fine motor skills, or anything at all by waiting.

So I guess Julianne will be a guinea pig for the next five years as we see what happens and go back in every year.

(As a side note: Now I know why this guy only works two days a month. He's doing NOTHING!!! No wonder it won't matter if he sees us next week or in two months (that's how long we had to wait to get an appointment). He knew we weren't going to do anything. Now that's the way to go. That's the job to have. Charge folks for an office visit to tell them you aren't going to do anything. Couldn't we just discuss this over the phone? He's a pediatric hand surgeon and he said most of his patients come in with this condition. So your job is what? You specialize in something that people don't need to worry about? I'm just saying. I came out of that appointment shaking my head. But on the flip side, as I was walking out of the hospital and watching these families come in with children in wheelchairs and some without hair, my heart turned really greatful for the healthy children that I have. If all I have to worry about is a bent thumb, then I'm counting it as a blessing.)