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lung issues...again
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May 13, 2009
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Mother's Day came and went, all too fast.
It was a nice time. A lot of prep work, but good times had. It was really great hosting it at our house this time around. I enjoy being a host, to a degree, I think it's the comfort in knowing that I can do what I want within my own place and I don't have to worry about getting too tired or having to leave at a certain time.
I have been sick lately. Don't have a diagnosis just yet, but it has something to do with my lungs again.
I can't breathe all that well. It started out as just allergies, and my asthma is usually triggered by those.
After the allergies were gone, I still couldn't breathe. This is not the norm for me. I clutched my rescue inhaler 24x7...and used it at least 10x's a day. I knew it wasn't right...but I dealt.
This is all started about a month ago. So finally, a week ago, I went to the doc and told her what was going on. She thought I might have bronchitis, however I had no coughing or fever or other signs of infection. I just couldn't BREATHE. She did happen to find a double ear-infection going on though. Hmmm. Guess the breathing issues kept my focus away from that little doozy. Also my blood pressure was pretty high at abt 130/93... Usually I'm in the LOW 100's/70ish. High blood pressure could be due to using the inhaler so much though. Doc recommended that I "find a neighbor who might have a blood pressure cuff to check on me every-other-day". Uh. Hello? What?! ... anyway, it made me paranoid enough to go out and buy a blood pressure cuff that does everything automatically.
I was put on Prednisone (steroids) to open my lungs up. Z-Pak (antibiotic) to help with bronchitis (if I had it) and the dbl ear infection. Cymbicort (like Advair) for daily maintenance help for my asthma. The Cymbicort seems to help a bit. I the past few days I've only used my inhaler about 5x's a day or so. The steroids didn't seem to really do anything. I can breathe in A LOT but can't breathe out. I cough and I have to catch my breath...and doing so usually leaves me choking and reaching for my inhaler. The antibiotic didn't do crap, b/c my ears hurt so bad now.
So... now I'm on Augmentin (penicillin) and Cingulair. We'll see how that goes. Also, she called in a prescrip for some nebulizer meds, but I will have to go out and by the actual machine or rent it. So I'm not so sure I'll be doing that anytime soon at least. If i'm not better or if I'm worse by Friday, I go to see her physically, again.
She lives near the shore...it's kinda far from me. So she is gracious enough to call in prescrip changes for me if a visit isn't particularly necessary.
It's been a long time since I've updated on any lung-issues. Looking back, things were kinda crazy.
Since 2007 I've been going to the doc once a year in June (well I guess that would make that only 1 time then) for a full on check up at NY Presbyterian Hospital's - Pulmonary division.
Anywho -- I'm going to try and keep my medical stuff out of this blog, again and on to my CaringBridge.org page
Just crossing my fingers in the meantime, hoping that I just need to get my asthma in check and it's nothing else!!!
I'm pretty terrified right now, b/c I've never felt so helpless and out of control. I fear being home alone one day, not able to breathe. Choking and not being able to make a sound. Not being able to call 911 and let them know where I am and what's wrong with me and that I need help. I fear that one day my rescue inhaler just isn't going to cut it...Labels: events, family, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 2:20 AM |
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CT Lung Biopsy
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February 23, 2007
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This past wednesday (21st), I had my CT Lung biopsy. I got myself so worked up for this and was scared that if it was ANYTHING like the bone marrow biopsy, I would probably faint. They told me I had to stay awake during the procedure b/c I had to follow certain breathing instructions so my Gen. Pract. doc prescribed me some sedatives to take some of the anxiety away. I think it helped....
I got this biopsy done at NY Presbyterian and the appt was for 8 am, which means we had to leave our house no later than 6 am to make it there on time.
The radiologist was the one performing the biopsy because they had to use a CT scanner to pinpoint the right area to go in and he is the one who can read the CT scan real well..
It was a tough procedure in that I had to lay completely still in one position for 1 hour straight. One little movement and they would have to start all over from scratch. I tried my best to lay still, but since they went in through my back, I had to lay on my stomach, and any woman will tell you, it's not comfortable when you have a 'chest'... It was very hard to breath.
