lumpectomy!

As many of you know (and some of you may not know), I developed a growth on my neck several weeks ago. A one-inch swollen area under the skin in the side of my neck. After antibiotics and a CAT scan, it was determined to be a mass of fatty tissue, a benign growth that would likely continue to grow slowly until removed. Yesterday I went to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, close to where Charles St. meets the northern part of the beltway, and had it removed. Turns out it was not a fatty growth after all, but a slightly out-of-control mass of veins. The procedure was done with a local, so I was awake throughout. Very strange, laying there for nearly an hour, trying not to move while people poke around inside my neck with sharp things. I tried to distract myself by reciting digits of pi, or trying to control my pulse rate (I could hear the machine going beep, beep, beep). My neck is a bit sore now, and I can't turn my head very far, but it should be much better later this week. The opening was only about an inch, and was closed with glue, not sutures, so I don't have to worry about having the stiches removed.