After Liz?s scare the other day, we went to the doctor for a follow-up. They took a chest x-ray, an echocardiogram and an EKG. Liz was feeling a bit better at this point, but her chest was still a bit sore and she was in pain when taking deep breaths. And after a major heart operation, how do you really know what?s just one of things you shouldn?t worry about, and what?s serious.
So we?re erred on the side of caution and took the tests.
It was still a few hours in-between getting the cAfter Liz?s scare the other day, we went to the doctor for a follow-up. They took a chest x-ray, an echocardiogram and an EKG. Liz was feeling a bit better at this point, but her chest was still a bit sore and she was in pain when taking deep breaths. And after a major heart operation, how do you really know what?s just one of things you shouldn?t worry about, and what?s serious.
So we?re erred on the side of caution and took the tests.
It was still a few hours in-between getting the chest x-ray and seeing the cardiologist, so we had time on our hands. And as I?m sure you?ve experienced for yourself, when you?re worried about something, the worst thing you can have is unoccupied time, when there?s not much to do but sit and think.
And since we had the actual chest x-rays with us, we decided to take a look. It didn?t take but a few seconds to notice something on her right lung.
Not a misprint. Something. Big. On. Her. Right. Lung.
It was about the size of my fist. It was white. It was obvious.
You try not to over-think things and stay positive, but we?ve seen enough episodes of ER, House, CSI and Grey?s Anatomy to know that a BIG, GIANT MASS on her lung isn?t good. Maybe it?s not as bad as we might think, but it certainly isn?t good. We?re wondering if maybe she needs to get another chest tube to drain her lung, or maybe there?s something worse going on in there.
It was about mid-day at this point and we finally saw the cardiologist. He was a little surprised to see us at all, given that Liz had been doing well up to that point. But he looked at her chest x-ray, and within just a second or two, his expression couldn?t have been more obvious.
Laughter.
He turned to us and said, ?so why exactly are you here??
Liz and I kinda looked at each other, feeling a bit sheepish. We explained that Liz had some sharp back and chest pain the other day, it hurts when she breaths. And, oh yeah, what?s with the giant mass on her lung?
And without missing a beat he says, ?that?s her stomach.?
Huh?
Well, shows me that all that medical TV isn?t the equivalent of graduating from medical school after all.
Turns out Liz probably just strained a muscle. The cardiologist said that her heart sounds great, her test results are good, and her chest x-ray, despite our initial concerns, is crystal clear.
So I guess it just goes to show that when it comes to medical-type thingies, maybe I just need to trust the specialists a little bit more before I start diagnosing and reading lab tests.
Who knew?
