1.3 liters

This was a hard 3lbs to lose.

Yesterday was spent getting a biopsy from a tumor in my chest wall.  This was was a little scary.  Not from the procedure  but because it means a tumor which was inside my lung has grown to the point it's accessible from my chest.  The procedure involved my laying on a table and getting several CT scans as 3 doctors worked through a dime sized hole near my right shoulder.  The area was thoroughly numbed but I was completely awake during the procedure.  They dug in until the reached the tumor then inserted some device.  I hear 'you'll feel a pinch' then CLICK.  A piece of tumor was clipped from my body.  This was repeated 5 or 6 times and then it was over.

The spot on my chest:

Next was the fluid removal.  The doctors and 1 nurse wheel me to a different room which has an ultrasound.  Similarly they numb a spot on my back at the surface and through to my naval.  The ultrasound is used to identify where the fluid is and they begin working a needle through my back to reach it.  This was neat because I watched the ultrasound as they probed the needle in and around until they reached the sack.  Then I sat there bent over and waited.  It took about 20-30 minutes to drain the 1.3 liters from my check cavity.

I went to recovery and was released after 2 more chest X-rays to show I was not leaking.  We reached the hotel around 8pm.

Today is my first treatment.  More about that later.

Headed to St Louis

It's Wednesday, June 10 at 6am and we are on the road back to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis. The sun is bright as it rises on the eastern horizon, which happens to be the direction we're driving.

In 8ish hours I will be on a table with doctors poking holes in my chest to drain fluid and take samples.  This should be an outpatient procedure so I hope to be in our hotel tonight.  My first treatment in this study is scheduled for tomorrow.  I am excited and grateful for tomorrow.

My sister and her kids are meeting us in St Louis and then we travel together back to Arkanasa.  That should be fun.

My next post will be after the procedure is all probability.  I expect all to go well and to be sore.  Looking up until then.

I am out of hospital

I am out for now.  The pulmonary doctors definitely wanted to drain the fluid from around my lung.  They were planning the procedure but I did not here a date or time yet.  I contacted Georgia (the nurse) St Louis and she consulted with the teams at Washington University and then called me back.  The doctors at Washington University said to NOT do the procedure in Fayetteville.  They want to do everything in St Louis.  I contacted the Fayetteville doctors to relay the information and I was realeased within a couple hours.  :)

I am still very short of breath because of the fluid around my lungs, but I can tolerate that for a few days until I get to St Louis.  My hope is that the removal of the fluid will releve my breathing as much as when they removed the tumor segment.

Here's to hoping.  🍻

I am now at home and ready to rest until Wednesday.

Thank you everyone.

Share if you care 😊😉

The past three weeks

A lot has happened in the past three weeks. After we got the word for my drug trial ending in Houston and we got confirmation of the St. Louis trial beginning we decided to take a vacation. I bought tickets for myself, April, and Terah to fly to Miami.  We spent several days wandering around the touristy section of Miami Beach. For a quick note Miami Beach during memorial day is not a child friendly event. It's full of scantily clad, overly muscular, loud music playing young people meandering up and down Ocean Boulevard. Fun to watch but not a family friendly environment.

We had a great time in Miami. We spent one day on the beach, one day on a catamaran boat ride, and one day shopping and doing miscellaneous. Everyone enjoyed themselves.

My return to Arkansas was tainted by not feeling well.  I felt worse each day and by Friday went to the emergency room at Washingtom Regional Medical Center.  They admitted me with pneumonia and have treated me with antibiotics since then.  Someone from Highland Oncology visited with me each day and monitored my progress.  I improved each day and now it's Monday.  I am 90% better but they want me to stay because they see fluid around my right lung.

I was scene by a pulmonogist this morning and he ordered a new CT scan to see how much fluid there is and more precisely where it is.  I have not heard the results from that but April ask the nurse and was told the pulmonogist was consulting with the pulmonary surgeons.

That's all I know about that.

I am still planning on a drive to St Louis on Wednesday and Thursday.  Hopefully none of this interferes with the St Louis trip.

Back in hospital

I have been in the hospital for a few days with pneumonia.  I feel much better.  More to come.