Wednesday, while still sore and with some pain I was able to head into work. I mean, I have done the whole not eating anything, sipping on water still getting my work done thing before. I wasn't able to see my PCP, but they were able to get me in to see an NP I have never seen before. Although, I knew I was probably just being a wuss I wanted to make sure that I hadn't ruptured an ovarian cyst or anything (side affect of tamoxifen is ovarian cysts).
The NP took one look at me, heard my story and said "You have Norovirus, you have to go home and you can't work today or tomorrow". Whoa, whoa, whoa. I proceeded to argue with her that I was missing some very key symptoms of Norovirus, mainly all of them. She reluctantly did an abdominal exam, said "Yup, definitely just a stomach bug. Make sure to follow good hand hygiene" (got her to downgrade it). Washed her hands and headed for the door while letting me know that if my symptoms and right lower quadrant tenderness didn't go away to come back on Friday. Then glances at my med list and says "Do you have breast cancer?". She realized she forgot to check if I was in a active treatment.
Now, I was pissed and slightly embarrassed for being a hypochondriac. I said to her as she headed for the door "I am sorry for wasting your time, but you need to understand that as a cancer survivor you become a little bit of a hypochondriac." This did stop her in her tracks and get her to turn around. She told me I hadn't wasted her time and that it was important to rule out appendicitis and ovarian cysts given the location of pain. Then closed the door and walked out. Her and I will not be friends, but I think I may have taught her a lesson.
Later in the day, I myself got taught a lesson. While chatting with my cancer friend I was whining about missing out on another year of thanksgiving overeating when she told me she may have cancer. Again. A second primary cancer. Well, lets just say swallowing my foot that I had put in my mouth, did not ease the stomach pain. We chatted about her upcoming doctor's appointments and tests, an all to familiar process. Sending positive thoughts her way today for one of the diagnostic tests!
For the record, my stomach was slightly cooperative for thanksgiving and a small plate of turkey and mashed potatoes with a comically small piece of pie was able to be consumed.
Mom and I were able to continue our black Friday tradition and were happy to report this year was much better than last. It did inspire a lot of "This time last year..." comparisons. Instead of her trying to convince me to not go to work or to take a nap we happily buzzed through the deals with me being the pack mule. Just the way we like it. High Energy Christmas shopping. (For the record I am 75% done now).
Stomach is back to normalish (still a little fiery) and looking forward to my leftover's sandwich. And as the video below says "I love it!"
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