Falling Apart

[digiMom]

I've just been going through a lot lately and thought I'd share. About a month ago, I had been having weird symptoms and had felt bad for about 3 months prior. I have a W.I.S.H. journal if anyone wants to see the specifics. Anyway, for the last month I've cut out most dairy and meat and started eating a lot of 'fresh' fruits and veggies. So I'm feeling better.

But in the last month a cyst was discovered on my left ovary that they're rechecking in 3 months (my mom had ovarian cancer). I have 3 cysts in my left breast that need a 4 month recheck. Last Thursday I discovered what I thought was a cyst or something on my right shoulder, but it looks like a freckle or mole that all of a sudden almost doubled in diameter.

I'm getting that checked today. So hopefully it's nothing to worry about. If you're reading this, please say a quick prayer and good thoughts for me.

 

[Heluvsme]

I just said a prayer for you, and I'd also like to offer you some encouragement.... first of all, HOORAY for you!!! For living a healthy lifestyle and recognizing what foods will make you feel better!! I so wish I could do that, I think that is fantastic you have done it!!

Now.. for the obvious... chances are those cysts are benign.. many fluid filled cysts, even some that can appear to be solid, end up being benign, whether they're on the ovaries or the breasts. The PLUS to this is that you have had them checked, you're NOT ignoring them, and you're being proactive!! Another 'atta girl!!!! The mole that has doubled... again, that you are aware of it is MOST OF THE BATTLE!! It can be checked, removed, and you have have a whole body check while you're there.

I know when things stack up it can seem overwhelming, but really I think you're ahead of the game because you've had things checked, you're in tune with your body, and you're eating in a healthy manner! You're doing great!!

Please follow up when you do your rechecks... I will keep following this to see how you're doing.

Blessings,
Dawn

 

[quasar4legs]

Sorry you have not been feeling well lately and as Heluvsme said you are doing all the right things by taking control, eating well and seeing your doctor.

It's easy to get ahead of ourselves and start worrying before we know the full picture (I'm an expert in this field.

I am sending lots of positive thoughts your way as you work through these health challenges.

Quasar

 

[digiMom]

Thanks Heluvsme and quasar4legs for your words of support. They really did help. Sometimes you just need to worry 'out loud' and, having kids, don't want to do it where they can hear and be worried too.

So here's the deal. I got a referral to a dermatologist. So I'll need to make an appt today. My doc thinks it's probably a mole or ?? that got infected or irritated or had some type of trama happen to it. But it's odd enough and big enough that she thinks having it checked further is a good idea.

So I'll let you know when I find out more. Thanks again for your encouragement.

 

[quasar4legs]

Thanks Heluvsme and quasar4legs for your words of support. They really did help. Sometimes you just need to worry 'out loud' and, having kids, don't want to do it where they can hear and be worried too.

So here's the deal. I got a referral to a dermatologist. So I'll need to make an appt today. My doc thinks it's probably a mole or ?? that got infected or irritated or had some type of trama happen to it. But it's odd enough and big enough that she thinks having it checked further is a good idea.

So I'll let you know when I find out more. Thanks again for your encouragement.

Glad you've got an appointment and anytime you want to chat feel free to come here, sometimes it does help to 'talk' it out.

Hang in there

 

[mommasita]

I'm sorry for everything you are going through...I will read up tonight, sorry to be late, life has sneaked up on me.

Glad to see you are seeing a specialist on that...Always better that way.


Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[digiMom]

After getting appointment times that were in March, I finally worked with my doctor and a satellite clinic to get in this Friday. Wish me luck...

 

[robinb]

I'm glad you were able to get in earlier. I hope everything is benign {{hugs}}.

 

[digiMom]

Thanks. Did I mention my daughter has a sinus infection and the brakes just went out on DH's car?

 

[mommasita]

Thanks. Did I mention my daughter has a sinus infection and the brakes just went out on DH's car?

Ughh....When it rains it pours eh...

Glad you got an early appointment..

 

[jking6]

Prayers heading your way. I am glad your having the mole checked earlier. I was diagnosed with melanoma last Feb and had surgery in March still recovering and being checked every 3 months.
Sounds like you discovered it real fast so heres to keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Hopefully everything will check out fine and I am glad your turned to the dis to talk. I know I did last year and its a great support system.
I will definitely be checking in to see how things are going...

 

[honeymom]

I do not want to sound any alarms or make you nervous in any way, but I think you need to press your doctors to run tests on you. I am not sure specifically what to have them run - catscans, petscans, mri's, ultrasounds.