They injected lidocaine into my back to numb the area where the needle was going in... The MOST pain during the procedure I felt was when they injected that. It was a pinch and some burning. Not much... He must've injected me a total of 6 times during the procedure...GOOD THING.
Anyway, the doc told me that people usually do not complain of any pain from this procedure, but in some rare cases some patients feel pain in the front of their chest, and that's because the nerves wrap around from the back to the front...even though there's nothing wrong there, it still hurts. (if that makes sense)
Anyway, go figure, I had that pain, and it happened during the last 20 minutes while I was laying on the CT Table. It was quite unbearable. I'd say pain was a 9 out of 10... if it was a 10 I would've passed out completely. Knowing I had to stay completely still or go through another hour of pain, I tried my best to just try and breath through out.
Through out the test they did CT scans to make sure the needle was in place and to make sure my lung did not collapse.
They wound up having to go back in a second time, which my doc said is the average for this procedure...to make sure they have enough sample to biopsy.
Afterwards, I continued to have pain everytime I breathed in or out, it was horrible, and I was getting cold sweats and felt like i was going to pass out. I couldn't cry b/c when I tried a little the pain intensified.
After about an hour or 2 in the recovery area along with some tylenol, the pain started to fade away. Then they took another XRay to check again to make sure the lung had not collapsed.
They told me the feeling I had was the same feeling as a collapsed lung and they were concerned, but the x-rays and CT scans showed that everything was okay. I was happy to hear that, and figured I could handle the pain knowing there was nothing seriously wrong to be causing the pain. Just my damn ol' sensitivity.
When I left the hospital, the pain was about a 6 out of 10.
The following day, I was back at work, pain at a 2 out of 10...
I was shocked and amazed at how well the procedure actually went considering all my worry.
I think I have more 'pain' with procedures just because I have Fibromyalgia...
NY Presbyterian has some really good doctors and I DO trust them... it just sucks that they are so far away from me...
I should find out the results of the biopsy Monday.
(They biopsied the infiltrate fluid, they did not take a piece of my lung)...Labels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 8:49 PM |
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my medical story -- is somewhere else now
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November 13, 2006
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To follow my medical updates, please visit this site : http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jbug
I will post all my medical info there going forward, and leave this blog to my regular ramblings, since I haven't been doing much of that lately...Labels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 12:03 AM |
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bone marrow biopsy - Part II
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November 7, 2006
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Was rescheduled to have the biospy today. It was not fun. Extremely painful.
For anyone interested in what happens read ahead, (otherwise skip to the next paragraph). For most they go in through the hip bone. I had to lie on my side in fetal position. They prepped the area (back left hip near the spine) and injected lidocaine (like novacaine) then injected a larger needle close to the bone with some sort of numbing stuff. That was painful enough for me to believe they were performing the biopsy...but it wasn't HA. There was an assistant with my doc who held my legs so I didn't move them, then they stick the needle in through all the skin and try to manually push it through the skin. Then out comes the little hammer, and they start hammering the needle into my bone. When he 'thinks' he's in, he puts this syringe type thing on the end of the needle and starts to suction out. The pain goes all the way down my leg and I felt a sucking feeling as they aspirated (take marrow from the bone). When they pull the needle out, it has a piece of bone in it alone with some marrow... That is what they use to biopsy and do cultures on.
My doc said my bones were thick -- so it was harder to hammer the needle into the bone...The procedure is easier for older people (though still painful) because their bone is more brittle and weak. The younger, the harder.
It was a bad experience...because I have Fibromyalgia and experience pain on a different level than most. To top it off, after going through the entire procedure, my doc says he didn't get enough 'stuff' because of my sensitivity, so I have to get it done AGAIN, but at a hospital with Anesthesia. (sometime this month I believe)
This is the never ending Bone Marrow Saga...LOL -- I think I am going to stop sending out these emails now...It's getting redundant --
Hope all is well with everyone...
Looking forward to this being over and enjoying the holidays to come.Labels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 6:25 PM |
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bone marrow biopsy - scheduled for today. UGH
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November 2, 2006
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I went to my hematologist today for a bone marrow biopsy.
