Self

Self, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I'm sitting here tonight and thinking about the day and figured that a self portrait would be most fitting for this entry. There aren't to many of those on my computer but I had shot one on my cell phone earlier in the day for some reason. Oh wait it was when I was trying to not think about other stuff which I will share here tonight.

Back in October 2008 I found a couple of lumps while doing my monthly self examine. Mammogram and then a second...oh and then a third one just because they couldn't seem to figure out just how to get all the angles done the first two times...and then the words I wanted to hear. Test results "Negative". Leap forward to April and suddenly there is another issue and I wasted no time getting in to see the doctor. After several months of frustration finally the referral arrived and in June I was able to be seen by the breast specialist. An exam, an ultrasound and finally the diagnosis and the words I had wanted to hear that all was well and just need to keep an eye on things.
Well today was the next appointment, and man in the last 6 months things have been added to the list of issues and there was a very short time of worry today while waiting for test results...but once again the words "Test results Negative" were the best words I would ever want to hear. Things have changed yet again and my doctor isn't sure just how soon she wants to see me again because of the rapid changes that are going on, but for today and right now my mind is at peace that I got to hear the wonderful word "Negative".

I may hurt like heck tonight because of all of the testing and exam and I'll be the first to say that a mammogram hurts like hell, but I will be in for my next one whether it is 6 months from today or one year from today, and I will go in to see the doctor as told to also. Tonight I would like for that to be at least 6 months from now, but I won't know exactly when she wants me back till next week sometime. She wants to be able to look at everything that was done today and compare to 6 months ago and one year ago and make up her mind based on that.

So I may have dreaded going today but I did it...now I'm going to put on a million layers and hide before someone else wants to do another test that leaves me in pain. For a Monday this one wasn't to bad and I hope that everyone else got to hear words that meant a lot to them. Have a good week!

How I spent my summer vacation

Do you remember when you were young and in elementary school and one of the first things that you wrote was about your summer vacation? It was a great easy assignment for that first day back for the teacher to give. Well, if I had to write one this year come the end of summer I think it would be filled with all my trips to see doctors. Considering that before April my last trip was October and my trip before that was more than a couple of years ago, I think I'm doing nicely on making up for lost time in the doctors offices. Wait a second though I should get credit for all the time spent with kids in doctors offices shouldn't I? Oh well, to late to see if that excuse would work.

Anyway, I had my appointment with the orthopedic surgeon today and after I was able to climb back down from the ceiling that he sent me flying through while examining my knee, the final decision is that I get to have surgery. I've torn my meniscus and if I want to be able to do all the things that I should be able to do with my knee, I really need to have this repaired. First step is to wait for Tricare to get me a referal for a MRI to see just what the total damage to the meniscus is, and shortly after that is done I will be sitting down with doctor to discuss what and how this will happen and then the when. I don't think it will be all that long of a process to get from today to having the surgery, or at least that is not how it sounded with doctor this morning. Probably the longest waits will be the referal and then the appointment date for the MRI. Right now I'm pretty willing to bet that come the start of the new school year I will be spending time on cruches and back in a brace after having had surgery. Could prove to be a very interesting start to the new school year. You know the time of year when there is the non stop running of kids here, there, and everywhere! But that is just my guess, and in the coming weeks I'm sure that it will get much clearer on just when. Although I will admit that the idea of not being able to go and do the back to school registration out at the high school would not break my heart. I think Army Guy should have the joy of doing two registration on two different days and losing several hours of his life due to standing in lines that never move just one year at the high school. Alright I'm aware that is a mean thing, but people you really have no idea just what it is like with this school!

So basically this is going to be a summer spent with doctors, on crutches, in a brace, doing a whole heck of a lot of nothing other than bordering on the verge of pulling my hair out because I'm bored! Now that is just some real great fun. I hope that everyone is having a good week so far, and I'll be back tomorrow with another picture from archives.

Monday morning randomness

traitor knee, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Back from the doctor and other errand running for other appointment this week, and I will probably be sitting with my leg up for the next couple of hours. This traitor knee of mine just seems to be enjoying the pain that it can cause me. Anyway, doctor said that I have to keep wearing the immobilizer brace, probably for a lot longer that I would really like to, and I am going to be off to orthopedics to be seen. Based on the exam the thought of either a torn ACL or PCL still stands, and then he tossed in the possibility of a torn meniscus. I can at least put weight on the leg, and can walk for short time periods without use of the crutches. For any amount of walking outside of the house I am to use the crutches for walking with. Oh joy...I just so love those crutches so very much! I am supposed to take the brace off a couple of times a day and try working the knee in a straight out to bend position as long as I do no twisting of the knee and it doesn't cause to much pain, but no walking without the brace except for showers and getting dressed. The fun of this...if there is a fun to this...is that I have to keep wearing the immobilizer brace till orthopedics tells me to no longer wear it, and since I have to wait for the referral to show up in the mail, heaven only knows how long that will be.

In other news Little Bug is starting to feel a little bit better and maybe today she will be able to get through the day without 5 nap times. Although I do need to wake her up to take her medicine which we are no an hour late on, but I was out making the 500 mile trip with the crutches. (Have I mentioned how very much I hate those things?)
I hope that everyone has a good start to the week.