Tentative Thyroid Results

I have been anxious about my biopsy, and then I just realized that if it were serious, probably this would not have taken so long. Or else it might be a slow-growing cancer.

Nanci did my blood work on August 7th. I should have had more water the night before, because of the five vials or containers of blood, two had to come from my hand after the three from the crease in my elbow. We talked about the purpose of this test. She knew all the outcomes: cancer where you waited too long; cancer that was arrested; and finally just a cyst.

Usually I take a baby aspirin in the morning. No more for a week until the biopsy.

I have been so anxious about this day. This morning at 11 am I had that dreaded biopsy, but there was a distraction at first. I cut my finger on Chef's Envy while cutting onions for a crock pot dish for dinner. (I hope my blood didn't get in that crock pot because dark red blood was all over.) You are supposed to use a safety device when you use that Chef's Magic, but with a fresh, large onion, I just thought I can cut up half of it without a problem. Wrong and blood started to gush and gush and ooze and ooze. I couldn't stop it. I got ice, a towel and worked to get ready to go.

Hubby was very concerned about my finger and wanted to know who we could get to drive us to urgent care and whom he could call. He called Jake and Sally's home, but their mailbox was full.  Jake didn't answer his cell phone and neither did Sally answer hers. We were out of the house on on the road by then and he decided to not call our neighbor Kenny. We thought we could just make it to the Plant City Urgent Care by the hospital.

With school starting, the Plant City Urgent Care was full. Students were getting their shots for school. We went on to Brandon on HWY 60 where my biopsy was. I didn't want to take I-4 with all of the commuters since I was driving with one hand. I nursed my finger in a bag of ice which a towel wrapped around it while I drove. My jeans started to get wet. On the way hubby called K. D. from church who put out an email prayer request while I was driving us to Brandon.

As we approached the Brandon Hospital area where my appointment was,  I saw a sign for MedExpress on E. Brandon Boulevard and we stopped. Lots of students and their parents there.  They said they take people with blood first. I handed them my Preferred Care Card and my driver's license but they didn't take my card!

"However, we can take you right away for [around $200]," the woman at the desk said. I decided against that amount. At the end of summer we are on a strict budget and I do not want to charge anything anymore if I can help it. (Got to get another insurance by January for hubby and now for me as well.)

Doctoring that finger

Hubby needed help recognizing which key to open the car for me. He was very concerned as we drove off.  It was 10 am and as we drove toward my 11 am biopsy we found Family Medical Express who for $25 took a look at my finger and re-bandaged it. I took a picture with my iPhone and put it on the Facebook LIKE page. The ice had worked and the new bandage was reassuring.

A half an hour later we were at the doctor for my biopsy. We were early for the 11 am appointment. Thanks to you who prayed when you saw the email! While waiting I texted my sister-in-law who wrote back, "Having problems, aren't you!" She kept me busy texting until the nurse called me.

Hubby was not allowed in the room although I had wanted him to hold my hand while I endured a biopsy. The endocrinologist had two attendants. This doctor efficiently got to work and stuck me with two shots of lidocaine 1% to numb my neck. No,  I didn't have pictures taken, but I did tell them this  day was a undoubtedly a blogging post.

"Do not move, cough, sneeze or breathe heavily," I was told. I could put a finger up if I needed to do any of those actions and they would stop.

Five needles dug into one thyroid nodule, and four went into another nodule. It actually wasn't as bad as my cut finger, but sort of weird to have a grinding in my neck as I tried to count all of the jabs.

With great sympathy for my anxiety (I think), the doctor told me that there is liquid in my thyroid, it is soft, and probably not cancer.  He would officially tell me about the biopsy and my carotid artery ultra sound when I saw him at the beginning of September.

It was over. I was told I might rest ten minutes before driving. On the way home we stopped to get Advil because my finger hurt and my neck felt strange.

Late afternoon hubby asked about my finger, "When did you do that?" After I told him he quipped, "Ziggy, we can't let her out of our sight!"

I reminded him that we did have excitement today with our trip to Brandon.

"But Ziggy needs a little excitement now." (Me thinks that hubby does also because he doesn't remember this morning's excitement.)

We decided to go deliver two birthday gifts with Ziggy and then will come home to enjoy the dinner I started this morning.