The beginning of January (right at new years), I got sick. Having a 3 month old that you're breastfeeding and 2 other people in the house is really tough when you're sick, not to mention the stress at not wanting your brand new baby to get sick. I found out a few days into it that it was Flu A. They wouldn't tell me that it was specifically H1N1, but said it was likely and that 90% of the Flu A strands had been H1N1 this year. I panicked. Mostly, for my kids. Nate got sick shortly after me. We sent Luke to his grandparent's house to hopefully keep him from getting anything from us, but sure enough the following week he got it, also. So the 3 of us were all sick with the flu and all I could do was try against all else to keep Evelyn from getting it. I cried at the thought of her getting the flu so little. She had just gotten over RSV and I didn't want to imagine what could happen if she got H1N1.
Anyway, with changing my shirt every time I came into contact with her, wearing a mask for 8 days, continuing to breastfeed, lots of vitamins and supplements, keeping Luke and her separated throughout the day for an entire week, and most of all, God's mercy, she managed to not get sick!! PRAISE THE LORD! I couldn't thank Him enough for sparing her the pain of going through that. It was absolute hell that week, though, trying so hard to keep things sterile and clean with the 3 of us being sick. It was nuts.
The following week brought work back into my life. My maternity leave was over, and it was actually kind of nice to get back into the swing of things in that way. Also, to get money flowing in here again..lol.
Something I have dealt with since the day after Evelyn was born (in the hospital) is this weird dizziness. It's not as if the room is spinning or that I'm like this all the time. I had an episode of major high blood pressure the day after we brought her home and had to be readmitted to the hospital for 2 days. They sent me home on a blood pressure prescription, so I assumed it was that. I gave it 6 weeks to subside, but it didn't, and if anything it got worse. I tried to think maybe it was the pregnancy hormones and breastfeeding hormones just trying to regulate. But nothing seemed to help, and it wasn't getting better. I mentioned it to my OBGyn and she didn't have much to say about it.
Finally, in mid November I decided to see 2 specific doctors. I thought that if, God forbid something was wrong, we had maxed out our insurance deductible for the year having Evelyn, so it would be a good time to get it taken care of. So I saw a cardiologist to look at the palpitations I had been having for the last several years and a neurologist for the dizziness that had just begun and other "strange head sensations" I have had for the last few years. The cardiologist put me on a 24 hour heart monitor to watch my heart rhythm, did a 2D echo and EKG. All were normal and he told me I was having anxiety and would "feel better" once I went back to work. No comment on that. I saw the neurologist in the same week. They did an EEG and ordered an MRI. The EEG was normal and I had to wait to get my results of the MRI another month. That was the soonest they could get me in for a new patient consultation at the end of the year. So I had a month to wait.
In the mean time, I was wondering if maybe I was slightly anemic or needed my blood pressure meds reassessed. I'm thinking small things here, anything that might be causing this weird dizzy sensation. So, since I had time to wait for the MRI results, I decided to see my GP. I really just wanted him to do a little lab work and talk to me about the blood pressure medications. When I got in to see him, he did a quick neuro test and said I was fine. His next statement to me was to ask "how my anxiety was". He didn't even entertain any other possibility. Just immediately ruled it as a mental thing and told me pending negative MRI results, I needed to make another appointment to really get my anxiety under control. Well, of course I'm anxious!! Something is wrong and I can't figure out what!! Blah, these doctors!!
So the weeks pass and I never heard a word about my MRI, which means nothing major would be going on. I went to my follow up appointment at the end of December. Upon my arrival, with Evelyn in tow, the front desk lady told me it would be a 3 hour wait. What? I seriously couldn't wait there that long with a 2 month old. So, I told her that was impossible and assuming my results were negative, I asked if she could just give me my results, since that was the only reason I was really there. She looked at me and relented. She told me both test results were negative so I made another appointment for the end of January, hoping to actually get into see the doctor at that time. I jetted out of there thankful nothing serious was going on.
Fast forward to the end of January. I had been working a few weeks, had some pretty weird "episodes" at work that were scaring me. I just really had no idea what was happening to me, considering all the testing I had done, and nothing was showing anything. I was concerned something was going on that wouldn't be picked up on an MRI. I was anxious to actually talk to the Dr. and figure something out. I brought my mom because I was truly a little scared at what she would find. I also had both kids for this appointment and needed the help. So, we get there, and the front desk lady tells me it will be a 2.5 hour wait. I was appalled. I told my mom and she persuaded me to just have my records printed out, leave and find another neurologist who cared about her patient's time just a little more. I was disappointed once again, to not be able to see her, and my mom had taken off of work, also.
