Scan Results Back

 

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" Hebrews 13:8

I just got my CT scan results back and wanted to share really quickly before I head to bed. I am so grateful that so many friends and family are choosing to stand alongside me on this journey and help hold up my hands.  It is a great comfort to feel the outpouring of love and the covering of prayer as I walk out each step faithfully. 

First the great news... the last sentence: NO other potential findings of metastatic disease within the chest, abdomen, or pelvis. This is wonderful news and makes all the difficult days of my treatment and recovery feel so worthwhile!! Praise God!

The first part of it all I will admit made me catch my breath a minute. Basically, in nonmedical talk the scan did show some nodule areas in my left lower lung. There are multiple reasons that it could be there. Some are:

1. infections (viral or bacterial)

2. Inflammation (asthma/irritation etc)

3. Aspiration (this is where stomach acid/ partially digested food gets inhaled into the lung and causes airway irritation)

4. cancer spread

Since my big surgery I have been struggling with overnight aspiration. When they removed my esophagus and the top half of my stomach, they then brough up my remaining stomach and attached it higher to make a "new" esophagus. One of the features this new esophagus lacks is a top covering to keep what is in the stomach in the stomach. So, when I recline too much or have reflux, I often end up inhaling it, especially when I am sleeping.  

This is called aspirating when it happens. 

Last week (Weds) I had a pretty significant aspirating event overnight. I was seen by a doctor and started on antibiotics. Since then, I have been recovering slowly but definitely am not yet 100%. 

I am not overly concerned as I would expect that any scan worth taking and relying on would notice something was currently going on with my lungs. However, I would obviously prefer it to just be a boring summary that simply said, "No evidence of disease." and let that just be that. 

I ask for your prayers first that the doctors are diligent and divinely inspired as they review the scan findings and make next step decisions for my care. I don't want them to panic obviously but I also don't want them to just ignore it and assume it is just my current aspiration without any further follow up or monitoring. 

Second, I ask for prayers that my aspiration issues would resolve. Not only this current issue of coughing, feeling punky, and inflammation, but also just in general. I have surgery scheduled for next Monday Jan 29th to dilate my new esophagus again to hopefully help prevent food and acid from just sitting in the top part. Having food/acid stuck there obviously increases my risk of having frequent aspirating events. 

Lastly, I ask that you pray for my family as we continue to walk all of this out. Living scan to scan is a very different existence and I do not want my husband and children to be concerned or worried by any part of it. 

God has me. He has always had me and He always will have me. This I know and when that is the rock of truth I am standing on, peace is easy to find.