Softballmom
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Member # 6235
posted
I promiced myself I would be strong but I am starting to crack. I found a lump on my chest wall just below my ribcage above my stomach. I went to the Dr. and she found 2. I had an x-ray Thursday. I was hoping to hear something back Friday but my Dr. never called.
I know she has the report because the Radiologist office told me they forwarded it to her. I left her a message and asked her to please not make me wait all weekend or I would worry myself to death.
I have had alot of disconfort in that area for a few months but I passed it off as gastric probems. The lump I found is as big as 3 finger tips put together on the wall surface. I wonder if it is larger on the underside due to the disconfort. The other one she found is about an inch to the left of that one about dime size.
I don't know if this could be Lyme related or what. It worries me to death because my mom died of Breast Cancer when I was 15. I know I am not supposed to think the worst but the longer I have to wait the more the bad thoughts creep into my head.
I couldn't even sleep last night. I thought the Lyme was rouph but this is the worst!!!
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
There's not a thing wrong with letting your family know you're worried....provided they're old enough to handle it & give you some moral support. Since you lost your mother at such a young age, they should understand your concern.
I'm real proud of you not freaking out this time! (applause for Softballmom) And it helps keep a positive outlook when you have a previous experience that was not the "big C".
If you need to, you can vent all weekend. I'll read everything you write & I'll keep talking with you. Then I may take a turn next weekend.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Softballmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6235
posted
cbb
Thanks alot My oldest is 13 but I haven't told her at all. My husband I know is worried enouph allready so I am pretending to be very touph for him. He already has so much on his mind because I have been so very ill this past year since the Stroke and everything that else that has come from the Lyme.
I worry about him just worrying about me. So I have got to where I hide alot from him. Unless I am fearfull of something serious like a siezure comeing on or something like that. That is the only time I make him aware of things anymore. He knows I don't feel well because I can't do alot but I don't talk about it anymore.
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I truly understand & I'd be doing the same thing if I were in your place.
In fact, I haven't told my husband a lot of what I was dealing with when I was being treated for Lyme, Babesiosis, & Bartonella.
He just can't handle medical stuff at all!! He's 66 & hasn't seen a dr in 26 yrs. Doesn't even HAVE a dr. Don't know what I'm going to do with him about that. Even our children haven't changed his mind.
I'm blessed to have 4 children who have been very supportive thru everything. Sons who are 42, 38, & 34. One daughter who is 40. Don't know what I'd do without them.
Also, blessed with 8 grandchildren - ages 14 down to 5. My 12 yr old grandson has Lyme but he is improving under Dr Jones's care (pediatrician in CT).
I'm so very sorry you've been so sick with Lyme disease. It really can change everything about your life. I hope you're improving & will continue to do so.
God bless!
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
I've come to the conclusion based on my own experience, and that of my other family members, that the only doctors who seem to understand the urgency we feel when waiting for test results are gynecologists re: quantitative beta levels in early pregnancy.
Other than that, seems they could give a flying hoot whether or not we have to wait out an entire weekend for results. And, believe me, I do understand how you're feeling. Every second seems like an hour. And every hour seems like a week. It's pure agony and you don't know how you're ever going to get through it.
When I've been in the same situation that you're in, I've tried to keep telling myself that "In X amount of time from this moment, I will know what's going on". It helps for about, um, 5 minutes until I start agonizing about it again.
I don't have any solution, but thought you might like to know that I really, REALLY do understand what you're going through.
Might as well go back a couple of centuries and be put on a torture rack, eh? Same difference.
Hang in there! You will make it even though it doesn't feel like it at the moment.
Softballmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6235
posted
I have Babesiosis too. It sounds like you have a wonderful family. I have a 5 year old daughter and a 7 year old son as well. I am goibg to have them all tested for Lyme. It appears that I have had it for 7 years or longer. I am sorry your granchild has Lyme.
It has been hard but I have strong faith which helps me through alot. However that faith has been challenged a bit more than ever lately.
Thank you very much for talking with me tonight. It has really helped. I think I will try to go get some shut eye.
[This message has been edited by Softballmom (edited 21 November 2004).]
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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You need a good night's sleep since you didn't sleep well last night.
Time for me to call it quits for the night, too.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Softballmom
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Member # 6235
posted
Thanks HSM,
Yes Dr's have no sympathy. It makes you wonder if they ever have to take tests? I guess with them being Doc's they get special treatment and probably never have to wait.
This isn't my LLMD this is my PCP. She is one that doesn't believe the lyme disease thing. She won't come out and say it but she made a comment about one of her patients seeing a specailist for Lyme and he put her on a medication for yeast that serverely damaged her Liver. So I had to spend several minutes defending Dr. J's reputation. However with Dr. J being so far away I have to keep her.
I used to think the sun rose and set with her but now since the Lyme I hate to go see her. When they checked my BP thursday it was 140/80 way high for me. The nurse said have you been rushing or anything this morning?
I wanted to say no, I am stressed because I had to come here!!! But I didn't. But that is the truth.
Well I am off to bed. Thanks so much for the support you guys have helped me tonight.
Cindy
[This message has been edited by Softballmom (edited 21 November 2004).]
