Date night at ER and My Good News Report!

I know, I know. Why the ER visit last night? I'll start with that...but beware I still may have some narcotics lingering in my system.

Normally after chemo I come home and sleep. Usually don't feel up to eating which is normal, but I force a little something down so I don't lie when I said I ate something. Since my taste buds can't stand water for about 3-4 days after chemo, I almost always have watermelon on hand for the water factor...but couldn't hold it in. Yesterday I visited the toilet 7 times in about an hour and a half, got really weak, dizzy, lightheaded, kidneys aching, had the chills, Max noticed my skin was blotchy and I just flat out felt horrible. A friend (also a Corpsman....or in medical field for you non Navy people) brought us dinner and suggested calling my doctor, so Max did. "Hi Dr. A, my wife's broken." Such a good husband I have...lol. My doctor told Max to bring me to the nearest ER and have them run fluids. Upon arrival my temp was 99.3 (I normally run 97ish) and my blood pressure was 80/55 funny enough that is normal for the day after treatment and they always give me that 'your alive?' look. I gave them my list of complaints and immediately they got me hooked up and drugged up. I'm pleased to say that this morning I feel like a million bucks compared to my normal after chemo day. Praise God!

Now for the "Good News" per the PET/CT report...
I gave them a CD with all my previous CT and PET scans from Portsmouth Naval for comparison purposes and here are some things I want to share from the report.

FINDINGS:

1. Lower cranium and neck: Unremarkable

2. Chest: Lungs clear. posterior to the manubrium, not hypermetabolic soft tissue 2.3x1.0 cm,, indistinguishable form normal thymus; slightly decreased form 3.5x1.8 cm on prior PET/CT, remarkable resolution of prior hypermetabolic activity.

3. Bones: Hypermetabolic generalized marrow activity presumably iatrogenic, benign. No destructive changes.

4. Abdomen and pelvis: Spleen not enlarged; slightly asymmetrically prominent metabolic focus SUV max=2.7, approximately 1.2 cm, inferior spleen- this is so subtle it would not be commented upon except for the report of a hypermetabolic leison.

IMPRESSION:

1. No evidence Hodgkin's lymphoma at neck, chest, pelvis- compared with PET/CT 4/8/9, complete resolution hypermetabolic activity...

2. Subtle asymmetric minimally hypermetabolic small focus inferior spleen is nonspecific. -less hypermetabolic than previous and potentially normal variation -persistent lymphoma possible.

Funny enough the scans picked up "somewhat prominent free fluid at pelvis, slightly more than physiologic, nonspecific". We already knew this but I'm amazed at how much that $5,000.00 PET scan actually picks up. Amazing!

Basically this means I only have 3 more treatments (which is what I have been praying for) and I will go for another PET scan as planned to look at the spot in my chest and spleen. I see the light...I feel the wind...I smell the flowers at the end of the tunnel!!! Glory to God!!!

Can you see my smile?