Had a Health Scare..

[DoxaDavid]

I am glad to report I will be here to bug you all for the foreseeable future.

A few weeks ago I noticed this lump on my left side down in the groin area a few inches inside from my hip bone. At first I wasn't that concerned as I thought it was a pulled muscle or even a hernia. I went to see my doctor and he ruled those out and told me I had an inflamed lymphoid. He informed me they are there to help your body fight an infection but I didn't appear to have any. He did the blood work and it came up normal. Now I am worried because if it isn't from an infection, the alternatives are not good. First thought was Hodgkin's or some other cancer and what stage, I'm thinking about my wife, my girls..was not good.

My doctor wanted me to see a surgeon and have it evaluated. Couldn't get in for a week which SUCKED because it gives lots of time to think of all the "what ifs". Finally went to see him yesterday and after a thorough exam, he believed the best course of action was to have a biopsy of the lymphoid. He wanted to do a full biopsy vs. a needle as he said we can't get a good picture from the needle and I agreed. He was able to schedule me for the next day. (today)

I went in this morning and had the procedure. For those that don't know what they do, you are awake, they numb up the area, make a small incision of about an inch and remove a piece of the lymphoid then sew you up.
Funny side note, since I had no desire to observe the procedure, I brought my iPod and had my eyes closed. I am listening to a little Doobie Brothers when I smelled something burning. I open one eye and see this wisp of smoke rising up and realize IT'S ME. The surgeon was using this cauterizing laser and I was being phaser'd like Kirk Zapping a Klingon! Ahhggg, not good

The procedure went well and he sent the sample off to the lab and they had the preliminary results back in a little over an hour. BENIGN..no cancer. Thank the Almighty. Whew..Just turned out to be a malfunctioning lymphoid. Gave me a bunch of antibiotics as a precaution and sent me home.

Feeling a bit of discomfort tonight but well worth it to know everything is OK.

Anyway, I know this sounds a bit odd but I am so happy it's nothing I wanted to vent to the world. I hear my grandma telling me, "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything". We all take our health for granted till something comes up like this and makes us realize our mortality so I just wanted to tell everyone, for at least a moment, DON'T. Hug your kids, your spouse and tell them you love em. Life is short and we never know what the terms of the contract are till most of the time it's too late so appreciate it.

Thanks for the vent and to all my friends at TRF along with their families, be well.



David