Inpatient: GBMC
Hours seemed to take days.
Dr C came in early in the morning
"Ms Harris - you have breast cancer"
Plan of treatment - double mastectomy asap. Doing so would help prevent the cancer from not only spreading, but to get it out of my body prior to doing any lung surgery.
And so my journey begins.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Dateline: 2011 - April 7
Inpatient at GBMC.
Hoardes of mammograms, a few sonograms, an echocardiogram, and another chest xray.
I was alerted that due to a mass they found in my left breast, a biopsy would be performed.
Holy FRIG! While they may numb your exterior flesh with lidocaine, it does NOTHING for the interior of a breast *L* .. I was sure my boob was going to fly 20 feet across the room from the pressure of the 18" (or it felt like lol) needle *G*
and now we wait .......
Hoardes of mammograms, a few sonograms, an echocardiogram, and another chest xray.
I was alerted that due to a mass they found in my left breast, a biopsy would be performed.
Holy FRIG! While they may numb your exterior flesh with lidocaine, it does NOTHING for the interior of a breast *L* .. I was sure my boob was going to fly 20 feet across the room from the pressure of the 18" (or it felt like lol) needle *G*
and now we wait .......
Dateline 2011 - April 6
After being extremely short of breath and unable to breath deeply without having massive pain in my chest, ribs and back, we called 911 and I was safely delivered by ambulance to the ER at GBMC.
Fearing another pneumothorax, I was quite relieved when the diagnosis was Pleurisy instead. *L*
In order to make this diagnosis, a CT scan and chest xray were ordered. The radiologist found a bit more then pleurisy, however ..... There seemed to be a 'mass' in my left breast - BUT they did not tell me that yet *L*
They were keeping me overnight anyway because of the drugs involved with controlling the pleurisy pain.
Fearing another pneumothorax, I was quite relieved when the diagnosis was Pleurisy instead. *L*
In order to make this diagnosis, a CT scan and chest xray were ordered. The radiologist found a bit more then pleurisy, however ..... There seemed to be a 'mass' in my left breast - BUT they did not tell me that yet *L*
They were keeping me overnight anyway because of the drugs involved with controlling the pleurisy pain.
Dateline 2011 - Jan, Feb, March
Recuperation from my lung collapse (pneumothorax) and the Chest Tube were slow. Lordy felt like I was 100 years old! Thanks to my loving family I got through it and managed to feel pretty good (as long as I behaved lol)
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Dateline: 2010
2010 - January. Dr Meltzer suggested I try for SSDI, and to get on a lung transplant list. Seems the left lung is acting a bit up. But as long as I take my prednizone and do my nebulizers, I can go about some normal functions like showering, dressing, fixing meals, sitting at the computer *L* etc. No running and no soccer playing darn it hahaha.
August medication change - 2 puffs of symbicort twice daily. 10 mg of prednizone daily, prilosec OTC mornings before eating.
November: Was cleaning up some files in my office and in the garage where I keep archives stored. By the third week of November I had recurring muscle aches in the middle of my back. I slathered myself up with flex All, and/or bengay and took a swig of codiene to sleep. I honestly thought it was a pulled muscle and/or just the progression of COPD. We had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner but wow was I in pain. I only stayed
at the dinner table long enough to eat and then stumbled back up to my bedroom. The kids did a FANTASTIC job of prepping and serving such a delicious dinner! (they make me SO proud!)
Silly me. kept discounting the fact i was in pain and blaming it on pulled muscles.
December 5, 2010 Extremely SOB and alot of pain in the chest/ribs/back area. We had to call in 911. I truly did not think I would make it to the hospital. Every bounce in the truck made me want to vomit. I could not breathe in to save my soul! Within 10 minutes of being in the ER at York Hospital, the intern said I had a collapsed lung - and apparently had had it for at least a few days if not a few weeks. HOLY CRAP the pain was excruciating when they thrust the 'tube' into my chest to alleviate the air pockets and to re-inflate the left lung. I was one sick puppy! The tubing that went from my lung to the catchall bucket was filled with liquid and blood. The doctors and nurses treated me so very well .. AND the food was wonderful *L* The ONLY thing that bugged me was the night time staff that would NOT give me my maalox - the heartburn was agonizing and they did not have an 'order' for it so I had to wait .....and wait ..and wait!
I was released on December 8 and placed on oxgygen at home (1 lt a rest, 2 lt upon activity).Needless to say Christmas time proved to be a hurdle to get over and done with. Thankfully my beautiful children took over and did the Christmas dinner (Christmas Breakfast for my children and their families .. AND Christmas Dinner for my bros and sisters.) I am so very blessed!
August medication change - 2 puffs of symbicort twice daily. 10 mg of prednizone daily, prilosec OTC mornings before eating.
