Introduction: I could hear my pulse. That’s how this started in June, 2019.
I was driving on I-75 and pulled over in Sarasota to buy a coffee at Starbucks. I felt strangely sick, not sure if it was a cold or the flu. I had a headache and slight fever. But when I parked and turned off the truck I heard a rhythmic hiss. It was my heartbeat…in my ears. This was a new kind of sick. Then I squeezed the glands under my jaw to see if they were sore. Nothing there. But then moved my fingers down my neck and felt a little knot. It was about the size of a dime, just above my left collarbone. Weird. That gland has never swollen before.
Within days I had a headache I could not stop with aspirin or Tylenol and the fever continued. I stopped into the local Urgent Care in Estero. After a brief examination the technician said, even though I had a negative result, it must be the flu. She gave me Tamiflu and sent me home. It got worse overnight. We checked into the E.R. at Gulf Coast hospital and they diagnosed me with pneumonia.
The little lump was overshadowed by the incredible headache and fever that hit 109. After admitting me, they were able to ease the pain and lower my temperature. But I was hospitalized for three days, on oxygen and I.V. antibiotics. Strange, my lungs never hurt. Thank God the chest X Rays came out negative.
So, a few weeks afterward I mentioned the persistent lump to my family doctor. He prescribed an antibiotic because it is common to have swollen lymph nodes after an infection like pneumonia. Two weeks later, no change.
Then he ordered a sonogram (ultrasound) imaging test. Yes, it is a swollen lymph node, and one next to it. Now it’s getting suspicious. He then ordered a CAT scan. It revealed four lumps there. Finally, the insurance company approved a biopsy. It confirmed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stage 2. He then referred me to a local oncologist for treatment.
My doctor assured me- this type of cancer is treatable and curable. Some forms of Hodgkin’s are not.
The strangest thing about this illness is, I don’t feel ill. These lumps don’t even hurt. But if we do nothing, this aggressive type can spread to organs and be fatal. Something must be done.
Happy Friday the 13th!
This day will always be special to me. It was Friday 13th of December, 2019 when the doctor confirmed that I had cancer. And that it was treatable and beatable. Then on Friday the 13th of March, 2020 I had a PET scan that found my body cancer-free. I greet this day with joy and…
Changing Gears
I almost checked into the hospital this week. On Monday I could feel my blood pressure rising. There was no apparent stress then. I didn’t eat a handful of salt. No smoke, no drink but before noon it climbed over 165. I sat down, took it easy, drank some water and within two hours it…
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Lumpy Bob 