And the Story Continues

I have to start this with a heartfelt thanks to Mom and Dad for taking care of me. I actually did dishes last night for the first time, and I think I made cheese crisps for one dinner. Not much to claim for two weeks of housework. Oh, wait, Mom and I cleaned the arcadia doors yesterday. We're all relieved to see out the windows finally. That about wiped me out, but oh, it's pretty! My dog, my home and I would be a wreck without them. They are even staying until the 17th, to get me through a very busy next week. Thank you, thank you! They have done so much for me and I am so blessed!

The doctor just called back late this afternoon. He still doesn't have the written report from the CT scan, but is going on the preliminary report. I have "mild ground glass consolidation in my lower left lung". Seems like it means that instead of having clear lungs in the CT scan, the opacity of my lower left lung is like looking through ground glass. Not sure what caused it this time, but an infection can cause it, so he's putting me on Zithromax, an antibiotic. I had no phlegm, no fever, no normal signs of an infection, so I'm glad the CT scan caught it, whatever "it" is. It could be other things, but I'm not planning on it. The doctor wants to see me back in 10 days, and I have to have another CT scan (grrrrrrr!)in three months. I guess that's because it only shows up on a CT scan, and they have to make sure the antibiotic clears it up, and it really was an infection. Makes sense to me that it's my left lung because I still cannot sleep on my left side without my lungs bubbling and feeling like I'm under water. Slept great on Wednesday night, but last night was restless due to breathing issues.

And to end on a humorous note....according to the surgical report, they went in my "umbilical port", not my bellybutton. That cracked me up. I can just see me in a Star Trek Next Generation episode. So the next time you grab your little kids and give them a raspberry on the belly, you can tell them you're really just checking out a possible future umbilical port.

Thanks for your continued support. Hope all this detail doesn't drive you nuts!

Me

CT Scan Finished

Wow, when doctor's are worried, you get responses back really fast. Thankfully, I don't have a pulmonary embolism, but it looks like I have an infection. They'll call me back with more details tomorrow when the doctor can look at the actual films and then prescribe more medication. Don't know about pneumonia, I didn't ask. They yanked and poked at my arm forever. It's still numb.

Sorry if I sound grumpy, I should be feeling much better soon! :)

Me

No More Cabin Fever

For someone who has been stuck at home for 7 days, I sure wish I could stay home today!

Briefly for now:

10:15 appointment with Dr. Brothwell. Mass on appendix is NOT cancer! Instead it was endometrioma. I really had no symptoms from it but soon would have had problems. Mom cries every time she gets to tell people I don't have cancer. She asked if I was excited about it, and I sarcastically replied that not having cancer won't matter if I die of suffocation. I cannnot lay down without feeling like I'm drowning. I got basically no sleep last night because I was gasping. Dr. Brothwell was very concerned. Sent me to my primary care doctor, Dr. Thacker.

Came home, ate lunch, turned around and went to Dr. Thacker's at 12:40. He is very concerned. Listened and listened to my lungs and peppered me with questions. I may just have a very bad case of asthma, but he's also worried about a pulmonary embolism (blod clot in the lungs which can happen after surgery) or pneumonia. I will continue to take my inhalers for the asthma, plus prednisone.

I have to have a CT scan today which is scheduled for 3:30. No more food (not even the prednisone!) until after the scan, just drinking water like crazy so they can find a vein again. Grrrr. They had a terrible time last time. I just want to go to sleeeeeep. Dad and I are wandering around Glendale like crazy. We're happy U turns are legal in Glendale. I don't feel well and am not navigating very well, and Dad is a perfect SunCityDriver, which stresses me out. I'm constantly telling him to speed up....!

Oh, and by the way my gallbladder showed that I had chronic choleostytis (heck if I know how to spell it right now!), which means my gallbladder was chronically inflamed due to repeated acute attacks of choleosomethingortheother. No stones though. Just didn't work. So the scan taken exactly a year ago yesterday that said my gallbladder wasn't inflamed was WRONG! 1 1/2 years.....how I envy Lynda!

Update more later. Thanks for your love and concern!

Me