I would rather be a nice guy, but I keep being dumped on, so it's time to stop that, and be a hard ass.

Every time I have had to reschedule, I've been given new information I had no clue I didn't know. Frankly, I've been mushroomed - - - I've been kept in the dark and had (manure) thrown on me.
The worst (so far) of this, but far from the only instance, was having "Christie Worthen" tell me "... CT may or may not happen same day as your catheterization, as depends on radiation during your catheterization and limit recommendations per radiology" while "Katrina Korreckt" told me "...will need to be done on a separate day from the CT scan, due to both needing contrast dye". These cannot both be correct. Thus, I must choose between:

• 1) both these persons have failed to warn me of both dangers.
• 2) one or the other is making stuff up (that's the polite way of saying one or the other lied to me).
• 3) They have both made stuff up, and the real reason is unknown, but I fear they just want to dump on me.

I will not tolerate that any more. Seriously, I have accepted being told so little, on the assumption you all are dedicated to my interests. This latest **** says that the promise I would have all preliminaries dealt with in one day, has been inexplicably but entirely violated. This shows me beyond doubt that not eveyone is acting in my best interests.

Thus, I have canceled the appointment. Further, I have a large number of questions that I insist must be answered, starting with:

What is "contrast dye"? What is being contrasted to what? How is it bad for the kidneys? Why is it used if it is bad for the kidneys? What does it feel like? How would it make my bladder feel?

Which prodecure do I need to fast for? Why do you need me to fast?

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE!!: Other than the preceeding questions, I have been given enough info on the mechanics; what I need to know is the human side of things; i.e. what it feels like, what should (and might) I experience, what is the interaction between human and machine like? I need and insist on human aspect answers. What is the physical experience? I accept you cannot predict my mental and emotional responses, but what are you are you able to say about the experiential side?

DO NOT COPY/PASTE FROM A STANDARD DOCUMENT. Since I am a human being, I insist on human-oriented replies. Boiler-plate "bedbug letters" won't do.

When I do go in for the preliminary proceedure, is there anything I should, or shouldn't wear? Is there anything I should, or shouldn't carry or have with me? Especially food/snacks for afterwards?
Is there anything I should or shouldn't do? NOTE!!: don't tell me about fasting; I already know ALL about that.

If the catheter is a small camera, how is radiation concerned? If it isn't, what is it? In any event, how is it used, why is it used, what does it feel like?

What is a CT scan? How does it work, why is it used, what does it feel like? How is radiation involved?

Who does the catheter? Who is the surgeon people keep, vaguely, referring to? What does he/she actually do? What does Avila actually do? What does Watson actually do? How do they communicate with each other? Who makes which decision? Who is in charge? If not Dr. Watson, what is his position and job? Ditto for Dr. Avila.

How can I contact Dr. Avila (or his "team") directly? How about Dr. Watson? Dealing with schedulers has been no help so far.

Who else may be involved? Nurses, orderlies, staff, etc.?

What order do things happen in? Especially if I get all the stuff done on one day.

Why can't you keep the promise I was given that all the preliminaries would be done on one day? I'm 72, I'm too old to fret about medical radiation. Why not all on one day??
Or is the problem kidney related? Or is the problem neither of the reasons I've been given?

I was told getting me to the hospital, and back home, would be "taken care of". What happened to that promise? Why was I given nothing more than a list of almost completely useless companies? Why no help in dealing with that list?
Please note that it would take FOUR busses to get from home to Overlake (home to North Bend park&ride, to Issaquah "Transit Center", to Bellevue "Transit Center", to Overlake). Ditto to get home.

If I arrange transportation with WXYZ, will they take me from home to Overlake and from Overlake home? Will they be willing to deal with "whenever it's done" or will they insist on an exact time?
Another way to phrase it - - - How long will everything take? What time will it be over? THIS IS IMPORTANT because, if I am to arrange for a ride home, I must be able to tell the provider when to show up. (This isn't a problem for a ride in.)

Please describe, fully, step-by-step, what is supposed to happen. Do this in terms of what I will experience --- NOT the medical technological side of things, but the human side of things.
I accept it might not go 100% as "normal", but tell me what "normal" should be, and what "not normal" is likely to be. Especially, tell me what it will feel like.

Why not communicate by EMAIL? The sideways MyChart "messging" is a pain - - - I get an email that tells me I have to take X number of steps to get to the entirely inadequate "messaging" system. Such a waste of time!

If I decline the operation per se, how long may I expect to live?

What treatments/pills/herbs/life changes/etc. will help slow down the "progress" of this condition?

The weather is gods-awful, and will continue to be such into May or June. Would rescheduling for then be a good idea? Can everything be done in one day then? What don't I know to ask about such a rescheduling?

If I put up with having the CT and the consultations on another day, what time of day would that start and when would it be over?

Again - - - my questions are about the human-level experiences and actions and situations. PLEASE, do not bother with medicotechnological matters (other than the questions I asked above). I want to know --- I insist on knowing -- what I can expect to deal with as a human being. And again, I accept you cannot guarantee precisely what I'll experience, what I count on you doing is giving me a run-down on "normal" and "not unusual" and "well, perhaps".

What questions have I not asked, that you would expect someone in my position to ask?
Of all the things people in my situation are suprised by, what are the most common surprises mentioned? What are the most shocking or upsetting?

Of all those who wish they hadn't gone through with the catheter, or CT, what are the reasons they give for wishing so?

Don't mushroom me, don't keep me in the dark and throw (manure) on me.