Her Option ~ Cryoablation Update

Monday morning, I had the Cryoablation done in my doctors office. Sunday night the anesthesiologist had called me to go over my crazy medication allergies and let me know what would be going on. I can’t tell you really how it went because I was completely out. Not out like surgery but more asleep. I remember them putting me under and a little of waking me up, other than that nada. When I woke up I was really thirsty, I mean really really thirsty. While I was waiting for them to let me go home, I didn’t really have much pain at all. By the time we were leaving the cramping had started. It was more like a really bad period cramp or cramps that you get just after child birth. By the time that we made it home, I had to take an Ultram for the pain and then another a hour later. Throughout the day I had to alternate Ultram and Tylenol. The pain was not like surgical pain but, it was very uncomfortable.

Day 2 was much better. I was still cramping, spotting a little bit and used Tylenol and Excedrin. The added benefit was that since my husband had to drive me to and from the doctor on Monday, he just took the entire week off. So, we went out to eat. When it is just the two of us, we try to go to places that our picky youngest won’t eat. We had planned to go to an Indian place but they were closed? So, we wound up eating at Razzoo’s a very yummy Cajun place. It turned out to be a very nice lunch date.

Day 3, I had a checkup with the doctor. After waiting a bit, he was busy delivering babies, the doctor came in. I told him how I was feeling and he did a sonogram. The sono showed that I still had a little bit of fluid but, nothing big. He told me that my next period may be a biggie. I didn’t really like hearing that but, if my next period is last bad one then it is all worth it. I also, have to go back for my next checkup in three months.

Thanksgiving was great, it usually is my mother and father-in-law cooks. It is always good but this year my f-i-l cooked the stuffing/dressing. Anyway, it was really outstanding! I did completely go off of my low or no sugar and low sodium diet… I had been doing really well on it too. Since we got back from my grandmothers funeral, I have been able to keep my blood sugar in check. Even after the wonderful and bad for you food it was down to normal two hours after eating.

After we ate, I picked my HFA (high functioning autistic) son up at the airport. I have written about him several times but, I don’t think that I have ever addressed his kleptomania on my blog? Ferd left a comment on my last post and he too has an autistic child. Anyway, he had ranted about the trials of being a parent of an autistic child here. All autistic children are different and they can have some very strange habits. My sons is never being able to understand “yours” and “mine.” Well…he gets the “mine” part more, you can not touch his stuff. We have tried everything to make him understand but, I think that it is more of a kleptomania thing. Anyway, I commented on Ferd’s blog about it and the only solution that we have come up with is to get a really big gun safe. We have two fire safes but, you can only put so much in them and nothing of any real size.

I will post more about the visit later. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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.