Stanford Plan

 So, after my last post—I was determined to make an appointment with my doctor at Stanford Health in Palo Alto, CA. During my appointment, he consulted with another practitioner—and they both agreed that they can try to excise my scar and treat it with laser therapy post surgery. I was hesitant when he first mentioned this treatment modality, because I’ve done an excision procedure before and my scar came back bigger!

However, I do trust him and am willing to try again. Perhaps I wasn’t getting the best treatment before, but my new doctor has a plan. We are waiting for my insurance to approve the procedure and treatment, and I might be doing this at the end of the summer. Will keep everyone posted!

July 2020 - SIP

Hello World!

I have to admit, since shelter in place started—it’s been hard to get an appointment at my doctor’s office. I haven’t been in the plastic’s department since March 🤪

My scars are definitely not as puffy as they used to be, but I started getting these spider veins and white spots all over my keloids. I have emailed my doctor about it, but we haven’t been able to set an appointment.

Silicon sheets

It’s been 5 days since my visit to Stanford Plastics, and I’ve switched from Cortran tape (12 hours a day) to Silicon tape (24/7) and it looks like my scars are starting to flatten!

Stanford Health Care - Plastic Surgery Dept

Update!

I recently accepted a full-time job (Am I a grown up yet?) that's allowed me to change my health care plan, and am now revising my health team. I've been a Kaiser member since birth, but thought I would change it up a little to get a new perspective on care so I signed up for Athem Blue Cross PPO. I haven't really decided on how my doctors compare, but thought I would give Stanford a shot---especially cause I've been dealing with these keloids since forever. Converting health care plans is no fun. I've had to get my records in order, request my files be transferred and also get referred again related things I've been seeing doctors for a long time for.

Hopefully this change will be worth a shot. I saw a Plastic Surgery doctor today for the first time at Stanford in Palo Alto. I cried in the office when explaining my treatment history, what I've tried, modalities that did not work. It seems like there's little any doctor can do. It was hard to get the words out and explain to the new doctor why I switched to a new hospital. It's not that I didn't like my old doctor, it just started to feel a bit routine. I wanted to new person to consult with. There has been so many times I've considered flying down to LA or New York for a new professional's opinion. These scars are unpredictable and tricky, especially with the placement of my scars being directly located mid chest where there is so much tension. I guess I'm a little sad that I lost my old doctor with the insurance switch. She's been with me since my keloid excision and watched me grow up in a lot of ways.

I was able to get a round of kenelog shots in, which is pretty normal maintenance for my scars. It's starting to feel like getting an oil change, haha. Just something I need to do every 3 months. Anyway, the Stanford doctor thinks I should stop with Cordran tape (what!) and solely use silicon sheets 24-7. New doctor, new opinions---so I am willing to try this too.

New news: New doctor is willing to excise again. I'm scared though. I've excised before with a worse re-occurrence of the original scar. He thinks it could be different, followed immediately by radiation. It's something to think about. What are your thoughts world? Worth a shot?