I'm co-opting this blog to be my voice in communicating with friends and family about my health. If that's not what you want to see, quit following this blog. If you want to see my suggestions for contacting me without causing me stress or an emotional roller coaster, see this page.
I've been sick for about 2 years with an intermittent low grade fever and nausea, the fever every afternoon (yes, for two years) and the nausea about a week every month. Last March (2018) I went to my new Primary Care Physician (PCP) where I saw a Physicians Assistant and was diagnosed with a bladder infection. I felt great for a week after the antibiotics and then the symptoms came back, so I went back and they tested and found no infection, and my PCP said she didn't think there ever was an infection. After lots of blood tests (all negative) I got sent to Doctors 2-4, a cardiologist (no endocarditis), an infectious disease specialist (tested for several fungi, all negative) and a rheumatologist (never went, six month wait). While I was working my way through this list I started a new symptom in August, one with a prognosis of surgery before I even saw the gynecologist (Doctor 5) (see this Far Side). After an ultrasound, I got the word that I had a tumor the size of a large grapefruit two days before the start of the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival in November 2018.
So I got a referral to Doctor 6 (gyn/onc surgeon), and the CT scan showed three alien puppies growing in my gut, with one a set of lymph nodes taken over by the invader. This former lymph tissue was biopsied and the type of cancer determined in January. The CT scan showed the former lymph tissue was the troublemaker, as it's wrapped around the inferior vena cava (a big vein to non-biologists) and is preventing my Doctor 6 from removing the tumors surgically. So I got sent to Doctor 7, a chemo oncologist. Another CT scan since it's been three months (lol, never had one before and now three months is a long time) and an MRI to look at a shadowy spot on the first CT. They came back with little change on the CT and nothing to act on on the MRI. Note to self: check to see which MRI machine they will use if you ever need another. The old coffin style MRI had a short line for a reason.
But it seems we're finally ready to start treatment, so back to poking and prodding me soon. I'm a terrible patient. As my dad used to say, patience is a great virtue but sadly not one of mine.
Stay tuned here for updates.
I really like my Doctors 6 and 7. I've got two tough doctors in my camp. The cardiologist was also excellent, but the rest, eh, not so much. I don't think I'll share more on the subject, but I am disappointed in the lack of customer service (e.g. one doctor wasn't even in the office yet after an hour in the waiting room) and communication in health care professionals at the other offices. Sometimes even the Doctor didn't introduce themselves, so why should I expect the nurses to do so?
