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Category: Rambling
Date Range: 12/28/2003 - 1/3/2004
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I'm happy to report that I'm about 90% over my cold that I caught from Gaetano. He's about 80% better with a cough and congestion still lingering.
At the begining of this month, I had a chest x-ray done because I was experiencing some pain on my right rib cage. When I inhaled it was obvious that my right side was very different. A lump could be felt along my rib cage where it hurt. As it turned out, I had disturbed a floating rib and it was out of place. In time it will heal itself and already is much better.
While looking at the x-ray, Dr. Del Campo noticed something unusual. He spotted several splinters of calcium along my rib cage. With a thyroid history and remaining nodule (goiter) in my neck, the recent gall stones, and the osteochondroma on my leg his suspicion was that my parathyroid was functioning abnormally. The parathyroid controls calcium, an ingredient found in gall stones and in the bone growth that I had.
He scheduled some blood work and a P.E.T. Scan. My blood results came back normal, much to my surprise. I thought for sure that he'd finally found the missing link -- the cause of all my health problems. No such luck... The P.E.T. Scan was put off because the hospital felt it was unlikely my insurance would cover it, so Dr. Del Campo ordered a bone scan.
When I got the news that I needed to schedule the bone scan I was on my way out and didn't ask any questions. I figured I'd have time to ask later. Unfortunately, their office is closed until Monday, January 5th. Naturally, I turned to Google for help.
I've come to find out that bone scans are used to test for bone infections (osteomyelitis), bone tumors, hairline fractures, and bone cancer. The results don't tell them which of these are present, just that there is one (or more) of them.
If they are testing for osteomyelitis, then the bone scan is done immediately after the injection of the radionucleide. Otherwise the patient (that's me!) returns after 3 hours for the scan. Well, my appointment for the injection is tomorrow at 10:30 am and I return for the scan osteochondroma), at 2 pm. I can only conclude that they're not testing me for osteochondroma. That leaves bone tumor and bone cancer. Bone fracture is not a candidate since I've had no trauma and there's obviously something growing on my ribs.
Nervous? Scared? Worried? You betcha... I'm only 28 years old and too young to have any of the problems I've already had let alone anything else.
Posted by ~Angela | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Permalink
Those who know me well, know just how much I love sushi. I've said many times, "I wish there were such a thing as sushi delivery". I especially felt this way the past couple of weeks having been unable to drive.
Unfortunately right now the budget is ultra-tight and except for the gift certificate for a local sushi place I got for Christmas, I'll not be buying sushi once a week again for a couple months. :-( However once I can afford it again, I do intend to try out SimplySushi.com.
They sell from their site and Amazon.com's Gourmet Food section. Naturally, I've added a bunch of sushi and sushi related items to my Amazon.com wishlist, just in case... ;-)
Posted by ~Angela | Comments (1) | Add Comment | Permalink
Comment from jackie on 8/16/2008
I was reading about your bone tumor in your ribs. I am 27 and I found a huge one in my ribs when I was 25. I had to remove three ribs and part of my sternum. From what I hear it is very very rare. Hope everything works out with you.
Thanks Jackie, so far nothing has changed for me. I think that's a good thing. I hope you're doing well too! ~Angela
Comment from momtothree on 10/23/2006
I'm sorry to hear about your condition and was wondering what the bone scan found. I am 38 and found a bony bump on my rib cage under my left breast tissue about three months ago. A breast ultrasound came back negative and we are waiting three months for follow up. Meanwhile, I've also developed a vague but specific pain in my left shoulder blade, directly behind where my lump is felt. I am scouring the internet for possible answers while I wait for December's checkup. Thanks for your story.
Comment from kmw on 3/19/2006
For Angela: My daughter has the same symptoms and normal blood work. She was biopsied and was discovered to have an osteochondroma of the ribs. It is benign but they cannot remove it and they expect her pain will never completely go away.
Because of your thyroid problems, look up pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism. This is a problem that does not show up on any blood work but has the same symptoms of an abnormal parathyroid and thyroid gland. Hope this helps your anxiety. Dr. assures us that the osteochondroma is benign and will not turn cancerous. Kathy W.
Unfortunately this is one of many comments that got buried among the suspicious ones and fell off my radar.
Four years after this post I'm happy to say I'm still kickin'. Will have to look into the pseudowhatchamacallit though! Thanks Kathy ~Angela
Comment from Stephanie Sullivan on 12/31/2003
How'd it go Ang? OK? And when will they give you the results?
Hope everything is well and Happy New Year!
It went alright I guess. My leg is a bit sore, as is my back from laying flat on the hard surface but I'm otherwise fine. Thanks for asking.
My recent leg surgery showed up as expected. That much I was able to see myself and they asked about it so I knew something was up.
I asked to see the scans, and was shown but they didn't clue me in on much. I could see two shapes near my neck that I think took up the radionueclide. I'm not a doctor of course, so hopefully I'm wrong.
My doctor isn't in until Monday, so I should find out what comes next by then. As far as I know if "results" are found with this test, more evaluation will be needed. If we don't have any more clues about what's causing all these strange illnesses, there are likely to be other tests. Fun, eh? :-)
Happy New Year to you too. ~Angela