We leave and while sitting in the front seat, I decided to give my MRI report a little looksy, myself. I'm sitting there reading it and it says that I have a Pituitary Tumor and that my pituitary gland was diffusely enlarged. Excuse me?? Yes, the MRI I had done on November 14. And Yes, the day I was reading this was January 21. Not one person thought it was important to let me know I had a positive result on an MRI. Not 1! I blurted out my disbelief to my mom, called the office and told them I needed to keep the appointment- we got childcare figured out and went to see the doctor 2 hours later. She proceeded to tell me I would need surgery and referred me to a neurosurgeon.
Now, prior to all this in, last year, Nate was having some problems of his own with his tonsils and deviated septum. We had decided before Evelyn was born that he would have surgery after the first of the year. So by the time all this happened, Nate's surgery was already scheduled for mid February. So a few weeks after my diagnosis, Nate had his surgery and was out for about 2 weeks. We juggled that around my doctor's appointments. With all this going on, I haven't been able to work. It also was a double whammy, because we ended up getting my diagnosis after the first of the year, when I originally had planned for any news to happen before the insurance deductible issue rolled over again. So now we're faced with the expenses of having Evelyn, and now a whole new deductible to meet. It probably wouldn't be too big of deal usually, but Nate's insurance plan with his company is a high deductible plan, so we're paying a crap load. Much more than the kind of money Nate and I make to afford.
While Nate was recuperating, during that second week, I began having some major chest pain. Stress I'm sure, but I kept waiting for 4 days for it to subside. It was really freaking me out, so one night while everyone was asleep, I took myself to a little stand alone ER close to our house. They did an EKG, blood work and chest xray. They told me I needed to go back to my cardiologist. So, now I'm totally stressed something is wrong with my heart in the midst of all this brain stuff. I got into see my cardiologist right away and he proceeded to tell me my EKG looks like I've had a heart attack. Are you kidding me?!?! I totally lost it. He assured me it was quite possible that it was just "my normal" and wanted to do a stress test to rule out any issues. So the next week I had a cardiac stress test. Thankfully all was ok.
One thing that was done was a chest xray at that ER. For my brain surgery, the pre-op department wanted to do a chest xray. I told them I had one done already, so they asked for the results to be faxed. I went over there the Friday before my surgery was scheduled. I got the results printed out and read them in the car. For some reason this situation keeps happening... but the results showed that everything was normal except for a Pectus Excavatum. This is something pretty benign but my sternum apparently sinks in further than normal. This could totally explain my chest pain and funky EKG. But I'll wait to address that at a later date, after all this brain stuff is over.
So, in the saga of time since January 21, I have seen the neurosurgeon downtown that I picked for myself, a neuro-opthalmologist because the original scan said it was touching my optic nerve, endocrinology for the hormones involved, I've had numerous blood works done, a 24 hour urine, another MRI scan and lots of appointments in between, including cardiology drama, and Nate's surgical issues. We've had meltdowns over our finances, medical bills piling up like nothing else.. It's been so crazy. My surgery to remove the tumor was originally scheduled for March 27, but I got sick the day before, so it's now moved to April 16.
So that's that!! I'm praying for the Lord's hand to continue to hold us during this time. It's been really difficult and other things have happened as well that are not really share-able. It's been a really dark time in our lives and very trying. We know His hand guides us, but it's not easy to see all the time. Prayers are appreciated and we will get through this!!!
Something I have dealt with since the day after Evelyn was born (in the hospital) is this weird dizziness. It's not as if the room is spinning or that I'm like this all the time. I had an episode of major high blood pressure the day after we brought her home and had to be readmitted to the hospital for 2 days. They sent me home on a blood pressure prescription, so I assumed it was that. I gave it 6 weeks to subside, but it didn't, and if anything it got worse. I tried to think maybe it was the pregnancy hormones and breastfeeding hormones just trying to regulate. But nothing seemed to help, and it wasn't getting better. I mentioned it to my OBGyn and she didn't have much to say about it.
Finally, in mid November I decided to see 2 specific doctors. I thought that if, God forbid something was wrong, we had maxed out our insurance deductible for the year having Evelyn, so it would be a good time to get it taken care of. So I saw a cardiologist to look at the palpitations I had been having for the last several years and a neurologist for the dizziness that had just begun and other "strange head sensations" I have had for the last few years. The cardiologist put me on a 24 hour heart monitor to watch my heart rhythm, did a 2D echo and EKG. All were normal and he told me I was having anxiety and would "feel better" once I went back to work. No comment on that. I saw the neurologist in the same week. They did an EEG and ordered an MRI. The EEG was normal and I had to wait to get my results of the MRI another month. That was the soonest they could get me in for a new patient consultation at the end of the year. So I had a month to wait.
In the mean time, I was wondering if maybe I was slightly anemic or needed my blood pressure meds reassessed. I'm thinking small things here, anything that might be causing this weird dizzy sensation. So, since I had time to wait for the MRI results, I decided to see my GP. I really just wanted him to do a little lab work and talk to me about the blood pressure medications. When I got in to see him, he did a quick neuro test and said I was fine. His next statement to me was to ask "how my anxiety was". He didn't even entertain any other possibility. Just immediately ruled it as a mental thing and told me pending negative MRI results, I needed to make another appointment to really get my anxiety under control. Well, of course I'm anxious!! Something is wrong and I can't figure out what!! Blah, these doctors!!
