Like a Hole in the Head…

March 21, 2008 by mrschili

… oh, wait…

I managed an appointment with my doctor yesterday afternoon about this bump on my forehead. This not-so-obvious but enthusiastically painful bump on my forehead:

I had a lovely time with the nurse. She took my blood pressure (it was a little high for me 118 over 65), my pulse (80, I think, which is also high), and my temperature (again a little high at 99.4). We talked for a few minutes about what was going on with my head (am I growing an alien in there?!) and I mentioned that teaching yoga with this thing throbbing on my forehead was a drag - hanging upside down is really quite a treat, let me tell you - which got us talking about fitness classes and, somehow, about our kids. She was great.

The doc came in a minute or two later - I didn’t even get a chance to read my book - and shook my hand. He asked exactly three questions and sort of interrupted me with every answer, and he never quite looked me in the eye. He was nice enough, but I’m glad he’s not my primary care guy. Anyway, he got in for one close look, gently prodded the edges of the mass, then whipped out a referral sheet, all the while reassuring me that these things are “almost always benign” (it’s okay, Doc; I’m not a worrier. Besides, I’ve got a friend who’s spot wasn’t benign, so I’ve got some vicarious experience with such things). “I could take care of this right here if it were on your arm or your back or something,” he said, “but since it’s on your face, we want someone who’s better at scars than I am.”

Um, yeah; I’m so down with that.

I was given a referral to a plastic surgery outfit across the street from the hospital, which I called from the parking lot. I’ve got an appointment to be excised on Tuesday at 4:00 - unless the doctor decides she can’t do the job in the office, in which case I’ve got to wait for her next OR slot, which is the first of April. I was going to drive myself down and back - the lovely receptionist lady told me I’d be fine to drive - but Xena told me she was going to be my chauffeur. She’s had something like this done in the not-too-distant past and says that while she was technically okay to drive - the local didn’t interfere with her hand-eye coordination or her reaction time at all - she just didn’t feel like driving after the procedure, so she’s going to shuffle me back and forth. She loves me well.

I’ll post before and after pictures when I’ve got them.

Now I’m going to go swallow a handful of Advil and OM this headache away…

Posted in concerns, health, my oh-so-exciting life, technical difficulties | 21 Comments

21 Responses to “Like a Hole in the Head…”

on March 21, 2008 at 7:03 am1 twoblueday

Let’s hope it’s as benign as benign can be.
It’ll be fine.

So good morning.
on March 21, 2008 at 7:53 am2 Grammar Snob

Oh, sweetie. I’m gonna sit and focus on this for a bit. Get ready to feel the vibes, they are coming…..
on March 21, 2008 at 8:48 am3 saintseester

When he said “these things” did he give you any inkling as to what it might be? I get very large zits like that sometimes, but they go away eventually. They do hurt, thought. Good luck with your next appt.
on March 21, 2008 at 9:29 am4 Kizz

Yeah, better to have someone drive you. That looks pretty big. I don’t know if they’re going to cut a small hole and squeeze something out of if they’re removing something that needs a bigger exit so you’ll want to do all the sleeping with your head elevated stuff. Hey, we’ll match!
on March 21, 2008 at 9:46 am5 Prof. J.

Blessings on your head.
on March 21, 2008 at 10:34 am6 liv

oof. girl, just remember that you don’t have to be the mirror for your students. call the poses and adjust them, and tell them to cope. be well!
on March 21, 2008 at 11:50 am7 McSwain

I had a “not benign” in the same spot. Didn’t get the plastic surgeon, so the scar’s not pretty. If it helps any, “not benign” usually doesn’t hurt.
on March 21, 2008 at 12:47 pm8 mrschili

Gerry, I’m really not worried about it. I had it looked at when we got back from Williamsburg last year. It had been there for a while by then -albeit much smaller - and sort of caused a little dent in my forehead when I raised my eyebrows. I was told it was nothing and to just leave it alone. If it changed at all, then I could have something done about it. It changed, alright, and out it comes…

Snob, thanks, Honey. I am opening a receiving channel…

Seester, the doc didn’t actually SAY what it was, but he wrote “inclusion cyst” on the referral for the surgeon. I looked it up in a few places and they seem to be masses that form in various spots (often in tender places like the inside of cheeks and on labia) that either go away on their own or not. This one’s not, so I’m evicting it.

Kizz, did you get my voicemail message? As SOON as I got off the phone with the surgeon’s office, you were the first person I called. We need to get together for a picture, Sistah!

Thanks, Prof! That’s exactly where I need blessings right now!