November: Was cleaning up some files in my office and in the garage where I keep archives stored. By the third week of November I had recurring muscle aches in the middle of my back. I slathered myself up with flex All, and/or bengay and took a swig of codiene to sleep. I honestly thought it was a pulled muscle and/or just the progression of COPD. We had our annual Thanksgiving Dinner but wow was I in pain. I only stayed
at the dinner table long enough to eat and then stumbled back up to my bedroom. The kids did a FANTASTIC job of prepping and serving such a delicious dinner! (they make me SO proud!)
Silly me. kept discounting the fact i was in pain and blaming it on pulled muscles.
December 5, 2010 Extremely SOB and alot of pain in the chest/ribs/back area. We had to call in 911. I truly did not think I would make it to the hospital. Every bounce in the truck made me want to vomit. I could not breathe in to save my soul! Within 10 minutes of being in the ER at York Hospital, the intern said I had a collapsed lung - and apparently had had it for at least a few days if not a few weeks. HOLY CRAP the pain was excruciating when they thrust the 'tube' into my chest to alleviate the air pockets and to re-inflate the left lung. I was one sick puppy! The tubing that went from my lung to the catchall bucket was filled with liquid and blood. The doctors and nurses treated me so very well .. AND the food was wonderful *L* The ONLY thing that bugged me was the night time staff that would NOT give me my maalox - the heartburn was agonizing and they did not have an 'order' for it so I had to wait .....and wait ..and wait!
I was released on December 8 and placed on oxgygen at home (1 lt a rest, 2 lt upon activity).Needless to say Christmas time proved to be a hurdle to get over and done with. Thankfully my beautiful children took over and did the Christmas dinner (Christmas Breakfast for my children and their families .. AND Christmas Dinner for my bros and sisters.) I am so very blessed!
Dateline: 2009
Under the care of my newest pulmonologist, my breathing seemed to be fair, though at times was short of breath - things like shopping, and cleaning and talking were difficult unless I'd done a nebulizing treatment or used my inhaler (now using pulmicort/foradil) . Am still using prednizone daily (5 - 10 mg)
The year went by quickly, and luckily while I did have lots of episodes of being short of breath (asthma) I didn't end up in the ER *L* Yay
The year went by quickly, and luckily while I did have lots of episodes of being short of breath (asthma) I didn't end up in the ER *L* Yay
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Dateline: 2008
Started 2008 off with a bang by golly!
During our Christmas festivities, the colognes and cooking smells really really bothered my breathing *sigh*
Every day after Christmas I kept thinking 'Okay get to the ER' . But I waited. and Waited .. Until after New Years! lol
January 4, 2008 my beau took me by car to the ER. Diagnosis: Asthma Attack. After a catscan, bloodworkup, chest xray, they put me on oxygen and gave me two nebulizer treatments. Medication: My friend, Prednizone! (pulsox 87)
Antibiotics, and home I went.
EASTER - March 2008 --- oh good lord have mercy. When will I learn! same ole same ole! Easter Dinner, smells, body wash and stuff ... everyone STANK! *L* well they smelled good but they offended my lil lungs big time! This time was pretty scary. Went by Ambulance to GBMC in Towson. Pulsox was 91 but didnt feel like it *L* After oxygen therapy . and nebulizer treatments and heavy duty prednizone, I felt alot better and was released to go home after only 6 hrs.
April 17, May 22, June 11, July 14, August 8 == each and every visit included a nebulizer treatment!
Everytime I go off of prednizone, I get SOB!!!!
June 11th my doctor gave me a 21 day supply so I would be chipper for my daughters wedding (June 28th) WOW it did the trick! I was able to survive the wedding and still be alive and NOT SOB!
August 28, 2008 - yet another trip by ambulance to the ER of GBMC. - Oxygen Therapy, Nebulizer treatment, another script for prednizone! Pulsox 94. yet i was very very very SOB
September 2008 --- Yay a new doctor. Dr Susan Meltzer - internist AND pulmonologist. Set me up on nebulizer treatments every day. Prednizone every day. Albuteral inhalers as needed.
It must have done the trick! ..
During our Christmas festivities, the colognes and cooking smells really really bothered my breathing *sigh*
Every day after Christmas I kept thinking 'Okay get to the ER' . But I waited. and Waited .. Until after New Years! lol
January 4, 2008 my beau took me by car to the ER. Diagnosis: Asthma Attack. After a catscan, bloodworkup, chest xray, they put me on oxygen and gave me two nebulizer treatments. Medication: My friend, Prednizone! (pulsox 87)
Antibiotics, and home I went.
EASTER - March 2008 --- oh good lord have mercy. When will I learn! same ole same ole! Easter Dinner, smells, body wash and stuff ... everyone STANK! *L* well they smelled good but they offended my lil lungs big time! This time was pretty scary. Went by Ambulance to GBMC in Towson. Pulsox was 91 but didnt feel like it *L* After oxygen therapy . and nebulizer treatments and heavy duty prednizone, I felt alot better and was released to go home after only 6 hrs.
