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Scheduling communication was not spot on. I’ve now had the bone marrow biopsy and the echo cardiogram.

The marrow biopsy was ouchie but not agonizing ouchie. The person doing it was REALLY good. Fast and efficient, very experienced. I still yelped twice and was shaky afterward. The anesthesia jab was like that cold sensitivity you get in your teeth sometimes, except in my hip. The ouchie part was that, magnified. But again, could’ve been much worse. I was jangly from adrenalin by the time it was over, but to take my mind off it, I received another flower delivery!

From the wonderfully talented and incredibly sweet Louise Marley

And then I got a visit by one of the doctors on my team with lots of news ranging from unpleasant to o.O. The unpleasant is that I will also need to have a spinal tap. That is something I was really hoping to go my whole life without having to experience. Uck.

The o.O was an FYI that they were discharging me…tonight.

Seems the PET scan I need to have–which was previously scheduled for tomorrow at the hospital–for insurance reasons, needs to be outpatient. A lot of o.O about that, and the doctor seemed perplexed as well, but we’ve got that scheduled for next Wednesday, so okay-fine. And also the surgical biopsy of my tumor needs to be done by my Emory ENT surgeon, who is based out of Emory Midtown. They figured it made more sense just to send me home and have it done outpatient tomorrow than try to juggle his schedule and get him over to the Emory University Hospital.

So, rather unexpectedly, I’m home now. With a prescription for big narcotics and a tender hip.

Last I heard, I’m scheduled for an echo  cardiogram this afternoon but looks like my PET scan won’t be until tomorrow. Bone marrow biopsy either tomorrow or Friday…maybe? And tumor biopsy Friday.

Aside from the uncertainty on when exactly my various tests are slated for, so far, I’ve been really impressed by my stay at Emory University Hospital. The staff has been attentive, kind, and communicative.  And either hospital food has greatly improved since the last time I had the opportunity to sample it or this place has made a great effort to provide palatable fare. They provide a menu, you phone in your order, and around 45 minutes later, it arrives. Kinda like hotel room service… almost. So far, I’ve sampled the omelette, pancakes, and cheesecake. Much better than lime Jello and steamed vegetable medley.

There’s also a recliner in my room for Matthew, although he hasn’t quite gotten the knack of sleeping in it.

Got a lovely visit from Hugme this afternoon. Was a bit fogged from morphine so wasn’t at my most coherent. But it was nice to wave and babble words which may or may not have made sense.

And received these beautiful flowers from Dragon Con. Mwaaa. Feel all warm and fuzzy every time I seem them.

So I’ve been admitted to Emory University Hospital.

They’re needing to do a bone marrow biopsy, echo cardiogram, full body CT (I think CT)* scan, and larger surgical biopsy of the tumor. The doctor thinks I’ll need to be hospitalized through this week. Hopefully I’ll be out by the weekend.

Also, they gave me morphine. I thought the morphine would totally annihilate my pain, but it’s not. Although I care less about the amount of pain I’m in. That’s kinda progress.

[*Edit: After talking to a couple doctors here, clarified it isn’t going to be a full-body CT scan but a PET scan.]

Bad night. Pain reduced me to tears again as I waited for the pills to kick in and knock me out. Still hurting this morning.

Stupid human suit.

Doctor’s appointments have become a cocktail of anticipation-dread-fear-relief. Wanted to be clear-headed, sans painkillers, until after my appointment today, but that’s not really an option. Need the narcotics to blunt the pain in order to be functional. Glad I did all my prep and question assembling for today’s appointment yesterday.

My appointment with my new oncologist at the Winship Cancer Institute is tomorrow, making it exactly three weeks since the CT scan which identified the tumor in my head.

All this waiting has been maddening.

We tried to get me in last week, but no go. I do not think the folks in charge of coordinating appointment times share our sense of urgency. And I know it’s futile and pointless to think like this, but I can’t help but wonder: the tumor grew to 6cm in approximately three months. How much larger has it grown in the time I’ve been stuck in a holding pattern, waiting? *flail*

We got the results of the biopsy. It’s Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

So, we’re not doing surgery after all. Treatment is chemo, possibly chemo and radiation. My case is being transferred to Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute. They’re supposed to contact us tomorrow.

Chemo.

I’m…kinda numb right now.