I only say this because for years I have had sinus problems and a persistent cough. I went frequently to doctors. Not one ran even an X-ray on me. I finally had an X-ray when I showed up in an emergency room on vacation visiting family because of extreme weakness and shortness of breath. I had gone earlier that week to my doctor because I felt like I could not get a full lung of air in my right lung. He has said I was fine and fine to travel. I was not. I found out via X-ray at the er that I had a severe pericarditis (fluid around the heart). What did not show on the x-ray but showed up on the catscan that they then did was a lung tumor. Apparently 40% or so of lung tumors do not show up on X-rays.

So, here I am with a stage IV advanced lung cancer (barely smoked and it was like a century ago). I did everything right. I had even had some swollen lymph nodes in my neck looked at by my doctor and an ENT a month before my pericarditis episode because they were so unusual. They felt they were from an infection and were also doing that wait and see.

So the only thing I didn't do right (because I did not know any better) was to demand more tests.

Once again, I am telling you all this not to alarm you but to arm you with some knowledge to push your doctors a little harder. If it is a worst case scenario like me, you can catch something in an early stage while it is still curable. If it is a best case scenario, you can rule out the really horrible possibilities and perhaps sleep better at night.

 

[digiMom]

Prayers heading your way. I am glad your having the mole checked earlier. I was diagnosed with melanoma last Feb and had surgery in March still recovering and being checked every 3 months.
Sounds like you discovered it real fast so heres to keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Hopefully everything will check out fine and I am glad your turned to the dis to talk. I know I did last year and its a great support system.
I will definitely be checking in to see how things are going...

Thanks jking. Wishing you continued health.

I do not want to sound any alarms or make you nervous in any way, but I think you need to press your doctors to run tests on you. I am not sure specifically what to have them run - catscans, petscans, mri's, ultrasounds.

I only say this because for years I have had sinus problems and a persistent cough. I went frequently to doctors. Not one ran even an X-ray on me. I finally had an X-ray when I showed up in an emergency room on vacation visiting family because of extreme weakness and shortness of breath. I had gone earlier that week to my doctor because I felt like I could not get a full lung of air in my right lung. He has said I was fine and fine to travel. I was not. I found out via X-ray at the er that I had a severe pericarditis (fluid around the heart). What did not show on the x-ray but showed up on the catscan that they then did was a lung tumor. Apparently 40% or so of lung tumors do not show up on X-rays.

So, here I am with a stage IV advanced lung cancer (barely smoked and it was like a century ago). I did everything right. I had even had some swollen lymph nodes in my neck looked at by my doctor and an ENT a month before my pericarditis episode because they were so unusual. They felt they were from an infection and were also doing that wait and see.

So the only thing I didn't do right (because I did not know any better) was to demand more tests.

Once again, I am telling you all this not to alarm you but to arm you with some knowledge to push your doctors a little harder. If it is a worst case scenario like me, you can catch something in an early stage while it is still curable. If it is a best case scenario, you can rule out the really horrible possibilities and perhaps sleep better at night.

honeymoon, prayers to you as well. It's always hard to know how far to take some of these medical issues sometimes. Everything is so expensive. You hate to do a bunch of really expensive tests if you don't have to. But you don't want to miss something important either.

For example, last year my daughter had a sinus infection that went into pneumonia. Her x-ray showed possible enlarged heart with fluid around it. So had an eco and cardio visit. Thankfully everything was fine, and I wouldn't even think of not having it checked out. But it was $1000 with insurance.

About 6 years ago my mom was having problems and wouldn't go in. I finally had to take her to the ER. She had 2 liters of fluid tapped out of her abdomen and they found an ovarian tumor the size of a basketball. After surgery and chemo, she OK now and still with us. But she's getting complacent about her rechecks now and it's driving me crazy.

I worry about myself sometimes. I didn't smoke, but waitressed during college and was exposed to a lot of second hand smoke.

So I'll make it in on Friday morning and see where this journey takes me. We're supposed to have a lot of snow today and tonight, but I'll get there somehow.

Thanks again for all that are giving me support and sharing their own stories.

 

[digiMom]

Good news. The problem on my back is a result of an infection. She had a name for it, but I don't remember what it was. It involves local blood vessels at the site, which caused it's dark color. She also made a full exam and found that there's only one mole that we should keep an eye on. It's on my right shoulder, so I can do so myself. It's the kind that has a slight risk of turning cancerous.

It was such a relief to go and find out! Thanks again to everyone who posted their thoughts and prayers. You guys are great!

 

[mommasita]

Good news. The problem on my back is a result of an infection. She had a name for it, but I don't remember what it was. It involves local blood vessels at the site, which caused it's dark color. She also made a full exam and found that there's only one mole that we should keep an eye on. It's on my right shoulder, so I can do so myself. It's the kind that has a slight risk of turning cancerous.

It was such a relief to go and find out! Thanks again to everyone who posted their thoughts and prayers. You guys are great!

That is wonderful news......Thanks for the update