Biopsy Saga, Part 1

I have been thinking about writing about this topic for several weeks. At first I wasn't ready to share the info with everyone and also, I wasn't sure what to share. I am unsure what to title this post. I am also uncertain if it should be in 1, 2 or 3 parts. It wasn't intended to be a LONG story, but as life often does throw unexpected curves, that is what this run-of-the-mill story has become~UNEXPECTED. So following the lead of some more prolific authors than I, the story has taken on a life of its own and will develop as I try to share. Believe me, it is worth sticking with the read!

I will start at the beginning because after all, that is a good place to start. In early September I had my yearly physical, putting it off as one often does if one does not have any issues and does not look forward to 'housecleaning' as one friend calls the female exam. At the end of the exam, my female GP  suggested a thyroid ultrasound and scheduled it for the following week, when Hubby was schedule for his hip-replacement pre-op. Perfect timing. Same location. I did not ask questions. Just said...OK. She called 3 days later to share I had 3 nodules on the right thyroid; all less than 1 cm in size...  BUT ...one looked suspicious. She wanted to refer me to a specialist at a larger medical facility. Again, not any questions, but OK. The appointment was made with a specialist who asked a lot of questions. I had some answers. No family history. No thyroid issues or problems. (I had finally done some research.) No, I did not know why the GP ordered the ultrasound. Well...it is a good thing she did, he said, "It is pre-cancerous." He ordered a biopsy; another ultrasound and an aspiration using a LONG needle and drawing matter for 2 or 3 vials. I can honestly say, It HURT. A bandaid was placed on the pin hole and we went on our way, awaiting results of the biopsy. The specialist called the following Monday and  recommended removal of the right thyroid and further biopsy on the left thyroid ASAP. (We had to wait until after Hubby's hip replacement and until he was more mobile - important to the saga and teaser #1.) Surgery was scheduled for Monday, October 27th with an overnight stay. Last week, a phone call from the surgeon's nurse changed the surgery to Friday, October 31st; check-in at 5:30 AM, surgery at 7:00. That led to this lovely 6:00 AM photo this morning. It is not a pretty thing on a number of levels!

no drugs yet

me WITHOUT coffee or food

after a night of VERY little sleep

and AFTER our Thursday experience

that's teaser #2 for part 2 of this saga

There is something about the word BIOPSY that unsettles one's mind. When it is used by other people, you think. Oh. Good. They are getting whatever checked out. Hope all goes well. OR maybe you think, Finally! Why on earth have they waited so long. ME? Holy crap! Biopsy? But I'm not having any thyroid issues. This bomb come from WHERE?

I scheduled another appointment with my GP to FINALLY ask some questions. She explained the surgery and the very slim chance cancer was present. I had to ask, what made her order the ultrasound in the first place? The answer: the clinic is converting the previous printed records to an electronic system. She noticed I had a thyroid ultrasound in 2006 and had NOT had a follow-up since. She felt it was time for a follow-up. And I am so thankful she did. [The clinic is an old historic building which needed much updating before the electronic record keeping could be implemented. That remodeling happened in the last year. The conversion took place this summer.]

Now for the endorsement. In January 2006, Hubby and I had the Lifeline (or something similar) body scans while wintering in AZ. We had just retired and I thought the tests results provided by the screening would be a nice baseline for our future health. What it did indicate was I should have a follow-up with my regular GP regarding my thyroid. He did follow-up, but then he retired. I do not remember him saying anything about the ultrasound results. Maybe he said I had some nodules, many people do. At that time there was no reason to worry. And I didn't. Once he retired I needed to find a new GP I liked. If you have had to go through that process, you totally understand. It is a process and it does take time. Dr. R had been my doc since 1975. He knew me and my body better than Hubby!

What the Lifeline tests did NOT indicate was any heart problems for Hubby. But then I'm not sure if there is anything other than an extensive stress test to find issues with the 'widow maker' before it is too late. We were just plain lucky on that one. Or better yet, SOMEONE ELSE was the driving force.

If you have not, please consider getting the series of tests through a similar Lifeline company. It is out-of-pocket payment, but it could save your life.

The surgery this morning was totally painless. Jay said I would not feel a thing, and I did not; before during or after. No pain. Period. It does not look pretty and with humor (which returned today after it went missing yesterday-teaser #3) fits with the day.

super glued shut

incision on the left side for the biopsy

waiting for the pathology report tomorrow morning

may be another surgery & another night

or I will be dismissed

So all this in and of itself is worthy of a blog post. I have needed to write about this experience because writing often helps with the processing and accepting, whatever that may be. But as I shared earlier, this experience was preceded by an unexpected Thursday event. It is a story all on its own. And here is teaser #4:

Happy Halloween!