Drama--Drama--Drama

You never know what a day will bring. On Monday the 16th of January I went to the doctors office for a "Normal" visit. I planned on getting my blood counts, my port flushed, a shot to make my bones strong and a shot to combat the cancer and keep it at bay. I also had major difficulty breathing. So the doctor ordered a CAT scan for my stomach, lungs and spine. He also ordered an MRI due to the headaches that have creeped back into my life. The doctor at first thought we could start the scans and get them going and all the results would be in by Friday. He also had an idea--If -I were admitted to the hospital we could do all the scans in a few hours and have the results by tomorrow. The doctor felt it was best for me and my "lungs" or should I say "pleural cavity", to be admitted. I went into the hospital thinking.. No big deal.. I'll be home tomorrow and everything will be great. Boy--was I wrong!!
(Above is a picture of the lungs) The CAT Scan showed that I had about 2 1/2 liters of fluid in the plueral cavity. Incidental, the Friday before I had a liter of fluid taken out. It showed that my left lung was partially collapsed. No wonder I was having trouble breathing! I just thought I was out of shape;). So the doctor gave me the options of coming in once or twice a week and have the fluid drained (by the way - to do this they put a needle in your back that is over 1 foot long to drain the fluid) or they could surgically put a catheter in the plueral cavity which would have to be drained daily. I chose the latter! Still not sure it was the best decision. Either one would be very ouchy!!! The doctor that put the catheter in is a "dipstick"! He didn't wait for the drugs to kick in before he started shoving the catheter in! I was out of it just enough that all I could do is cry and moan. It was incredibly painful!Oh, and by the way, the doc said, "the MRI on your brain is good - no cancer" (and yes, they did confirm that there is a brain ,it's matured to a 10 year old level- just in case you were wondering). I confirmed being about 10 by pointing out to the doctor that I was watching Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel while he was talking. My doctor is such and academic ( and he likes Phineas and Ferb). He began to explain how good and evil offset each other in the show. Wow!



So, to get on with it - I asked about the fluid. It seems that there are breast cancer cells in the fluid - actually they ooze and cause the fluid - gross! Good news - the CAT Scan also showed that the cancer in the liver and the sacrum are not active. Yeah! It seems like the shots are working. There is a war going on inside my body - the bad cancer cells are warring with the good cancer blocker shot. Cancer cells - you're going down! So after 2 sleepless nights in the hospital, I got to go home. The home health care people come and visit me every day. Drama, drama, drama we'll see what is next on "As the Richardson's Live Turn".

Wishing all of you health and love and good family!and friends!