Routine Trip....Not So Much!

My uncle John and I headed to Mayo for my immunotherapy treatment. This was a routine trip. We got to clinic and I got my blood work done. Then we had to wait awhile to see the doctor. I just could not catch my breath. We had lunch and sat outside so I could take my mask off. With my breathing issues, it is so hard to breath in a mask. It wasn't getting better. I had never had this happen before....not being able to catch my breath. Finally, I suggested we go up to the doctor's office and see if a nurse can see me. Unfortunately, it was lunch time. The woman at the desk told me to take my mask off and she would try to get a nurse or the doctor. It just wasn't getting better. 

Finally, it was my appointment time. This was the only time I had an appointment with someone other than my oncologist. The doctor listened to lungs. She was concerned about what it might be....could it be an embolism? an infection? nothing? She wanted me to get a CT and unfortunately there was no appointments until the next morning. That did not make her comfortable so she sent me to the Mayo ER. The only building, except the research buildings, I had not been too. She couldn't let my uncle drive me, they had to call an ambulance. Yes, an ambulance to go two buildings over. 

In came three guys to take me out on a gurney. I promised her that I normally was not this exciting. They took me out to this tiny little ambulance. It reminded me of the Matchbox toy ambulance - it was a box truck a little larger than a golf cart. They admitted me and began running tests. They ruled out an embolism, whew! In came a nurse to do a COVID test, I knew what this meant...I was being admitted. 

They admitted me into the hospital to run more tests. What should have been a quick trip there and back, turned into a three day hospital trip. During that time, my oncologist and pulmonologist wanted to do a bronchoscopy to see if I had an infection in my lungs or if the cancer had spread into my lungs. The pulmonologist opted to send me home Friday and have me return Monday for an outpatient procedure. We didn't agree with this decision nor did we understand it but we went with it. My scientist mind noticed is that as soon as I could be reclined the breathing got easier. However, my observations are not medically accepted so we prepared for next week.

The babies on their new tower....this thing taller than me:

This would be the last week Sir Flapjack would be allowed to live in the top penthouse...Princess Pancake has since taken over the top spot and allows him to go to floor three.

Dame Marmalade only made it to floor two. She is very timid about getting on top of any furniture. 

For tonight . . . I'm just sayin' XOXO