Shadow's medical updates: Breathing easier

Cat scan on my lungs came back normal. Whew. Still no word on my thyroid tests, next week apparently, but the spot they supposedly found on my lung has apparently been with me since birth or so they determined so it looks like we can cross lung cancer off the list at this time. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers. Let you know more when I do.
S

Breathing easier, indeed.

Good health be yours.

You sound much calmer now knowing that your demise is not imminent. all that stressing you were doing was for naught.

I still can't swallow very well although the anti-anxiety pills are helping with that. I have elevated bloodpressure which no one seems to think is worth looking at yet but I'm going to bring that up next appointment. I have some other issues near the bottom of this iceberg too that need some exposure to air. This was a big one. Now I have to make good on my vow to quit smoking if I dodged this particular bullet and I will. Might need them a tiny bit longer until we get the clear on a few other things.

anxiety can do to one's body. I'm glad you are better.

You're blood pressure may come down as you continue to take the anxiety medication. Anxiety definitely elevates the blood pressure. That may be why they aren't addressing it yet.....waiting to see if the anxiety medication takes care of it.

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

K&R

Celebrate!!

Sending good vibes for the thyroid test.

I was worried there. Maybe it is your thyroid, then. Hubby says that's a far more common problem than people realize. He tests for that all the time. At least it's treatable and liveable.

which i understand can be affected by that. I've always been big but never really been an overeater. I also don't eat WELL and don't excercise much but it seemed that even when I did I could never stay at optimal weights. Recent events have caused me to eat very little in the last month and I haven't lost any significant weight either. Hate to hope for any problems but it sounds like thyroid might be a milder disaster than some others at this point.

I can't seem to lose any weight after my surgery last fall, and getting mono this spring sure didn't help any. Now my hubby's making comments about my thyroid, and I'm getting cranky about it. I'll have another blood draw soon, so why can't I just deal with it then.

I'm sure you're sick of all the testing, too. It can be a bit much. We're all pulling for you here, though. :)

huh? oh, way ahead of you MM. B-)


"I'm a fleabit peanut monkey
All my friends are junkies
That's not really true
I'm a cold Italian pizza
I could use a lemon squeezer
Would you do?
But I've been bit and I've been tossed around
By every she-rat in this town
Have you, babe?
Well, I am just a monkey man
I'm glad you are a monkey woman too
I was bitten by a boar
I was gouged and I was gored
But I pulled it on through
Yes, I'm a sack of broken eggs
I always have an unmade bed
Don't you?
Well, I hope we're not too messianic
Or a trifle too satanic
We love to play the blues
Well I am just a monkey man
I'm glad you are a monkey, monkey woman too, babe
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey
I'm a monkey man
I'm a monkey man
I'm a monkey..."
-Mick and Keith

Wonderful news re your Cat Scan results...so glad things are looking up...

obviously its awesome that they didn't find THAT, because technically if they had I richly deserve it. Supported the tobacco industry with my precious health for over a decade now. It's almost as frustrating them not finding anything yet. If the body is healthy I'm going to have to jump through as many hoops finding out why my mind is causing these things. I have my suspicions and they're all actually harder to fix than physiological problems in a way. The Shadow's mind also dwells in the dark too long some days.

:woohoo:

I'll always remember that when you had just posted a scary post about your health, you then took the time to post a response to a thread of mine. It was appreciated.

My mother has always been a believer in how well our bodies can heal themselves. I hate it because she never gave me much sympathy.

