I'm Just Sayin . . .: September Medical Update....Finally

I know it has taken me a while to do the update from September 21, mostly because I have been physically and mentally exhausted.

The Mayo trip did not go as well as we would have hoped. The cancer is showing signs of slight growth. I have been lucky to have the slow growing version of this cancer. Since my body has gone through it this year, Dr. M didn't want to overreact with putting me on treatment right away. We will evaluate in December. In other news, we are adding one more thing to the list of aliments, I have a blood clot in my left lung. It appears it has been there since the end of August. It is considered a chronic clot and will most likely not go away. His plan is to put me on blood thinners for the rest of my life to prevent future blood clots. I have gone from a person who was on NO meds to know having to use a chart to track everything because it is too much. Everything is becoming too much, Mom is frustrated trying to figure out dinners that will not impact me negatively. I am taking the attitude that I do not eat enough of any one thing for it to really matter and most importantly, I will live a life without good food. If I truly followed all of the do not eat foods, I would be eating air, which is no way to live.

My colonoscopy overall went well. The anesthesiologist patient shamed me for not knowing what my stress dose of steroids was if I got in trouble in the operating room. I have had at least six procedures in that hospital this year and no other anesthesiologist question me - they seemed to know what to do. When I asked her if she could look up their notes, she said no. I said, "So once again the patient has to do everything." She replied, "Yes, it is your responsibility because you are the only one who knows you - my mother had a letter she brought with her and you need to do the same." After the procedure I ask my endocrinologist for a letter, she informed me at Mayo they have never been asked to write a letter. She gave me a letter but it really doesn't say anything more than what the anesthesiologist already had access too. I did have one precancerous polyp removed, amazing anything can grow in my body. I am cleared for another five years. During the endoscopy, he did say my throat was still pretty raw. I wonder if it is more from being on a ventilator for two weeks or the aggressive removal of the ventilator. I see him this week so I am going to ask more questions.

Because Pancake was hiding, Flapjack went with Marmalade to the vet for the annual visit. Flap does not like this Vet Clinic so we were not sure how this would go. It didn't take him long to let them know he wasn't happy. Then they continued to patient shame him about his aggressive behavior. I finally had enough and told the vet we didn't have this trouble at our other vet. I am just over patient shaming! Both cats had good check ups. Marmalade will need some dental work, she has a genetic disorder that causes her teeth to decay. Poor Marmalade and Pancake (heart murmur) have bodies as flawed as mine.

On Tuesday this week, I had a coughing fit which lead to breathing causing pain. Since it did not go away on Wednesday, I reached out to my oncologist. He advised me to immediately go the ER for evaluation of the blood clot. The ER doctors felt the blood clot was not in a dangerous position and really didn't know why this pain started this week. They sent me home, which was the first time I got to go home from the ER. They said if it didn't go away or if it got worse, come back. I saw my primary doctor the next day, which is protocol when you go to the hospital. She was not happy to see but was happy it had been 15 weeks. She continues to feel bad that someone my age is having to deal with all of this but is amazed at our overall attitude and spirit. When I told my primary doctor this week my body was very flawed, she told me, it is the body I was given so I need to honor it.

Meanwhile, the cats are taking good care of me and trying to enjoy our shift in weather (under 100).