Monday, June 24, 2019

SHOT AT AND MISSED


To paraphrase Winston Churchill, "Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at and missed."  Ok he said "without result" but the exhilarating part is the important part.

Now as I have aged, I have been shot at several times and grazed with some scarring.  Cancer, heart disease and now COPD have shot at me but so far not mortally wounding me. I keep waking up and am pretty much the woman I have always been if a little creakier with more prescriptions lying around.

Then two weeks ago, I woke up with a really sore nose.  My glasses had been feeling uncomfortable for a couple of days but this was different. I got out my magnifying mirror to take a good look and was startled.

On the right side of my nose where my glasses rested was an open wound. It looked dreadful.  I put some antibiotic cream on it, moved my glassed down to the end of my nose and called my dermatologist for an appointment.

Before my appointment I was having lunch with my support group so I asked one of my friends who'd had a cancer removed from her nose, what to expect. She explained the procedure and I was encouraged.  I mean it would probably be expensive and painful with the skin grafts and all but she looked perfectly normal now. I felt better--I thought.

My dermatologist took a biopsy and sent me home with a slightly more painful
beezer. I waited but heard nothing.  A week went by so I called him. Nope, he hadn't heard from the labs yet.

Then ten days after the biopsy, I was called and told it was benign and not to worry.

I wasn't really aware how this had been weighing on me till the threat was gone. Yes Winston, exhilaration describes it. I had just been shot at and missed and I can't quit grinning. If there were a pill that could produce such a feeling, I would totally understand addiction.

As I explored the past couple of weeks I think the sore nose came from me reading in bed and falling asleep more than once with my glasses on causing the sore in the first place. Bad Patti. I will definitely be more careful in the future.

Ever been shot at and missed and felt that wonderful euphoria? It's almost worth it.

55 comments :

  1. I'm really glad it's nothing sinister, you had me worried for a bit reading this. Also you've reminded me not to over wear my reading glasses and get away from the screen a little more often!

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    1. Joey,
      Not a bad idea and definitely don't wear them to bed.

      Delete
  2. Glad it was a false alarm. As for me, I've had several kinds of cancer, heart attack, stroke, ALS, MS, Parkinson's, and a few other deadly diseases. All in my mind. So far. But as I tell B, eventually ... I will be right. (Actually, I have had several pre-cancerous things scraped off and out of my body ... but as long as we keep after them, we hopefully can survive for a while longer.)

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    1. Tom,
      We do have to keep on top of these things. I got a bit tickled about your diseases in your mind. Reminded me of a tombstone in Key West that reads," I told you I was sick."

      Delete
  3. I am glad you dodged that bullet!

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  4. Always great news when we dodge bullets. I used to fall asleep reading so often that it damaged my glasses so I had to quit, had the nose damage as well once.

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    1. Jean,
      Glad you quit also. They can really put a hurtin on our noses.

      Delete
  5. So glad to hear you are just fine, except for that injured schnozz, which I hope by now is all healed up. You tell the best stories, Patti. I always enjoy them. :-)

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    1. Djan,
      Thank you so much. It is still a bit uncomfortable to wear my glasses but I am doing the granny thing and wearing them on the end of my nose for now.

      Delete
  6. I am so glad to hear the good news. That was a scary one. Whew.
    So me falling asleep with my glasses on will do this huh? I just bent the crap out of mine, I think that may be better though than that sore.
    Glad you are well Patti.

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    1. Peggy,
      Yep it is better if you can catch it before falling asleep. I bent a pair too before it took it out on my nose. Be careful.

      Delete
  7. Hoping to avoid that kind of exhilaration.

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    1. joeh,
      Though it is thrilling, I'd suggest passing on that one.

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  8. Good to hear it was good news. I would have been worried too!

