Zed's Bad Day...

[przed]

...or why medical tests suck.


So last week I get a call from my doctor. Which wasn't good, because I hadn't seen him for a while, and wasn't expecting to hear from him at all.

Turns out that the mammogram I had in August showed something they wanted to check out. They didn't think it was anything, but they'd booked me for a biopsy today.

Not fun, but I figure they'll turn me into a human pin cushion, send me home, and tell me it's all fine a week later.

Nope.

They tried to turn me into a human pin cushion. They really did. But I've got this little problem with my right arm. It's got crap mobility, and it couldn't do what they needed it to do to get me in the damn x-ray machine and then stick me with the damn biopsy needle. Two very nice technicians tried for an hour and a half. Repeatedly. A bunch of different ways. And all they succeeded in doing was stiffening up my right shoulder, and ripping the muscles in my neck from the crazy contortions they tried putting me in.

In the end, the very nice doctor decided it wasn't worth it trying to do the biopsy when he was pretty sure they weren't going to hit the right spot. He figures there's a low chance it's malignant (20%, which isn't bad, except that I have this talent at getting things that there are long medical odds on me getting), and the best alternative is to watch closely and see what happens. I'm now on a schedule of mammograms every six months, and if the damn spot grows, they "get aggressive." Which means they cut the damn thing out.

I spent the rest of the day at home with a heating pad on my neck, catching up on Eureka (which is still my happy little show, thank god) and The Mentalist (which I'm now deciding whether to ditch or not because there's not nearly enough Cho being adorable this season!).

I could totally have had a better day. And I now need to not worry about this in six month increments.

Oh joy.

Comments

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Oh hon. As one who has been through her own share of that crap recently, my heart goes out to you. Increments of worry bite, they really do. But every six months is doable to keep things under control and your mind at ease.

And hey, there are heating pads and Shows to make it better...

HUGE squishy hugs, petal. Take care

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm mostly trying to stay zen about it all, but it's really a kicker. I'm sure I shall be privately whingeing at you some time in the future.

In the meantime, the heating pad and shows will have to do.

Squishy hugs back.

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

(I'm absolutely no expert - just a feeling...)

Don't wait six months!
*hugs*

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely be touching base with my doctor to see what he suggests.

*hugs back*

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

Sending hugs and all the best wishes!
Are there no other ways to get the biopsy done?

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the good wishes.

The doctor said there was one other method he could have tried, but it was more invasive and probably wouldn't have worked any better. The next thing on is actual surgery, and they only want to do that if it looks like the little sucker is growing. And fingers crossed, it won't.

[morgandawn.livejournal.com]

hugs. they called me back last friday for similar reasons but they cleared me. You must be very stressed. rest, watch TV, cuddle - you deserve it.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got the all clear. Here's hoping I get the same. Eventually. :-/

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I hate it when the thing they're doing to make "it" better somehow makes other things worse....

::gentle hugs::

[przed.livejournal.com]

At least they were understanding and compassionate about it all. And they were trying hard not to hurt me. But it's still a big ball of no fun.

::hugs back::

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Hope you feel better soon.
*hugs*

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

*hugs back*

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Oh bugger babe, what an utter pain. I'm sure it'll be absolutely fine, and it's good that they keep an eye on it in a better-safe-than-sorry way, but oh joy, talk about things you could well do without. My godmum had exactly the same sort of game, and eventually it all came to nothing - but yep, it sucks. And they tried to make you into a pretzel too... rotters.

::big gentle hugs, plus heat pads and positive thoughts::

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it'll be nothing, but I'd really like to know it's nothing. You know? :-/

*hugs back*

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

A mammogram you had in August showed something and they're just calling you now?! I wouldn't imagine there's too much to worry about if they were willing to wait that long.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I love my doctor, and the mammography clinic and its people are awesome, but the hospital admin. staff are, frankly, crap. So it's likely they weren't too worried, but also likely they just lost the paperwork for a bit. But I'm going to take the positive view that there's not much to worry about.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Well, darn. I'm sorry to hear this. It's mentally tiring to worry about stuff like this and then they had to try to turn you into a contortionist! It sounds painful. Take care and keep an eye on that place. I want you around for a good long time and so does your little one! *big hug*

[przed.livejournal.com]

My neck's still stiff, but getting better. And I'm trying to just relax about the whole thing and not worry until I need to. Easier said than done, but I'm trying.

*big hug back*

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

:: Hugs :: What she said *points up to gilda_elise . Plus, if your doctor was really worried, he'd whip you into hospital immediately to have it removed. Try to take some comfort from that. Yeah, easier said than done, I know!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's probably nothing and I'm just going to be zen about the next six months. I hope. :-/

::hugs back::

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Bugger, petal. *tries to do the hug where you squeeze hard but gently* ♥

I'm sure all the unsuccessful contortions just made an already stressful experience even more stressful but if they waited from August to contact you and are now suggesting a "wait and see" for six months that they really can't be that worried. IF you're really worried isn't there any way they could knock you out and then move your arm where they need it to be to stick a needle in?

*hugs you again because I can*

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it'll all be fine. ::Tries not to remember all the cervical biopsies that really did almost turn into cancer::

The contortions were almost funny at the time, but painful after the fact. I only realized they'd done my neck in when I was walking home.

IF you're really worried isn't there any way they could knock you out and then move your arm where they need it to be to stick a needle in?

