blaze100 Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Greetings to all, I've been meaning to intro myself but just too scared to come out. I've been posting for about a month. I love this group, only wish I had a group like this when I was dx'd 5 years ago. Anyway, today is a "snow day off " in northern California so no excuse not to write. I was accidentally dx'd 5 years ago with BAC lc. I was preparing for a routine hysterectomy and my ob-gyn unintentionally checked chest x-ray on the pre-op labwork order. She says she never checks chest x-ray, but that maybe the copy paper got offset. Anyway, at first they thought it wasn't lc since I never smoked and was only 46. Plus my tumor was so large one doc told me I wouldn't be standing if it was lc. Immediately after my bronchoscopy, the pulmonary doc fished my husband from the waiting room and said the tissue looked healthy to him and he was pretty sure it was OK. A few days later I called him to double check path and he said the news was bad. So I had the resection. They took out top and middle right lobes. On a scale of 1-10 my pain was about a million. Pain meds make me throw up, so I got two extra strength Tylenol/day. I was in hosp for 11 days mainly because I wouldn't eat. Horrible experience. Topped it off with chemo and radiation because I had a 0.1mm margin right where the bronchial tubes branch to the lobes. Chemo and radiation was a picnic compared to the hospital. Since then I've done OK. My scar has healed and is virtually pain free. I still get short of breath, but radiation pretty much melted my lower right lobe too. Some false alarms with the scans, but OK. Am I the only one here that's had 3 bronchoscopies? Aren't they a treat? My husband and I both teach math at the local community college for last 20 years. Sometimes my posts are blunt, so now you know why. I am so happy to find this group. Emotionally I am still a wreck from the whole ordeal. It helps to write about it and it helps to know my experience could be of some value to others. Oh, and I call myself "Blaze" after my favorite childhood pony. And I live in Northern CA, but grew up on a dairy farm outside Eau Claire, WI. I noticed some of you are from the midwest too. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish2418 Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Welcome to the board -- you'll get a lot of support here. Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna G Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Hi Barb. I see you really have been posting without telling us about yourself! I am so glad you finally did. Your post will give so much hope to those diagnosed recently with BAC. Especially where you say you are a five year survivor! You have much to celebrate! Believe me the old thorocotomy surgery is no fun for any of us! I had an epidural "for pain" that had fallen out. Essentially I was fresh post op with no pain control. It was horrible! So glad you are "out" Donna G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Barb, I am so glad you jumped in and told us about you. Welcome. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 I was very glad to see your posts, and see that year 2000 and BAC next to your name. I understand completely your fears--5 years later I still have them too. That's why I am still in therapy! gail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Nice to meetcha. P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Welcome Barb. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Hi Barb, I've enjoyed the posts you have made so far and I thought to myself "I wonder how I missed this one".. now it makes sense. Welcome to our group! You will have lots to give to the other folks with your experiences. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Barb, you are formally most welcome. I have enjoyed your posts. don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 Welcome, Barb, and congratulations on your more than 5 year survivorship. Glad you decided to post. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharyn Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Barb... Glad you decided to post and WELCOME..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellakc2 Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Welcome Barb, Glad you found us. Take care. Mare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephnewyork34 Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Barb! Good girl yourself for taking the plunge and introducing yourself. This board is amazing and the people are truely amazing souls. You will draw strength and friendship from everyone here. A big welcome "blaze"!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patty Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Nice to meet you. Sorry you had such a horrible experience. I had a pretty awful hospital experience also, but I cannot imagine not having the morphine. They said I got over-medicated and took away the morphine until I woke up in horrible pain and then medicated me and I went back to sleep. Still to this day, doesn't make any sense, why they did that to me. And yeah, those bronchoscopies are such a treat. Thank God, I only had one of them, wasn't medicated enough & was pretty much wide awake thru it all, and then to top it off, it didn't confirm any cancer. Didn't get the care I thought I should have gotten in the hospital either. Thanks for letting me vent. Congratulations on 5 yrs. and Welcome, Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolhg Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Welcome Barb, You are so right this is a very supportive website. I am grateful to have found it when I did. Questions, concerns, fears-all are understood here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchurchi Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Barb, Glad you finally "introduced" yourself. Welcome to the family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaze100 Posted March 7, 2006 Author Share Posted March 7, 2006 Great. It's official. I am a member of the group. No matter what happens to one of us, there is at least one other person with similar experience. Just knowing that helps me accept and forgive. Thanks. Oh yes, and I was awake my first broncho too. I thought that was the way it was supposed to be. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethluvswill13 Posted March 7, 2006 Share Posted March 7, 2006 Welcome Blaze!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Hi Barb and welcome! XOXOX MaryAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted March 10, 2006 Share Posted March 10, 2006 Hi Blaze, Funny how things happen and you were diagnoised getting a pre admission testing and having a routine chest Xray. (maybe you doctor should look at them for now on!!) You are very lucky lady that they were able to operated to take it out. I know you will continue to be C free. By the way Congrats!!! on being a 5 year survivor. You will continue to have many many more. Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaze100 Posted March 10, 2006 Author Share Posted March 10, 2006 Thanks for the vote of cofidence Maryanne, I don't always feel very lucky. My OB says it was an act from above because she knows she didn't check chest x-ray. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missyk Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Barb...Blaze!!! Welcome!! My daughter LOVES those books!! We go and find them when we can...bought a whole lot of them from a local library that was clearing them out for "newer" books! I'm so glad to hear you've been good since the resection! Makes us all smile, i think, when we see someone doing well after 5+years! Lots of good feelings coming your way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 Welcome Blaze, Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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