new vision of health care

This summer has been fraught with multiple incidents/findings that have lead me to further investigation to rule out cancer. First, around my birthday I found a mass in my abdomen. I of course ignored it like any good medical professional would. After 2 months I went to my doctor and told her my findings. She sent me in for an abdominal ultra sound. I had to wait about a week for the procedure. Very annoying to wait for the unknown. I went in and found out that I have a lypoma, ie a fattty tumor and nothing to worry about. I breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the chaos that I call life.

Approximately 2 weeks after this was all resolved I went in for the first half of detailed cardiac profile/physical through work. This included blood work, ecg and a chest ct to measure calcium in my heart and lungs. Two days later the physical place called and said I needed to meet with the Doctor. I of course asked what about and they told me that I had multiple non calcified small masses and multiple enlarged medialstinal and hilar lymph nodes. I of course went home, called my doctor, and began to google. This was information overload. The list of possible causes were infinite and the top of the list was lymphoma. By the way this is what my dad died of.

My doctor order a repeat CT with iodine and an abdominal CT. She also order a plehera of blood work. The blood work was to help diagnose possible sarcoidosis or multiple other fungal infection and possible TB related diseases. The repeat CT was an adventure. I had to wait a week to schedule and my insurance was denieing the claim of course.  So I went anyways and paid for it myself. They told me to drink the barium which is supposed to be vanilla flavored. Not so much, it is more like paste chalk, yuck. They when I went in for the CT they started the IV and set me up for the radioactive iodine. They said not to worry when it goes in, it might feel like i wet my pants. That was a complete understatement. I felt warm all over and was convinced that I needed depends. When it was done I went home and waited for the results. Oh yeah, the barium blocked me up for 4 days. Talk about both physical and mental pressure. Finally after 8 days the results were in.

I met with my doctor who said that all of the blood work was negative and the ct confirmed the prior scan and that my abdomen was clear. So once again I was back in the land of limbo. I still had no diagnosis and the possibilities were still endless. NExt step, meet a pulmonologist.

So another 2 weeks goes by and I met with the new doctor. He felt that most likely I had sarcoidosis or lymphoma, which  the emphasis on the first. So we scheduled a lung function test  and a broncoscopy. I waited another week for the lung function test and started reading up on sarcoidosis. Which is a hard to diagnosis imflammation issue with no treatment that usually resolves on it own but can cause issues. Guess what I still in limbo again. Now to the point of the title.

After the lung function test I was scheduled for an untra sound guided broncoscopy with needle biopsy and standard biopsy, This all involved me going to the hospital and under going general anesthia. I can’t say enough about Sky Ridge. They  were very professional and helpful. The procedure involved me getting intubated and having a large scope placed into my trachea. This device had an ulta sound scope on it to guide the needle for the biopsy and limit my issues of bleeding or a punctured lung. After this biopsy was done they went back in a plucked random tissue sample from around my lungs. After  about 2 and half hours I started to wake up and hurt. I apparently was not meant for drugs. I had a screaming headache for days and my neck hurt. Both side effects went away within two days, but then my throat and lungs hurt from the process. All was well in a few days.

After about a week I had the results..sort of. They were confident that I did not have lymphoma but were still unsure of what was causing the abnormal presintation. Basically they said since I am asymptomatic that I need repeat CT every 6 months for about 3 years and lung function tests. So in ending I am happy with our health care the fact that I have choice and the quality of the care.

PS…my health care recanted and paid for the ct in the end

9/11 ..a day to remember

On September 11th I once again particiapted the the Denver area memorial stair climb. This is an event where 343 Fire Fighters from around the area climb the Qwest building in Denver. This building is 55 stories, so we do it twice. That way it equally the # of stories as the World Trade Center was. The number of participants represents the number of Brothers we lost on that day. This was the 3rd time I have participated. We wear all of our gear and carry airpacks and other gear, totally about 100 extra pounds. It is a difficult and fulfilling task. As we check in with the Lobby Control Officer we are issued an ID tag of one of the fallen Fire Fighters. This year I climbed in honor of FF Kiethroy Maynard of E-33. This task is both emotionally and physically exhausting.

It is quite the  image standing in the loading dock of this building and to look around and see 343 Fire Fighters. A visually impressive image of the exact number of our fallen brothers. Then to think shear number of families that were left behind. I am very proud of the fact that my 5 year old kinda of understands what I do on this day and why. When I saw him  that evening he wanted to see who I climbed with and asked questions about the climb. I plan on impressing the importance of never forgetting this day.

We will never forget.  Take care brothers and know that there are many here that will continue your quest. I will continue to strive be both honorable and noble.

W

Our dogs and their great impact…

Yesterday reminded me the impact that our dogs have on us. Needless to say this has been a rough year for my family and me. Yesterday my eldest sister had to put sown her dogs of of many years. Comet was her dog that help through many rough patches in her life and helped keep her centered.We will miss comit and all of little quirks. RIP Comet.

Earlier this year my youngest sister had to put one of her dogs down. It was her newest addition and a good friend to Ruby, her older dog. Toby was a vibrant and energetic dog that help balance Ruby mischiefes side.He was only with her for a few years but the impact is none the less.

