The Day I Had Cancer

I rolled out of bed this morning and squared up to go to the doctor.

I was running late, and not really sure where I was going.  2501 N. Orange Ave.  Dr. Ali Gaham.

I plugged the address into my iPhone and I was off, on my way.  I rolled up to the Florida Hospital and immediately started kicking myself for not recognizing the address.  I parked in the garage on King and walked into the lobby of the Hospital.  The receptionist directed me upstairs and down a long winding hall.  The hall was kinda confusing and made me glad I don’t suffer from dementia.  The floor was littered with used wash cloths...I didn’t look too closely.

I filled out all the proper paperwork and was in the patient room in no time.  The nurse (Nurse Nosey) went into detail about a lot of things in my life that I didn’t expect.  Contraceptives, sexual partners, preferences...it was rapid fire questioning.  Whoa.

Dr. Ali came in.  I checked out and he said that he wanted to run some follow up blood tests.

I got my blood drawn (four vials) and was woozy as I left the hospital; I even forgot to have my parking validated.

It was all good, but by the time I got home I needed to eat food.

I made some food but before I could eat, I got a call from Dr. Gasham.

“Everything looks good.  You aren’t showing any inclination toward Diabetes.  Your Thyroids are fine, but you need to come back in so that we can talk about your LPDs.  They’re a bit higher than I’d like.”

“Alright, I’ll schedule an appointment.”

“See you soon.”

I sat down to eat and got curious.  What are LPDs.  I wonder if there’s something I can do be prepared for a change.

I wikipeida-ed LPDs, and what I found was scary.

Lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) refer to several conditions in which lymphocytes are produced in excessive quantities. They typically occur in patients who have compromised immune systems. They are sometimes equated with "immunoproliferative disorders", but technically Lymphoproliferative disorders are a subset of immunoproliferative disorders, along with hypergammaglobulinemia and paraproteinemias.

I tried to remain calm.  WTF?

I called back and set up my appointment for the following Monday.  As soon as possible.

I waited around for two hours, and then I couldn’t take it any more.  I called Dr. Gasham back.

“I need to know, what’s up with these LPDs?  Are they seriou-”

“LPDs?  What are those?”

“I thought you said my LPDs were high?”

“LDL.  Your LDL is higher than I would like.  What are LPDs?”

I explained, and he joked with me about it.  Phew...thank God.

So, long story short, my last year of working has done a lot for me, but it hasn’t done everything it needs to, and I might need to go on medication.  There was talk that I might not be able to fix it on my own, a possible deficiency on my body’s part.  Oh, well.  At least I don’t have cancer.