A load off my chest
A week ago, I made a vague reference to an unspecified problem that had caused me to miss my workout on Tuesday. Well, I'm happy to report that the unspecified problem turned out to not be a problem at all, and with a sigh of relief I'm able to actually talk about it now.
Last Tuesday after work I drove myself to the ER to get my shortness of breath checked out, given that I'd been experiencing at that point for 3 days straight. They did a series of tests from bloodwork to an EKG to a CT scan to eliminate any possibility that I was experiencing a clot or fluids in my lungs, an enlarged heart, a collapsed lung, an irregular heart beat or any of the other medical stuff that can lead one to experience shortness of breath. All the tests came back negative for any sort of problem that would cause my shortness of breath. I have great blood pressure, I have an excellent pulse (that is in fact slightly lower than average, more than one medical professional commented to me). I have a strong and regular heart beat, and I have healthy happy lungs. The ER doctor and my therapist both think that the shortness of breath may have been anxiety related. It was a stressful week for me on many levels. And the problem appears to have resolved itself; I've not experienced it again since the ER trip which is great.
However there was something they did find that was unrelated. The CT scan detected a 14 mm nodule under my left breast and the ER doctor referred me for a diagnostic mammogram. My first ever mammogram. Because I'm still more than 2 years shy of my 40th birthday.
I was very very scared and broke down into tears in the ER when he told me. He also told me that 95% of the time this turns out to be just a normal, benign thing. As we age we get "lumpy". He said that in the very rare chance that it was not benign the fact that it was caught at such an early stage before any other symptoms presented meant that it was highly likely to be resolved by whatever appropriate treatment was required. All the same, I was worried. I got up the next morning and scheduled the mammogram. And this morning I went in to have it done.
I have to say, of all medical procedures that I've endured this was the least pleasant. I got through it only by reminding myself constantly that by doing this, I was potentially saving my life. I say with all seriousness that I would rather get a pap smear than a mammogram any day. While I enjoy neither and find both to be physically uncomfortable, for a variety of reasons, for me, getting my upper half checked is just much more emotionally and psychologically uncomfortable than getting my lower half checked. The technician who was assigned to me, however, gets my undying gratitude. I'm sure she recognized my angst by my tightly clenched arms around my chest, and my iron-fisted grip on the ends of the cape that they gave me to cover myself. And the tears rolling silently down my face as she adjusted both me and the machine to get us positioned correctly were the dead give away. But she was the utmost professional, and treated me with great gentleness, respect and dignity. She didn't comment on my tears or my posture. She didn't utter any reassurances. She didn't try to "lighten the mood" or get me to ease up. She just kindly and gently went about doing what she does and rewarded me with "great job" after each picture was taken. And before sending me back out to the room to await the radiologist's diagnosis and/or request for additional pictures she gave me a big, fluffy, full-length white bathrobe to put on over my cape and I instantly felt more relaxed and comfortable. None of the other women waiting got a robe, and they were all there as long as I was. I don't know what her name was, but I really really appreciate what she did.
I ended up getting 2 rounds of pictures (6 pictures total), the radiologist wanting a couple more after seeing the first four. But finally, after what seemed like several hours but was in reality only 1 and a half hours total including wait time, I was finished and they were ready with my results. The nodule was benign. Nothing to be concerned about. No additional tests needed. And they said they don't need to see me again until age 40.
I've been smiling and practically skipping down the halls at work all day. I'm so very grateful it wasn't more serious. I know the odds were with me - we have no history of breast cancer in our family, and I don't have any of the other factors that are associated with a higher risk of the disease, but was still so relieved to get the official diagnosis that everything was ok.
Comments
Wow, Heather...this is my big cyber (((HUG))) to you. I'm so sorry that you had this happen...very scary! Glad it turned out ok in the end. Call the clinic for the tech's name, send her a letter and make her day, as she did for you... ;-) what goes around, comes around.
Posted by Lisa on September 2, 2008 6:03 PM.