Thanks everyone for the positive feedback. THIS is what is missing in my day to day life. Some of my friends look at me like I am going to break, some figure because I don't have a visible "wound" that I am fine now, and of course my family just plain doesn't know what to do when I get in these moods.

Simply put right now I cannot tell you the number of tests that I have been through (although you all have probably been through the ringer as well!). Once they decided that I did not have the typical risk factors for PE, then it was Well you might have an abdominal/pelvic malignancy so we are going to do a abdominal/pelvic CT, then it was we saw "something" on your UA so lets collect it for 24-hours and then do a renal biopsy if it is still there. Because I had a little chest pain/twinge after being discharged the doctor decided they needed to do a nuclear stress test (because of course you can't do the treadmill portion) - boy was that a load of fun. Then is was well let's do a PFT. I just feel like I am being bombarded with "you might have...so let's do this now." I really just want one week of not worrying about aching legs, DTVs when I am in the car for more than 30 minutes, oh is that chest pain another PE?, coumadin clinic visits and what recipe will I take this week, blood draws - lots and lots of blood draws - is it any wonder I'm anemic...haha, and just for good measure lets talk cancer! Sorry if I sound like I'm venting - I'm really not. It is just that I can say all of this here and everyone gets it :)

My hematologist even went so far yesterday to tell me to have a mole removed from my abdomen (that I have had since I was a child). Since he is an oncologist as well I have to wonder if he just gravitates to cancer as the answer to all situations...?

I admit that I don't really care for him and I am seriously thinking about a second opinion once all my blood work is done.

OK I'm done LOL - thanks for listening everyone. Just ranting sometimes makes all the difference! Hugs to all my new found friends :)

Jill----- it's not ranting! It's 'venting' and talking to people who have been there, done that helps let off some steam---- think of it as your free therapists (grin) with the possibility of a couple of valid suggestions thrown in. (Always check those out! )

I went through this with Lyme disease---- a few years of venting to online 'friends' and almost no help from doctors.

That's why I encourage everyone to post the 'bad' stuff with the good stuff (on ALL forums) -----if only to let someone who doesn't post silently nod their head in agreement.

This is a topic very close to home to me since I am living this night mare right now. I had my second unprovoked pe in feb so now I am possibly headed to the aggressive hunt for cancer since I have kidney cyst that was found incidentally on ct scan. My hematology doc thinks it's likely malignant and I will be heading to a renal cancer specialist. I have had this worry since I had my first pe 1 year ago

hockeymom------- the very best of wishes that your fears will be unfounded!

thinking of you - but just because you have an abnormality showing it doesnt mean you have the dreaded 'c'. I am sure your dr's would have done something about it before now if they thought it was something to be worrying about. Lots of people on this forum have had multiple pe's which have been unprovoked and they dont have an underlying cancer. I was told its really extremely rare to be diagnosed with the pe's when the cancer has not been diagnosed or causing problems. the reason i was given this info is that i had a small nodule showing on my lung ct scan when i was diagnosed with the pe's and the professor (top man in his field in this area) assured me that even if it were something it was at a very early stage and would be treated as required, i know theres a possibility but i can make myself even more ill just worrying about something that hasnt been diagnosed as yet - its a bit like the anxiety coping comments from a few days ago - what do you actually know - there is nothing certain at this stage so have hope and try to think positive. i am sure everyone on here is keeping their fingers crossed for you. AND even more so we can all relate to your fears. good luck x

I'm hoping that the kidney cyst turns out to be nothing as well.

They found an adrenal adenoma (spot on my adrenal glands) when doing my CT. I've had it re-checked a couple of times and it doesn't seem to be growing or doing anything that indicates it is dangerous. No one seems too concerned, which is a good thing.

Hang in there! Let us know how it turns out. We're all pulling for you.

The surgeon who removed my gallbladder told me that a few years ago she had appendicitis but they wanted to do a CT scan to rule out other stuff. She refused. She said she didn't want to know what else they may see since there are often lesions and cysts in your body that are harmless but then scare the hell out of you because you know that they're there and you have to monitor them. She didn't want to put herself through that.

I had a CT scan last year due to my ulcerative colitis Happened to find unrelated lesion on my liver and on my spleen during that. Radiologist report said it's not consistent with a malignancy but recommends repeat scan in 6 months to see if there are changes. Talked to my GI doc and he said most people walk around with goofy stuff like this in their bodies and live a long life never knowing. After discussing it with him more, I'm foregoing another CT scan to re check, and he's in agreement with me. I don't want to do another CT scan unless absolutely necessary and frankly, I'm so done worrying about worrying.

Anyway, I'm really hoping your situation is similar, that it's just a weird little harmless thing in your body that just needs to be checked on periodically.

I've had liver cysts for almost 20 years. I found out that they're common and decided to just w&w (with my doctor's agreement).

Future scans showed no growth. My liver function tests are always spot-on.

Here's something I posted on another thread that hockeymom started:

Did the report on your CT scan have the word 'Bosniak' in it?
"the Bosniak renal cyst classification system was created. It's divided in four categories"

Or did it mention 'simple cyst' vs 'complex cyst'?

Waiting to see if the cyst grows is an important part of diagnosing a renal cyst---- even though it's tough on the patient, emotionally!

To try to ease your mind a bit----- it's very common to have cysts on the kidneys and most of them, if not large/complex ones are almost always benign. (The CT would have shown if the cyst was large/complex enough to warrant action immediately, I'd imagine.)

"Kidney cysts are almost always benign (not cancerous). Usually, the cysts don't cause any problems. In fact, people can go through life without even knowing that they have them."

"Up to 50 percent of people older than 50 years of age have kidney cyst"
(I don't know how old you are----- (grin)

p.s. I think your heme/onc doctor may be worrying you a bit unnecessarily. I'm glad you're seeing a specialist for evaluation.
But your heme/onc doc may be just playing it safe........

Unless you have a family history of renal cysts or kidney disease---- I'm betting the cyst is benign.

when i was first diagnosed with my pe's i was keen for them to do a full MRI scan to check my whole body and see why i had these clots - i believed at that time that it was due to an undiagnosed cancer, my dr assured me that an MRI scan would show up lots of negatives and cause more alarm as many of them are nothing to worry about. so far the polyp found in my stomach when i had my endoscopy was benign and i will find out more on monday re the 3mm nodule on my lung. fingers crossed its also doing nothing! it certainly would seem to be that our bodies have lots of wee 'things' showing up on these hi-tec scans etc and as they advance and can see more they are seeing things that wouldnt have been noticed before - my professor told me thats how my lung nodule was found - he said that they used to look at the ct scan in 1cm segments and recently reduced it to 3mm segments and thats how they saw it - a few years ago it would have gone unnoticed.