From my house to yours...

Happy Easter!

Freak of Nature

Hello my name is K and I am a freak of nature.  When regular people get sick, they go to the doctor for tests, the doctor tells them "Mrs So and So I'm sorry you have diabetes" or "Mr Something or other you have tuberculosis" , then they are send on their way to get medication or treatment. And then they live happily ever after or so.

Then I come along. From the beginning nothing has been normal.  From the first exam by my family doctor who got real serious real fast without giving me much information to ponder, to the blood test that showed I was human, to the trip to the first specialist who happily shoved a endoscope up my nose and two needles in my neck, to the chest xray that proved I was skinny on the inside, to the last minute appointment with the pathologist who did liposuction on my mass, to the CT scan that made me feel like I wet my pants(more on that later).  Everything pointed nowhere.

But lets back up for a minute.  That trip to the pathologist.  It was an experience in itself.  He was very smart but very serious.  I hardly felt a thing, especially after he shocked me by saying "This will hurt a LOT"  I was too stunned to feel the needle.  I swear, had I know he was going to perform something similar liposuction on my mass I would have asked him to take a little off my thighs and belly.  He took not one, but three samples.  and boy did I feel it after!  He sent me on my way and it was over.  Like a bad blind date, I left with the words "Call me" ready to leap off my tongue.

The CT scan was so quick its hard to believe that it happened.  I got treated really well by the nurse I dealt with and he warned me well about what I would go through.  I giggled a little when he said once the medium was injected I would feel like I wet myself but to not worry, it is just a feeling, not reality.  I got naked from the shoulders up, hopped on the table and tried not to think about anything.  The nurse was kind enough to inform me that they use a really big needle but he would try to be gentle.  At that moment I was quite happy that I didn't have my glasses on because I was sure had I seen the size I would have run out of the room screaming.  I now have this lovely purple bruise on my arm as a reminder that the needle was HUGE!  So the material was injected and holy cow I just wet my pants!  Oh wait no its just the feeling.  I checked afterwards and sure enough all was dry so I was ok.  But boy that was a strange feeling.  I finished up and went home to wait and wait and wait for any word of what was going on.

Dr. Bosch called this evening to let me know the results.  Dammit, nothing was conclusive!  There was nothing that fully pointed to one area and said "THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG"  Crap.  He goes on to teach me two new words #1 SCHWARNNOMA  #2 PARAGANGLIOMA  Ummmmm  ok....The only thing the CT scan and the pathologist could agree on was that this mass was slow growing.  Ok I guess thats good news... The doctor couldn't come right out and say its not cancer because again the information collected couldn't confirm or deny definitely.  The doc is now going to pass my ct scan onto a radiologist specialist to get a better read on what exactly is in the picture.  Next up for me will be an MRI to try and get a better look at the alien.  Where we go from there is still up in the air because of a) whether its #1 or #2 and if it is too close to my main artery in my neck. 

So thats the kind of week I have been having.  Why be easy when you can be complicated!

Cheers,
The Freak

Taking a minute.....

I would like to take a minute and thow a shout out to all my doctors who have been awesome in getting me such speedy service.  You always hear stories of how wait times in emergency rooms run 8 hours plus, or lack of beds leaving people in the hallway but you never hear of the people that have had great experiences.  From Dr. Singh who got me into see Dr. Bosch within 2 days of my inquiry, to Dr. Bosch who not once said this won't hurt a bit.  It has been a whirl wind over the last 2 weeks or so and I am extremely grateful that I have been put at the front of the line for blood work, chest xrays, CT scans and now a visit to the pathologist.  Yes its scary to be moving so fast but their kind, soothing nature and that of their staff has definitely put me at ease and made me feel ok rather than a freaked out hypocondriac.  I love the Canadian health care system and I am glad I live in the city where I can get the best care anywhere.  What more can I ask for?  Thank you all!

Annnnnnd the winner is...........

Dun dun duhhhhhhhh.....Inconclusive! 

