ok   note to self, do not write journal and try to proof read in bed on small mobile device,  because the screen is too small and you hit something and the darn thing posts!  So, I have set this up on the computer, and all the gizmos and gadgets available in the program are visible. 😎  see!  nice.


the  accidental posting ended with the adventure becoming surreal....
 Don visits our physician and she chats with him to evaluate his symptoms and the usual routine to check ears, nose, and throat. The lung check 🩺with “deep breaths”.  Dr. J. explains that the pain in the side is not indicative to a kidney stone, thinks maybe a bit of pleurisy. She does say that his lung sounds crackly and with having the flu not so long ago, maybe a little pneumonia is in there. She gives him (pop) an order to go get an x-ray to check on the (crackle)  and to check out any changes to the arthritis (snap) 😜in his back (found a few years ago) she wants to see if that has worsened. Let's face it, he is a working man and natural wear and tear can be expected. He gets the xrays done that Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled for  sonogram on Friday to measure and check abdominal aneurysm. Dr. Johnson calls Friday afternoon to explain results.  She had touched base with Cardiac Dr. and  he stated if the pain got unbearable, we should head to Emergency room it could be the  aneurysm. OH boy! the sonogram shows that the aneurysm is 5 cm. To let you know what that measurement indicates , the doctor explained to us that with an abdominal aneurysm, the protocol is as follows: under 5 cm we keep a watch on it , over 5 cm we need to do surgery. So, what does my husband do ??  He doesn't stay under the measurement and he doesn't go over the measurement.  Great ! Fabulous!  What the heck do we do now? 🤦🏻‍♀️ lol  Then she gives  him  the findings of the Radiologists, there is a mass above the right lung near the airway and a spot in the lung. She asks Don where he would prefer to go for the follow up. Roswell is our choice, as it is ranked very high in the country for cancer treatment and unfortunately we have family and friends who have faced these ugly diseases and have been very happy with the care and medical treatment at Roswell Park. Don and I want be in great hands if the results of any testing is a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Johnson sets him up with a Ultrasound at UPMC WCA  the next Tuesday. Don hears from Roswell on Wednesday and we our set up for a tele-med session with Dr. Ivanick a pulmonologist  @ Roswell the following Monday afternoon and we will discuss the findings on the sono and next steps. Covid 🦠 has reared it’s ugly head in our country, thankfully we have technology to get the treatment process underway. We “meet” the Nurse practitioner Michelle on Monday afternoon and she goes over the results of sonogram to explains what is seen on tests and a biop, babo, ba bopsy. my girls will understand. What movie ?  A Biopsy  Is needed and is done by doing an out patient procedure called a “brochoscopy” to determine exactly what the mass is. Next we consult with Dr Ivanick, he brings up the sonogram pictures to show us the areas of concern  and we shake our head yes like we know what the hell we are looking at and are understanding all the medical jargon, Not his fault ( he went to a better medical school than I did).  He asks if we have any questions on the Bronchoscopy , we really don’t have any. We just know it needs done to obtain the correct diagnosis and treatment plan. Now, Don and I don’t know why, but what starts out as smooth sailing and not necessarily good or bad, happy or sad. Just the sense the situation is going according to plan, but we end up with the band playing on the Titanic! Lol Ok. I  may be a little over dramatic. But it seems that just as you get a little cash savings built up or Publishers Clearinghouse should be at your house Jan 5th. That is when  the washing machine goes “kaput” on you or the whatcha ma jiggy in the car is making strange noises , or the plumbing that is fixed (bahaha) until you actually turn the water back on! BAM!  So goes it with Don and working around the fact that he is on plavix (blood thinner) and Dr. Ivanick would prefer that Don is off them for at least 3 days before biopsy. Buuuutttt., you got it.  That would truly be detrimental to his heart health. When you have any kind of heart surgery, blood thinners are a must for the first year. Chances of a blood clot is extremely high and we are not comfortable taking the chance of him being without it , so we forge ahead and Dr. Ivanick reassures that extra precautions will be taken.