I'm very scared and worried right now. (Should I be?)

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So about 3 or 4 weeks ago I went to the hospital emergency room because of excrutiating pain in my left leg. This is due to some back and neck injuries that I've had for 7 years, so nothing terribly odd. When I was there they took some X-rays of my upper and lower back... and now I got a call from the docs office saying I needed to come in to discuss the results. They only contact you on possitive results, and I've had MANY X-rays of my back and neck over the past few years, and they've always shown nothing of interest.

If there's some kind of possitive to discuss now, it seems highly unlikely that it's my back; which can only mean one other thing, as far as I know - that they found lung cancer. I have been smoking tobacco every day for the past year, and sporatically for about 4 or 5 years. Lung cancer is the only thing I can think of that would show up on an X-ray besides a back problem, and nothing about my back's condition has changed.

But, when I went into the office, they couldn't find my bloody X-ray anywhere! They said they'll call if it turns up, but they really seemed at a loss. My regular doc, who had them call me for the visit, isn't in 'till 10 days from now, and I can't wait that long.

So anywhoo, I'm bloody panic-stricken and worried all to hell right now. What do you guys think?

Gandalf_The_Grey Reviewed by Gandalf_The_Grey on 11-07-2008. I'm very scared and worried right now. (Should I be?) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So about 3 or 4 weeks ago I went to the hospital emergency room because of excrutiating pain in my left leg. This is due to some back and neck injuries that I've had for 7 years, so nothing terribly odd. When I was there they took some X-rays of my upper and lower back... and now I got a call from the docs office saying I needed to come in to discuss the results. They only contact you on possitive results, and Rating: 5

[stoned88911]

I think you shouldnt worry about it.

Nothing you can do but go with the flow.


I Hope its not loung cancer and that you are ok.

[FlyGuyOU]

i would smoke a bowl and cut out the tobaccy, or at least cut back as much as you can. regardless it'll be better for ya. try not to worry as there is nothing you can do, and stress doesnt do anyone any good.

[GoldenGraham84]

i agree.

"banish from your mind the worries of possible negative outcomes. what will happen, will happen."

best of luck with the x-ray man. our thoughts are with you. friends of mine have had great success quitting the cig habit with chantix, if you're interested.

[LolaGal]

Gandalf, soorry to hear your news. There are lots of medical reasons that they could have called you back besides cancer. I toked some Panama Red one time and next day they took x-ray for new job and they freaked out, but there wasn't anything wrong. That was a long time ago. Could be arthritic changes or something benign. Doctors like to get all the office visits they can for $$$$$$ Good luck

[DTRave420]

I agree with Lolagal...They were probably calling you in to discuss further arthritic deterioration and/or therapy...
Hope your feeling better Gandalf and keep us posted...

[Coelho]

Well... i think one year is a too short amount of time to cause the formation of lung cancer due tobacco smoking. It may happen, but in the LONG run... it would take several years, not one. So i think you shouldnt worry about this.

[Gatekeeper777]

I doubt it is cancer. If it scares you that much STOP SMOKING.
If your afraid your parachute wont open DONT SKY DIVE.
Your discs are prolly shrinking.

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

LOL...

Okay, so maybe I kind of, sort of, maybe had somewhat of a panic attack yesterday and jumped to the worst conclusions. Meh, I do that sometimes.

You guys are probably right that it's just further disk degeneration, which I can totally live with, since the only thing they ever noticed before was that I had what looked like the "normal wear-and-tear" disk degeneration of somebody who's in their 50's (and I'm 23). If that's the case, nothing unexpected.

I called my sister (a nurse and biology fanatic) last night, and she said she had a friend who they found a cancerous tumor in his spine, and they called him up basically saying "you get the fook in here RIGHT NOW!" For me, they said "come in to see your doc when she's in on the 16th", so not very rushed. So that (and some lorazepam) calmed me down pretty well.


I thank you all very much for helping to chill me out my good sir's and ladies. Disk degeneration is nothing unexpected; I can live with that. I'll try to get my ass posting here with some regularity again, too (though not in politics! I think I'll vomit if I hear the name "Obama" or "McCain" one more time... *bleh*... er, threw up a little in my mouth there).

[Dave Byrd]

Gandalf, you still working with your counselor? That's going to help with this, and remember that no one on a cannabis forum can diagnose you long distance, no matter how frightened you are. Not even doctors. You cannot diagnose yourself, either, not in your state of anxiety. Not ever.

Millions of people have degenerative disk disease, including my wife (she's had two sections of it fixed in her back). Get some PT and light exercise to strengthen the supporting muscles. Keep extremely well hydrated. Don't smoke tobacco because it dries disks out. Her doctors said glucosamine/chondroitin supplements help keep the disks in better shape. She is firmly convinced that eating lots of anti-oxidant rich food and vitamins helps slow the degeneration, too, by fighting free radical damage.