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ER Doc: I hear you hiccuped and it created severe chest pain?

Me {rather embarrassed}: Yeahhh I promise I used to be strong! But, yes, yesterday around 2pm I was in a meeting and hiccuped once - just one hiccup! Immediate sharp pain occurred and ever since I’ve had extreme chest pain." 

Seriously folks, that’s my bizarre life these days. 

Over the holidays I saw steady healing and rebuilding. FINALLY! However, shortly after my Wyoming getaway I began having increased pain again. Then, seemingly out of no where, my chest area began hurting. 

Turns out I’ve severe endometriosis on my diaphragm and both lungs as well as a moderately sized air pocket on my left lung. Only 1% of women have endometriosis in their lungs and diaphragm and of that 1% even fewer have endo on their left lung as well as their right.

I've never had a doctor as thrilled to see me as my pulmonologist: "Our entire office has been waiting for you to come in! You're a very rare case! My boss came up to me this morning saying, 'You're seeing that rare case today. We're all jealous!'" Ummm thanks?

When friends get you and know how to make you laugh
by making light of the docs' comments: "...my rarest friend." 

I feel like I'm living an episode of Grey's Anatomy. Doctors are curious and intrigued by these unique symptoms, especially in an otherwise extremely healthy 35 year old. The amount of times my lungs have been compared to an 80 year old smoker's is just getting annoying folks.

I went to my general surgeon a couple weeks ago with these pictures in mind:

I introduced my friend Hannah, saying: "One of the last times we hung out we were in Slovenia climbing a legit mountain. We were the only two self-guided Americans and the only two self-guided women. Can you get me back there?"

Sometimes, it's okay to toot your own horn. I'd say when you find yourself talking with a surgeon about two, possibly three, big surgeries that's one of them!

Turns out he's a fellow climber and has an added passion to see me get back out there! Thank the Lord.

Both my right and left lungs have significant risk of collapsing. Due to where the air pocket is in my left lung, if that side collapses it could lead to heart failure if not treated soon enough. Not scary at all, right?

Big stuff. Scary stuff.

I’ve been relatively quiet about these new challenges until big decisions were made. 

Now I’m rallying in my troops, because I'm a bit battle weary ya'll. 

The first surgery is set for April 6th. They'll be removing the air pocket in my left lung as well as removing any endo on the left lung and diaphragm. The second surgery should be about a month after the first and will be focusing on removing endo on the right lung.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit this news has thrown me off balance not just because I can’t breathe! ....too soon? Not funny? but I'm also in the peculiar place of feeling at peace about what's ahead even while also unsettled. I'm not sure if that makes sense! 

For now, as I navigate everything leading up to surgery, I welcome prayers, creativity in ways to keep me from going insane while a lot more recovery is coming up, patience when I don’t return your calls/messages right away - it’s not because I don’t care, but because I’m spacey and overwhelmed. 

Please keep calling and messaging. It means the world!