Spatter

Good News, Good Report

I got good news yesterday.  My costly ultrasound showed better results than the first ultrasound had.  I'm back in the "borderline" range...in other words, almost normal.  This most likely means that there was some technique and/or reading discrepancy between the two.  Course of action now:  skip the biopsy and get another ultrasound in three months or so.  Funny, but that was my original plan all along! 

On the financial front, the Winston-Salem doctor is writing an appeal to my insurance provider.  Hopefully, this will have as good an ending....but I've reconciled myself to paying it just in case it doesn't.

I'm Going To Pay

Yesterday I went back down to Winston-Salem to have my prescribed ultra sound done.  You'll recall that my doctor there couldn't complete the endometrial biopsy and wanted to make verify the findings of my original ultra sound before having me go through the procedure under anesthesia.

The doctor scheduled it through the hospital she's affiliated with...the one next door.  I just assumed that since she was in my network, the hospital was too.  I didn't verify the fact at check in because...well quite frankly...I had to go to the bathroom so bad all I wanted was to get back there and get the procedure over with.  Big mistake.  It turns out the hospital is not in my plan and I'm going to have to pay for the whole she-bang. 

When speaking to my insurance provider, I asked how my in-network doctor was supposed to practice medicine on me if the facility she works out of isn't covered.  It doesn't make sense, but that's the way it is. My doctor did say she'd write a letter to the insurer and plead my case.  We'll see what comes of that, but I'm not holding my breath.  Instead, I'm trying to guess what an ultra sound costs and trying to rationalize that had I been paying the premiums for the super-duper plan I used to have, I'd probably have paid for it and then some.  Of course, that thought is immediately followed by the thought that I should have had it done in Florida. 

I go back to the doctor tomorrow to find out the results.  If they indicate that the biopsy needs to be done, I guess I'll be asking if it can wait.  If it can't, I guess I'll ask for a referral to another OB/GYN in my plan up here...if I can find one.  If it can't wait and there isn't another doctor, then a trip to Florida may be in the cards.

More To Come

Yesterday's consultation turned out to be the real deal.  The doctor in Winston-Salem decided to do the endometrial biopsy I had hoped would not be necessary.  She told me that despite the fact that I was asymptomatic, there was sufficient reason to be suspicious. Perhaps it was better this way...there was no chance for my anxiety to build. 

I had, by this time, already determined that I liked everyone at the facility I encountered:  the receptionist, the business clerk, the nurses' aids, the nurse practioner, and most importantly, the doctor.  I was as mentally and emotionally comfortable as possible.

So...I was given four Motrin and  then got some localized numbing and we were under way. It was all very uncomfortable, but tolerable.  There wasn't even an "ouch" moment.  Afterward I found out why.  Without getting into a biology lesson and too graphic for this venue, I'll just say she was unable to take tissue from where she thought she needed to.  So...first she's having me come back for a second ultra sound to see if the results are the same as the first or if the first one was skewed for some reason.  If this ultra sound looks normal, then that's it...end of game.  If it looks the same, then I go in for an outpatient procedure so the biopsy can be completed.  I'd be under anesthesia for that. She says the procedure will be too painful otherwise.  Then, we see what those results show and proceed from there.

Meanwhile my poision ivy is spreading and getting more annoying instead of less despite the shot I got last Friday.  Guess I'll be calling that doctor back to see if he's got another idea since the shot and the Benedryl I'm taking don't seem to be helping.  I didn't expect the shot to miraculously make the rash disappear, but I did expect that the shot would  calm it and too, prevent it all from popping out in other places.

I'm glad it's a rainy sort of day here...perfect for catching up on blogs and Flickr and various other tasks that need doing. 

Today's The Day

Today's the day we head to Winston-Salem to see the OB/GYN about the findings of the ultra sound several weeks ago.  If you recall, my doctor down in Florida wanted to do an endometrial biopsy but between my anxiety and it being so close in time to my travel date, I didn't have it done. 

This doctor I'm seeing happens to be an OB/GYN-Oncologist.  I found her by chance...she was about the only OB/GYN in driving distance who was in my insurance plan.  Turns out her practice is highly thought of by a friend who's a respected pathologist in the Winston-Salem area.  So I feel like I'll be in good care. 

This will just be a consultation.  If she concurs the biopsy is called for, I'll be making another trip. 

     

Got The Itch

Well, I didn't even have to wait until I picked blackberries...I got poison ivy just cleaning up our road.  At first I thought it was going to stay localized on my right forearm, but now, two days later it's emerged on my neck and other arm some.  My entire back itches, though so far no rash there. Ugh.  Pass me a Benedryl...

