Keratoacanthoma

 What a long word to try an pronounce !
This is my latest diagnosis from the Dermatologist.  A few months ago I had a small "whitehead" appear on the left side of my chest.  Being just above where you'd place your hand to say the Pledge of Allegiance and very visible, I did what anyone would do. I popped it.  It bled, and bled, and bled.
So it was covered with a band-aid for another few weeks.  Yes, I did take it off and change it nightly.


While away for the Christmas holiday, as I was changing the bandage I looked in horror ! This small unnoticeable  whitehead (not to me) was now the size of a nickel and it looked infected. !  With my medical history and not healing well this past year I began to worry- plus it itches like hell . I kept it covered and out of the sun, and quickly made an appointment to see the Dermatologist when I got home.

 My worst fears were realized. It was not infected, and she proceeded to rattle off that name. She removed the top for biopsy and referred me to a Plastic Surgeon. Her reasoning being that if it isn't removed completely it will get larger and spread. Oh great ! Just what I always wanted on my chest ...
Plus with my system immuno -compromised it's best to err on the side of caution.

My appointment with her was 2 weeks ago and it is now the size of a quarter and distinctly raised above the skin. Now to you a nickel or quarter may not be large.  Put one on your chest and look in a mirror.  See what I mean?

From what I've read this normally doesn't affect the chest area, so I'm curious if all my x-rays over the years for my lung transplants may have increased the possibilities in me.

My first appointment with the Plastic Surgeon isn't until the middle of February, so I sit and wait and wonder how large it will be by then.. Oh, and how in the heck will it be removed.

Updates and Decisions

well.. the picc line was taken out and a Port now rests (cattywompus) on the right side of my chest.  I have to get it flushed monthly. Our great Medicare system does not cover it, so my cost is $90 .
In anger I researched this and found the needle sells to these companies for $5.60  each.. Makes ya sick doesn't it?

Then  with the hemorrhage in  my left eye getting worse, I needed a shot to try and save my vision. When the Retina Specialist told me my co-pay for the shot was $493 I broke down.. Ya mean I have to pay almost $500 for someone to stick a needle in my eye ???  I opted for the experimental version at $36 since I was looking at a possible shot every 6 weeks.. Oh yeah and I was in that wonderful Black Hole they call the coverage gap.. Already hitting $500-600 a month on my med copays there.

I looked like a creature straight from a Halloween Horror Show, but it worked. My vision is still a little blurred but doable with my glasses.  Whew!

In December Shands Hospital showed my the latest x-ray of my lungs. The right side is one grey area- but you can still see a lung on the left. I was told I would have this horrid cough for the remainder of my life - a side effect of Bronchiolitis Obliterans and scar tissue.   Plus that grey right lung is gathering mucus and Pseudomonas, similar to a person with CF..

I now have a recumbent exercise bike (from the best hubby in the world) and am trying to regain my strength and endurance. I still try the treadmill- but the feet hurt so bad for the next few days it almost makes it not worth it.

I have lost my will and determination with this past year of illness. I want to reclaim it. I know without it, I am doomed. First will have to be my energy.  I remember days where I would spend 2-3 hours on a treadmill so I could stay on the list for a lung transplant. And that was while on oxygen!  I need to find that person again !
I need to reclaim me !