2/2…or experience counts

Today is a double header: biopsy in the morning, CT scan in the afternoon. I'm home from the biopsy, which seemed to go according to plan. This will be the second CT scan I've had in three days. This one, of my lower torso, includes contrast dye injected through an IV, as well as a … Continue reading 2/2…or experience counts

1/2

I followed the nurse, Angela, into what first appeared to be a store room. There was a hospital bed, but the bed almost looked like part of the extra junk that had landed there, along with the supply cart with “ULTRASOUND” scribbled in black marker. Every surface was cluttered with stuff. The sink directly across … Continue reading 1/2

Learning the lingo

Today's CT scan confirmed I am not allergic to contrast dye (yes!) It also documented several enlarged lymph nodes in my chest cavity. An enlarged lymph node is what they referred to as a "mass" in the chest xray I had previously. The lymph nodes range in size, from about a half inch to a … Continue reading Learning the lingo

Surreal

It was about 6:45 pm. My cell was ringing and the caller ID read, "Dr. Shoustari," the physician I saw a few hours earlier. Oh. About a week and a half ago, I went to the doctor to have a swollen area in my neck looked at. My regular physician wasn't in the office, so … Continue reading Surreal

Mum’s the word

Things seem so vague right now. We had a big family gathering last weekend to celebrate my mom's 90th birthday - it would have been a bummer to share anything until we know something more specific. I’m a pretty transparent person. It helps me to process things by talking about them. Other than Don though, I’ve … Continue reading Mum’s the word

Are angry lymph nodes serious?

Twenty six years ago, I had a sonogram when I was pregnant with my son Donald. I remember having to pee due to the full bladder it required. Mostly, I remember being excited to see the baby growing inside me. That's not what I felt this morning as I followed the technician into the procedure … Continue reading Are angry lymph nodes serious?

Wait…what?!

Some things go together really well. Peanut butter and jelly. Bert and Ernie. Chips and dip. Thelma and Louise. "I feel a mass in your neck" and "It's huge" are not meant to be together. But those are the two phrases I heard from Dr. Usmani as he examined me. "It could be cancer," he … Continue reading Wait…what?!

Scratched my neck and look what I found…

“Does this seem swollen to you?” I asked my husband and daughter, pointing to one side of my neck. I felt a swelling on the left side that seemed different than the flat skin on the right side. Don: “Um, I don’t know, yeah, maybe it sort of looks a little more muscular than the … Continue reading Scratched my neck and look what I found…

Welcome to My Blog

I’ve always wanted to write a blog but never felt confident sharing. What do I have to say? Who will want to read it? Then, on December 4, 2018, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma. Creating this blog and sharing my thoughts is helping me process what I’m feeling. I hope sharing my journey will … Continue reading Welcome to My Blog