Another Mini Update

I wish this post had something to do with this little photo of my desk...but it doesn't.

So I'm off to see another specialist again today (this one is a general surgeon for the very painful Ganglion Cyst in my wrist).  I am sorry to say that doctor visits are not one of those things that gets easier with practice.  My last visit (last Thursday) restored my fear in needles when I was fiendishly jabbed at by a nurse who was clearly fresh out of medical school and had the bedside manner of a warthog.  If nothing else, at least I am learning how to really appreciate the time NOT spent in medical facilities.  That's good, right?!

Then coming up next week I have an appointment with a Pulmonologist (lung specialist).  Even though I'm anxious about it, I am relieved to finally have the referral to see him.  I feel like I've been waiting for answers to my health issues for way too long.  And even though I really like my general doctor I was beginning to get very frustrated with her, since it seemed that at every visit she would inevitably shove a depression screening test at me as though my struggle to breath, coughing spasms, chest pains, etc. were all in my head.  But finally this past visit I feel like she actually listened to me, and now I'm hopefully on my way to finding some real answers. 

On top of this, I've also been seeing a naturopathic doctor who I feel is really doing a lot for me.  In all honesty I'm a bit put off by holistic medicine in general (since I've seen my mom try just about every remedy, supplement, and gadget under the sun with only moderate results along the way). But something about this doctor is different and I'm willing to keep seeing her since it is clear that she is actually helping me.  Something that works...what a novel idea!

And finally...since I last reported on my health I have once again stopped eating chicken.  I ate it around 10 times and didn't notice any positive changes...in fact I started to have almost constant stomach aches, heartburn, and my face began breaking-out like I was 12 all over again.  Time to nip that one in the bud.  I don't miss not eating it at all, but I am missing how easy it was to find recipes to cook.  Sometimes vegetarian cooking makes me tired just thinking about it.

So none of this is simple or easy, but I am hopeful that we are finally getting somewhere and I'll have answers and solutions on my horizon very soon.  Thanks for all your friendly words of support and kindness everyone.  You all keep me going more than you know.  xo Ez

A Mini Update

Hello lovelies!  As you know my recent health has not been so great, and now with what seems like endless medical tests behind me (MRI, EKG, blood work, etc) I can finally give you a little update on what we've discovered.

To start with, I was given some scary diagnosis from doctors in the past...things like "spot on your lung", "degenerative bone disease", and more.  That compiled with some recent frightening heart/chest pain symptoms, breathing difficulty, coughing, constantly aching bones, and extreme fatigue (I was napping multiple hours every day - so unlike me) had me really worried.  Honestly we still don't know exactly what is causing all my symptoms, but two causes we know for (almost) sure...I have an extreme Vitamin D deficiency (causes bone pain and fatigue) and they have just begun to experimentally treat me for Asthma (I go back to the doctor in a few weeks so she can read my Peak Flow Meter readings, etc. - I currently have about half the lung capacity that I should).  Two weeks ago I began taking a prescription dose of Vitamin D and already feel a decrease in my bone pain and my energy level has improved quite a bit (woo hoo).  Here is an interesting article on the frequency of Vitamin D deficiencies in women that you might like to read.

Luckily the tests that I underwent were also able to rule out my past diagnosis of Degenerative Bone Disease as well as the "spot on my lung" which we were terrified by.  I will be hooked up to a heart monitor (starting today) to record its activity over the next month and am also scheduled to have an ultrasound of my heart just to rule out any further problems there (I had an irregular EKG a few weeks ago) but my cardiologist seems to think that all will be okay on that front...which is fantastic.

So now I will just be taking an inhaler every day, dosing myself with mega amounts of vitamin D and looking forward to breathing easier and feeling peppier in the near future.  I feel silly for all the worry I caused my family, friends and you all.  Thank you all for your kind words of support in the midst of it all.  xo Ez

Monday + More Roses

Hello there!  I hope you had a beautiful weekend.  Ours was rather chilly and rainy, but we did manage to spend a wonderful day with my family for Mother's Day none the less.  What did you do over the weekend?  By now you must all be tiring of my excessive rose photo posts...I'm sorry.  I am yet again at the doctor's office this morning and while I'd love to be figuring out all manner of clever subjects to post about instead of undergoing diagnostic tests...a simple little photo I snapped last week will have to suffice for now.  Thanks for hanging in there with me. 

I hope your day is a filled to the brim with sunshine. xo Ez

A Walk Through the Rose Garden

Hi guys.  Sorry I've been m.i.a. lately.  I have to confess that my energy level has been pretty non-existent these past few weeks...so much so that even taking photographs (my favorite thing) feels like an extraordinary effort.  Since I ended up spending the entire weekend in bed I pushed myself to get outside yesterday and managed a short photo walk with my daughter through our local Rose Garden.

It was exquisite!  Walking through the rows of blooms brought back some wonderful memories of trips my Mom use to take my little sister and me on to one of the Minneapolis Rose Gardens.  Of course being much shorter then (I think I was around 5 or 6 years old) my strongest recollection is of being utterly and completely surrounded by towering bushes covered in every color and delicious scent imaginable.  I can almost feel the sun on my cheeks again and the sound of bumble bees busy at work mingling with my squeals of delight "smell this one mom!" "look at that one!" etc.

Did you have a favorite place to "escape" to when you were small?  I'm pretty sure I would have been happy to stay in that place forever (and probably put up a good fit whenever my Mom said it was "time to go").

In any case I am off again for some more tests with the doctors today (the most unpleasant ones to date) and would be so appreciative of any good thoughts you can send my way.  I know they will cheer me up as I'm sitting uncomfortably in the Dr.'s office.  Hugs, Ez

Update on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 by Ez

Just wanted to post a little follow-up.  It seems that some of the initial tests I took (last week) were clear (when they expected otherwise) while some of the test results need further exploration.  Soooo...my big test for today was cancelled (woot) and I will be awaiting further testing in the coming weeks. Thanks for your kind words of support everyone.  xo Ez

Testing...Testing...

(Photo by me)

So today I am off to the Dr. for a myriad of tests (try not to be jealous).  I've had some long-standing symptoms that I am finally going to have checked out (no more pretending like it will just go away).  I'm rather terrified of needles, x-rays and the like, so I will be willing myself to think of pretty, happy things while I'm being poked and prodded at.  Please cross your fingers that the nurse will have a deft hand with the syringes.  I can't even tell you how many horrid experiences I've had in the past.

I promise I'll update when I have more info.  Hugs, Ez