Medical update.
Well, the bronchoscopy went off without a hitch. Always a pleasant feeling when that first shot of Versed hits the blood flow. I pretty much slept through the whole thing. In the future I'm definitely opting for sedation for this one.
The results from the biopsy were only able to confirm that I had influenza (probably mild case). No other results were conclusive. And since the tissue sample sizes were small it was a distinct possibility that no concrete results would be gained. However, this was the least invasive procedure of the three available.
So we're moving to step two - CT guided biopsy using needle aspiration. Basically doctors will use a CAT scanner to target a needle into one (maybe two) of the masses to collect samples. This I believe will be sedation also and not general anesthetic. However, this test is notoriously inconclusive as well due to smallish sample sizes. To make a comparison it's a little like finding a needle in a haystack using another needle.
This will be the second CT guided biopsy I've had and the other one didn't produce any results. However, this is a relatively non-invasive option and fairly safe and quickly executed process.
The third option is an excisional biopsy under general anesthesia and they would have to go in through the rib cage. While far more likely to give conclusive results this procedure of course has some additional risks involved in addition to a hospital stay for recovery. For these reasons it's being saved til last even though it's the most likely to render a conclusive result.
The CT guided biopsy will be this Friday, April 3rd. I'll be in the hospital all day but should be home by early evening.
Otherwise not much has changed. I still get very, very winded walking to the bathroom. There has been no improvement in my condition for many weeks now. This may be due to whatever these lumps are that we're trying to identify but we don't even know that for certain. At this point, though, I'm not too worried about the results. There is something there and given my present health problems it's not likely to be good news.
No, this isn't an April Fools prank. I figure most of you wouldn't think that but I just realized what day it is and figured I'd mention it anyway. =)
The results from the biopsy were only able to confirm that I had influenza (probably mild case). No other results were conclusive. And since the tissue sample sizes were small it was a distinct possibility that no concrete results would be gained. However, this was the least invasive procedure of the three available.
So we're moving to step two - CT guided biopsy using needle aspiration. Basically doctors will use a CAT scanner to target a needle into one (maybe two) of the masses to collect samples. This I believe will be sedation also and not general anesthetic. However, this test is notoriously inconclusive as well due to smallish sample sizes. To make a comparison it's a little like finding a needle in a haystack using another needle.
This will be the second CT guided biopsy I've had and the other one didn't produce any results. However, this is a relatively non-invasive option and fairly safe and quickly executed process.
The third option is an excisional biopsy under general anesthesia and they would have to go in through the rib cage. While far more likely to give conclusive results this procedure of course has some additional risks involved in addition to a hospital stay for recovery. For these reasons it's being saved til last even though it's the most likely to render a conclusive result.
The CT guided biopsy will be this Friday, April 3rd. I'll be in the hospital all day but should be home by early evening.
Otherwise not much has changed. I still get very, very winded walking to the bathroom. There has been no improvement in my condition for many weeks now. This may be due to whatever these lumps are that we're trying to identify but we don't even know that for certain. At this point, though, I'm not too worried about the results. There is something there and given my present health problems it's not likely to be good news.
No, this isn't an April Fools prank. I figure most of you wouldn't think that but I just realized what day it is and figured I'd mention it anyway. =)