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Chances are, it will turn out to be o.k. Concentrate your mind's energy- use the power of prayer! I was just thinking about how we all affect our own destinies. We can never give up. Concentrate every day- fight the negative energies that dare to manifest as whatever it is causing this lump that you noticed. Perhaps it's just a swollen lymph node helping you to fight off a disease or two! To your total health! DaveS Posts: 4567 | From ithaca, NY, usa | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Hi Cindy, Just checking. Want to be sure you're OK today.
Such a shame when Lyme patients have to travel so far to get the treatment they need, & then have to listen to unprofessional comments from the uninformed drs.
Don't have to answer, but I was wondering if Dr J is in North Carolina & what state you're in.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Softballmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6235
posted
cbb,
Yes Dr. J is in NC, but I am on the other side of the state. Right at a 4 hour drive for me one way. My next appt. in Dec, We plan to stay overnight. The trip is just too long for me make in one day. At least it is right now while I am still so sick.
Luckily on my last appt, my husbands boss who also has Lyme and see's Dr. J let us ride with him on the Company Jet. But Dr J ran behind and it caused my husbands boss to be late for a business appt for having to wait so long for me. He was very nice about it but I dought that I will be able to fly with him again. I totally understand why and was very appreciative for him letting me fly the first time.
Cindy
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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I echo Dave, there are far more conditions and possibilities that are relatively benign and easily treated, and even Lyme related.. than the very small odds that this is what you are fearing.
Though, worst cases are what we sometimes dwell on even when the odds are slim, especially when the Docs make you wait the weekend!
Still, even if further investigation is reccomended, there are a great many things this could be.
Hope you can find some peace in that idea while you wait it out..though I know is far easier said than done.
Hoping you have answers soon, Mo
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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Softballmom
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Member # 6235
posted
Thanks Mo,
I am doing much better today. Talking about it has really helped. Just sitting around the house letting it fester in my mind was not good for for me at all.
Cindy
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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charlie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25
posted
Cindy, I can't tell you how many posts are on here about lymies with fatty tumors, fibroid cysts and the like. I don't know what to search under exactly but what you describe sounds like what I've read so many posts about. I know its worst when it's you but I just betcha it's lyme related.
Softballmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6235
posted
Thanks Charlie,
That does make me feel better. I wondered if it might be related to Lyme. I have had problems with ganglian cists and the other blood cist I minchened.
I had one removed from my left wrist in 2000, and my Lft ovary and tube removed with the other cist in the same year. I have a cist on my right knee as we speak but it is small and poses no problem so I have never had it removed. it has been there for 3 years.
I made the mistake of doing a search on Chest wall masses yesterday which really did not help matters AT ALL!!!
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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Softballmom
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posted
Another day goes by and no news. I am beginning to believe that everything is OK and she is just trying to be hateful because I left a message and requested a report before the weekend. I was really nice and said it just because I didn't want to worry all weekend. Maybe she is just ticked over the whole Lyme thing, I don't know.
How hard is it for her nurse or her to pick up the phone and say everything is OK. I called the radiologist back and they did confirm off the computer that the report was forwarded to her on the 19th.
This really sucks!!!!
Cindy
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
What patience!! Don't know how you made it through today without calling her office.
I would definitely be checking on it in the morning.
Posts: 4638 | From South Carolina | Registered: Mar 2001
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Softballmom
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Member # 6235
posted
I called first thing this morning and left the number of where I would be all day on her machine. I thought that would be enouph. Still no call.
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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Softballmom
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posted
OK, I called this morning. I said I did not want a machine I wanted to speak to the nurse. So they gave me to her directly. She had the report right there on her desk. NEGATIVE!!!
I asked her nicely was there some kind of problem contacting me. She said the message you left yesterday got cut off and I didn't get the number. I said what about the other messages. She said what other messages? YIKES!!! Is this a Dr's office or what? Lets hope nobodies dying or anything.
My husbands boss who has Lyme had told me that his PCP was really good and had educated himself on Lyme disease so I called his office this morning. They said they were not ecepting new patients.
When I told her that I had Lyme Disease and my Dr. was not keen to that and I really needed a dr. in my area that understood this and could treat my needs. She put me on hold and came back said we have a really long waiting list and don't normally do this but in your case I am squeezing you in on the Nov. 29th. Yipee!!!
Out with the old in with the new!
[This message has been edited by Softballmom (edited 23 November 2004).]
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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Softballmom
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posted
Thanks,
I am still a bit curious as to what the lumps actually are even though I am not worried that they are anything thing serious. I didn't even ask the nurse this morning, but I am going to follow up with this doc and with Dr. J. in Dec.
Thanks to everyone for being so supportive.
Posts: 1331 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I came over here to see what happened with the lumps. I am very happy to see that you do not think they are anything, but still please do get them checked out!! We have had some strange things happen with people in our support group.
I had a cancer scare myself when one of my blood tests two years ago came back abnormal and I had to go have a bone marrow biopsy to see if was multiple myeloma or lymphoma. I was scared out of my mind! First, the waiting and waiting. The test was so painful too. Lyme can do wierd things to the immune system and set off other things. I still have to get my blood checked for this every six months.
Yes it is much different in general and medical. That is the way it is set up. There really isn't conflict here or on medical, although it has happened but not like OT.
Good luck. Happy Thanksgiving with your family! I am sure you will love and appreciate and hug them all even harder this year.
Lisa
Posts: 230 | From Somewhere Sunny | Registered: Nov 2004
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