Two weeks later...

What a long two weeks.

We've been on a ski vacation.  I wasn't feeling well but it was nice to have a change of scenery.  It rained, it hailed and everything started to melt but the girls and Darin went skiing anyway and still managed to have fun.

On the way home, Isabel puked.  I thought she was car sick but it went on all night and into the next day.  Then Esmé puked.  Then Darin.  I was sure I was next in line since I was the one looking after everyone but somehow it skipped me.  It was nice to be the one taking care of everyone else for a change (but I'm sorry they were so sick).

After that my doctors appointments started up again.   I ended up in the hospital with awful pelvic pain.  Some nice IV drugs took care of that.  Had an ultrasound that didn't show anything too scary (thank goodness!) and then went to see my oncologist to sort out my big list of confusing symptoms.

Dr. S has to be one of the kindest, most empathetic people on the planet.  I'm so fortunate to have him as my oncologist.  He spent a lot of time with us trying to sort out what is going on and even though we have no answers yet, he managed to make me feel so much better.   It's quite possible that the pain is being caused by an entrapped ovary that has grown a large cyst.  Scar tissue and adhesions growing over the ovary are common after such invasive surgery and when a large cyst grows in the middle of it all it has nowhere to grow causing a lot of pain and discomfort.  On an MRI this can look like a (scary) complex ovarian mass.  If this is the case I will likely have to have surgery to have the ovary removed because it will continue to be problematic.

After having one doctor tell me "I'm sorry to give you bad news..."  when looking at my MRI, this possible diagnosis seems like great news.

The bladder pain is still a puzzle, the back pain needs to be addressed and the lump on my back needs to be investigated further.   But, I'm very hopeful that this isn't the big C so everything else seems more manageable.  Dr. S is sending me for a CAT scan to make sure there are no involved lymph nodes or other scary looking masses.  Then we'll try to figure out the rest.

In the mean time we're going to escape once more.  We have a busy couple of days planned with appointments and the girls' activities/diving etc. and then we're heading to New York City. 

Our New York City trip was the girls' Christmas present this year.  We were quite sure we'd have to postpone it and while I'm still uncomfortable and a little worried that my symptoms will flare up while we're away, I'm just happy to be able to travel and go on an adventure with my family.   Dr. S told us that even if we miss my CAT scan (haven't got the call yet), we should go because they'll just have to reschedule it as soon as we get back.   After putting all kinds of things on hold for medical appointments, scans and tests it's nice to be told to just go and have fun and they'll have to work around us.

As a matter of fact, in the last week I have had the best experience ever in Emerg, the nicest doctor there, a wonderful, helpful nurse and an amazing ultrasound tech.  After so many frustrating experiences with our health care system, it's been a breath of fresh air to realize that there really are a lot of wonderful, caring people out there in the medical profession.

I know this is getting long but I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all my friends and family for your prayers and good thoughts.  I've been avoiding the computer a little the last week or so (after finding out once again that google most certainly is not my friend.... you would think I'd have learned that by now!) and I'm behind in my emails and online everything.   I've been playing with my girls and making sure that time with them does not involve mommy sitting on the laptop (they're out skiing with their dad right now so I'm sneaking some internet time!).

Tracy
xx