Alas, no. My arm just honestly doesn't extend that way. When I was a kid, I used to hang from monkey bars by just that one arm to see if I could get it to go straight. I couldn't. ::stupid skeletal deformity:: And if they're going to knock me out, I imagine it'll be to take a great chunk out, not just do the biopsy.

I'm trying to just remain zen about it all and concentrate on the lads. Bodie and Doyle'll see me through. *g*

::hugs back::

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I'm with what some others have said, that it doesn't sound as if the powers that be think it's very urgent, so I'd try not to worry too much, but it's not easy, is it? Also, I've known several people who've been called back after a mammogram (in some hospitals it seems almost routine) and it's been nothing to worry about, more often than not a poor quality image which has to be taken again. Still, a real bummer of a day for you which I hope you're beginning to recover from?

[przed.livejournal.com]

I've been called back before, and wasn't too worried this time. But this is the second call back on this one, and while I'm betting it's fine, I still won't completely relax until I know it's fine.

::sigh::

[nakeisha.livejournal.com]

*Hugs and positive vibes*

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Absolutely a bad day, from beginning to end. If you're going to be put through all the worry and contortions, the at least you ought to have some resolution! And it's somehow even more difficult when everyone is trying so hard to do what they're supposed to do, but it still doesn't work. Arrgh. Classic definition of a bad day. *g*

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I agree with what others have said that your doctor is probably being extra careful--which is good, really.

I think you should have extra treats of various kinds for the rest of the week, though!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Going through it all, and then being told they couldn't do the damn biopsy really, well, sucked. And they really did try, and were very nice about it all. And they totally racked their brains to come up with a solution. But it just wasn't going to happen.

::sigh::

I think extra treats is an excellent idea. *g* ::reaches for another licorice, and a helping of Bodie and Doyle::

[gulffire.livejournal.com]

What a crummy experience. Pamper yourself as much as possible.

[przed.livejournal.com]

On the positive side, the technicians and doctors were very nice and seemed completely competent. On the downside, it pretty much was crummy. I like the pampering idea.

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

Maybe this is worth a second opinion before six months go by?

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely going to talk to my doctor about what he thinks.

[ancastar.livejournal.com]

Oh geez! I had no idea you were going through this. I'm so sorry, hon. Let's keep positive non-malignant thoughts in mind, eh?

[przed.livejournal.com]

It was a last minute, out of the blue thing. I only got the call last week, which was when the hospital deigned to tell my doctor. And up until they told me they couldn't do the biopsy, I honestly thought it was going to be a pain in the butt, or other areas, but not that big a deal. Ah, well, I'll be focusing on those non-malignant thoughts. :-/

[beledibabe.livejournal.com]

Well, damn. I'm sending neck-healing, no-cancer-EVAH good wishes to you.

::hugs::

[przed.livejournal.com]

I like the way you think.

::hugs back::

[halotolerant.livejournal.com]

They biopsy you under x-ray guidance in the USA? Huh. I really need to read up why that is so (we do all ours with just an ultrasound probe, which requires almost no contortions - could that be an option for you? Though from what you say it sounds like you have something very subtle and thus maybe it does need a different imaging type - I'm just raising it in case this leads to an easier solution)

How utterly crap and frustrating a day that must have been. I hope your muscles are feeling better now at least ♥

[przed.livejournal.com]

Canada, actually. They sort of lock you, or the relevant portions of you, into this cage attached to a digital x-ray machine, and use it to image the part they want to biopsy. And then since you're locked in, I suppose it means they have a greater shot at getting the right bit without it shifting around.

They mentioned trying an MRI, but no one mentioned an ultrasound. I might raise that with my G.P. when I discuss this with him. Thanks for the idea.

The muscles are still bloody sore, but I'm trying to keep them moving so they don't seize up on me.

[norfolkdumpling.livejournal.com]

Oh hon - I'm sure it'll all be fine, and I'm glad they're going to be checking up regularly, but I know how difficult waiting and worrying like that can be. *hugs you* I hope things look up for you soon ♥

[przed.livejournal.com]

Waiting is the worst part. Well, except for the relevant portions of one's anatomy being squished and twisted. *g*

::hugs back::

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

Am so sorry that you had to go through this and am glad they are going to be checking regularly although I am sure everything will be fine. *hugs you*

[przed.livejournal.com]

With all the good thoughts from you and everyone else, I can't not be fine, right? *g*

::hugs back::

[cyanne]

Lots of love and hugs and hopes that everything's fine. Take care of yourself, hon, pretty boys are a good distraction. *hugs*

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm liking the pretty boys as distraction suggestion. That oughta take me through the next six months. *g*

::hugs back::

[sooguy.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that. Hope it turns out for the best.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed...

[canadiansuzanne.livejournal.com]

Man, doctors can truly suck sometimes.

I will join you in the not worrying. :)

[przed.livejournal.com]

In this case, it was totally not the doctor's fault. He and the technicians were kind, compassionate, and doing the best they could. My body, however, was totally not cooperating.

I'm just concentrating on the not worrying part.

[dorinda.livejournal.com]

Just got back in town and heard about this, and oh, gads, the suck. I'm sorry you had all that pain and trouble for no solid return! I hope you feel better posthaste! And I'm glad to hear they'll be keeping an eye on the thing--though I wish you didn't have to wait around so much while they're doing it. *hug*

[przed.livejournal.com]

The neck is finally feeling okay, and I'm just trying not to stress about having no answer, one way or the other. I'm just going to make sure I'm proactive about getting the appointments scheduled. As much as one can be with the hospital involved, anyway.

*hugs back*