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Off Topic :
Health update

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 Jeaniegirl (original poster member #6370) posted at 5:59 PM on Monday, April 3rd, 2023

It will be two years this June since I had the top lobe of my right lung removed because of cancer. It's been a long and painful recovery. I developed COPD and kept having breathing problems. I was getting bronchitis several times and hospitalized twice with pneumonia since surgery. My weight loss was tremendous due to my lack of appetite and having to force myself to eat. I have been below 100 lbs. until recently. I'm now up to 107 thanks to lots of malts and smoothies. I cannot sing the praises of TRELEGY loud enough. Amazing drug!

Since I was put on TRELEGY for the breathing/COPD issues. It's been almost a month with that now and it's amazing that my breathing issues are just gone. Oxygen levels stay high and no more coughing. I'm so relieved.

However ... A knot the size of an egg formed under my right rib cage and if I bend or turn a certain way, the pain almost knocks me out. The doc thinks it could be as hernia but isn't sure. So this morning he sent me for a cats scan with dye contrast, I should know by Wednesday just what the heck is going on, The lung doc thinks if it's a hernia, it was caused by the long-term deep coughing I had.

I think all cancer survivors develop a fear cancer will return in other parts of the body so I'm going to be vigilant in getting checked for anything out of the ordinary.

So good vibes needed that the cat scan will not show anything BAD. I understand if it's an intestinal hernia, it's an easy fix.

[This message edited by Jeaniegirl at 6:01 PM, Monday, April 3rd]

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8785521
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zebra25 ( member #29431) posted at 7:13 PM on Monday, April 3rd, 2023

Sending you good vibes Jeanie. Hopefully it is something easily dealt with. Glad to hear your new medicine is helping and you have been able to put some weight back on.

"Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces."

D-day April 2010

posts: 3679   ·   registered: Aug. 25th, 2010
id 8785537
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 Jeaniegirl (original poster member #6370) posted at 7:20 PM on Monday, April 3rd, 2023

Thank you! It's hard to realize how much one misses breathing normally until that ability is lost. Scary too !

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8785539
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zebra25 ( member #29431) posted at 7:30 PM on Monday, April 3rd, 2023

I can't even imagine how awful and scary that must have been. I admire your strength.

"Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces."

D-day April 2010

posts: 3679   ·   registered: Aug. 25th, 2010
id 8785543
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BearlyBreathing ( member #55075) posted at 8:18 PM on Monday, April 3rd, 2023

It must feel so good to get the big fresh breath of air. Fingers crossed for your test results on Wednesday. (And you are smart to get it checked out- i do the same, also a cancer survivor although not as difficult a cancer as you experienced).

Me: BS 57 (49 on d-day)Him: *who cares ;-) *. D-Day 8/15/2016 LTA. Kinda liking my new life :-)

**horrible typist, lots of edits to correct. :-/ **

posts: 6211   ·   registered: Sep. 10th, 2016   ·   location: Northern CA
id 8785549
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 Jeaniegirl (original poster member #6370) posted at 10:36 PM on Monday, April 3rd, 2023

Breathing issues were a huge problem. And I could barely do anything, even walking around, as I was so weak from lack of breathing right and lack of oxygen. Now I can take deep breaths without any problem. I had a cat scan on my lungs in December and got the wonderful news that my lungs look good and healthy. And I am much stronger too, able to do things. I had an issue in January with choking on food when I tried to eat. I'd even get strangled on water! So I had a scope, which served to stretch my esophagus, making eating and drinking back to normal. Food and water were actually going down into my windpipe, bypassing the esophagus. Now that is fixed too. I was getting lung infections from that. I would wake up in the middle of the night, strangled and trying to cough and breathe and would have to get up and take a breathing treatment to breathe.

I haven't been back to ER or admitted to the hospital since early December and I hope I don't have to go back!

