Normal...

I finally got a call back from my surgeon!  It only took 5 days and two phone calls (on my part) but at at least he called.  After asking me a lot of questions he thinks that the pain I have is normal and not an abscess.  He said if it were an abscess I would have a fever--and I don't (I don't think).  I didn't tell him I don't take my temperature but I can usually tell if I have a fever by how I feel.  I've had a few very low-grade fevers but this would be a high fever and it wouldn't come and go!  He said that for some reason, and these are his words, "skinny people have more pain and it takes them longer to heal".  I guess he's saying I'm skinny!  Why do we always like to hear that?  Hahaha.

I do wonder why I was feeling fine and dandy and then woke up with this new pain?  One of the great mysteries I guess.  I am not going to worry about it.  He told me to pretty much do whatever I want but to listen to my body and if I need to rest, then rest....

I am much relieved.  Guess I'll go ride my horse!

Pain, pain, go away--come again another day?

My pain from the abscess has not gone completely away.  I finished the antibiotics last Wednesday.  I thought I would give it a few days to keep working (or not).  The pain is definitely not as bad as it was, however, it is worse today than yesterday.

I called my oncologist's office yesterday since they had been handling this for me.  After several calls from the nurse, she got back with me and told me my doc wants me to call my surgeon.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised... he doesn't know what should be done. I was hoping just more antibiotics!  I did call my surgeon's office and talked to his admin.  she said he was in the operating room and would get back with me today.  I'm just waiting for a call. I hate waiting.  I kind of think he won't even call me back!  I know I'm just feeling insecure--like no one wants to deal with me!  I'm certainly not a PITA (pain in the ass) patient.  I don't know why I'm worried about him thinking it.  I do know he's super busy now that he's the head of the transplant program at the University Hospital.  I am his patient though so he should take care of me!

I'll keep you posted!  I feel OK otherwise... just tired but that is my "normal".

Feeling better!

Just a quick post that I am feeling much, much better!  Day 5 showed improvement and today (7) are pretty much pain -free.  The antibiotics seem to be working.  I'm so relieved.  I was getting worried they were not going to work and I was going to end up back in the hospital.

I am feeling so much better that I went out to the barn yesterday and got my horse, Abbie, out for the first time in almost 8 weeks (for me, not her--she is worked daily or turned out).  It felt really good just to get to brush her and spend some time with her.  I'm so wanting to try and ride!  I think I'll go sit on her one day this week after my trainer rides her so she's sure to be quiet.  Just see how it feels.  Start slow.... 

Want some cheese with that "whine"?

This might be one of the posts I don't actually publish because I am going to wine whine... and yes, I will have some cheese with my wine whine!  I don't consider myself a complainer but I have my permission to do so today.

I'm tired.  I'm in pain.  I'm at work and I'm bored....  I want to go home and take a nap!

Day 4 of antibiotics.  I'm not sure how long it should take for them to start working.  I didn't ask. The pain has been different every day.  Yesterday it was a pulling, tearing pain when I reached for something or stood up or sat down, etc.  Today it is a constant throbbing pain in my ribs liver.  I might as well call it what it really is and that is LIVER pain (ok, I know the liver has no nerves but the swelling causes pressure on other vessels that do). I am thinking that this is what it will feel like when my liver tumors get big enough to hurt.  Not a fun thought.  I am being morbid.  Someday, unless I die of something else first (old age), my liver tumors will cause me pain. I will most likely die from liver failure.  I hear it's not a bad way to go and I did watch my mom die from it.  (I warned you I was going to be morbid, right?)

I'm am giving the antibiotics until Monday.  If I'm not much, much better, I will call the doctor.  I hope and pray this works because I do not want to have any needles stuck in my liver to suck out the abscesses.  Ick.

Abscess and treatment

My oncologist talked to my surgeon (I love it when great minds get together) and they agreed it is most likely an abscess (well, two).  My treatment for now is just oral antibiotics for 10 days. I sure hope this works since the alternative is drain the abscesses and iv antibiotics, which would require a hospital stay.