So yeah went to the doc this morning thinking all would be revealed.  Apparently I am one appointment ahead of the doctor as he had no idea what I was there for.  All in all it was ok because as it happens he got the results from my biopsy on Wednesday.  The good news is that no cancer cells were found in the two samples...the bad news is this means nothing.  With any kind of lymphoma they have to be completely sure of the results so basically what my doc said was since the test was inconclusive, most likely what will happen is I will have to go under the knife and have the lump removed.  This will be so that they can test the whole mass to see what the hell it is.  I have not accepted this fate yet until I have spoken with the specialist on Monday to see where I go from here.  I should also know when I will have the CAT scan done. 

So now I wait.  Any questions feel free to ask.

Well Son of a Bitch....

Just when I thought I would write a blog to vent my frustration I get hit by a cement truck.  Ok I didn't really get hit by a real truck but man it sure feels like it.  And by the time it you all read this, it could be worse.

A little back story.  Back in Jan/Feb I discovered a sizeable lump in my neck.  About the size of a golf ball, located just below my jaw.  Time went on and it didn't go away so I finally asked my doctor about it...we were already there on another matter so i just casually mentioned it to him.  The visit went like this:

Me: So I have this thing, should I make an appointment with you to check it out?
Doc:  Holy Crap!  Let me swab your throat.  Here's a form for blood tests and an ultrasound.

Well I guess I didn't need to make another appointment.  Off I went and had all that done while trying to not freak out.  A week goes by and I go back for the results.  The visit went like this:

Me:  So whats the dealio...
Doc:  Well the good news is you don't have mono.
Me:  Ummm...ok thats good to know....
Doc:  I'm not finished...your blood work is fine....
Me:   Yippee!
Doc:  Im not finished!  The ultrasound tech is concerned that your lump has a blood source.
Me:  Ummm so that means I'm growing an alien off the side of my neck?
Doc:  It has to come out, Stat!  I am going to send you to a surgeon to check it out.  Let me know if you don't hear from them in the next 10 days.
Me:  Ummmm.

So I got the call from the surgeon that afternoon.  Damn things sure are getting done quick around here!  Its almost shocking!

Fast forward to today.  I go to the appointment.  The guy looks in my ears, up my nose, in my mouth.  I have never had such an examination of my tongue in my life.  It was quite the experience.  So far the appointment was painless.  Then the bomb drops.  It went something like this...

Doc.  Lets go to the other room
Me:  whaaaa????
Doc:  I need to stick this fancy doodad up your nose all the way down to your throat.
Me:  Ummm...okaaaay...
Doc:  Well everything looks good from here.
Me:  Whew!  Excuse me while I try not to throw up as you yank the scope out.
Doc:  Now its time for the needles
Me:  No one said anything about a needle...or two!  Or that they are going to be that BIG!
Doc: I'm going to swab you with an anastethic but I will warn you, it won't help.
Me:  WTF?

So he took the two tissue samples...I guess this is commonly referred to as a needle biopsy.  I get up to leave and he says...

Doc:  Want a Cat scan immediately, go to high river
Me:  Cat scan?????
Doc:  when was the last time you had a chest xray..
Me:  Never?
Doc:  Cool, you get to do both! 
Me:  What fun!

Then I went on my merry way trying to absorb what the hell just went on.  On the plus side of things, I did win a coffee at Timmy's...too bad it wasn't the car- then it would have been a stellar day for me!

So now the waiting game begins.  I'll call Monday for the results of the biopsy and when the cat scan will be.  So far I am doing ok with everything.  The guy is a little freaked but is hiding it well.  I'm coping by keeping a sense of humor about it.  When I was told this thing had a blood source this scene from spaceballs flashed in my brain and makes me laugh every time.  I'm twisted I know!  LOL

. 

Now dear readers..all 5 of you LOL, all I wish for from you is to keep me in your prayers and hope that this will just be a little bump in the road with a wicked scar to show for it.  And heck if I have to shave my head too,, then so what, I didn't like my hair this way anyway.

Cheers!