I'm not feeling quite as well

Dear Susan,

I go to a cancer center, once a year follow ups unless there is an ache or pain. Then I call them and get an appt for as quickly as they can fit me in. There's no question about it, anything out of the ordinary is checked right away.

Seems only normal to me.

If there is a problem that can't wait for that appt, the emergency room is the place, with a call in advance from the doctor so you don't need to wait.

I hope it's nothing and that you are feeling better now.
Wendy
PS the sun is a great healer, thanks for reminding me to go out in it.

Thank you for continuing high quality caring, folks. Since last I posted, I received
a somewhat encouraging call from Houston saying that their preliminry look at my blood tests didn't show any change of particular concern related to my cancer. They are going to call back with specifics tomorrow.

Wilber asked about my local oncologist. Well, he listened pretty carefully to my chest and said it didn't sound too bad. That was a week ago (last TH) though and the
side ache started a few days later on Sunday. I reported that but they only called me in for the blood work. I know this is going to sound dumb, but I wonder if they assume a patient will call for an appointment any time there is a new concern and/ or know enough to ask whether a chest x-ray is warranted. Whn I call and leave a message with the nurse, I rarely get a call back and if I do it is a day or two later.

I have had pneumonia before and all I remember being different about that is that the coughing (ummmm) made me pee.

Thanks, again, everybody. I did go sit in the sun for an hour by the way.

-- Susan

Did he advance an opinion on what was going on? If it's just a cold, It'll make you feel crappy, but it will go away. Cough medicine doesn't cure anything and some of the latest research suggests that dark honey works as well or better than any OTC cough medicine. Narcotic cough medicines will get you a night's sleep, but they don't cure anything either and can be constipating.
Did he think a chest x-ray was warranted?
Sorry, I'm not trying to drive you more nuts. Just want to be sure you're taken care of even when cancer isn't causing your symptoms.

Susan, And yes the sun can make us feel alot better as well, lift your spirits,
I hope your cough goes away on its own and you get back to feeling better soon.
Maybe a bump in the road, I watched my husband get dragged down emotionally dealing with this b/c, its hard to fight, but you are one hell of a fighter, so continue on and I want to hear good things from you soon!!!! Ginger

Thank you all for your helpful perspectives and loving thoughts. A week ago, I
wnet to see my local oncologist and described my symptoms. He listened and felt and said I should come back in a month (just before I'm scheduled to return to Houston).
He didn't even prescribe cough medicine. So I called Houston. They asked me to get blood tests done over here and FAXed over there. I got the blood drawn (by my local oncologist's office) and submitted the signed request on Tuesday. No communications from anyone since. So today, I remembered I had an order to get some blood work done (by my primary care doctor) because I'm taking a new blood pressure medicine --so I got that done. Three doctors have blood samples and I've heard "zilch." So I guess I have to start calling around again. Same old, same old. I think I may be
starting to feel a little better, but I've never been such a good judge of that

I'd rather go out and sit in the sunshine feeliing "taken care of" -- self-advocacy
can be exhausting --

argh -- Susan

Dear Susan,

I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. I hope you can get over the MDAnderson ASAP, and that they come up with some interesting, not-too-toxic options.

Thinking of you, and sending out good thoughts.
Wendy