    Several years ago, I was on my home from my parents with my children in the car (I think they were teenagers by then), and an old man in a hat pulled out onto the highway right in front of me. It was winter, the roads were icy, there was oncoming traffic and I had mere seconds to react. I couldn't use my brakes due to the ice, but managed to steer myself to the right and past his van (with his frightened wife gaping at me from her window). It was the closest I've ever come to having an accident and I shook for the rest of the trip.

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    1. Eileen,
      Something like that can put your heart on pause. I am sure you were too shook to enjoy the relief.

      Delete
  9. Really relieved to know all is well. That really was quite a bullet to dodge. Good job!!! I keep dodging the diabetes bullet that seems to be headed my way. Ah the work of keeping our bodies healthy and strong.

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    1. robin,
      Know what you mean. I am borderline diabetic and must watch my diet and exercise. We really have to put in the work as we age don't we?

      Delete
  10. Glad it was not more serious and you are on the mend. You have been through a lot. I like you attitude. I am listening to a book by Jane Fonda and one of the biggest predictors about living successfully in old age, if not the most important factor is attitude.

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    1. Nawm,
      Totally agree with Jane. Attitude is everything. Besides it makes the days much more pleasant.

      Delete
  11. Glad the happy ending to this story included exhilaration! Your perseverance, humor and insights are blessings to this elder who shares the creakiness and growing number of prescriptions.

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    1. LC,
      Your humor and perseverance have set the bar high for the rest of us. You amaze me.

      Delete
  12. Yes, I guess by the time one is our age (60-80+ group), it would be strange not to have dodged a few bullets (real or imaginary). And yes, I do enjoy that euphoria every year when I visit my Oncologist... and he basically says, "You're good to go!" (in my mind I add ... "for another year!"
    And I do fall asleep reading with my glasses on too!

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    1. Rian,
      I know that feeling. I have finally made it yearly for my cancer also.
      Careful with those glasses though if you do get a sore, you will know it could be a simple thing. Get it checked anyway.

      Delete
  13. I had the very SAME. And it was caused by the plastic nose piece on my eyeglass frame.

    It's so very nerve racking (or is it wracking) to wait what seems like an eternity!

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    1. Hootin' Annie,
      YES, I understand. It really took too long and let the angst build.

      Delete
  14. Dear Patti, I'm so relieved for you. And I can just imagine how exhilarated you are feeling. Last August, after an eye examine at the Glaucoma specialist's office, she voiced her concern that I was going blind. I spent the next three months feeling increasing morose. But when I went for my next examine, all was well. My vision hadn't worsened. Come to find out, a large "floater" had been in my right eye and had skewed the eye examine results. So, yes, I surely do know what exhilaration is!!!! Peace.

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  15. Dee,
    I can't imagine the horror of what you went through for three months. You really had to have felt the full power of exhilaration when cleared. So glad it was just a floater.

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    1. Dear Patti, I've since learned--from a retinalogist now--that floaters can do all sorts of strange things, besides float! Peace.

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    2. Dee,
      Well that is not good news. I thought they just floated and many of us have them. I guess if it is blocking your vision, that is not a good thing. Hope they can correct that.

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  16. I am so happy to hear that the sore nose issue all worked out for the good. I can only imagine how you must have felt and how relieved you were to hear the good news. Exhilaration after finding out what could have been a really bad thing was not a bad thing at all is fantastic. Keep smiling and stay healthy sweet Patti. I hope all the storms have missed you. I have one of the neighbors trees in my backyard from the storm last week but all else is okay. Hugs

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    1. Maggie,
      I was wondering how you fared with the storms. Last night we had a biblical one with high winds and 4 inches of rain but no damage. Hope the neighbor takes care of that tree in your yard. Stay safe.

      Delete
  17. Thanks Lord!!
    A little more careful Ms Patty :)

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    1. Evi,
      Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting and yes, I certainly will be much more careful.

      Delete
  18. I'm going to be shot tomorrow morning. Having a heart catherization. Hope they miss. Say a prayer, please.