Waited in the waiting room for about an hour, then they brought me into a room and prepped me for the biopsy, I signed some crazy papers and they told me about what was going to happen. I waited in the room for at least another hour and eventually in came the doctor....
Long story short --- the doc wanted to do more tests than my pulmologist had requested, but they didn't have the 'tools' they needed for those other tests. So. After a total of 2 hours stressing about the friggen test, I'm told that they had decided they were not going to perform the procedure today, and instead I have to come back on Tuesday.
Tired as hell -- that's about all..
Till next time -Labels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 8:49 PM |
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update
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October 22, 2006
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Last wednesday I had a bronchoscopy. It was not a very fun experience. It was definitely something I don't want to ever go through again. I was sedated, but not put completely under, so I got to 'experience' everything UGH. They flushed out an infiltrate in my lower right lung. The doctors also took a piece of lung tissue to do a biopsy on, while they were in there.
Was a little woozy after the procedure, but no complications YAY
I have to wait a few weeks (i'm assuming) for the results.
They are testing for traces of cancer (lymphoma) and Tuberculosis (TB) and the TB test can take up to 6 weeks to get back. I'm not sure what else they are testing for.
I have to get a bone marrow biopsy done. I'm not looking forward to it, especially since everyone I talk to who has experience it or has known someone who has experienced it has told me that it's extremely painful. I figured as much, but having validation is really freaking me out. I'm having major anxiety now!!
They have to stick a needle through your bone and all they do is numb the outer skin!! AHHHH!!!
okay...well that's my med update.
Watching America's Next Top Model now...peace.Labels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 9:49 PM |
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saw the hematologist today
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September 14, 2006
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Basically told me that there's not much he can do right now until the next CT Scan.
I figured as much, but it's good to make him familiar with me now, in case I need him in the future.
His biggest concerns were my Night Sweats and Dry Cough, since my last chest X-ray showed lymphnode increase in size in the middle of my chest.
I thought the Night Sweats could be a common sign of many different diseases and illnesses, he says it's more common with Lymphoma and especially since I have these lymphnode increase things in my chest and abdomen, he is very concerned. The other 'red flag' for him is my Dry Cough. He says if there is a lymphnode in the middle of my chest (which there are many normally) and it has increased in size, then it could be pushing on one of my brochial airway things...causing me to cough. Coughing, he says, is a good thing. Coughing helps to open the passage way, but could be a sign of lymphoma.
He says that since I just recently had a Chest CT Scan, that I should wait another 3 months. If it is lymphoma...it will not grow THAT much in 6 weeks (which is when I am having my next Chest CT Scan)... most likely the CT scan will show little or no progress, and I will be monitored 3 months after that.
It's an on-going diagnoses...fun times!
My hematologist tells me not to worry, but don't ignore anything.Labels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 3:07 PM |
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new doctor...
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July 28, 2006
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New Doctor...
It's so hard to find a really good specialist these days.
I guess I say 'these days', because they are the days when I need to seek one out.
Pulmonology is an important field. Dude, if all I had was a little cold, I'd go to any doctor just to get some meds. But when it comes to problems with an organ, the lungs for that matter, or even the heart, I don't want any bullshit from a cocky ass doctor.
I wrote a review of my doctor online, if you want a guy who is cocky, and basically tells you to shut your pie hole while you're explaining your symptoms so that he can say NO NO NO NO!!! and tell you you're WRONG about what you're feeling, and then he goes on to tell you what symptoms you really have (none of which you actually) have, then go to my doctor. If you are from NJ and want to avoid this doctor, send me an E-Mail, and I'll give you his name.
I should've gone with my gut, I went to a specialist who worked in the same office as him, he mistreated me when I had issues with my throat which turned out to be tonsillitis, and he made it worse with all these meds he prescribed for me. Oh, and FYI, the current specialist I saw from there (Dr. M) -- gave me way too many meds, for an illness I never really had, and he tells me he wants to give me more!! Even though I'm not sick! WTF PEOPLE?!
