As proof that my life isn't all doctors appointments, prescriptions, procedures and other general torture; I bring you some pictures I have taken out on walks through the neighborhood. These were from today.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Normal. Average. Nothing Special.
Those are the best things I could ever hear about my kidneys.
I just got a call from my doctors office. I knew it had to be good news because the nurse called and not the doctor. (Only the doctor delivers really bad news!) My kidneys are normal in every way. Not misshapen. No growths. No abnormalities. Just lovely, normal sized, appropriately located kidneys.
I am going to celebrate now!
I just got a call from my doctors office. I knew it had to be good news because the nurse called and not the doctor. (Only the doctor delivers really bad news!) My kidneys are normal in every way. Not misshapen. No growths. No abnormalities. Just lovely, normal sized, appropriately located kidneys.
I am going to celebrate now!
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
And now we wait. Again.
I had my MRI today. The MRI itself was completely uneventful. I think it was the shortest one I have had to date. Apparently there is less to admire in your abdominal cavity than your cranium!
The best part about the MRI was the fact that I didn't have to to in head first! Sooooo much easier to stay in the tube when your head is sticking out. My feet are not claustrophobic in the least. My head is apparently the problem. (No comments from the peanut gallery, thank you very much!)
The worst part was the RN who put in my IV for the contrast dye. I went through my usual schpeel with the Radiology Tech and showed him the 'sweet spots' on my arms that usually get used for draws and lines up at OHSU. He checked them out and had another tech check them out. They both decided that they wanted a nurse to set my line.
So the nurse comes in, I give him the lousy vein review and let him know that wherever he wants to stick me is fine and that if he has to take two tries I understand. He then proceeds to run the MOST painful IV stick I have had in years!
I used to be a big wienie about needles and IV sticks. I have learned to suck it up. Most of it is mind over matter. For me anyway. Additionally, with all the sticks, pokes, prods, scans and procedures I have endured in the last year; my tolerance for pain has escalated greatly. This one was ridiculous.
As soon as he stuck me I knew he hadn't gotten in and yet he kept going for it. By the time I was tearing up, I suggested that he try the other arm. He told me in no uncertain terms to, "Just hold still! It's not that bad. I am almost in." If I hadn't been tied down to the table already, I think I might have jumped up and smacked him. I don't usually cry during procedures. But this being an already stressful week and having a lot on my mind, I was done for. He finally got the IV set, but it was horribly painful and bleeding badly. The poor radiology tech had to give me a minute to pull it together before we could get started with the MRI.
So now we wait. They tell me that they usually have the results to your doctor within 48 hours, so hopefully by Friday we will know what is up with my kidney and we can cross this off the list. At least now I have had all my organs scanned from top to bottom. Not much else to look at that has vital function past my hips!
The best part about the MRI was the fact that I didn't have to to in head first! Sooooo much easier to stay in the tube when your head is sticking out. My feet are not claustrophobic in the least. My head is apparently the problem. (No comments from the peanut gallery, thank you very much!)
The worst part was the RN who put in my IV for the contrast dye. I went through my usual schpeel with the Radiology Tech and showed him the 'sweet spots' on my arms that usually get used for draws and lines up at OHSU. He checked them out and had another tech check them out. They both decided that they wanted a nurse to set my line.
So the nurse comes in, I give him the lousy vein review and let him know that wherever he wants to stick me is fine and that if he has to take two tries I understand. He then proceeds to run the MOST painful IV stick I have had in years!
I used to be a big wienie about needles and IV sticks. I have learned to suck it up. Most of it is mind over matter. For me anyway. Additionally, with all the sticks, pokes, prods, scans and procedures I have endured in the last year; my tolerance for pain has escalated greatly. This one was ridiculous.
As soon as he stuck me I knew he hadn't gotten in and yet he kept going for it. By the time I was tearing up, I suggested that he try the other arm. He told me in no uncertain terms to, "Just hold still! It's not that bad. I am almost in." If I hadn't been tied down to the table already, I think I might have jumped up and smacked him. I don't usually cry during procedures. But this being an already stressful week and having a lot on my mind, I was done for. He finally got the IV set, but it was horribly painful and bleeding badly. The poor radiology tech had to give me a minute to pull it together before we could get started with the MRI.
So now we wait. They tell me that they usually have the results to your doctor within 48 hours, so hopefully by Friday we will know what is up with my kidney and we can cross this off the list. At least now I have had all my organs scanned from top to bottom. Not much else to look at that has vital function past my hips!
Friday, 19 February 2010
It could be that I am just a little wonky
Hey there.
So I have continued to be lousy at keeping the blog up to date. I guess that means there have been no new developments to report. And that I have been busy.
