I can’t sleep. And I can’t even concentrate on Lost.
I got my surgery consult appointment notification tonight. Dr. R referred me to her husband. He has an excellent reputation. People like him. I really don’t have anything bad to say about him.
But over and over, I remember a conversation I had with an ophthalmologist last year. He said, “If you ever have something wrong with you…you go to Ann Arbor.”
I need to recover from this surgery as quickly as possible. And I need to come back as ME. No complications, no worries. On the other hand, how do I tell Dr. R that I don’t want her husband to do the surgery? Will she treat me differently? Will I ruin the first good doctor-patient relationship I’ve had? Am I over-reacting? I don’t even have a large tumor…any idiot could probably do the surgery just fine. I should just keep my appointment in Saginaw.
But what would I tell my mother, my sister or my daughters in this situation?
I would say, “If you ever have something wrong with you…you go to Ann Arbor.”
http://surgery.med.umich.edu/general/endocrine/patient/conditions/thyroid/thyroid_cancer.shtml
Thyroidless 
Medical mistakes CAN happen ANYWHERE (even Ann Arbor.) Medical anxiety DOES happen EVERYWHERE. Any physician worth their salt knows that a patient may need some reassurance before a surgery. You can be comfortable explaining your apprehension with your doctor and not worry about offending her. Just tell her that based on U of M's reputation, you have a preference for them and ask for her opinion. The more information you have, the better. Additionally, Hope should be keeping you up tonight. The decisions you are making deal with the best way to get better. That has to feel better than laying in bed wondering about what is wrong. Sending prayers and good energy (I ate all my Xanax. Sorry.)
Don't worry, Tony. I got plenty of Xanax. So keep sending prayers and good energy!