As I started telling you in Part Three, the tedious part of addressing my adrenal tumor started to sink in during the days following my initial diagnosis.

Taking a subway-to-the-bus just to go to the hospital or to Dr. E’s office. Going home or to the office from there is even more awkward.

Walking to the lone CVS in my neighborhood, wondering why it’s one of the few places in all of NYC that doesn’t deliver.

Answering my [poor, well-intentioned] Mom‘s question of “any news” which seems to come on an hourly basis.

Learning that the blood work results are in, but that said results mean I need to have another test before surgery can be scheduled.

Figuring out how much information to share with friends, family and colleagues as I wait, and wait, and wait to get my surgery date.

Trading endless voice mails with the one person who can schedule the pelvic ultrasound I need to rule out gynecologic issues causing my abdominal pain. Eventually having the awkward, uncomfortable procedure and getting the good news that there’s nothing wrong with my Lady Parts, but wondering why the heck I have pain.

Having a kind pulmonologist pull strings to schedule your lung CT scan for the next day…which means the one day you hoped to avoid the hospital, you can’t. But the lung nodules are revealed to be “nothing” so the extra trip to the hospital was worth it.

May all my news continue to be good news. I need some relief.

Thanks for your support so far. Part Five is here.