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    1. Snickelfritz,
      Prayer just said and will continue. I do hope you get to enjoy the exhilaration of being missed. I have had two heart caths that produced two stents and an improved level of life. The procedure is
      relatively commonplace and simple. I went home the next day. Please let me know the outcome.

      Delete
    2. Snickelfritz,
      Just came from your blog and for some reason I cannot leave a comment. Hope it is temporary.

      Delete
  19. There have been narrow escapes from accidents, but no big health scares yet. I'm glad you are enjoying your sense of relief. The alternative would not have been good.

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    1. Dang. Another something that can go wrong with my body. I used to read in bed all the time with my glasses on. It makes sense you could literally rub the skin off. I wear mine all day and rarely take them off except to clean them. I will be more aware in the future and be kind to my nose and glasses.

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    2. Linda R,
      So glad your haven't been shot at. Keep up the good work.

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    3. Barbara,
      I think drug I am on for COPD aided in the situation. It has steroids in it and that can make your skin more fragile.

      Delete
  20. I don't see how wearing glasses could cause an open sore, even if falling asleep. I wear glasses and have never had more than the red pressure mark from the nose pieces.

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    1. River,
      As I mentioned to Barbara, I am on an inhaled steroid for my lungs and it can affect the fragility of the skin. Hope you never have to worry.

      Delete
  21. So happy it was a miss!!! My noes is always sore from the nose pads but never an open sore. I love your blog! I am now following you from Lori...you can follow back if you wish at Annster's Domain

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    1. Annsterw,
      Welcome to TNS and thanks for commenting and following. Sure hope you never have to even worry about such sores.

      Delete
  22. Happy your sore was benign!! and yes I have been shot at more times that I wished for. Colon Cancer caught early enough that chemo took care of that. That was 17 years ago. I really think the gun is rusty by now. (grin)

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    1. Latane,
      Thanks so much for stopping by and following. So glad you had such a great outcome for Colon Cancer. Yep, think that gun is empty now:))

      Delete
  23. I'm so happy for you. I was only really scared once and that was about my heart. My heart was fine, the doctor scared me, and I changed doctors. My cancers were found early and have not returned. My Type 1 diabetes is here to stay. I am thrilled, however, with all the new devices I now have to help me manage it. Not euphoric, exactly, but very happy and thrilled.

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    1. Inger,
      So glad to hear your being shot at didn't have tragic consequences. I'd say you have dodged a few bullets and the last one has grazed you but is under control. Isn't modern medicine wonderful?

      Delete
  24. I've had more of those "near misses" than I care to think of but am basically in good health for my age. Fingers crossed !

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    1. Ginnie,
      You bet they are crossed for you. Keep up the good health. It is one of the things you can't buy.

      Delete
  25. Oh yes, definitely. I'm still waiting to hear what the final diagnosis will be about my sinus and brain. I think my brain (from what I read of the report) is sort of OK. My sinus? I have to see an ENT again.

    Thank goodness your nose is OK and the sore was benign. My sister-in-law is constantly getting melanoma spots removed from her face, neck, arms, leg. Sigh. She's gotten so used to it, she doesn't even tell us anymore until I ask why she's got such a huge bandage. It's scary though. I'm just so happy you are OK and not having to deal further with it. You should get a Kindle Paperwhite like me and make it a really giant font like I do so I don't have to use my glasses. :- )

    And please don't forget to apply that sunblock! My daughter says put it on every time you brush your teeth in the morning.

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    1. Kay,
      So glad your brain is OK and hope the sinus thing is not serious. Let us know.
      I can enlarge my Kindle but I do like the convenience of the glasses. We will see.
      I will definitely be careful with the sunblock now. I'd do it like your daughter says except that I have to reapply it every two hours. I'll just try to do it before going outside. Thanks.

      Delete
  26. Can feel the big exhale all the way here. I made that same sound when a lump was benign.
    Good news for this!

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  27. As Winston Churchill suggests, it sure puts a bounce in our step when we hear such good news. I am happy your lab results were good.

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