Announcement from Rose: I just received this update from Sal this evening.

Copy of email received from Sal with update regarding his doctor's appointment

8:15pm 3 Jan.....OK here is the latest..... after having a an afternoon filled with anxiety before my doctors appointment I finally saw him.  I was annoyed that he didn't have the ER report as to what had transpired...so he went to get a copy.....we went over it.  He then called the Pulmonologist to see if the nodule had to be biopsied. The P-gist said its too small for a biopsy.. and since I was never a smoker it is in a very low risk situation right now.

However, he wants me to have another Ct Scan in 3 mos.  If its the same...another Ct Scan in 6 mos...and evaluate the situation then......that made me feel better.

Regarding the Aneurysm....the concern number is 5.5 cm s...mine was 4.0.....also a very narrow, almost a pre-aneurysm....Also to be included in the 3 month Ct Scan to check both. The doctor spoke with the heart surgeon and that was his recommendation.........no need for a Cardiologist right now...

In 3 mos, if situation changes...a Cardiologist will be recommended. The wait from 2pm to now when he called me back was nerve wracking.

I just got off the phone with the doctor...so I feel much better overall...altho I wouldn't have minded being in the care of a Cardio. He said the Cardio wouldn't be telling me anything different right now. Plus these things are very slow growing...if they grow at all...hence the 3 month wait.......I didn't want to argue with my doctor cuz he knows how nervous I get...which may or may not be a good thing.....as he thinks I overreact....but I have to have a peace of mind and a thorough explanation before I am comfortable......another reason the P/A is sometimes better as she listens and gives me exact information.......So I do feel better...but still have to be monitored....which is OK  and actually better that they will be checking it. The doctor did change and increased my BP meds to get the pressure lower... as its still high......so we ll see what happens with that in 1 month.

I still have to go to the gym which I wondered about too much stress on my heart...but he said just the opposite...but not to strain myself with heavy objects and overdo things ....I can see that I will be buried with medical bills soon...I am so tired of medical appointments and bills...but I have no choice.

I could feel the spiritual energy after he told me that...I am sure, thanks to everyone's support....which I still  need...and really appreciate....I kept reading the support messages over and over again today to give me strength...which they did....and kept repeating them over and over again in mind as I drove to the doctor's office.

That's the latest....and I cant help feeling better about the overall situation even though now, I am no longer as healthy as I once was... but then again, who is?

As a courtesy, please inform our classmates of my good news even though its still a serious condition to be watched.  Please tell them also, that I was constantly thinking of them and their great messages as they were thinking of me....I could never have gone through this alone......

God bless everyone......

Sal