Anyway, I've worked with my company for about 4 years, I've always had the PLUS PLAN medical insurance. Never really utilized it to it's full capacity so I decided this past June to switch to the BASIC plan. (does not cover out-of-network doctors)... Go figure, June is when I find out all this stuff about my lung.
My Family Practice Doctor (Ms. S.) told me I have to get another doctor. So, finally we found one that's in network. It's hard to get an appointment with him, and I'm sorta going through an interview process with one of his Fellowes to get in.
He's in NYC, which is kinda a hike for me since I just moved to Central Jersey a few months ago. Hey man, whatever it takes to get good care!
I still have YET to be diagnosed with what they found on my lung, we're going on 2 months and don't even know if it's still growing or not.
I hate Dr. M!!!Labels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 8:35 AM |
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another medical update
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July 8, 2006
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These are the meds I started almost 2 weeks ago :
-Floxin (1x day for 8 days)
-Nasonex (2x's twice daily)
-Prednisone 10mg tablets (3x's daily for 4 days, 2x's daily for 4 days, 1x daily for 4 days)
-Advair 250/50 (1x morning, 1x evening)
-Albuterol Inhaler (when needed)
-Flexeril 5mg tablets (1 each evening before bed)
I'm no longer on the Floxin and have 4 days left of the Prednisone (steroid).
I have hot flashes every hour or so, and sweat so bad it's disgusting. It's so bad my calves even sweat!!!! I was also told that because of the steroids I'm taking for Pneumonia (still not confirmed if that's what I have, but being treated for it anyway, I guess to rule it out) - my immune system is slim to none, so I'm more apt to get some kind of illness being on all the meds. Joy! That makes a TON of sense doesn't it?
Before all these meds, the only problem I felt was the trouble breathing due to the fact that I have asthma that is not really under control. Now, my breathing is worse, I cough to catch my breath and I wheeze. Also with the hot flashes I'm going crazy. I also have a constant fever of over 100 degrees. Now, I have a couple thousand (no exaggeration) red dots all over my body that appeared yesterday. It started out only being about 20 or so on my hands and arms, then during work yesterday they just spread like crazy. I went to the doctor and they told me it's viral. you know, 'cause of the lower immune system. There's nothing I can do about it but take more steroids. WTF?!
Sometimes they are itchy, sometimes their not, but they are literally all over my entire body, my face is the least noticeable but everywhere else it's pretty bad. I look like I have COODIES!
I go back to my pulmonologist on tuesday so he can see if my treatment has helped the mass they found on my lung. Probably get one of those broncoscopy thingies, I'm not sure what exactly they are called, but I'm not looking forward to it. Also another CT Scan will be in the works then too.
I went to see a Oral Surgeon about my wisdom teeth, which are confirmed to be very impacted, but he won't do any work on me until my lung is healthy for at least 1 month, and there is no way I can have any type of surgery like that while on steroids, because there is risk of infection that will not heal. Also, I had a bad reaction to Anesthesia when I had my tonsillectomy 3 years ago so I'm one of those high-risk people.
What else is new?! AHHH
that's my update. Frustrated as usual.
Update: Doc now thinks the spots are from an allergic reaction to the steroids, but the Floxin was covering it up, now that I am off the Floxin, the reaction is no longer being hidden... Still not definite yet, waiting for doc to come to conclusion. ARGHLabels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 1:06 PM |
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The diagnosis'
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June 25, 2006
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1. I have fibromyalgia. Better than what I thought I had (Rheumatoid Arthritis) since thats what I had as a kid (Juvenile RA). Fibromyalgia is brought on my traumatic events supposedly, emotional, physical etc... Anyway, Was told there is no cure but there is treatment. I've dealt with this my entire life, so no biggie as long as its not life threatening and I have no problem with my joints.
