My husband is, unfortunately, not doing well right now. I was so relaxed because he's been on a plateau for the better part of the last year and a half. Last Sunday we had him in the ER again for pain in his left lung. They did nothing to help him, so I took him to the doctor that Monday. She sent him for an xray, which led them to decide he needed a CT scan.
CT scan shows the two small cavities in the lower lobe of his left lung (we thought they were scarred over) are open and have grown considerably. He's done several rounds of blood work and they all keep saying "Valley Fever."
I am blessed to have a friend who is a doctor with experience in these things. He has requested I send him a copy of the CT scans so he and an "expert" friend can look them over and refer him to the necessary specialists. My buddy said, "If they think it's valley fever, they need to put him on a round of anti-fungals." To which I replied, "Five years ago, they had him on Diflucan for two and a half years, then they switched to another anti-fungal because that wasn't working." His only response was to say a swear word. He keeps asking me questions about family history of lung disease (JR's dad died of lung cancer at the age of 33). For some reason, he keeps coming back around to emphysema.
We shall see. I'll keep you all posted when we find out more.
Hope you are all doing well!!!
On a good note - I start school on Tuesday!!!!!!!
I hate trying to get doctors to think outside of their little diagnostic boxes. I'm sorry you are having to go through this. Have they given you anything to help?
They still haven't done anything. They're just waiting and waiting for tests to come back. I just think that they're going to keep testing until they can think of something they can deal with - whether it's the right diagnosis or not.
His regular PCP (who is a wonderful woman) came right out and told me that she's at a loss if it is valley fever again because she's never treated it before. At least she's honest. I've asked her to please consider other possibilities, though. And I have faith she will. She's nothing short of awesome.
In the mean time, he's on more painkillers and we are taking things one day at a time. I'm trying to be non-judgmental in the mean time. It seems to me that he's fine when there's something he wants to do, but he's just "not feeling well" if there's something that needs to be done. I'm sure this isn't the case. . . Just my bitterness (not at him, but at his illness). So, I'm praying about this as well.
I'm proud of myself, though, that I can admit how angry I feel about him getting worse again. (And again, my anger is not at him. . . He didn't ask for this). He asked me last night if I was still unhappy with him. I tried to explain that, no - I'm just unhappy with the way our lives have turned out up to this point. He said that he understands and looked a little relieved. I told him that none of this is his fault and that I don't blame him in the least, as far as the illness goes.
So, we're muddling through, like always. I noticed today, though, that I'm just a little grumpier right now. A little more on edge and a little less even-tempered. I don't want to be that person. . . We'll see where this next chapter takes us!!!
I feel you on the frustration. James is facing having to go through heart re-transplant after 11 years and I'm terrified.....andyes....a little angry. But it is as you say, its surely not at them that you get angry. So who then? Who can I punch in the face for this? Man...I'd really like to.
I'm so sorry you're feeling what I'm feeling, hon, because it stinks big time. BIG time.
Thanks for your response and your support. It is so frustrating sometimes. Right now, we having a good period. Things have settled quite a bit and he seems to be feeling a little better.
- Jenny-Lee
on Sep. 11, 2009 at 11:08 AM