Medical stress

I haven’t been on as much lately because I’ve been having some medical issues. In mid-August I was diagnosed with pneumonia – was really exhausted all the time but still worked. I did try to take it easier which translates into working 10-12 hour days instead of 12-14. Not surprisingly I didn’t get better. So I did take a couple of days off. Follow up XRays weren’t any better so my doctor sent me to a pulmonologist. Long story but 8 weeks, 4 sets of XRays, 3 different antibiotics, 2 courses of steroids, 2 cat scans and 1 bronchoscope later the doctor is “seriously concerned” that I have lung cancer. 😥

The most recent cat scan indicates I now have free fluid in the chest (pleural effusion). So I’m going into the hospital Monday for them to tap the fluid and send it for analysis (plus a follow up doppler – I have a blood clot in my right leg). So Wednesday afternoon I’ll know if they found cancer in the fluid – if not then I will have to go for surgery and have a biopsy of my lung (and be out of work for 10 days.) Sort of a loose/loose situation. Except I really don’t want to have surgery.

So I’m a tad stressed. And feeling really lousy. I have a cough they can’t control and I constantly have a tight, constricted feeling in my chest. Necron, I really don’t know how you have handled everything you have – just two months of this and I’m exhausted. And I hope I never need another bronchoscope – I can’t believe you have to have one every 3 months. You have my utmost admiration.

I hadn’t been posting about this because I hoped it would get better. And there is still hope – the doctor isn’t 100% sure it is cancer – evidently I’m not following the normal course of anything. And since I work with animals there is always the chance I picked some weird thing up. So keep your fingers crossed!