My usual state of being....I don't really worry all that much, trying to choose the "not worry" option or at least choosing to live in a state of denial. I think not worrying is much better but somehow worry creeps in at times. Monday evening March 16, I received a phone call about Charlie's upper GI study done on Friday the 13th (hmmm....). Evidently, the radiologist was concerned about a spot on Charlie's right lung that had been seen in a previous X-Ray (December) but looked a little bigger when they did the GI study. So, she recommended a CAT Scan. Now, considering what my sister went through only a few years prior (and I recommended at the time that we not worry until after we had all her test results .... not that worrying would've helped but it turned out that we did have something to worry about), I said that I wanted the first available scan appointment and I would cancel whatever I had to to be sure that it got done. However, the gastroenterologist wanted to talk with the pulmonologist first. So, that seemed reasonable but I reiterated that I would just like to get the scan scheduled. Of course, I'm thinking that the sooner we could make the appointment, the better because it would be a few weeks (or longer) before an appointment might be available. I usually see the pulmonologist on the unit when I'm in the hospital with students but I didn't see him on the 17th. So, finally I emailed him, letting him know the GI doc was going to call and the reason and also stating that I would like to get the CT scheduled and then cancel if we decided we didn't need it (Charlie already had a pulm. appointment scheduled for 4/2). So, by Friday, I knew that the pulm. had gotten my email and was going to review the X-Rays with the radiologist and Friday night, I spoke with the GI doc. who basically said that he knew that the pulm. and the radiologist were going to look at the X-Rays. Of course, all week, I was thinking all kinds of terrible things knowing that it was most likely not the worst case scenario, but my mind still went there. Finally, on Monday, I heard from the pulmonologist and he said the radiologist recommended some additional X-Rays and that we could just do them on 4/2. Apparently, the radiologist thinks the "shadow" (not "spot" as I was originally told) might just be the pulmonary vein. Can you just hear my sigh of relief? I know we could still need to have more studies (CT Scan), but I do feel better that several folks have really studied those pictures and I trust their expertise and advise. I am most appreciative that all of Charlie's doctors were concerned and took time to study his X-Rays, and get back to me. And, had I checked my work email over the weekend, I would've discovered that the pulmonologist emailed me back Friday evening. So, I could've felt a little relief sooner! Oh, and by the way, Charlie will need some additional GI procedures, but all of us who know him well won't be a bit surprised by that!
So, back to worry. I decided to get my toe X-Rayed (wow, that looks strange!), and yes, it is broken. Spent 1 hour and 45 minutes waiting to be seen by an orthopedic doctor (yes, I had an appointment but they were 45 minutes behind, I was told....well, they were really behind!). The doctor was very kind, didn't look at my toe (guess he didn't need to), looked at my X-Ray, confirmed that it was broken and said there was nothing to do at the moment. Yes, I waited 1 hour and 45 minutes for that....missed a department meeting and photo...and party! He could've told my primary care provider that and saved me a visit! If my toe doesn't heal (and I have to wait until it has been longer than 6 weeks from the injury), then I may need surgery. Now, I didn't go to see if anything could be done at this point. I was just wondering if I could be injuring it further by continuing to walk on it, etc. I didn't think the weight-bearing was bad; just wanted a little advice. So, I wasn't really worried about it all that much, and it turns out that I didn't need to be worried. But, that's okay, Charlie causes me enough worry!
No comments:
Post a Comment