I am still working as an apartment manager. I FINALLY got all of the units full and don't have anyone on notice to move out. Lets hope that it stays that way for a few months. This job is not my dream job by any means, but it has been a blessing as far as providing a flexible schedule, an interesting opportunity to meet lots of interesting people and lets not forget a roof over my head!
I completed my 6 month bench mark with the clinical trial. I had an MRI last Wednesday and did the entire battery of nueropsych testing again. Apparently my brain is still functioning and located where we last left it. Always good to leave your brain where it belongs! I am still tolerating the medication well and have gotten used to the injections. I don't have much pain the day after injection, just SUPER tired.
Many of my symptoms from this summer have lessened or resolved at this point. Woohoo! I would guess it is fair to say that I am in remission at this point. So now we watch and wait to see if/when I have another flare. Hopefully, it will be a VERY long time out and the symptoms minor. My worst symptoms at this point are the chronic fatigue and the MS banding. The banding seems to come and go. Its worse when I am extra tired or under more stress than usual. The fatigue....well, it just does what it wants. No amount of sleep seems to make it go away. The ADD drugs seem to keep it to a dull roar, rather than an overwhelming need to nap at all times. And I have decided that maybe I am just part shark. Sharks swim in their sleep so they don't drown. I have to keep moving so I don't fall asleep. As long as I don't sit down for too long, I can usually push through with only one nap a day.
I only have 3 more monthly study appointments and then I go to once every 3 months for the duration of the study. Which would be great to have fewer doctors appointments. Apparently my body LIKES seeing the doctors because now I am having weirdness with my kidneys.
At my monthly clinical trial appointments they always do a urinalysis and apparently I have had microscopic blood in my urine for the past few months. Since it isn't going away, I was referred to a urologist who preformed a cystoscopy last week and declared my bladder "pink & healthy". Then she ordered an ultrasound of my kidneys. My kidneys which decided that a mere ultrasound was not enough, they really wanted a full imaging scan. The left one appears to have a "malformation" and I get to have an MRI of it next Wednesday.
My PCP is not terribly alarmed at this point (she got to deliver the news about MRI #4) and says we should just rule anything out, that ultrasounds are sometimes inconclusive, and that sometimes body parts don't look the same from person to person. In other words, I may just have a wonky shaped kidney! I always knew I was unique. I just wish being unique didn't cost so stinkin much.
So I have continued to be lousy at keeping the blog up to date. I guess that means there have been no new developments to report. And that I have been busy.
I am still working as an apartment manager. I FINALLY got all of the units full and don't have anyone on notice to move out. Lets hope that it stays that way for a few months. This job is not my dream job by any means, but it has been a blessing as far as providing a flexible schedule, an interesting opportunity to meet lots of interesting people and lets not forget a roof over my head!
I completed my 6 month bench mark with the clinical trial. I had an MRI last Wednesday and did the entire battery of nueropsych testing again. Apparently my brain is still functioning and located where we last left it. Always good to leave your brain where it belongs! I am still tolerating the medication well and have gotten used to the injections. I don't have much pain the day after injection, just SUPER tired.
Many of my symptoms from this summer have lessened or resolved at this point. Woohoo! I would guess it is fair to say that I am in remission at this point. So now we watch and wait to see if/when I have another flare. Hopefully, it will be a VERY long time out and the symptoms minor. My worst symptoms at this point are the chronic fatigue and the MS banding. The banding seems to come and go. Its worse when I am extra tired or under more stress than usual. The fatigue....well, it just does what it wants. No amount of sleep seems to make it go away. The ADD drugs seem to keep it to a dull roar, rather than an overwhelming need to nap at all times. And I have decided that maybe I am just part shark. Sharks swim in their sleep so they don't drown. I have to keep moving so I don't fall asleep. As long as I don't sit down for too long, I can usually push through with only one nap a day.
I only have 3 more monthly study appointments and then I go to once every 3 months for the duration of the study. Which would be great to have fewer doctors appointments. Apparently my body LIKES seeing the doctors because now I am having weirdness with my kidneys.
At my monthly clinical trial appointments they always do a urinalysis and apparently I have had microscopic blood in my urine for the past few months. Since it isn't going away, I was referred to a urologist who preformed a cystoscopy last week and declared my bladder "pink & healthy". Then she ordered an ultrasound of my kidneys. My kidneys which decided that a mere ultrasound was not enough, they really wanted a full imaging scan. The left one appears to have a "malformation" and I get to have an MRI of it next Wednesday.
My PCP is not terribly alarmed at this point (she got to deliver the news about MRI #4) and says we should just rule anything out, that ultrasounds are sometimes inconclusive, and that sometimes body parts don't look the same from person to person. In other words, I may just have a wonky shaped kidney! I always knew I was unique. I just wish being unique didn't cost so stinkin much.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)