Curve Ball

Yesterday September 1st, would have been my 3rd radiation treatment. However, I had a curve ball thrown my way.

If you have been reading my blog, you probably remember last week when Tom & I met with Dr. Crozier, the breast oncologist (Doctor Appointment Overload Day!). I asked if any of the scans looked at my lungs specifically. Even though all the other scans said, lungs were clear, she immediately ordered the CT scan specifically to view the lungs.

On August 31st, my sister Teri took me to get the CT scan before my radiation treatment. All day, I sat & watched my phone waiting for the report back about the lungs.

The morning of September 1st, I looked at my phone & noticed a voicemail from Dr. Crozier at 3:45. I was so upset I missed the call and at the same time, I was so scared it was bad news because I had received a call. I tried to call her back on my way to radiation but had to leave a message. 

Teri and I arrived at the radiation appointment and were sitting in the waiting room when the nurse comes out asking to take me back to a room so she can take my vitals. She also asked Teri if she was with me and told her to come along with us. The request was strange – this doesn’t happen at the radiation appointments. So I started to panic and asked her if this is about the CT scan, and she said yes. 

As soon as I got to the room, Dr. Crozier’s office called and said that I had a pulmonary embolism in the lung. Then Dr. Olson walked into the room and said to get in the car and go to the ER at Baptist Downtown immediately. The blood clot is very time-sensitive. There would be no radiation treatment today. I said I needed to call my husband, and he said, you need to get in the car and go. I will call your husband. 

Needless to say, Teri and I got in the car and went on to the ER, and met Tom at the hospital. Tom was able to go into the ER and stay with me, which was nice. I spent hours in the ER with a heparin drip. They also did ultrasounds on my heart, and all was well. The clots were not putting any strain on my heart. However, they did an ultrasound on my legs which showed I had blood clots. I was advised the clots could be a result of the recent back surgery or caused by not moving around like normal. I was also informed I would be on a blood thinner for the rest of my life. Add to the many pills I’m already on. 🤗 They are not going to do another CT scan to see if the heparin broke up the clot because a new scan will not show a change in the clots or the course of treatment. I’m to carry on with my life as if there are no clots. 

Thank God I asked for the additional CT scan on my lungs last week.  I was asymptomatic and not showing signs of any blood clot, but because I proactively asked for another scan, they were able to catch it early. Plus, there was no Cancer in the lungs!  I know God has me in his arms & he is caring for me through this journey.

I will be released today, September 2nd! I can’t wait to get back home! I got NO sleep last night & I’m exhausted. My radiation treatments will pick back up tomorrow so I need to rest.