Sunday, June 16, 2013

a CT and an IV

Life is busy...a wonderfully normal kind of busy. It's been great. It's been exhausting. There is so much to update. I turned 34 years old on June 1st. That was also the same day I moved into my new home. I've been running around like a mad woman for the past two weeks doing field trips and class parties with the kids, doctor appointments, unpacking, and just normal mom stuff. It's unbelievable how much less energy I have these days. By mid afternoon, I feel like I need lots and lots of ibuprofen and caffeine or just a really early bedtime. 

On June 6th I was scheduled to have an MRI of my brain to find out if the headaches I had been having were caused by cancer. I went to my appointment and getting ready to start the procedure the tech says, "did you say you have a breast expander?  Does it have metal in it?"  Well, the answers were yes and yes. No MRI for me...duh...I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner. You can't put metal in a big magnet. That could have turned out really bad. I immediately drove over to my oncologist's office and told him and he got me scheduled for a STAT CT for the following day. Those days are really hard for me.  The days when it feels like things are just all wrong.  The days that are filled with frustration and fear of what could be wrong. It is also those days that are so hard for me when I get to experience blessings. That night while I was making dinner, my doorbell rang. I opened the door to a delivery of an edible arrangement from two of the sweetest people I know. These two ladies have blessed me so much throughout this past year and so many times it was on days when I needed a little pick me up and to feel loved.  Well, the following day I did have my CT scan and received the results that same day. My brain is fine. And you know what?  It's amazing how much better my headaches are now that I'm not spending so much time stressing about them. I thought they were just stress headaches but now I know how much the stress and fear was actually exacerbating them. 

I am currently a patient in the ER at Santa Paula Hospital. About two weeks ago I started experiencing some issues with the skin on my fake boob. I went in to see my plastic surgeon and he prescribed an antibiotic and some skin cream. Well the skin has gotten a lot worse. Today I showed it to my sister nurse Cyndi, and she wanted me to go to the ER. I was surprised because it has to be pretty bad for her to suggest an ER. So here I sit with an IV dripping away.  I've been here for 4 hours already getting pumped full of the strongest antibiotic they've got. I have a couple more hours to go because the IV can only drip so fast and they have given me an extremely high dose. We're not sure what type of infection it is but these bags full of IV meds will kill it, I'm sure. Unfortunately it looks like I will most likely have to have the expander removed. Another surgery...just what I don't need.  Oh well. 

Here I am in the ER with my sister, Cyndi. 

Here's my new home. 

4 comments:

  1. You Have Been In My Constant Prayers From Day 1! It Is So Nice To See You Smiling And Looking Healthy ( Even In The ER!:-]) You Are An Inspiration To Me, And I Am very Blessed To Have Been Able To " Know" You Through Your Blog. We Met At The First Church Fundraiser, And I Have Prayed For You And Your Family Ever Since. Many MoreHappy Birthdays aAre Ahead For You :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Diane! I remember you from the fundraiser. Thank you for your prayers! They are so appreciated!

      Delete
  2. How wonderful! A healthy CT! And how awful--an infection and in the ED! Praying for you every day--Katy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Katy! I feel like we're old friends. Reading your blog and knowing you read mine...it's funny to feel that way even though we've never met. :)

      Delete