So many doctors

[tohma2004]

I need a medical icon..have I cosplayed any doctors?

Anyway, so the update of the day. It seems i'll have daily reports on my progress since it looks like this is going to be a long process. I may not make it to Otakon (though I am still going to try) and I know I won't make it to Yaoi-con this year. The easiest way of explaining why all summer plans are on hold is by once again explaining my day. I have decided to just document this whole experience. you can chose to read or not, but I want to put it down.

Thank you to everyone and their comments. I may not be online much anymore because I just get tired very quickly with everything that is going on. But thank you all. I appreciate the support.

So..today was exhausting.

Today started out by going to the cancer center at 9AM and meeting with Dr. Peacock. My surprise at the niceness of people continues, as he was very informative and very helpful and not a cold unfeeling monotone doctor like I expected. Anyway, he explained that he believed I had Lymphoma but that there were several more procedures we had to do to confirm it or deny it.

He said I would need a catscan. That would determine whether my lymph nodes were in fact swollen and where all of them where. If this was true than he was going to biopsy a lymph node that was under my arm that he could feel. He explained that after we determined what strain of Lymphoma I had we would be able to discuss treatment. He explained that it wasn't hereditary and that in most young people it was cureable depending on the type. He also said he believed I should look into Medicaid and Disability benefits since I didn't have insurance and the treatments and everything was going to be very expensive. Then he said something I really didn't want to hear. He wanted to take some blood to test for HIV so he could rule that out.

More..blood. More..needles. Why me? ANyway, he also said that I was slightly anemic and had an iron deficiency. He said the weight loss and vomiting and everything were probably tied to the lymphoma. So after he left the nurse came back in and I became one again a weeping mass of tears, only this time it was into my mother's shoulder. It took two nurses to hold me down and get the blood. They took about 6 viles of it and by the end I was really starting to hate my life.

Once they had taken the blood the nurse explained about the American Cancer Society and gave directions to the social security building. They then sent me over to the hospitol to get my catskan done.

I was given a bottle of pink lemonade that was mixed with some sort of medicine that was supposed to make my insides light up when I got under the machine. I was supposed to drink as much of it as I can and to keep moving so that it would move through my body quicker. My mom and I walked outside and I attempted to drink the nasty lemonade and walked around while she talked to my father on the phone and then called work to tell them she wouldn't be in. After 45 minutes they called me back to get the scan done. I had only drank about half of the bottle of the liquid but I just couldn't struggle it down without getting sick. The nurse was worried I hadn't had enough but she decided to try anyway. I was actually only slightly panicky as she inserted the IV which contained another liquid that would help them see what was wrong.

The test didn't take very long. She scanned by neck and then everything from my shoulders down to my pelvis. Once that was done I was able to leave and the doctor was going to look them over and give us a call later.

We then headed to the health department to try and get me signed up for Medicaid. I won't go through the whole long process of signing up but we were there about 3 hours, waiting in line,filling out paperwork, waiting for an agent, doing more paperwork, and just trying to get everything worked out.

At 5:30 we left there and headed home and I was finally able to rest. I fell asleep as soon as I got home.


So lymphnoma and possibly chemotherapy will be keeping me away from cons this summer. but we will know more tomorrow afternoon when I talk to the Surgeon.

Comments

[vikki.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I'll keep you in my prayers!

[greatsg.livejournal.com]

We'll all be praying for you Michelle, take care and we're hoping for the best for you.

[lizzyhamham.livejournal.com]

Best of luck. :( Keep us posted!!!

[satrugha.livejournal.com]

i'll send good healing vibes your way.
if possible, i'd like to get your addy to at least send you a card or a toy. they always make me happy :D

[takiaizawa.livejournal.com]

Yes, post your addy! I want to send you something.

[cardcaptorkiki.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking about you... ♥

[yashakizu.livejournal.com]

*hugs tight* You'll be in my prayers. Take all the time you need, but we're always here if you need to talk or rant. :)

[tsuki-no-suzu.livejournal.com]

Oh, Tohma. All of us at Hollins are keeping our fingers crossed for you. Best of luck!! :: hugs ::

[gallion-dlareth.livejournal.com]

I love you, babe. I know it's tough, but hang in there. Once they know what it is, they'll know how to fight it.

[pennytook.livejournal.com]

Let us know if you need anything, okay? We all want to do anything we can.

*BUG HUGS*

[mistress-aine.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. That is a rough day. Good luck with everything. *hugs*

[blooddemontrix.livejournal.com]

Waiting, right here.

[yuenmei.livejournal.com]

*hugs hugs hugs and support from up north*

[aduial-peredhel.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, that's so...so...unsettling.

*hugs* I don't know what to say, but I am hoping you will be better soon. :)

[deathgod02.livejournal.com]

I tried to call you but I think your phone was off. *hugs* That all sounds very scary but at least the doctors seem to be on top of things and you aren't having to wait around too much...and it's good to hear that everyone is so nice. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all your tests come back in the best way possible so you can get better soon.

Don't worry about Yaoi-con. I dont think I could make it there this year either. As for Otakon, we'll keep a spot open for you no matter what so you can decide how you feel that week if you need to.

Let me know how you are. I'll be thinking about you and I'll try to call again later tonight. *hugs*

[inu-kun1.livejournal.com]

:hugs: I'll keep you in my prayers Tohma.

[rayvah.livejournal.com]

Good luck. If you need anything, you let me know.

[infinitywulf.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I hope to see you at Otakon so I can give you a real hug, but don't push yourself! I hope that they can get you feeling better soon though, and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.