The beginning

Hi.

I'm starting this blog kinda late, I guess, since I was diagnosed February 2011 and here it is June 2013. I had been keeping a pen and paper journal, but started writing things that were just too personal and so I quit and tore up the journal. I just didn't think it was fair to write some of my feelings and then maybe hurt someone and be gone and not be able to make it right.

I just want to document what I am going through, since I've not been down this road before. I certainly don't know what to expect.

Anyway, here goes....

In November 2010, I got a very bad chest cold. I was weak and in bed for weeks. I honestly couldn't even stand long enough to do the dishes.  I was coughing my fool head off. I just suffered through it because we didn't have health insurance. That meant no trip to the doctor for me!

In February of 2011, the cold finally got so bad that my breathing was scant and my throat was closing up. I was scared to death!  My husband, Mark, raced me off to the nearest walk in clinic. This wasn't your run of the mill clinic with doofus's for doctors. This was a nice, first rate, good reputation, clinic.

After a smattering of questions and tests, it  was off to the  E.R. They wanted to send me in an ambulance with O2, but allowed Mark to drive me if we promised to go straight to the E.R.  No problem! We had insurance by this time.

More waiting and tests and questions. Was admitted. More tests, questions and medicine. I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis. It never goes away. The goal is just to keep it from getting worse. Ok. I can live with that.

Of course I had a follow up appointment after being discharged. That's when the hammer fell.

My dolt of a pulmonologist who has no personality or bed side manner, simple said you need to see an oncologist there is something going on with your blood cells. He promptly left the office never to return. I just sat there. Stunned. Who expects to leave the pulmonologist office with a diagnosis of cancer?! Not me.

Finally the nurse came in and  directed me to another office where an appointment with an oncologist was made. 

And that's how I found out I had cancer.