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

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

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

Don't wait six months!
*hugs*

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[gblvr.livejournal.com]

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

::gentle hugs::

[bluespirit-star.livejournal.com]

Hope you feel better soon.
*hugs*

[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::

[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.

[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*

[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!

[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*

[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?

[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!

[gulffire.livejournal.com]

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

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

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

[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?

[beledibabe.livejournal.com]

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

::hugs::

[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 ♥

[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 ♥

[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*

[cyanne]

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

[sooguy.livejournal.com]

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

[canadiansuzanne.livejournal.com]

Man, doctors can truly suck sometimes.

I will join you in the not worrying. :)

[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*