Time may be limited for Larry the Lymph Node. Tomorrow I will be going to see an ENT surgeon to discuss what she feels are the best next steps. (Her name is Victoria, so that is a good sign!!). :-). She wants to see the lymph node directly, although I don’t feel any swelling, that side of my neck has been sore over the last few days, but I think that is just typical muscle tightness. She will also review the scans and the results of the biopsies and how that doctor assessed what they were seeing.
I had a good conversation with Dr. Chen on Friday, and she really feels strongly that she wants a bigger chunk of the lymph node to make a better diagnosis. She did say that lymphoma can be tricky when it comes to needle biopsies and often they will come back negative, but once the lymph node is removed then the positive results are seen. With my original lymphoma diagnosis over 15 years ago, that was exactly the behavior that was seen. Needles came out negative and the surgeon said it was up to me if I wanted it removed. I asked her what she would do, and she said she would have it removed, so I went ahead and did that….thankfully I did.
Chen and I had a good conversation, including that she broke a bone in her knee and was on crutches (she now understands what I am going through) and that she has a pilot’s license…so lots of fun information. I felt bad that we were just chit-chatting…being a doctor she probably has more things to do with her time. :-). But she did not seem to want to jump off the phone. She did again express the concern of the lymph node being in a difficult location and if they can remove it all or maybe just a good portion of it. She has had some conversations with the ENT team and they will let her know what they feel next steps are. She said they have my cell phone and pager so they know how they can contact me directly.
Speaking of the leg….PT is going ok…slowly. I could probably do more exercises at home, but try to keep up with what I can. My knee does some weird things/feelings, almost like you feel when you hit your crazy bone!! It almost makes me jump a little when I don’t expect it. We did try walking with the hinge unlocked, still with the walker, but I did find out what it feels like when the knee goes out on me as we were trying this…this was with the PT guy…not on my own. That is why we are trying to build up those quad muscles so they can make it that my knee does not go out on me like that. Had I not had my walker, I would definitely have been a heap on the floor. 🙂
Have been doing a lot of reading during this time. Depending on the book, I can usually read 1 a week…this is the paper version and I still have one going on my Kindle. One that I read last week, I got to the last chapter or so and I was almost mad on the way it ended. Not sure if others have experienced that, but it was really maddening. I had one on my Kindle that I started, but didn’t like it so just sent it back to the library. Many years ago I told my mom that I was trying to finish a book, that I did not find interesting and she said then just stop reading it…there are way too many books to choose from to make yourself read a book that you are not enjoying. With that one that I read recently and made me made, it was pretty good until the last chapter or so, and then I figured I might as well finish it…Maybe I would be surprised!! I was wrong!! But I am reading one right now that is good and I just can’t wait until the end to see what direction it has gone.
The kids, except JayJen, were over a couple of Sundays ago. It was a great time. David cooked on the grill and the kids brought all the sides. Emily and Erin couldn’t make it and JayJen were still in Florida. Those little boys are just crazy fun!! Although Jaylen (3 years old) asked me to come and run and play with him. I told him sorry not yet, but hopefully soon. But he still wrestled with me while I sat on my chair. 🙂
It will be good to get some answers tomorrow afternoon. I suppose one of the options could even be a “watchful wait”, which would be OK if all agree, but is hard to go through that again. Hopefully just one more sleep and then some potential answers!!
Stay strong and look at the stars.
Dandy Ventures 