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My appt. at Univ. of Virginia w/ Dr. Laws
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From:
![]() ![]() Loaferjohn1
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My wife and I just returned from a long 500 mile 1 day round trip to meet with Dr. Laws and Dr. Sheehan at the University of Virginia. First off, I can't say enough about the professionalism these 2 doctors have. We first met with Dr. Sheehan. (who, ironically is from my home town and graduated from high school 3 years after me) He discussed the Gamma Knife surgery that was offered to me by the first surgeon I had seen.
Dr. Sheehan explained that because of my obesity, he didn't think that Gamma Knife was an option because I would have to have a closed MRI done and he didn't think I would fit into the small space, and he also said because of the size of my neck that he was sure I would not fit into the halo device either. I was impressed with his honest, no holds barred truthfulness. I was so glad to get someone who told me the truth, and didn't just want to do a procedure even though it may not work, and could have been very dangerous given my size. He told me that no doctor in the World should have even considered this procedure given my size. He said that he would be back shortly with Dr. Laws so they could discuss further options.
Dr Sheehan and Dr Laws returned, and Dr. Laws reviewed my MRI, showed us the tumor, and gave us his impression of what was going on with the tumor based on previous labs and the MRI. He gave me my options which were to basically wait and see if it grew anymore, or have it surgically removed. My wife and I had discussed it previously and knew we wanted to have it removed. Dr Laws explained the risks of the operation and advised me that he couldn't be sure he could get all the tumor because it appears from the MRI, that the tumor may have grown into some of the surrounding bone. He told me the odds of my testosterone level returning (which aren't very good), and explained that we would have to see how the Pituitary would respond once the tumor was removed.
We went ahead and scheduled the surgery for January 5th, 2006, and he sent me over to get a full blood workup just to see what my hormone levels are now so he has something to compare to in the future, although he will be drawing more blood the day before surgery.
Both Dr. Laws and Dr. Sheehan talked to me as a person, not down to me as someone who should be kissing the ground they walk on, and while Dr. Sheehan had to address my weight issues as it related to the Gamma Knife, he did it in a professional, non condescending manner. Also I liked the fact that Dr. Laws, who is not all that young, doesn't use a PDA, he pulled out a weekly scheduling calendar out of his pocket and wrote my name in by Jan. 5th, and when I said about him transferring that to his PDA later, he just laughed and said I didn't have them to rely on when I started out, and I don't use them now. He was a really down to earth guy who made me feel relaxed and was more than willing to answer all my questions without making me feel like I was asking to much.
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