April 17, May 22, June 11, July 14, August 8 == each and every visit included a nebulizer treatment!
Everytime I go off of prednizone, I get SOB!!!!
June 11th my doctor gave me a 21 day supply so I would be chipper for my daughters wedding (June 28th) WOW it did the trick! I was able to survive the wedding and still be alive and NOT SOB!
August 28, 2008 - yet another trip by ambulance to the ER of GBMC. - Oxygen Therapy, Nebulizer treatment, another script for prednizone! Pulsox 94. yet i was very very very SOB
September 2008 --- Yay a new doctor. Dr Susan Meltzer - internist AND pulmonologist. Set me up on nebulizer treatments every day. Prednizone every day. Albuteral inhalers as needed.
It must have done the trick! ..
Dateline: 2007
2005, 2006 slid by quickly! Got my yearly flu shot and got my 5 year pneumonia shot in 2006. Dr G gave me samples of Advair when he could. Then Spiriva. Advair was becoming less and less effective and Spiriva seemed to do nothing at all for me.
May 2007 - My medications were switched to CombiVent & Flovent. - inhalers.
October 31, 2007 - feverish, short of breath, congestion. Felt like death warmed over *L* Called the doctor and the receptionist made the appointment for first thing in the morning. It took ALL my effort to get into the car and drag my sorry butt to the doctors office - and even though there is an elevator on site, my SOB was pretty obvious. When I arrived at the 'window' where the receptionist sits, there is no way in hades she could not see what shape I was in! .. Yet she advised me they could not see me due to the fact I still owed from the previous visit/tests. I told her I could pay for today or for the last visit but not both. She said sorry they could not see me.
I am sure my jaw hit the floor. Nearly out of my mind in pain, and so stressed from not being able to breathe, I stumbled to my car and sat there and cried! knowing full well that crying would make my breathing worse *L* ARGH! I knew I could not pay for an ER visit. I drove toward home, calling my Brother and whining to him (he goes to the same doctor) - just needing an ear. Knowing he could not help but was good talking to him.
An Angel appeared by golly *L* . on my way back to my house, I passed by a brand new building that I had not noticed before. Woah! It's a MEDICAL building - a satelite office of a well known hospital "GBMC". Somehow I managed to get into their front door and then sat down immediately. The kind nurses rushed to my side - how calm they made me. ---- and so started my ritual with prednizone! My friend says Prednizone - the drug we hate to love.
October 31, 2007 - Diagnosis: Bronchitis & asthma exacerbation.
Treatment: Nebulizer at the doctors office using albuteral and ipratroprium
Medication: Prednizone, antiobiotic, use albuterol inhaler as needed. Increase use of combivent to 2 puffs every four hours.
November 28, 2007 - For Thanksgiving, we had cooked a turkey with spices. I became increasingly short of breath not long after eating. The culprit - the combined cooking smells and people colognes.
Nebulizer treatment, prednizone, antibiotic. Combivent every 4 hours, albuterol as needed.
ARGH! what a trip!
May 2007 - My medications were switched to CombiVent & Flovent. - inhalers.
October 31, 2007 - feverish, short of breath, congestion. Felt like death warmed over *L* Called the doctor and the receptionist made the appointment for first thing in the morning. It took ALL my effort to get into the car and drag my sorry butt to the doctors office - and even though there is an elevator on site, my SOB was pretty obvious. When I arrived at the 'window' where the receptionist sits, there is no way in hades she could not see what shape I was in! .. Yet she advised me they could not see me due to the fact I still owed from the previous visit/tests. I told her I could pay for today or for the last visit but not both. She said sorry they could not see me.
I am sure my jaw hit the floor. Nearly out of my mind in pain, and so stressed from not being able to breathe, I stumbled to my car and sat there and cried! knowing full well that crying would make my breathing worse *L* ARGH! I knew I could not pay for an ER visit. I drove toward home, calling my Brother and whining to him (he goes to the same doctor) - just needing an ear. Knowing he could not help but was good talking to him.
An Angel appeared by golly *L* . on my way back to my house, I passed by a brand new building that I had not noticed before. Woah! It's a MEDICAL building - a satelite office of a well known hospital "GBMC". Somehow I managed to get into their front door and then sat down immediately. The kind nurses rushed to my side - how calm they made me. ---- and so started my ritual with prednizone! My friend says Prednizone - the drug we hate to love.
October 31, 2007 - Diagnosis: Bronchitis & asthma exacerbation.
Treatment: Nebulizer at the doctors office using albuteral and ipratroprium
Medication: Prednizone, antiobiotic, use albuterol inhaler as needed. Increase use of combivent to 2 puffs every four hours.
November 28, 2007 - For Thanksgiving, we had cooked a turkey with spices. I became increasingly short of breath not long after eating. The culprit - the combined cooking smells and people colognes.
Nebulizer treatment, prednizone, antibiotic. Combivent every 4 hours, albuterol as needed.
ARGH! what a trip!
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