Waiting / Getting Results

We’ve been going through a medical drama lately. It all began with Rocky getting a bad case of laryngitis. That was 11 weeks ago. Two and half months of difficult communications. Sometimes Rocky didn’t put in his hearing aids so in addition to gravelly speech similar to a bad mafia movie (Guido, you know?) he could not hear what I was saying so we were miscommunicating a lot.

Finally, we though it odd that laryngitis would last so long so we visited his GP who immediately said an ENT specialist was called for (Ear, Nose, Throat). An appointment was made and we welcomed yet another doctor into our lives.

Soon he was examining the throat, noted copious post nasal drip due to seasonal allergies, but then noted a swollen left chord and an inert right chord. So he requested two CT scans – one for neck soft tissue, and another for the upper chest to track the route of a nerve controlling his paralyzed vocal chord. The only rub was health insurance approvals and two CT scans were not approved; one first, then the second would follow if needed. The second scan was needed but more delays ensued.

Seems the ENT doctor felt Rocky should have an antibiotic to combat a minor infection causing one of the vocal chords to swell. Rocky was allergic to the meds so we returned for another prescription. That too was not accommodated by Rocky’s body and he began immediately to throw up and have a diarrhea. So on a Thursday morning at 2:20 we went to the emergency room. They diagnosed thrush caused by the two antibiotics that didn’t work. More meds for that condition and more discomfort. By Sunday Rocky was unable to swallow water or breathe easily. So off to the ER again, this time at 4 am.

This time the doctors felt the CT scans were needed immediately and had them done. ENT specialist was notified and he ordered an ultrasound imaging with a needle biopsy. More insurance company delays but finally the ultrasound was approved. The results indicated an internal nodule measuring 2.5 cm by 2.3 cm by 2.2 cm. For the novice the node is roughly 1 inch cubed. That is large enough to require a biopsy.

Back to the insurance company for approval. Got it. We are in the examining room with a doctor and two techs. I’ll let you know the results when we know. This is Thursday and we should know something by Monday afternoon.

From our meeting with the GP until today, 7 weeks have transpired. A long time to think about the unknown results that could mean a cancerous tumor requiring removal of the tumor if not a large portion of the thyroid gland. The waiting has been excruciating for Rocky. He doesn’t do well with medical issues anyway, so this was a major drama!

It goes back to a basic concern of cancer. Rocky’s brother died about 5 years ago from bile duct liver cancer, a fairly rare cancer but virulent. Joe was gone six months after diagnosis work was begun. That was a shock that Rocky is still dealing with.

So here we are waiting through yet another weekend for test results. At least this time we know that whether this time we know that whether benign or not, the tumor will be removed and mostly likely half the thyroid as well. If malignant we are told such tumors rarely spread beyond the one gland. Removing it removes all doubt about future cancer development from this instance. Removed and benign the pressure on the vocal chord nerve will be eliminated and the voice should return to normal.

So there you have it. Monday we should know where we stand. I’ll keep you posted.

And so Monday we waited for the results and received word that the tests were complete but the lab reports were not sent completely to the doctor. More delay. We were told to call Tuesday morning for the latest information. That is this morning as I write this blog. We will hopefully get the results before noon today and then I can post an update tomorrow and let you know the results.

Finally. Going on 12 or 13 weeks. Nice to know our medical community is considered the best in the world. But are we the best served community in the world?

August 2, 2016