I have to admit, I am getting a little nervous about my mammogram and Breast MRI coming up on Thursday. I’m guessing most likely everything will be okay, and this pain is just some kind of benign problem, but I am a little worried.

I haven’t thought much about ‘the next step’, because I’m hoping there won’t be a next step.

As much as I’ve had many serious diagnoses over the years, I’ve also had episodes of pain that resolved itself on its own, never really knowing what was causing it. As much as I try to always get an official diagnosis (hoping to pinpoint clues to the underlining problem), I’ve also learned that the human body is a healing machine, designed to fix problems as they arise…sometimes, we never really know exactly what happened. The body just worked itself out.

I’ve started to develop this weird sharp shooting pain coming from my left lung/rib age area, that feels like the beginning of a mini PE, but then it never materializes. It’s just a brief moment of sharp pain. It’s only happened a few times, but it’s something I’ve never really experienced before.

I’m hoping it’s not related to my breast pain (or my new port in my left side, which I desperately need).

My overall stomach swelling issues have been bothering me a lot lately too. I’ve been trying to stay off IV antibiotics, and just do oral, and so far I’ve made it a few weeks now but my symptoms are pretty bad. Since I’m finding myself holding at bay, I’m not going to do any IV antibiotics until I absolutely have to. The Ig therapy is **definitely** helping in this regard. I wouldn’t have made it this long without the Ig.

The weird chest fluttering I was having two weeks ago subsided a few days after I stopped the Cipro. I had a weird feeling it might have been side effect. It could just be a coincidence, but I’m glad that symptom is gone.

Frustrating, but my blood vials from CHOP couldn’t get through Canadian customs in time, so now that’s just going to have to wait until I get back to the U.S. The problem is, I have to figure out a place where I can get my blood drawn *and* it can be separated in some kind of machine, then let me take the vials to ship them. It sounds easy, but most places won’t do orders from research labs, and if they do, won’t let you take the vials to ship…

(Something about, they just want the plasma I think? I’m not sure.)

I’m going to have to figure out a place to get these blood vials taken when I get back to Los Angeles.

Oh, the fun never ends…