Working in the ER was my life. I loved what I did there. After a while, 12 hours shifts, every other weekend, every other holiday... It gets exhausting. I remember lying in bed on Friday, April 02, 2010 stretching my shoulder. I had this feeling that something was pressing on my vocal cords. As I felt my neck I discovered a large lump in-line with my clavicle. I asked Ron (my boyfriend) if he felt it as well. His thought was ask one of the ER docs to look at it tomorrow at work. His suggestion was to see my family Dr just to be on the safe side.
On Monday, April 05, 2010 I saw my primary physician and he ordered some labwork & a CT scan. I wasn't scheduled to work until Thursday, so when I went in Thursday I had my labs drawn & a CT scan. My Dr called me in the ER, he stated that my labwork was ok, but I needed additional CT scans. Was I scared? Yes. But I went back to CT and had the additional testing. It was determined that I needed to see an ENT (ear, nose, throat) to biopsy the enlarged lymphnode in my neck. It was going to be some time before I could get in to see him. Friday morning (April 9) I went into work a little early to let my manager know that I was going to be having a bunch of testing. She was not in, but the Director of the ER was. I let him read my CT results, and let him know I had an appointment with the ENT in a few weeks. He immediately picked up the phone and called the office of the ENT. The ENT physician was already aware that he was going to be seeing me. He instructed the director to have me come straight to his office.
My boyfriend met me at the ENT office. I was so relieved about that. Because at this point I am really scared of what I could have. My outlook on things has always been if something is wrong, stick a needle in it, cut it off or laser it. (thanks to my friend/physician Karen) A needle biopsy was performed right in the office. I was also put on his surgery schedule for Wednesday, April 14, 2010. I was asked if I could take the specimens back to the hospital lab (since the courier wasn't coming till late afternoon). I took the specimens straight to the lab & asked them to run them right away. I then went and saw my supervisor & and filled out FMLA paperwork to be on leave for my surgery and for recovery time after.
While just arriving home (after many errands) I received a call from my Hematologist. (this was a little strange since I hadn't seen him about any of this) I was then informed that my biopsy was positive for a blood cancer - Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
On Monday, April 05, 2010 I saw my primary physician and he ordered some labwork & a CT scan. I wasn't scheduled to work until Thursday, so when I went in Thursday I had my labs drawn & a CT scan. My Dr called me in the ER, he stated that my labwork was ok, but I needed additional CT scans. Was I scared? Yes. But I went back to CT and had the additional testing. It was determined that I needed to see an ENT (ear, nose, throat) to biopsy the enlarged lymphnode in my neck. It was going to be some time before I could get in to see him. Friday morning (April 9) I went into work a little early to let my manager know that I was going to be having a bunch of testing. She was not in, but the Director of the ER was. I let him read my CT results, and let him know I had an appointment with the ENT in a few weeks. He immediately picked up the phone and called the office of the ENT. The ENT physician was already aware that he was going to be seeing me. He instructed the director to have me come straight to his office.
My boyfriend met me at the ENT office. I was so relieved about that. Because at this point I am really scared of what I could have. My outlook on things has always been if something is wrong, stick a needle in it, cut it off or laser it. (thanks to my friend/physician Karen) A needle biopsy was performed right in the office. I was also put on his surgery schedule for Wednesday, April 14, 2010. I was asked if I could take the specimens back to the hospital lab (since the courier wasn't coming till late afternoon). I took the specimens straight to the lab & asked them to run them right away. I then went and saw my supervisor & and filled out FMLA paperwork to be on leave for my surgery and for recovery time after.
While just arriving home (after many errands) I received a call from my Hematologist. (this was a little strange since I hadn't seen him about any of this) I was then informed that my biopsy was positive for a blood cancer - Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
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