A regular sufferer of allergies in California’s Central Valley, when I started having sinus issues this summer I simply turned to Claritin and nasal spray. A couple weeks later it just didn’t seem to be working so I shifted treatment to Sudafed and the neti pot to cope with what I thought for sure was a Summer cold.
About a month in, while traveling, I rolled into an urgent care for an antibiotic that I was sure would take care of the congestion. As a bonus, they also flushed my ear and prescribed drops to help with my hearing. Two weeks later – no luck, my sinuses were still plugged so I went to the local after hours doctor who taught me the proper use of a nasal spray and said if that didn’t work to see my primary care physician.
A day later Shannon texted me the phone number for the Ear Nose and Throat clinic. I called immediately for an appointment with the first available doctor (thankful for our PPO plan). A couple days later I was starting a steroid and another round of antibiotics with a follow up CT Scan and appointment where we discovered a growth in my sinuses.
This was followed by an MRI/MRA to get a better sense of the growth. Two days later when I received a call from the doctor’s office wanting to do outpatient surgery on election day I was a little confused. We weren’t removing what was now being called a “tumor” but doing a biopsy. The good news was that I got to spend election day on drugs and sleeping.
Two days later we found out the tumor is Lymphoma. And so starts my journey with cancer.
Today is my first appointment with the Oncologist where we will learn more about what we are facing and for what I’m sure will be more tests and beginning treatment. I have been overwhelmed by the prayers and offers to help. Keeping everyone up-to-date has been a little difficult so I hope this page helps, its a little less personal but its efficient.
Below the Fig Tree 
Our diagnosis is running on the same timeline as yours. Waiting on MRI/PET appointment. In our case eyes and hoping not sinus.
If yours is the slow kind then you are one of the “lucky” ones though this is a crappy prize. We are on round three of this disease but we’ve also had a ten year gap between appearances. Other than during treatment, life is good. And I’m talking 16 years of good. I know the diagnosis drops you to your knees, but I want to give you hope; this can be beaten back.
Hopefully this is just a short rough patch in a long and wonderful life.
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