Health Scare

I started training for fitOne, and my Occupational Therapy appointments have started. My right armpit started hurting, and I thought I might have felt something. Because of my hemiplegia, I can’t do a good self-exam, so I couldn’t be sure what I was feeling. I checked in with my surgeon’s nurse, and she was like: “Tell us what you need. We got you.” I didn’t take her up on it immediately, but I did touch base with my surgeon. I have been blessed by the ongoing conversation.

I told her what I suspected it was and asked when I should be concerned. She did not hesitate. She said to touch base on Monday (this was after hours on Friday afternoon), and she would get me in this week.

I spent the weekend kind of freaking out that there was something sinister growing in my body. I kept having to tell myself the same things I tell my patients. I kept reminding myself that it’s probably nothing. By Sunday night, I was getting nervous.

I called on Monday before work, then I reached out to her nurse when I got to work, and within the hour, I had an appointment for the next day. Yesterday was that day. I was nervous, and I was glad I was at the front desk because I had reasons not to stay in my head and to ‘take it easy’ on the hard phone calls.

I climbed the three flights of stairs to her office, and by the time I was in the exam room, the weight of the worst-case scenarios was at the forefront of my mind. My BP was high, and so was my pulse. I reminded the nurse that I climbed the stairs and being in the office before my 6-month mark was stressful.

I was dehydrated, but as I changed into the gown and sat on the exam table, I felt the emotions settle on my chest. I stopped pushing them away. A minute later, I heard the surgeon already had a game plan with the staff, depending on her exam.

She came in, and immediately her presence lifted my mood. We talked, she performed her exam, and declared nothing concerning. Stop using the chest binder at night. Get a compression shirt instead. And, don’t stress.

I felt the weight of the scare drop. She thanked me for what I do for her other patients. We hugged, and that was that. I’m doing everything right. If I get worried again, I just need to come back in, but I shouldn’t have to. I have the After Visit Summary to remind me. I have our text conversation as a touchstone. I know I’m following her advice to the best of my ability. I’ve earned some trust. I know how to take care of myself and get the best outcomes.