There is so much going through my mind lately that I've been having trouble writing this post. I've been so concerned with tests and surgery and all the while trying to keep my job and my sanity.
Lately I had a neck biopsy to determine what kind of lymphoma I'm dealing with. I arrived at Suburban Hospital with my dad and sister just ready to get it over with.
(Not the best pic but yes I did get my haircut...LOVE IT!)
I had some difficulty with the IV due to my stupid anxiety but my sister was by my side the whole time and luckily they had a TV with a movie channel playing "Into the Woods" which I hadn't seen yet...so that kept me entertained a bit.
My CT scan came back just before the procedure and they found several enlarged lymph nodes in my chest which has been causing me slight breathing issues and coughing. The anesthesiologist was afraid of putting me under general anesthesia so she put me under a twilight version where I was sort of in a nap. I don't remember anything after going on the table in the OR. Next thing I know I wake up to graham crackers and apple juice which felt heavenly going down my throat as I hadn't eaten all day and it was 8pm. Apparently I had conversations with my sister about Jon Snow from Game of Thrones and The Tudors which made no sense but I have no recollection...too bad she didn't get a video. My ENT surgeon was great and gave me pain killers but left me with this HUGE scar on my neck that looks as though someone tried to behead me but got distracted half way through because of tea time.
(An accurate representation I'm sure...lol!)
There was no band-aid, just some stitches on the inside and surgical glue on the outside...leaving my neck totally stiff for the last several days. I can move it a lot more easily now but still have difficulty hugging people and turning all the way to the left.
Then after the surgery we get a call from the oncologist...she wants me to have a bone marrow biopsy. Now this is something I had a feeling was going to happen and was dreading the thought even more than surgery. I had done research on it before and everything pointed to pain and discomfort.
Luckily a few days later my oncologist made a change of plans and decided to refer me to radiology for the procedure so they can put me under twilight again so I don't remember anything and I won't feel any pain. I'll probably be so loopy afterward. Maybe I can get a video of the after effects. lol!
But in the meantime I've been trying to maintain a normal life...which isn't easy. Some people at my work are questioning why I've been taking so many days off for these procedures and appointments. Then I have people give me really weird looks when they see the disturbing scar on my neck. I have people asking to see me but my energy is literally shot so bad that I've had to start drinking Boost beverages. Just the other day I sat down to watch the Princess Diaries on TV only to find myself waking up 10 minutes before it ended...it's like I have no control on when my body decides to shut down for a nap. It's so frustrating!!!
Anyway I didn't want this blogpost to sound all ranty but this is basically what has happened in the last week. Now I'll have a PET scan and a bone marrow biopsy to look forward to which I'm sure I'll post for each. Until then I'll leave you with a link to a song that is basically my theme through all of this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVxon65u3tA
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