Monday, December 30, 2013

A little late but here is an update

My visit to the Cleveland Clinic was an amazing experience. I have never been to such a professional and well organized medical facility.
My primary internal medicine doctor is located in an office building across the street from the main clinic and hospital. She actually listened to what had already been done and what my concerns were. Based off of the information I provided, she decided that a trip to the cardiologist was the most important appointment. She also decided that a visit to oncology was also important because she did not like the lack of detail in my reports from my oncologist visits in Tampa.
I was a little disappointed in the amount of time it took for getting into the schedules but it was not too bad since I was using my vacation time and the extra rest was probably good for me.
I met the cardiologist, who specializes in a concentration of diabetics with cardiac disease. He jumped right on my concerns that I had about something still being wrong with my heart and the possibility that it had been damaged during my two procedures. He ordered a CAT of my heart which required that my heart rate be lowered. I can honestly say that was scary. I also never, EVER, want to have to take a nitro pill again. They used that to open all of my arteries for the scan. The scan came back showing no thickening of the walls, no plaque build up, and no damaged areas. He felt confidant that my heart is not behind the pain.
Unfortunately, the scan did come back with a report that I have something in my right breast. The most concerning part of the report is that I apparently have "innumerable" lymph nodes.
So, I am scheduled to see the oncologist on January 23rd. I do not plan on staying down there over night unless they want to do testing that can be done the next day. I can't afford another hotel bill like the first one on top of my deductible and copays.

So, there is the short version of my first visit.

I am still experiencing chest and arm pain. I am not freaking out over it as much now. I am still having my weak/dizzy spells, though they have not been too bad over the past week. I have, unfortunately been very sick to my stomach over the last couple of days. I'm taking the heartburn medicine but it hasn't helped with the other problems. I finally caved in and bought something to stop my having to run for the bathroom. Sadly, this seems to have made the nausea worse.
I am coping as best that I can. I am hoping to have some answers by the end of January as to what it IS and not just what it isn't.

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