Her Option Cryoablation Monday

Several months ago, I posted that I was told that I needed to have a hysterectomy. After seeing five separate OB/GYN’s and receiving almost as many opinions…I found a very conservative OB/GYN. While he did say that at some point (within the next 10 years) I will need a hysterectomy. But, for now he has suggested Her Option aka Cryoablation therapy.

Basically, they go in and freeze your uterus to stop heavy bleeding. Who knows maybe, I will not be as anemic if it works out? This is an office procedure which makes the cost much less than a hysterectomy and a much faster recovery time (a day or two). Hubby is going with me since there is some kind sedation. I am glad that he is going with me, I will have someone to hold my hand and help reduce the anxiety of getting this done.

Anyway, I will keep you posted on the results and how everything goes.

My last post was an update on my grandmother and her fight with Pancreatic cancer. Originally the doctors had told her that she had two to six months to live. She decided to start the chemo treatment (not to save her life only to give her more time, she had one chemo treatment.

Two weeks ago, I my dad called to tell me that I needed to get to my grandmother. The doctor had told a family member that the cancer had spread much faster than they thought that it would and that she had hours to days left. It had spread to and completely attacked her liver. I emailed my husband and he arranged to take off work and called my sons school to get his work for the rest of the week so that he would not have so much homework to make up after we got back. We packed the car and drove to my grandmother. By the time that we got there they had already moved her to the hospice section of the hospital. When we got to her room, she recognized all of us, I did not think that she would one of the symptoms of liver failure is mental disorientation or confusion. I am glad that she did recognize us, mainly my youngest.

By Saturday, her liver and kidney function had deteriorated greatly. They had her on a saline drip and my dad asked if there was any medical necessity for it. When they told him no, he had the saline stopped. Then late Saturday night. my dad called me to tell me that she was gone.

I am so glad that I got to spend time with her in the end and that she recognized me. But, I was so hoping to be able to spend time with her before she go so bad. It has really been hard for me and the kids, since it has only been two years since we lost my mother. I don't think anyone can ever get use to death but, it really makes it hard when loved ones go so close together.

Update On Grandmother And New Social Security Attorney

My grandmother did decide to go ahead with the chemo and so far she has not had many side effects as of yet. I hope that she doesn’t, the chemo that my husband had was terrible. His chemo was much more aggressive and done to save his life, while hers is being done to just give her a little more time.

I finally found two attorney’s that are willing to appeal my social security case and I have decided which one that I want to take on my case! From what he said there are a lot of flaws in the judges decision along with gaps in medical records that should have been there. So, the waiting game begins again… To be continued.......

Updates On My Grandmother And My Doctors Report’s

Thursday, my grandmother had an Upper EUS to look at her pancreas. The results were not good. It is stage III Pancreatic Cancer that is inoperable due to the tumor’s attachment to her gall bladder ducts and other organs. This on top of her PNH, other health problems and her age (88 ½). The doctor has discussed some chemotherapy but, this would only prolong her life some, it would not be a cure. Without the chemo the doctor is giving her 2 to 6 months to live. My dad and one of my uncles have told her that it is completely up to her whether to take the chemo or not.

I have dealt with the death of loved ones and friends but, this is really hitting me hard. I lost my mother two years ago after she developed pneumonia during a second battle with breast cancer. This was completely unexpected, she had just finished chemo and the cancer was gone all that was left was to go through radiation. It was a shock and completely hard to deal with. Even two years out, I still have crying bouts, it is getting better but it is still hard. One of my grandfathers had a inoperable brain tumor and chose not to have chemo (only to extend his life). My other grandfather had Parkinson’s so, I knew that we only had so much time with him. It wound up being years longer than most Parkinson’s patients and I am grateful for that. Then a little over 17 years ago a close friend of my committed suicide. His death left me a mess for a long time. I don’t know which is easier to deal with? All that I do know is that I am really hating death these days.

I guess on a lighter note. By the time that I went to my Endocrinologist appointment Friday, my blood pressure was back down to 118/80. But, my A1C that I did about a month ago was way to high and the Endo did not like so many 200+ blood sugar reading on my meter. She bumped up my Metformin from 500mg twice daily to 1000mg twice daily. I told her that the only change in anything (food or medication) was starting on Chantix to quit smoking. She told me that she very, very rarely puts any of her patients on Chantix. It is the only thing that I can think of to cause such a rise in my blood sugar. I cut out sugar about a year and a half ago. I don’t eat sweets, except on rare occasions. Even then I eat very little. When we went to the State Fair this year my husband, my youngest and I split a Belgian waffle and our son had the majority of it. So far…she has not told me that I am diabetic but, I have to call her if my numbers are over 140 for two days in a row. Diabetes is the last thing that I need going on with me. Now all that is left is to wait for the results of my biopsy from two weeks ago.

Really Really Getting Stressed Now

So far today, I have been on the phone with law firm after law firm after law firm and I am starting to feel like this picture. Mostly I am getting nope, sorry I can’t help you… A few have said that if I send them the documents from the judge that they will look over them. At this point I think that I would rather be dealing with the IRS than SS.

Anyway, on the updates since my last post. Monday, I had to go to the dentist to get two teeth fixed that I have cracked (broken) from grinding my teeth (three more to go). I have a night guard that I wear most of the time but, some times I get a brain fart and forget. That’s fibro brain for you. Later that night my dad called and told me that my grandmother had been taken to the ER because she thought that she was having a major gall bladder attack. Turn out they admitted her thinking that there was some blockage going on with her gall bladder. My grandmother is the original medical freak, she has lived with what turned out to be PNH (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria). She has had this all of her life but, it was not diagnosed until about 30 years ago.

Yesterday, I went to my Rheumatologist. When they took my vitals my blood pressure was 145/93 which shocked me, my normal blood pressure is 118/70-80 something if not lower. I am not sure if this is from stress or my only other thought could be that I have recently lost about 10 pounds and my Synthroid is to high. I go to the endocrinologist on Friday. Anyway, once the Rheumatologist was in the room he asked me if my social security had gone through yet. I told him no, and his response was that he did not agree and that I could not work. Mainly due to the muscle pain and the major brain fog. He seemed to think that the mystery kidney/not kidney infection had to do with the auto-immune associated with Fibro. He didn’t think that it was a kidney infection but, he did think that there was some kind of infection some where. After being poked and prodded he wound up writing me another script for Lasix.

Then as if all of this was not enough to deal with I got another call from my dad. The hospital had done a scan on my grandmother (not sure if it was a CT or a CAT?) and they found a tumor on her gall bladder side of the pancreas. So, tomorrow they are going to do a biopsy to rule out Pancreatic Cancer. My grandmother is 88 ½ years old, has the PNH and has to take Warfarin. So, I am trying to stay positive that it will not be Pancreatic Cancer but, I don’t think that the chances are good.

Then for those of you who have been reading my blog and know about my crazy neighbor #2, he has been ranting and raving for almost a month now. Me and several of our neighbors have called 911. Most of the calls have been answered with, "he seems fine now". That's a laugh! Then last Wednesday or Thursday, the police came out three separate times and almost took him in the last time which was around 9pm. Then the next day, first thing he started in again. I finally wound up calling 911 around noon or so. Finally........they took him in to get committed for observation. I have since found out that a judge is having him transferred to one of our state mental hospitals. So, my crazy neighbor issue is resolved for at least 6 months.

I swear, when it rains it pours…