So the weeks pass and I never heard a word about my MRI, which means nothing major would be going on. I went to my follow up appointment at the end of December. Upon my arrival, with Evelyn in tow, the front desk lady told me it would be a 3 hour wait. What? I seriously couldn't wait there that long with a 2 month old. So, I told her that was impossible and assuming my results were negative, I asked if she could just give me my results, since that was the only reason I was really there. She looked at me and relented. She told me both test results were negative so I made another appointment for the end of January, hoping to actually get into see the doctor at that time. I jetted out of there thankful nothing serious was going on.
Fast forward to the end of January. I had been working a few weeks, had some pretty weird "episodes" at work that were scaring me. I just really had no idea what was happening to me, considering all the testing I had done, and nothing was showing anything. I was concerned something was going on that wouldn't be picked up on an MRI. I was anxious to actually talk to the Dr. and figure something out. I brought my mom because I was truly a little scared at what she would find. I also had both kids for this appointment and needed the help. So, we get there, and the front desk lady tells me it will be a 2.5 hour wait. I was appalled. I told my mom and she persuaded me to just have my records printed out, leave and find another neurologist who cared about her patient's time just a little more. I was disappointed once again, to not be able to see her, and my mom had taken off of work, also.
We leave and while sitting in the front seat, I decided to give my MRI report a little looksy, myself. I'm sitting there reading it and it says that I have a Pituitary Tumor and that my pituitary gland was diffusely enlarged. Excuse me?? Yes, the MRI I had done on November 14. And Yes, the day I was reading this was January 21. Not one person thought it was important to let me know I had a positive result on an MRI. Not 1! I blurted out my disbelief to my mom, called the office and told them I needed to keep the appointment- we got childcare figured out and went to see the doctor 2 hours later. She proceeded to tell me I would need surgery and referred me to a neurosurgeon.
Now, prior to all this in, last year, Nate was having some problems of his own with his tonsils and deviated septum. We had decided before Evelyn was born that he would have surgery after the first of the year. So by the time all this happened, Nate's surgery was already scheduled for mid February. So a few weeks after my diagnosis, Nate had his surgery and was out for about 2 weeks. We juggled that around my doctor's appointments. With all this going on, I haven't been able to work. It also was a double whammy, because we ended up getting my diagnosis after the first of the year, when I originally had planned for any news to happen before the insurance deductible issue rolled over again. So now we're faced with the expenses of having Evelyn, and now a whole new deductible to meet. It probably wouldn't be too big of deal usually, but Nate's insurance plan with his company is a high deductible plan, so we're paying a crap load. Much more than the kind of money Nate and I make to afford.
While Nate was recuperating, during that second week, I began having some major chest pain. Stress I'm sure, but I kept waiting for 4 days for it to subside. It was really freaking me out, so one night while everyone was asleep, I took myself to a little stand alone ER close to our house. They did an EKG, blood work and chest xray. They told me I needed to go back to my cardiologist. So, now I'm totally stressed something is wrong with my heart in the midst of all this brain stuff. I got into see my cardiologist right away and he proceeded to tell me my EKG looks like I've had a heart attack. Are you kidding me?!?! I totally lost it. He assured me it was quite possible that it was just "my normal" and wanted to do a stress test to rule out any issues. So the next week I had a cardiac stress test. Thankfully all was ok.
One thing that was done was a chest xray at that ER. For my brain surgery, the pre-op department wanted to do a chest xray. I told them I had one done already, so they asked for the results to be faxed. I went over there the Friday before my surgery was scheduled. I got the results printed out and read them in the car. For some reason this situation keeps happening... but the results showed that everything was normal except for a Pectus Excavatum. This is something pretty benign but my sternum apparently sinks in further than normal. This could totally explain my chest pain and funky EKG. But I'll wait to address that at a later date, after all this brain stuff is over.
So, in the saga of time since January 21, I have seen the neurosurgeon downtown that I picked for myself, a neuro-opthalmologist because the original scan said it was touching my optic nerve, endocrinology for the hormones involved, I've had numerous blood works done, a 24 hour urine, another MRI scan and lots of appointments in between, including cardiology drama, and Nate's surgical issues. We've had meltdowns over our finances, medical bills piling up like nothing else.. It's been so crazy. My surgery to remove the tumor was originally scheduled for March 27, but I got sick the day before, so it's now moved to April 16.
So that's that!! I'm praying for the Lord's hand to continue to hold us during this time. It's been really difficult and other things have happened as well that are not really share-able. It's been a really dark time in our lives and very trying. We know His hand guides us, but it's not easy to see all the time. Prayers are appreciated and we will get through this!!!