Liv, I’m actually not going to have to teach again until next Friday. I’ve got Easter off (the first one EVER, actually) and then I teach next Friday. Of course, next weekend is a YNG weekend. I might be sitting out some of the upside-down poses; we’ll see how I feel by that point.

McSwain, I’m sorry your spot was “not benign.” It’s funny how NOT nervous about all of this I am. I’m not particularly concerned about my looks (most of the time) and my hairstyle will actually do quite a bit to hide whatever scar does result from this little adventure. More than anything else, really, I just want the damned thing out - it hurts and I’m sick of not being able to make facial expressions for fear of seeing stars…..
on March 21, 2008 at 1:04 pm9 Rosie

ooh Mrs Chili…ouch. I like the way you have caught the light shining off it. Quite beautiful. I have seen that look in Porridge’s eye sometimes when I take her upstairs for a bath so I think you may be more nervous than you are admitting here.
Better out than in though. I will be thinking of you on Tuesday and I will expect a graphic report of exactly what came out. I think it must be made of mother of pearl.

Good luck
on March 21, 2008 at 1:59 pm10 cajunvegan

Were you break dancing again?

Do everything the doctors say. I am learning that slowly and the hard way.

Here’s to hoping you never have to wear a helmet.

Take care. Heal.
on March 21, 2008 at 2:10 pm11 Laurie B

Out! Damned spot! You’ll feel better once it’s been removed and you’ve healed up some. Good for you for having it taken care of, we are all hoping for the best.

Liv is right, your students can just follow your verbal instructions. My teacher will sometimes teach that way so that he can observe what we are doing from several different angles. It helps him to help us make any adjustments and it also helps him to know how each student “gets it” or not.

So in all respects, keep your head up!
on March 21, 2008 at 4:39 pm12 saintseester

Okay, not that you need to know this, but I had the labia one. Twice. It freaked me the hell out. PAINFUL! But, they went away on their own. However, had they stuck around, I would have had the delicates fixed. Those hurt!
on March 21, 2008 at 4:40 pm13 saintseester

You do reallize, now, that when I see you, I am going to have to stare at it, but I will act like I am not.
on March 21, 2008 at 4:46 pm14 mrschili

Yeah, Seester - I can’t tell you how excited I am to be meeting you and Bo for the first time with a slice up my forehead.
on March 21, 2008 at 5:27 pm15 mrsboisvert

Yikes! Why the face? Nature’s cruel joke. I hope it’s quick, painless and better yet…it takes care of itself!
on March 21, 2008 at 5:56 pm16 mike

Hospitals, Dr.’s, and Nurses….Oh my!

I’ve certainly had my fill of them this week. Hopefully it will all turn out well.
on March 21, 2008 at 6:16 pm17 Bo

Good luck with it, Chili.

And you shall be received most enthusiastically, sliced up or not.
on March 21, 2008 at 6:25 pm18 meno

I thought you were becoming a unicorn!
on March 22, 2008 at 4:19 am19 1jazzyhealthserenader

Well I am new to your blog but that bump looks like it is capturing a lot of light. Kind of reminds me of the superbowl commercial where the interviewee had a spot on his shirt and the interviewer could not concentrate on anything else. On a serious note I think you need to go to a bump on the forehead specialist. You are not an illegal alian are you? I do nt know why your were seeing that novice you said he was not your Primary Care, hit me back
on March 22, 2008 at 6:35 am20 mrschili

Mrs. B, all my stuff seems to manifest on my face. Most people get shingles on their backs or trunks. Me? Right on my cheek. There’s probably some significance to that, but I can’t figure out what it is. I’m not vain by ANY stretch of the imagination, so it’s not to teach me to get over my looks…

Mike, this is nothing compared to what you’ve got going on. I’m vibing for you, my friend.

Well, Bo, at least you’ll be able to pick me out of a crowd at the airport. I’ll be the one with the Hello Kitty band-aid on my forehead!

No, Meno, it’s over my left eye, so I’d be one lopsided unicorn. Beanie suggested that I might be growing horns, though…

Jazzy, welcome! Yeah, it does capture a lot of light - I’m just grateful it’s not bright red and glowing (though it FEELS like it is). I’m not an illegal alien (what a funny question!); I was seeing this guy because my primary care doc couldn’t get me in until the 31st, and I really didn’t want to wait that long, so I saw the next person in the practice who was immediately available. I’m going to specialists to get the thing out, so I’m not overly concerned.
on March 24, 2008 at 8:17 pm21 Michael

Sweetie, when I heard you were going to the plastic surgeon, I assumed it was for Botox, for the damn worry lines those students of yours are giving you!!

I’m sure it will all be fine, but be sure to get real painkillers. Don’t let them kiss you off with Tylenol.

Keep us posted!