We alI know that today is our nation's independence day, but I've gotta proclaim July 2 as my personal independence day. Here's the story:
I have a lump in my neck. I noticed it last summer when I had a tooth problem. I pointed it out to the dentist who wasn't the least concerned - said it was a lymph gland reacting to the infection in the tooth. I even pointed it out to my primary care doc who said the same thing. It'll go down - don't worry....
So this summer, a year later, it's still there. It's time to find out what's going on. It didn't seem to really be growing so I waited until DH was healed from all his challenges before beginning the quest to find out what MY issue was. Some weeks back, when I saw my primary care doc for my shoulder problem, I pointed out that this lump is still here. She puts on a glove, poked around on it and said it is very likely a lymphoma and ordered a CT scan. Did she give me any kind of physical exam besides poking the lump itself, nope. Didn't check my other lymph nodes, didn't look in my mouth or ears. Nada. Did she even bother to refer me to an ENT - nope. Just indicates that it's probably cancer and walked out of the room. Hey doc - thanks for your caring, comforting bedside manner.
The next week I changed primary care docs to the internist my DH uses. I love him! He offered another idea - a parotid tumor. Thankfully parotid tumors are benign about 80% of the time. He also did a real exam. I have some pressure in my right ear - right above the lump so I was wondering if it was exerting pressure on some nerve that goes to the ear. Not sure about that - but he did say I have fluid in that ear and significant scarring in both ears. No wonder I can't hear, lol. And, he referred me to an ENT but told me to get the scan first. For whatever reason - my insurance company authorized an MRI instead of a CT. My new doc was ok with that so off I go.
I had the MRI on Tuesday. The report was ready and had been sent to my doc on Thursday afternoon. The doc offices were going to be closed on Friday so my DH, who is a nurse, gets on the phone with the radiology department and arranges for us to get in after-hours to pick up the report ourselves. Nurses take care of nurses! What a long drive to that hospital. We got the report, went to the car, said a prayer and opened it up. Praise God! It's
not a lymphoma, it's
not a parotid tumor, it appears that it is a lipoma which is nothing more than a fatty tumor and non-cancerous. Whew....!
I still need to see the ENT, and it's likely that she will order a needle biopsy just to be absolutely sure, but I'm feeling confident that it will all be alright. I hadn't told anyone but my DH. Didn't really want to worry anyone unless there was a reason to worry. I was concerned, but not overly worried because I felt fine nd healthy through all of this. And, I had already given it to God.
Other news: Worming baby goats again, and re-treating for cocci. Got my old gal wormed too. Her eyelids were pale, pale, pale. Garden is still cranking out peppers and cucumbers and an occasional green bean or squash. There is an extremely noticeable, and sad, lack of bees around. Green beans have a zillion blooms but without a pollinator they're not making a lot of beans. I need to investigate hand-pollinating, but oh man, what a pain.
I have noticed a few honey bees on my fig tree. Figs started out great and I got a couple of good pickings before a massive storm came through and wiped out a bunch of them. Any fig that was even almost ripe ended up on the ground. The ones that were on the tree took up too much moisture, have split open, and are bland and watery. At least the bees and butterflies are enjoying them. I'm really hoping the remaining figs hold on to the tree and ripen well.
We have been invited to a fish fry this afternoon, but DH has had a sore throat since yesterday and had a bad hypoglycemic episode this morning so I'm guessing (and secretly happy) that we will spend the day at home. His mom is flying back in from New York tonight and he/we will need to pick her up at the airport and bring her back here to spend the night so I guess I need to get busy cleaning this house. Then - never ending yard/garden work will be on the list this evening, (if I don't go to pick MIL up), when it cools off a bit.
GRRRRRR - just heard the weather report. Expecting more thunderstorms this afternoon. UGH