Thanks For The Well Wishes

Just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for all the well-wishes sent my way regarding my recent health issues.  The colonoscopy went well and while the official lab reports won't be back for several days, the doctor told me all looked fine. 

As for the endometrial biopsy, I'm still working on getting things resolved.  Looks like my decision to pursue it while up in Virginia turns out to have a medical rationale now too.  You see, my colonoscopy's post procedure directive says I shouldn't take Motrin or Advil for ten days.  Since the OB/GYN office said I needed to take one of them an hour before their procedure, I can't do the procedure as originally planned anyway.  Now I'm trying to get that office to fax up the ultra sound report and doctor's referral.  Sounds like a simple enough thing to do...not.  Long story...will spare you. 

C-Day

Today is C-Day...as in colonoscopy.  I'm even getting two for one: an endoscopy too.  No big deal. My only complaint is that it's not until 12:30 pm and that means I'll not have eaten since Sunday, not even have drunk anything save clear liquids since 5 p.m. yesterday, and won't be drinking or eating again until after the procedure and subsequent post procedure recovery period.  Can anyone say "starving"??? 

As for my endometrial biopsy, I've decided not to do it...at least not before I leave.  I got to thinking why not wait until I get up to Virginia and take the pressure off having it done so close to my departure.  OK...I confess it didn't take much to talk myself into this plan.  But really, it makes sense.  Waiting until Virginia will give me a chance to get a second opinion as to whether it's even necessary.  I'll not go into the intimate details, but since I'm asymptomatic, the ultra sound's results are fairly typical for a woman my age.  What's more, if it does end up getting done I'll have Judy around to hold my hand and will be able to follow up with the same doctor in the unlikely event that follow up is needed.  Soooo...I'm in the process of getting reports and referrals in order...but that'll have to wait until Wednesday because today...well today is C-Day!

Doctor Visits

Gosh, I usually do pretty well in getting all my annual doctor visits done and out of the way while in Florida.  This year though, it's been a bit different and I'm having to go to doctors right up to departure date for one reason or another.  It's been pretty much non-stop...and yet to come is a colonoscopy/endoscopy, a dental cleaning, and a follow up with the dermatologist...now that my nasty reaction to the skin cancer medication has subsided... and perhaps most fun of all...an endometrial biopsy.  Anybody out there ever had one?  Reading about it on the internet is scary for this low-pain tolerant girl.  I'm planning to take some valium!

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Shaynee Update

We're a month into homeopathic treatment and I'm happy to report that Shaynee's responding very well to it.  Her panting and thirst responses have continued to wane, her barrel-chest shape seems to have lessened, and best of all...her personality has returned. 

In addition to taking Angel Eyes and most vacccines out of her life, we've now changed her diet.  No more dried food...even the good stuff we had her on.  Now she's on a completely raw food, no grain diet.  It's a bit inconvenient, and a bit more expensive...but she loves it and we love that! 

A Bright Spot

This has been one of those lost weeks for me: filled with pain  from mouth ulcers and frustration from a computer crash.  I'm really ready for it to be over...really I am...and hope I'll be lucky enough to have it so by week's end. 

In the meantime, I'm muddling through as best I can...keeping talking to a minimum, not eating anything I know will hurt, drinking lots of water...through a straw of course...and too, nursing it all as best I can. All of my efforts haven't been so brilliant though. One  example of that came when I bought some sort of patch to put on the sore to help protect it from being irritated when the inner lip rubs up against my gum.  I was actually looking for wax like the stuff I used when I had braces, but the drugstore had none.  I found this and thought it would work the same.  You apply the little dot pad to the sore spot.  Once it's stuck there, it's supposed to transform to a clear gel and then protect for 8 hours.  Well...in less than a minute...well before it transformed...movement of my lips ripped it off the sore. Now it's bleeding and if you don't know, stopping bleeding from the lip isn't easy.  You can imagine just how good this was feeling.  Sigh.

What's that you say?  You're wondering why I titled this post "A Bright Spot"?  Well, there really is one and here it comes: 

Last night was my camera club's competition meeting.  I had submitted three photos, but  given the fact that I was feeling crappy and looking pretty ugly, I was debating on going.  I did though and it turned out I'm glad I did because two nice things happened.  First, my photos were judged very favorably.  I was given a "nine" and two "tens".  That felt good.  What's more, the webmaster for the Broward County chapter of the Audubon Society  happend to be at the meeting.  She was there to request submission of bird photos for use on their website...feeding, flying, nesting sort of shots. There's no money involved, of course...just a mention of the photographer's name.  I later told her I'd be glad to contribute. When I mentioned to her that one of those I'd be sending was  the red shouldered hawk eating the little moorehen photo (one of my entries),  she got very excited.  That felt good too.

Now if I can only get my body to feeling good...