Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Waiting to Exhale

Found a lump in my neck over the summer.  Finally went to see the doctor a couple of weeks ago, and he ordered me to take blood test and an ultrasound.  After the ultrasound and blood test result came back, my doctor felt that a biopsy was in order.  I had the biopsy performed last Friday.

After the the specialist explained to me how the testing goes, he, his second second doctor, and the technician began the procedure.  It was supposed to be cut and dry.  Very little wait time. It was supposed to go like this:
1. use the needles to withdraw samples from the nodule four times.
2. take the samples out to the lab in the hall and look at them
3. after a few minutes, results would be known
4. they would share the results with me

It didn't go exactly like that. Steps 1-2 went as planned.  Step three...

They took the samples out to the hall. I waited a few minutes.  Then, I waited a little more.  Finally, a different man came into the room to explain that he is the head of the lab department, and my test results might not be back until after Christmas.  All the way through Monday, I continued to hope that I would receive a call about my results so that I could go into the week without the results on my mind.  During the lab guy's spiel, the specialist, the second doctor, and the tech entered the room.  And I was told "after Christmas for the last time, this weekend.

Now, here I sit on Christmas evening, and my thoughts keep going back to my test results.  It's getting to me.