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Sometime over Winter Break during December, I started getting really bad gas at night after eating large dinners. My stomach would expand and I would berp for several hours until the pressure was relieved and I could fall asleep. I tried taking Mylanta, but it didn't help. After break I went back to Florida State University in Tallahassee and the problem continued. I went to the student health center where a doctor listened to my syptoms (but didn't examine me or perform any tests) and prescibed presciption Zantac and smaller, more frequent meals. She also warned that I might develop acid reflux in the future. For two weeks I took the Zantac twice a day and the gas never returned. Then one night it came and was soon followed within minutes by extreme upper back pain. The pain was absolutely horrendous and after a few hours of deliberating and hoping the pain would subside I went to the ER at Tallahassee Memorial at about 2 AM. There they preformed a urine test, which came back negative, and prescribed oxycodon and a weaker pain killer. By the time they had examined me my stomach had actually returned to normal and the pain had virtually subsided. The next night the pain returned, although somewhat more mild, but then I vomited. I took one of the weaker pills and headed to the ER again. This time, after much badgering by me, a dcoctor examined me before my stomach returned to its normal state. He played with the bulge and pronounced it a hernia and then proceeded to try to massage it back into the "hole." Since I would be heading home for Spring Break that coming Friday I decided to simply have my parents set up an appointment with a general surgeon as soon as I got home. Two days later, on Thursday, I was feeling very nauseated and having read that that could be a sign of gangrene in hernia patients I went back to the student health center. I saw another doctor who ordered an x-ray to make sure there wasn't a blockage, but who was displeased that the hospital hadn't conducted more tests themselves including a C-T Scan. She determined there wasn't a blockage and prescibed some more pills to make me feel better and I was off on my way again. The next Monday, I was home and I saw an internist prior to the general surgeon appointment for the following day. He prodded my stomach, saw the prominent bulge which had since stopped going back in or causing painful gas and sent me immediately to the hospital for a C-T Scan. The scan revealed a large mass and instead of a surgeon I was back in the hospital the following day having blood tests, ultrasounds, and a biopsy done. The radiologist then informed my parents, as I was still under beause of the painkillers, that in all his experience I almost certainly had lymphoma, but we couldn't be sure until the biopsy, but we couldn't be sure until the biopsy results were back. The next day I went to see an oncologist specializing in lymphoma and he told we that lymphoma it might not be. Instead they had narrowed it down to four very rare cancers one of which was t-cell lymphoma, another was Ewing's Sarcoma, and the other two's names escape me. Wednesday we waited, no results. Thursay we waited, no results. On Friday morning I was struck with horrible chest, stomach, and back pain all at the same time and constant. After staggering back to the internist who told us that I actually had none of those four tumors, I had desmoplastic small round cell tumors. Actually he wasn't sure of that either, but it has since been more or less confirmed although we are awaiting lab results from California. I was then transported to the ER, then to Jackson Memorial Hospital (which is the University of Miami's teaching hospital) where I am currently and will most likely receive treatment. I have extremely intensive chemotherapy and eventual surgery ahead, but I'm determined to rid this cancer from my body. Already I've gained perspective and the knowledge that morphine doesn't work quite the way it does in movies and on TV.
What is your Hebrew name? Do you know your mother's Hebrew name? Would you mind if I put you on a Tehillim list?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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I'm happy to accept any prayers on my behalf. Frankly I get enough get well cards as it is so I'd be more than happy to just accept whatever well wishing you guys have to offer on this forum. And I do appreciate your good wishes.
Rivka, my Hebrew name is Shmuel, I'm not sure what my mom's is, next time she visits I'll ask.
Posts: 3446 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Good luck, nfl. I'll have you in my prayers. Whatever you do don't give up. Don't even think about it. Thoughts like that don't help anything or anyone.
Posts: 6026 | Registered: Dec 2004
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I'm so sorry. Sorry for the pain and time it took to determine how to treat you. I wish you a quick and complete recovery. May God bless you in your determination.
Posts: 277 | Registered: Apr 2003
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You have the attitude to fight this! It is so important. Do not reject cards and letters. There is an initial surge, then people go about their business. I would love to have your address. The cards and letters I got from Hatrack were so touching, and definitely gave me a much needed boost in a dark time. Good luck!
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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I'm glad they found out what was causing the pain. Now that you know the problem, you can look forward to a time when it is removed. Fight it and we'll fight with you.
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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Good luck, and keep us posted. Well wishes certainly can't hurt and if they'll help, well, we're a pretty determined group...
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote: morphine doesn't work quite the way it does in movies and on TV
Ahh yes. It does not take the pain away. It merely makes it so you do not give a rat's behind. I hope you win this battle.
Posts: 2208 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Crap. Nfl, I'm sorry you're having to go through this. I'm glad that you're taking the attitude toward it that you are. I'll be thinking of you.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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(((nfl))) That sucks, but at least they caught it. I shudder to think if they had just kept giving you antacids.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Man. This sucks. I'm glad you're so determined to beat this. That's a big part of beating it is the determination and desire to do everything necessary to beat it. I think all of our prayers are with you NFL. Good luck!
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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newfound, I wish you the best in this fight! I'm sorry you have to deal with this pain and uncertainty. I pray that you may overcome this and be made whole.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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nfl, I'm so, so sorry that you have to go through this. Your attitude is amazing and I have every confidence that you'll beat this.
You're in my prayers, for a full, speedy, and easy (as possible) recovery. I'd like to put you on my shul's list, too.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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You're a tough little sob NFL, I'm sure the cancer doesn't stand a chance. Best wishes to you and your family.
Posts: 4116 | Registered: Apr 2002
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