I took my 2nd pill today.  I didn't sleep at all last night and one of the possible side affects is sleeplessness!  Oh no!  I need my sleep...  I hope it isn't and I sleep tonight.  My pain is about the same today.  I'm sure this will take a couple of days to get in my system and see if its going to work.

Now I've just got to remember to take my temperature!

2nd Scan Results... time to call the Surgeon?

Finally!  I see the written report online.  This took my doctor's office calling them twice!  Not sure what the delay was.

Sounds like this radiologist thinks I have a infection or abscess on two of the areas of resection.  The other two areas look fine.  I'm going to have to do some Googling on some terminology to find out what it all means.  Possible Biloma?  Normal Seroma?  Hu???  Guess that's why DOCTORS go to MEDICAL school!

Depending on what my Oncologist thinks, I may call my surgeon's office and see if he'll look at the scan.

Well, I'm off to do some Googling.  Is Googling a word?

Complications?

I thought I was "in the clear" and recovering well and then BAM!  I woke up Monday morning with pain in my right rib cage that ran around from front to back and down my side.  I also had/have pain when I inhale.  It was like going back to step one.  It hurts to walk.  It doesn't hurt when I am still.

I had my Sando shot appointment on Tuesday so I mentioned it to the nurse.  She went and got one of the PA's to come and see me.  I think I should have just called my surgeon but I didn't want to.  I don't know why I fear looking like a hypochondriac!  I really was in a lot of pain!  Anyway, the NP wanted me to go get a CT Scan of my lungs because it could be a pulmonary embolism (blood clot).  They scheduled it for the next morning.  I went in and had it, after which the tech let me look at it (I asked her if she saw anything and she said nothing that looked like blood clot or fluid on my lungs).  We could see my liver so we looked at that and you can see surgical clips or something where he excised one of the tumors.  Pretty cool.

She had me go wait in the waiting room until the radiologist looked at it (PE's can be life-threataning).  She poked her head out and gave me the "all clear".  I had just made it to my car when my cell phone rang.  It was her, the tech.  The radiologist wanted me to come back in because he saw something in my liver that concerned him.  So I went back and hoped up on the scanner and got my abdomen scanned!  Kind of funny, really.

He saw fluid and air around the areas of tumor excision, which could be tumor necrosis caused or it could indicate infection.  He said he would call my doc and that they would call me for follow-up.  The NP called me a couple hours later and said they wanted me to go back in for another CT of abdomen and pelvis--this time with contrast.  I had only IV Contrast for the chest CT.  I wasn't too thrilled about having to drink that crappy contrast!

I haven't heard back on the 2nd scan yet.  I do have a follow-up appointment with the NP on Monday.  I think the pain is a little less severe today.  Either that or the pain from my sando shot is so bad it is masking the other pain.  My butt and leg are still killing me, which is unusual for me for it to last this long.  Usually two days and I'm pretty much over it.  It's been three.

I think I should have called my surgeon.  He probably would have had me come in but he may have also known what this is without all the scans.  Maybe it is normal?  I keep checking my online health system to see if the report is there yet.  The first one was there within two hours!  They were really busy yesterday though so maybe the radiologist hasn't had time to transcribe it yet.  I'm curious to see if it is any different than the first one.  I may call my surgeon if it sounds like they want anymore follow-up tests.  I hate to waste money. Even if it's insurance money!

A few other interesting findings from my first scan.  They noted a "tiny 2 mm nodule within the inferior
anterior aspect of the right upper lobe.  No specific followup for this small finding is recommended
according to Fleischner Society guidelines".  Also, there is small retro-esophageal and
para-aortic lymph node identified within the mid chest.  Now, why do they even mention those?  Is it because they should not be noticeable?  Are they of concern?  Are they normal findings?  I just wonder...

Hopefully, this is something that will resolve on its own but just needs watching.  At least I got my follow-up scan to see what my liver looks like!  It just happened a little sooner than I though it would.  I'll keep you posted!