False Alarm

 July 14

My July 10^th PET scan report said that two small spots lit up, their exact location unclear. Lower right lobe of lungs or top of liver. And now I wait until tomorrow’s oncology appointment to find out what that will mean for me.

I’m guessing lungs because of the coughing fits and beginning of breathlessness. But still the wait is hard.

Will Dr. Moussa order an additional scan? The radiologist report recommended either a watch and wait until my next PET scan or a CT or MRI with contrast. Will my treatment schedule change? Will my treatment itself change? Is this the beginning of harder times?

I’ve been wondering what’s up since my infusion three weeks ago. The usual one-week fatigue turned into three weeks, with July 3 and 4 being the worst days. I am hoping this will not be my new normal.

July 17

Turns out there was no need to panic because no solid mass was found. I will have a PET scan follow up and, in the meantime, continue my course of treatment.

As far as the coughing fits (my lungs sounded normal), Nurse Ashley suggested cutting back on the Mucinex I take daily. It had not occurred to me that it contributes to my postnasal drip. I cut back, and that has made a big difference already.

The unanswered question is why my fatigue lasted so much longer than usual. I will carefully monitor the fatigue from yesterday’s infusion and report back to Dr. Moussa at my next appointment on August 5.

Yesterday afternoon I had several hours of feeling super lousy. But today has been the usual fatigue. This morning, I did a few too many things (started a load of laundry and took trash out) that didn’t help. It’s been a quiet afternoon in my recliner.

This morning’s Psalm reading, chapter 111, brought encouragement. Verse 1a, “With all my heart will I praise the Lord,” reminded me to praise God especially when I don’t feel so great. And verse 4b followed up with this beautiful truth: “the Lord is gracious and compassionate.” He is.