I've always been healthy and active so this is all a new ballgame for me and makes me appreciate doctors and medical staff all the more. The only medication I'm on is TRELEGY and I don't even have to use the nebulizer to help me breath anymore. So while I've had some bad problems after the surgery, including horrible nerve pain in my back, I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel now since I'm feeling good and energetic -- except for this mystery knot under my ribs. I've tried to keep away from google about it because google will scare you to death if you look for symptoms. smile

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8785571
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deena04 ( member #41741) posted at 3:28 AM on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Good vibes for you for continual healing and good, clean tests.

Me FBS 40s, Him XWS older than me (lovemywife4ever), D, He cheated before M, forgot to tell me. I’m free and loving life.

posts: 3339   ·   registered: Dec. 22nd, 2013   ·   location: Midwest
id 8785604
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tushnurse ( member #21101) posted at 1:24 PM on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Jeanie I am glad that you are recovering and have found a med that works for you. That's wonderful news. Since you were having some aspiration pneumonias, there's probably some scarring, and inflammation from it.
Hope you get good news.
On the other hand if you had an esophageal ring, and had to have it stretched, you definitely need to be taking a PPI to prevent reflux, and it from happening again, unless they have contributed it to the coughing. If not though that reflux being bad enough to cause a ring means it will come back, and can also lead to developing a condition called Barretts esophagus. So if no if not on one talk to the Dr's about it.

Me: FBSHim: FWSKids: 23 & 27 Married for 32 years now, was 16 at the time.D-Day Sept 26 2008R'd in about 2 years. Old Vet now.

posts: 20298   ·   registered: Oct. 1st, 2008   ·   location: St. Louis
id 8785632
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WalkinOnEggshelz ( Administrator #29447) posted at 1:46 PM on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Sending good vibes your way! You have been through so much lately.

If you keep asking people to give you the benefit of the doubt, they will eventually start to doubt your benefit.

posts: 16686   ·   registered: Aug. 27th, 2010   ·   location: Anywhere and everywhere
id 8785637
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 Jeaniegirl (original poster member #6370) posted at 5:06 PM on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Tushnurse, thank you. I'm to see the doctor next week and his PA said I will be put on medication for the esophageal issues. I asked how long I will need to take it and she said for the rest of my life. I'm guessing that is what you are talking about.

Walkingoneggshells, thank you. It's been a journey for sure.

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8785690
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 Jeaniegirl (original poster member #6370) posted at 5:51 PM on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Update to the Update

Cat scan with dye contrast report is not so good.

I have an aorta aneurysm and report has been sent to the cardio doctor

I have cysts on my right kidney so report has been sent to Urologist.

Waiting to hear from both doctors about appointments.

So there is that ...........

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8785692
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zebra25 ( member #29431) posted at 8:31 PM on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023

Keeping you in my thoughts Jeanie.

"Don't let anyone who hasn't been in your shoes tell you how to tie your laces."

D-day April 2010

posts: 3679   ·   registered: Aug. 25th, 2010
id 8785705
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WhatsRight ( member #35417) posted at 2:50 AM on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

Well, SHIT!!!

I was so thrilled to hear about the breathing improvement. And now this other mess!

These new things sound impactful and time sensitive. I sure hope they are putting a rush on those follow-up tests.

Tons of prayers coming your way.

❤️❤️❤️

"Noone can make you feel inferior without your concent." Eleanor Roosevelt

I will not be vanquished. Rose Kennedy

posts: 8234   ·   registered: Apr. 23rd, 2012   ·   location: Southeast USA
id 8785743
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tushnurse ( member #21101) posted at 1:20 PM on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

I am hoping that you learn that neither of those issues are any big deal.
Often people develop small aortic aneurysms and have to be monitored. They are so common it's a quality metric from MCR to be evaluated for one when you come of age. This is also something that can be fixed with a stent placed in the aorta and done as an outpatient procedure.
The kidney cysts can be an inflammatory response, or nothing at all, or something. So fingers crossed its a no big deal finding.

