Oh, it’s only a lung nodule not a lung mass.
You’ll only need a soft tissue biopsy not major surgery or anything.
It’s only a little over a month’s wait to see a specialist.
Then when you spit the dummy and decide to go private you can see someone inside two weeks.
Oh the lung nodule has only shown up as warm on the PET scan.
And by the way, did you know there are two lymph nodes either side of your airway in your chest wall that are warm too?
Cold meaning no trouble… hot meaning trouble… I’m only warm (insert wide-eyed dumb face).
It’s only a Bronchoscopy biopsy… only a day procedure.
We can’t get biopsies of the lung nodule though because it’s in too difficult a spot… not even going there with radiologists and soft tissue biopsy.
Biopsies of the chest wall lymph nodes should indicate benign or malignant tumour of the lung nodule.
Depending on the biopsy results you may need chemo or you may only need to have key hole surgery to remove the lung nodule and/or if we take the lung nodule, by only key hole surgery, and it turns out it is breast cancer spread then we will need to only remove the middle lobe of your lung while you are on the table.
Then four days before your trip to Melbourne to have the biopsy your husband only blacks out for a few seconds and falls off his bed and only cuts his brow and bruises his back.
And his heart rate is only 34!
Then you only have a paramedic, a mica unit and an ambulance in your drive way a few hours later because he is obviously not just only dehydrated, like he thinks he is, because he starts to flame out again and you need to call the cavalry.
So they hook him up to a portable heart monitor, keep him in hospital for a few days and then send him home, only 24 hours before you need to leave for your only biopsy, because everything is behaving according to the portable monitor.
So you only have to phone around and call in favours to organise only two days of respite care or baby-sitting as my husband likes it to be embarrassingly called, because he can’t be left alone just out of hospital and already in a wheelchair due to years of battling rheumatoid arthritis and maybe his aortic valve replacement, that is only 15 years old, may only need the assistance of a pace maker if it happens again.
Then you are only away for two days and your son only has to take two days of work and only drive you 300 odd kilometres back home.
And it’s only pissing down rain and the driver’s windscreen wiper blows off on to the freeway. (insert second wide-eyed dumb face)
But it’s all only ! It’s all only this and only that! Because it’s “only” you feel you can’t allow yourself to get angry at the “only-ness” of it all.
Well let me tell you I am angry. I am very angry at the only-ness of it all. Which is quite out of character for this little black duck.
And if one more person says to me “Oh well, there is always someone worse off” not only am I going to scream but my head just may do a 360 degree turn and my eyes may roll back in my head before I only spit venomous bile at you!
I’m going to scream “Oh, we’ve only been telling ourselves that for the last 30 years and quite frankly?… the thought that someone is going through much worse than our only-ness? … brings me little comfort because how can I get comfort from knowing someone is doing it more only horrible than us?… How could I wish that on anyone for my own piece of mind?… That’s not only callous it’s just stupid!”
Sorry. That’s all I’ve got for today. It’s all I’ve had for the past five weeks really. No pretty or poetic words to be found here today. No ‘normal’ Sandra, living each day as it comes here today.
In addition, too many people I love and care about are being dealt horrible cards and I’m feeling all the feels.
And today… just for a while… I’m going to allow myself to be so freakin angry at the only-ness of our life and anyone who wants to challenge me on that I suggest that you slowly back away… back away right now and no one needs to get hurt, okay?
Okay!
Ever felt like you can’t be angry at the only-ness of something?
Feel free to share my dummy spit at the only-ness of it all. Someone you know may need to feel in good dummy spitting company… like me!
Post script: I see my specialist in Melbourne tomorrow for results and future plan of attack. Doug’s been behaving… it scared the shit out of both of us. And I think I need to put myself in time out before I burst the swear jar and actually succeed at biting someone’s head off. Or go marching off down the streets of my home town in search and destroy mode of the owners who’s bloody dogs keep barking their distressed heads off all day and all freakin night and I can’t enjoy my happy place out on my back veranda… yes, I’m still banging on about it FaceBook family … see? Def need to be put in time out! Probs shouldn’t be blogging at the moment… oh well… damage done… just chalk up another cringe worthy post for the archives.
Oh Sandra, that’s not *only,* that’s just crappiness from every angle. Be angry AND be proud of yourself for being so tough and so resilient – even if it doesn’t feel like it at every minute of every day. I’ve got things crossed for you for good news tomorrow and some time out from the onlys. xx
you are ‘only’ one in a million and I love you gorgeous girl xo
Shellie I just melted… YOU are gorgeous and how blessed am I to have crossed paths with you and your family. Much love 🙂 Xx
Thanks so much for your kindness Ellen and all your thing crossing for me. 🙂 Xx
Really hoping things get better for you and your family. Telling someone to count their blessings during a difficult time is never particularly useful.
Thanks so much Robyna. Always lovely to have you stop by 🙂 Xx
San I “only” can think of couple of things
“get f$&ked cancer”
and
“I love you woman”
Xxxxxxxx
I looove this comment and I love you right back 🙂 Xx
Oh what a sucky time you’ve had! I really hope things start to improve soon x
Hi there Bec! Yup, sucky time just about sums it up perfect! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely well wishes. 🙂 Xx
Oh beautiful lady, infinity hugs and cuddles, and I totally agree, you are definitely one in a trillion billion.
I’m sending all my wishes that your “onlys” are only full of the good stuff quick smart xxxxxoooo
Dearest Sarah… thank you… just… thank you 🙂 Xx
Oh love, here’s a massive hug! I’m with Ellen, that’s more than just “onlys” that’s so much crapola you’re having to deal with. I think it would be weird if you didn’t have all the feels and how good is it that you’ve created this beautiful, safe place where you express your feelings and own them! It reminds me a bit of that Winston Churchill quote “if you’re going through hell, keep on going.” I’m sending good vibes to you and hope that you get good news from the docs. Here’s to a break from the only’s and having a break just for you (or failing that a kit kat.) Mwah xx
Hey there Sammie! I love that Winston Churchill quote. I also like “Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting a bull not to charge you because you are a vegetarian!” 😉 Sometimes life just is what it is hey! Thanks for stopping by friend 🙂 Xx
You poor thing – that is a whole lot of somethings that must be really hard to deal with. Anger is a totally justified and hopefully helpful part of dealing with all that crap. Good luck with your results and take care of yourself.
Hi there Kathy! Being really honest with myself about feeling angry has actually really helped. Thanks so much for stopping by and for the well wishes. 🙂 Xx
Oh my lovely, I’ve been absent from bloggy land for a bit, GUTTED to read this. I say let it all out because otherwise it will fester inside and come out when you least want it to. Big love and light to you my friend xxxxxxx
Em thank you so much for stopping by my friend. Yeah, it all sucks just a tad but what can you do… it will be what it will be. Sure hope you are on the up after your recent surgery etc. Much love to you Xxx
HOLY SHITBALLS. Emailing you now my friend xx
And what a beautiful email it is. Thank you Xxxxxxxxx