2. I saw a Pulmonologist today. The radiologist said that pulmonologists read CT Scans differently and maybe they might know what it is. The Pulm. told me he's not sure what it is exactly, but it may be Walking Pneumonia (which is less severe than regular Pneumonia which you are usually hospitalized for). The only symptoms I have is trouble breathing. (Which is just my bad asthma which I got 5 years ago due to 2nd hand smoke), but the doc wants to treat me with all these pneumonia meds anyway. He says to treat it as if it's that first, and then take another CT scan in 2 weeks and see if there is any change. B/C he doesn't want to go straight to a biopsy type thing right away. So basically we are trying to narrow it down. ARGH, in the meantime, this THING is continuously growing larger. He says probably 4-6 weeks for a DECENT diagnoses, so I shouldn't get upset now, there is nothing to do but wait. See what these meds will do for me, and if nothing, next step is the Bronchial Scope where they stick a camera down my throat and take a look at it that way. La dee dah.
So, basically...still don't know what it is, and you can't tell if it's a tumor just by looking at a CT Scan. Can't tell if it's benign or malignant either. JOY!Labels: fibromyalgia, health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 7:45 PM |
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what the heck is it...
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June 23, 2006
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Had my 3rd CT Scan today, of my chest. With and without contrast (iodine injection). The injection was weird, it makes you feel all warm and gives you a major hot flash for a little while. And it feels like you peed in your pants, when really you didn't. The feeling goes away after a few seconds. But it was weird as hell..
The results got back to my doctors office after about 2 hours, b/c there was an abnormality (per previous CT Scans)...
Well, the mass is still there and they don't know what it is... STILL..
I see a pulmonologist now on Tuesday... argh.Labels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 7:23 PM |
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a little freaked out...
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June 22, 2006
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A few weeks ago i began having this pain in my Left Abdomen, behind my ribs (or so it felt). So i went to my doctor who had me get a CT Scan (AKA CAT Scan) of my abdomen and pelvis (just in case).
Unfortunately the CT scan was unable to determine the reasoning for the pain I was having on the left side, however it found some other 'problems' that I had no idea were present.
It found a 5.5cm sized density on the RIGHT lung (the lower lobe RLL). 5.5cm's to me is pretty friggen huge. Esepcially it being a random 'density'. Also, the CT found a 1.5 cm sized density near my ovaries. I had no pain there, so what the heck are these things?
I've had ultrasounds in the past because I get ovarian cysts, so I hope that the 1.5cm one they found is just that. And when it finally bursts, I'll be in extreme pain but it will be temporary and I can deal with that.
I'm really concerned about the mass on my lung. My mind has been going crazy thinking of the possibilities. What could it be? Lung Cancer? Maybe just a random tumor that is benign? (i hope)They also found a fluid filled sac in my right lung (middle lobe RML). I'm guessing that is some kind of bronchial issue. Like Bronchitis or something like that. I've had a cough, not very frequent but it is there and hasn't gone away.
I grew up in a house where my parents smoked excessively my entire life. I moved away to college and was okay, but when I came back from college, i couldn't handle the smoke. I had gotten asthma and had been hospitalized for it b/c I was allergic to the smoke. My family continued to smoke in the house despite the affects it was having on me and my younger sister.
They eventually, after MASSIVE amounts of arguments and another trip to the hospital with worse results than previous, decided to keep the smoke contained to one room in the house.
Unfortunalely, 25+ years of smoking in a house leaves its mark, and is almost impossible to get rid of. The furniture, carpets, and even our DOGS smell like smoke. When my mom walks past me, i smell it and it literally makes me cough and choke. It takes my breath away...literally.
This could be the reason for the mass on my lung. In a worst case scenario, that is my conclusion. Lung Cancer due to second-hand smoke. GRRRRRREAT.
I've read online that only 10% of the people who have surgery done to remove the tumor live their lives more than 5 years cancer free and live to be old. The other 90% do not survive for long.
Tomorrow I go for a CT scan of my chest and an ultrasound of the abdomen to see what that other mass is.
I won't find out the results until the middle of next week. I'm not looking forward to waiting.
I got the original CT scans done early last week, and had to wait to hear the results while I was on vacation. Not making my temper very good.
I hope everything is going to be okay... I'm just really nervous and I still don't know what is causing the pain on my LEFT side. All the organs on that side seem to be fine... ughLabels: health, lungs |
| posted by Typette @ 6:24 PM |
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