Lymphoma? I hope not...

Check out the bandages... This thing caused an indescribable amount of pain and discomfort... Now, let's just hope for NO CANCER!!!

This year hasn't been a good one for me health-wise. In January I came down with Bronchitis and was close to death for 5 weeks. Since then, it's been an extremely uphill battle every day fighting off one type of sickness or another. I've lost my voice a few times, lost 25 pounds, gained 25 pounds, slept for 20+ hours a day more than once... I've currently been on increasing dosages of antibiotics for over 40 days straight (normal course is 10 days).

I met with a surgeon last week and they wanted to remove a few Lymph Nodes from my neck and then biopsy them to see what's going on. The Lymph Nodes on the right side of my neck have been swollen and causing pain on and off since January and the past 11 months have been pretty crappy. My doctor sent me in for bloodwork and an Ultrasound last Monday. I was seen by two techs that seemed confused just to be awake, so they called in the specialist...

In the most matter of fact, plain as can be style, I was informed that I have a serious infection if I'm "lucky", and Lymphoma if I'm not...

I was told last week that they were going to remove 3-5 Lymph Nodes from the right side of my neck, and I don't even want to think about the chemo and all of the other bad things that could happen if I'm not "lucky".

I had the surgery last Tuesday and I go in tomorrow to find out the results of the biopsy and to have the stitches and tape removed.

Strangely, This is actually the 3rd time that I've been told I have Cancer!!!!

• The first time (1997) it actually turned out to be a disease called ITP.There is no cure for this disease and it's something that I just have to live with. My Spleen was removed to ensure me living.
  
• The second time (2004), I had 3 Lymph Nodes removed from my groin area, 4 inches of my digestive tract removed, an Ulcer removed that had grown its own blood supply and attached to the OUTSIDE of my stomach, and my Appendix removed. After all of that, I was told that I was Lymphoma free and that I had beaten it.
• And now, here I am again...

I'm pretty sad and depressed that I'm sick all the time. I hope that this will be at least a temporary fix and that I can just be healthy again, even for one single day.

During the surgery, apparently my heart rate dropped below 30 BPM for a long time. I'm told that's an emergency situation and that it was a 50/50 situation if I would make it through the surgery. A 1 hour procedure, ended up taking 4 hours for me because my heart rate was still dipping below 30 BPM in the recovery room and even when they put me in my own room. I could see how much Kelly was worried just by looking at her, but I was so out of it from all the medication I really didn't understand what was going on. I was relieved upon hearing that they only took 1 Lymph Node, instead of 3. But I have to say that this is the worst pain I can honestly remember having to endure. It seriously sucks. I can't do ANYTHING without wincing in pain. I can't sleep, I can't sit, I can't stand, I can't do anything at all without serious discomfort. I never knew that the neck did so much for the body. I just want to curl up in a ball and sleep until it feels better

I'm not looking for sympathy, I just wanted to write it down. I find out the results of the biopsy tomorrow... I'll write again when I get the results.

Hug your loved ones people. Life is shorter than you think. Love to all!