Oh the shortness of breath has made a come back! This was one of the worst symptoms I had before I started treatments. There is a large amount of swollen lymph nodes in my chest. This mass is pushing on my lungs causing shortness if breath, pushing on my esophagus causing acid reflux, it's even pushing on my spinal cord causing back pain and... yes... incontinence. I also had a terrible cough. Every single time I would laugh, it would cause me to cough and then cause me to become incontinent. By the time I got to the rest room I would be so out of breath making me cough more and more. I can't tell you how miserable I was. The doctor brought me to tears when she told me these symptoms would go away within two to three days after I started treatment. I'll exchange all of that for a bald head, no problem!
The other day I started to notice some of the symptoms returning. I ended up having a cough attack in the middle of a tickle fight with Harrison. Then my sore throat was worsening. Another cancer symptom I've had due to the swollen lymph nodes in my neck. Then on Saturday the shortness of breath came back. Sunday morning, it was back to the same way. Going from the living room to the kitchen was the equivalence of running a marathon. I called the on call doctor who told me what I was expecting, but not wanting to hear: We had to go to the ER. As it turns out, chemo can sometimes cause blood clots in turn causing shortness of breath. So off we went!
Harrison and I did our usual updating during an emergency routine. Update facebook first to cover all bases, text Dr. Shane and Pastor Brian, mass text message to friends and family, and then call our parents to come meet us. By this time, we are totally covered in prayer.
The nurses came in and did a number of uncomfortable tests and stuck a huge IV in me before checking to see if I had a port. Ok, I know that's not the usual thing to check for but I'm a cancer patient for crying out loud.. Most of us have those!
After all the tests were done, the doctor came in to explain the results. After having a number of doctors miss my diagnosis, 4 bio courses, and a semester of nursing school, I trust trust only my PA and my oncologist and his team. This guy had alot to do for me to trust what he was going to say. I liked what he was telling us, I liked that he went over all of the symptoms of a blood clot (i only had 1) and I really liked that he said he was going to call my oncologist before discharging me.
Sure enough, we were ready for discharge. I walked to the lobby, no heavy panting... I walked to the car, no heavy panting. We updated everyone and thanked them for their prayers.
Total epiphany: we just had a pointless trip to the ER, but everyone got to see God answer prayers. I don't think its at all a coincidence that right after discharge my shortness of breath just disappeared. People are watching me, I've prayed to God that we can take full advantage of the short amount of time that everyones eyes are on me. Doing whatever it takes to Jesus Christ. Even a silly trip to the ER. Hundreds of people saw the payer requests yesterday, and then hundreds of people saw God answer those prayers. I'll take a hundred more silly trips to the ER to be a witness like that to such a large amount of people. Such a great opportunity. Now, if everyone would please pray for the people being witnessed too!
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