I Do Not Have a Blood Clot

I am not sure how soon after getting back from VA, I noticed that my right leg was swollen, and it hurts in a couple of areas.  I had two massages last week, because of my sore and tight muscles.  I called and was able to get an appointment to see my doctor this morning.  I didn't think all of the swelling was due to my lymphodema that I have had in my right leg since the LND.

  I saw her and she wanted me to get an ultrasound of my leg and an x-ray of my foot and ankle.  I wasn't allowed to leave until they got the results and looked at it.  My doctor and I both had thought blood clot.  I was scheduled for the ultrasound at 2:15 pm.  After the ultrasound, I got the x-rays.  then I sat and waited.  I do not have a blood clot in my right leg  or foot.  I am to wear my compression stocking every day, and if the swelling doesn't go down by the end of the week, call to make an appointment to see her again.

  It is good news not to have a blood clot.  We think the swelling is due to being on my feet and all of the walking I did in the heat while in VA.  I even wore my compression stocking while in VA.

Today's visit with the Lung Doctor

  I had an appointment with my lung doctor this morning.  I had a blood test in 2011 to check my ACE levels (lets you know about sarcoid) and it was less than 3.  I had it done back in March of this year and it was 63.  It is on the high end of normal.  I had blood drawn this morning via my veins to check my ACE levels again.  I will have this test done again in October. 

   He said my platelets being a little low could be because of my spleen being bigger.  But, he doesn't know for sure.  It is hard to know what to do, should we treat my sarcoid, or continue to wait.  With being a survivor of Melanoma, that is what is making it hard.  I've had surgery twice to see if it was back, but it was just the sarcoid causing the problems.  For now, we are going to wait. 

  I will be having a PET/CT scan or just a CT scan in the next three months.  depending on what that shows, will determine if we decide to treat my sarcoid or continue to wait.  So far, I do not have to go on steroids!  Yeah! In three months that might change.

My Trip to Virginia

  Last week, I went to Mechanicsville, VA to see a friend.  Three of the days, I was down in Williamsburg.  I left a week ago, on the 14th.  Monday, I went to the Metro Richmond Zoo and The Science Museum of Richmond.  At the zoo, I laughed hysterically for about 15-20 minutes while trying to feed the giraffes. I kept dumping food on the to the ground.  it is a weird feeling having their tongue lick your hand.  I saw them licking the wooden post, and even stick their tongue down into a kid's cup of food, trying to eat out of the cup.  I also enjoyed the science museum.

   On Tuesday, went to Colonial Williamsburg. (This part has been reconstructed.) Williamsburg was the capital of VA from 1699-1780.  Richmond became the capital in 1780.  The first capital of VA was Jamestown. 

The second picture is called the Magazine, it is where the gunpowder for the whole town was kept.

    Wednesday, I went to Jamestown Settlement, which includes reconstructed James Fort, Powhatan Village, and the three ships they sailed on from England.  Historical Jamestown is just now an archaeological dig site.  Then I took the driving tour of the Yorktown Battlefields.  I saw where General George Washington's headquarters was.  I stood near the spot where General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington in 1781.  I saw the field where the British and German soldiers had to march to, to lay down their weapons.  After that, I spend about an hour at Yorktown Victory Center.

A picture of the map of the battlefields that I followed on my driving tour.

Thursday, I spent the day at Busch Gardens at Williamsburg.  I had supper with Elmo and Friends.  I saw Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, and Abby.

Cookie Monster photo bombed this picture.

Postponed Again!

Yesterday afternoon, I called my oncologists office to find out if they had heard back from my insurance company.  All I heard was that it had been postponed.  Since the scheduler didn't call me back, I called back this morning and was able to talk to her.  I was turned down again.  They said something about 180 days in between scans, and that my doctor can appeal it.  My doctor is appealing their decision, and I should hopefully know within 30 days.  I have been making plans, and will probably have to change something, depending on what I find out.  Until then, a CT scan has been scheduled for October, just in case. 

Last Week's CT Scan's Results

  Last Friday, June 28, I had a CT scan.  I saw my oncologist this morning.  Lymph nodes and lung nodules are still they same.  They haven't shrunk or gotten bigger.  My spleen has gotten bigger.  As of now, I have a PET/CT scan scheduled for next Wednesday.  That can be cancelled due to my insurance.  My oncologist will tell them there are new symptoms due to my spleen. If the PET/CT scan is cancelled or comes up inconclusive, I will have another CT scan in October.

  My oncologist does not want to do another biopsy.  If he tries to biopsy my spleen, there will be a lot of bleeding.  The problem with this is, is that I have sarcoid.  With sarcoid symptoms (when it is active), it makes it look like the melanoma is back.  Sarcoid and Melanoma have the same symptoms. Sarcoid is an autoimmune disease and I will have it for  life.

  In three weeks, I see my lung doctor, and I will find out then, if I have to start taking steroids.  If I do, steroids are supposed to shrink the lymph nodes.  I do not want to start taking steroids, because of the side effects.