Friday, June 8, 2012

A Bump in the Road Called Life.

UPDATE: at the bottom of the page 
Even when I do get personal, I tend to leave the mushy stuff out of it. Mostly, because as open and honest as I try to be, somethings are just for me. So I reached a new point this last month as I entered a new chapter of unknown in my life. It’s kind of a scary place and for the first time in my life I asked for prayer on a public forum.
I am so grateful and humbled by all the love and support I’ve been receiving from some of the most unlikely places. The people in my life I knew were there for me through thick and thin brought joy to my heart but there were several that took my breath away, both with you sincerity of concern and your above the call actions to make me feel comfortable. You know who you are and I love you for it.
So now, in case I haven’t been forthcoming of what’s going on with me medically, let me kind of give you an update.  About three weeks ago I noticed a small marble sized lump on my left hip that was painful to the touch and made sitting uncomfortable. After seeing the doctor, she thought it might be a hernia brought on from lifting heavy tables at work, as well as the possibility of a swollen lymph node. I was sent to get an ultrasound to determine if that was indeed what it might be. The exam concluded that I did have  a hernia and a swollen lymph node.  Next I was sent to consult with a surgeon. And with a rough start ala Bobcat Goldthwait answering his phone in the middle of the consult, we got a few questions answered.  His first recommendation was to get a biopsy on the lymph nodes prior to treating the hernia. He was unconcerned with the hernia because its an easy fix and not the cause of my pain. But swollen lymph nodes can be tricky.  And without trying to scare anyone,  the sudden swelling has to be determined to be benign or not. Meaning there is a possibility of Lymphoma,Hodgkin’s or not.
I went in for surgery last week and they performed a left *something I cant pronounce* biopsy.  Basically they sliced open my leg where the hip and leg bend. The surgeon told my husband Collin that it was several clusters of nodes and not just a singular one as they originally suspected, but that he was able to remove all of them and now they are testing what they removed. At our follow up the surgeon explained that they can rule out non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which is the most agressive of the Lymphomas and the more difficult to cure.
The result? … They’re sending it out for more testing and a second opinion at a new lab. The break down is thus. Its either a form of Hodgkin’s or it’s an infection specific to the lymph nodes that could be the result of an auto-immune disorder. Meaning they don’t really know. I’m confusing them because I’m too young and don’t show any symptoms what so ever of either illness. It’s always reassuring when doctors literally throw their hands in the air and shrug their shoulders with a classic “I have no idea.”
 My prayer and Collin’s is that the lymph nodes are benign and that I have something else. The GREAT news is that whatever I have, I am 100% curable so I am optimistic after a rather scary few weeks.
Please pray that this was just one rough month and I can be back up and jumping around in no time.
Love and thank you to all of you.

UPDATE:
I got the good news today, I have nothing resembling any kind of Hodgkins or Lymphoma. *happy dance* However, I still have to evaluate what made my lymphatic system flair up like it did. But we’re in the clear as far as Hodgkin’s is concerned.
WOOT!

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