We had to put all 3 of our dogs down in May within 2 weeks. First was our princess Alaska. Next was Oreo and Dutch. Being liter mates and the fact that they were both sick we felt it best to put them both down together.

All of our dogs will be sorely missed and their impact on our lives will not go unnoticed. It hard to image that one could love something so much yet never have a conversation with them. One realizes how much we talk and interact with a dog once their gone. Their non judgemental and always loyal.

Once again we will miss all of you

Dutch, Oreo, Alaska, Toby and Comet

May you all play well with each other

camping round 3…

We went camping this weekend for the 3rd time..this time we were trying for 2 nights. We Succeeded. Freddy and I headed up Friday morning and set up the camp. Freddy was a good helper. He did what he could to hammer in the tent stakes and move the fire wood. When all was done we sat in  our chairs and fished..with out success, but we did have some good conversations. When Stephen got out of school, Lynese and Theodore picked him up and headed to them there hills. They arrived about 730, in time for smores. We ate smores and played with the boy in the camp site next door.  We settled in for a quiet night. We made it through a chilly night, 39 degrees, with minimal interruptions. The next day was filled with lots of fishing and some hiking. The next night was just as chilly but had more interruptions. Theodore was not happy with our sleeping arrangements. He figured it out. Stephen and Fred finally have figured out how sleeping bags work, ie to stay inside. At one point in the night Stephen woke up, poked his head out found his pillow and quickly retracted back into his bag like a snail. The next day was met with more fishing. I almost brought one to shore, while Freddy’s pole decided to leave us and go swimming. We got it before final departure but that fish too evaded capture. Finally by the end of the trip we caught a trout on Fred’s pole, he wasn’t anywhere close to reel it in however. We left the sunny mountains to return to a grey and cloudy Denver..blah

First day #2

Today Freddy starts his first day of school. Thats preschool. This is a big change since Fred has never spent any time in a daycare or such. Thus he is excited and nervous. We are also. Good luck Fred.

Stephen’s first day was yesterday and he survived and love the bus ride home. He said they did a lot of stuff but can’t remember what he learned. I hope this isn’t going to be a trend.

it been a while

I haven’t posted much and hope to try again. Today is a day long in waiting. One I haven’t posted in a while. Two, today is Stephen’s first day of kindergarden. He is VERY excited and we have high hopes. He has been very needy lately and we think he is starved for the extra structure. We will keep you posted

RIP Alaska….

Thursday brought a sad day for our house. We had to say good bye  to our little princess…Alaska. She was a stray I brought home  from a call in Albuquerque. See adopted us and her canine brother quickly and just as quickly began to rule the roost. She was definitely a healer and tried to herd the kids and keep order. As you can see in t he pictures she tolerated and enjoyed the kids. Her hip issues finally got the better of her. We will greatly miss her in our lives, and her brothers already seem lost without her

Is that an air leak?

I know its been a while and I am trying this again. My plan is to sit once a week and do a post.

So here it goes…

Stephen has learned to whistle at the young age of 5. It is a very , VERY high pitch whistle that one usually learns to do at first.He has mastered it and practices it  a lot. I am convinced that it drives the dogs in the neighborhood nuts, along with me. When we are driving I am convinced that one of the windows is cracked open. O well, He loves it and I encouraged him the eat his crusts so he could whistle like daddy. He also can snap his fingers, on both hands.

Freddy has learned to snap his fingers too. Only on one hand so far, and it is very quiet. He is very proud of this and wishes to show everyone that he can do this. It is great to see them grow and master new life skills.

Sorry for the delay….

I realize, since it was nice stated by my little sister, that my blog has gotten stale. The truth is that I am back at work and doing doing side work also. I worked my first 48 hour shift, our new schedule, the other day. I still don’t like it and it mainly because of the family. I greatly appreciate my time with them and don’t like being gone from them for 48 hours at a time. Our new schedule is 48 hours on and 96 hours off. It really does benefit some of my coworkers because it cuts their commute in 1/2, but I still hate it, o’well. I also have found myself hip deep in side work now too. 

So the moral here is that when I come home I have the option to sit and update the blog or watch cartoons with Stephen and Fred…..I have a tendency to pick the later. I will endeavor to be more studious with the blog so stay tuned

Thanks

big poop!!!

Last week we spend the day at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. We thought we were going to miss the day at first. On Sunday I was reading the paper and it was saying how President Obama was coming to sign the new bill into law. As I read it stated that it was going to be at he museum. I was was rather worried since we had been talking with the kids about going. Good news is that as I read on, he was going to be there on Tuesday. So Monday morning we awoke and started our day.

First we had to take Theodore to the Dr. for his 2 month check up and shots. All is well and he continues to grow into the typical Zukowski baby shape, Round. Then we headed to the museum. We arrived with all of the crowds. We jokingly woundered if we would see any secret service agents. What we did see was that a portion of the museum was closed to to securtiy reason and setting up for this visit. Laater in the day we walked by a group of gentlemen in blue and black suits. Not conspicuous at all, they were secret service guys starting their preliminary stuff. 

Now to the title, as we were leaving we headed to the parking garage and their is a life size brontosaurus statue there. We were talking to the kids about it and Freddy promptly pointed out, ” He makes REALLY BIG poop”. We had to agree and laugh. It was yet another good day at the museum .