I never had a headache in my life. In 1998 I woke up and went to work on my tractor. Here I was lying under it, around 1pm, when suddenly I had a headache. I went inside, and it got worse and worse to the point where I was in total agony. Ah, hangover. After a few more of these, I finally decided to stop drinking. I couldn't handle the feeling of being poisoned any more. And I loved my homebrew. I had my own private icebox outside the front door. Well, the headaches continued. It wasn't a hangover. And that really threw me for a loop. I was in the process of selling my property, and was highly frustrated by the fact that prices were so high I couldn't afford what I wanted. But I didn't think I was THAT frustrated. For the next six years I continued having these headaches. When I bought my last place two years ago, the first night I moved in I discovered the logging hell of a town I lived in. Trucks kept me up all night long. I spent the next three days on the floor of that living room in agony. My truck was outside in the snow with the doors open. My cats were at the place I sold in another state. And I couldn't even go shopping. I was getting ready to call 911. But it lifted. I felt like I'd been in a gang fight. I finally sold that beautiful but stinking property in January. And my head is as clear as it ever was. I'm even having a beer in the evenings for the first time in years. I think they're gone. I'm hoping they don't come back. But I feel like a human again. And it appears that even though I didn't totally feel stressed, I was stressed. And that might have been the whole problem. I can't make any conclusions. But I want to. I think stress is far more potent than it seems. And the body is extremely resilient.

So that's just my little story. And I wish you the best of health. I now know that life is worthless without it. Like I've been parodying our Chimp- Health trumps money.

Perhaps you have a goiter that is causing the choking sensation, and that can also mess with your weight. If you have what they call an autonomous functioning nodule or goiter, this thing takes on a life of its own and really competes/(augments in a bad way) your thyroid function, throwing you into overdrive. You can lose weight, be restless, jittery, anxious, sleepless. etc.

Good on you for checking that! So many folks have never even had a baseline thyroid test done. It is essential because so many things these days cause thyroid disease. Hoping for the best for you, and an easy answer to your problems. :hi:

I have been keeping a prayer for you.

I don't know you at all, have not seen many of your posts (DU is a big place) -- I saw you initial post about not being able to swallow and that you have had long term heartburn/reflux. I immediately thought "esophageal cancer" but obviously that has been ruled out by an endoscope by now if they have moved on to CAT scans looking for tumors elsewhere. Ruling out the big "C" takes some edge off the worry for you but I know it's still frustrating to find an answer for what ails you.

Still keeping that warm thought for you.

they did the chest cat scan because initial xrays found a shadow. yeah that has crossed my mind too. hoping for something more benign.

If you have an endoscope will you let me know how it goes? I might be getting one done next week....

a little sore throat MAYBE if a doctor is especially clumsy. I've had 12 endoscopes. Never felt a thing and never any side effects. Just a little woosy for the first few hours after from the sedation and a little sore swallowing if they take biopsies. (eat light, low acid foods, the first day is all that is required)

And they tell you the results right then. No waiting. -- take someone along that can replay the results to you the next day, or call the office the next day and ask. Sometimes the sedation messes up my short term memory.

Best wishes for the doctors finding and sorting out your problems - we're all thinking of you.

I am so happy about this!! I am so glad for you.

Thank goodness.
Lee

are you able to swallow any better?

Been thinking about you-
wishing you well.

peace,
blu

there is still something wrong but the meds cutting down my stress are helping. Still a long way and many tests to go probably, but this is good news so far.

trying to minimize what you are going through, but it's a step in the right direction.
Hugs to you and the Missus. You'll continue to be in my thoughts-

I'm really grateful you stepped out of your comfort zone, and got some help- it wasn't an easy path, but you've kept at it- Kudo's Shadow- !!
:hug: :hug: :hug:
wishing you comfort, peace, and healing-
blu

:applause: :hug:

I'm so happy you got good news.

I don't know you, but I think I know whereabouts you might live. If you get an opportunity some weekend, drive on down to Brewster's on Highway 3 in Sandy Creek and meet all the locals. They might brighten your mood a bit. There's nothing like the folks that live on the big water.

lol

Take good care, shadow.

:hug:

but I read it and I was worried about you. It's great to hear you're starting to feel better and that they have ruled out lung cancer.

May we all keep dodging bad news for years to come...

Many of us know all too well what huge uncertainties about health feel like, and, damn, it feels good to share some relief! Let's do this again, as many times as it takes! I'm sending healing and soothing thoughts your way.

I don't necessarily mean writing to us here. Write your journal. Write your thoughts. Write 'em down or if you can't write, dictate to a tape recorder or a MiniDisc recorder.

Damn it, Shadow. You're a great writer. You have a talent I admire. Take this time while you're on your back and use it to write.