Medical Madness

So, for the last week & 1/2, I have had this horribly swollen leg. When talking to my people, they seemed to think that I had a blood clot.

So on Saturday one of my best friends took me to the ER. Unfortunately, the UltraSound department (Vascular Lab) was closed on the weekend. So, they gave me a script for Vicodin & 3 shots of blood thinners, so I could come back & get the Ultra Sound on Monday morning.

While getting the US (by myself), the technician told me that she didn't see any clots, which was a HUGE relief for me. Until she said "I have something on the report that I need for you to take down to the ER".

I opened the report & it said "There seems to be an obstruction in the Vena Cava, or Iliac Blood Vessel". Weird.

I get back to the ER, and the doctor tells me that they need to do a CT scan of my hip area, as they believed that there was a blood clot higher up than where the Ultra Sound was able to determine. Cool, right?

So, he gives me two percocet, and puts in an IV for the CT scan, so the blood vessles/veins/arteries will show up. I go, and come back really quickly. But I notice that the CT scan keeps going back to my pelvis reigon. Strange, but I was pretty stoned, so I didn't think anything of it.

About 3 hours later, the doctor walks in looking really worried. He says "I hate to bring this really bad news. You have a large mass on your pelvis, and it's looking like a lymphoma or some other kind of blood cancer".

CANCER??? I'm 33. This isn't supposed to happen to me...not now.

But it has. They immediately admit me as an inpatient, the very next day they do a PET Scan, which actualy is a very cool tool that they are able to "cut up" the image, like you would do in a biopsy. From there, they were able to confirm that it is lymphoma.

I have biopsies tomorrow on my bone marrow & Lymph Nodes to see if it's non-Hodgkins or Hodgkins Lymphoma (I'm feverently hoping for non - it's a lot easier to treat, and a much higher survival rate).

I wish to thank EVERYONE for their well-wishes, love, and support. This is a pretty rough time for me, and you all are the best friends a girl could ever have.

Specifically, big thanks to my Mom & Dad, my sister Katie Spoon, Michael Brown, Danette Perry, Regi & Jeremy Bragg for going above & beyond the call of duty.

Love you all.