(((((Jeanie))))

Me: FBSHim: FWSKids: 23 & 27 Married for 32 years now, was 16 at the time.D-Day Sept 26 2008R'd in about 2 years. Old Vet now.

posts: 20298   ·   registered: Oct. 1st, 2008   ·   location: St. Louis
id 8785772
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josiep ( member #58593) posted at 5:09 PM on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

What tushnurse said.

I hate that you're going through all this. I want to give you a hug and hold your hand and just sit around feeding you chocolate.

Keep us posted, dear one. You're very special to a lot of us here!

BW, was 67; now 74; M 45 yrs., T 49 yrs.DDay#1, 1982; DDay#2, May, 2017. D July, 2017

posts: 3240   ·   registered: May. 5th, 2017
id 8785805
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 Jeaniegirl (original poster member #6370) posted at 7:02 PM on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

Thank you! Right now, just waiting on doctor's appointments make it all an 'unknown' -

I have found out the aneurysm did show up previously in an ultrasound and my primary care doctor says the size has not changed. But the fact I can feel something there and have pain when I move or bend a certain way - worries me and that is what made me go get checked. Since they said they have sent the catscan pictures to my heart doctor makes me wonder if it's a heart issue or an intestinal issue. I am probably the least 'medical person' here. The bulge and pain area is right below my right rib cage and a little to the center. I don't even know what body part reside there. smile As for the cysts on the kidney, I did google and see that it's a relatively easy fix unless they turn out to be tumors or cancer. I guess I'm just fearful of any type of surgery now since it has taken me forever to get over the lung surgery.

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8785816
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tushnurse ( member #21101) posted at 10:10 PM on Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

They sent the CT to your cardiologist because if the AAA needs to be fixed it will be an interventional cardiologist that puts a stent in.

I hope you get your appt's soon so you get some answers.

I suspect you tore a muscle w/ all the coughing and have a minor hernia and that is what is causing the pain. Usually aortic aneurysms are painless, and often if they are serious they will kill you before you know what is happening. I hope you are doing ok keeping this calm, and not driving yourself crazy over it.

Me: FBSHim: FWSKids: 23 & 27 Married for 32 years now, was 16 at the time.D-Day Sept 26 2008R'd in about 2 years. Old Vet now.

posts: 20298   ·   registered: Oct. 1st, 2008   ·   location: St. Louis
id 8785841
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 Jeaniegirl (original poster member #6370) posted at 4:30 AM on Thursday, April 6th, 2023

Tushnurse, I sure wish it to be just a hernia!

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8785885
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 Jeaniegirl (original poster member #6370) posted at 10:23 AM on Thursday, April 6th, 2023

Just saw the catscan report on my online medical portal. I received an email telling me report was ready for my viewing.

It says

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

It also says I have cysts on my right kidney.

Portal had me confirm an appointment with the cardiologist for April 19th. I confirmed. I guess if it was life-threatening they would have me coming in sooner. At least I'd hope so.

I've looked up the AAA and there are two different procedures to fix it. I hope IF I have to have a stent, they can do it with the less invasive procedure of going through the groin.

Oh Happy Days. Wish I had waited until tomorrow to open the email as now I'm probably up for the rest of the night. rolleyes

"Because I deserve better"

posts: 3731   ·   registered: Feb. 1st, 2005
id 8785895
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annb ( member #22386) posted at 2:17 PM on Thursday, April 6th, 2023

Jeanie, so sorry you are going through another health issue.

My doctor discovered cysts on my kidney in 2005. She monitored for years with a yearly ultrasound. One year grew ever so slightly. She continued with the ultrasounds until about two years ago, and since nothing had changed, the ultrasound is no longer necessary.

I hope you have positive news at your upcoming appointments, and sending prayers your way.

posts: 12201   ·   registered: Jan. 10th, 2009   ·   location: Northeast
id 8785911
Topic is Sleeping.
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