Tag: Preventive medicine

RE-focus

So back to the topic at hand.  This is a busy “just in case” week for me.  Tomorrow I will drop my script off at the pharmacy for the colonoscopy prep.  I was given an option to take pills instead of the drink but it was some crazy number that sounded just as obnoxious to get down as the drink would be so I opted for the liquid.

Tuesday the girls both have dentist appointments, get them in before the end of the year.

Wednesday will be “fun day with a radiologists” and the pelvic ultrasound.  I had one of these after Madison was born.  I had terrible unexplained pains.  We never did get a great explanation for the pains.  Was told that I had something they described as Gallbladder Sludge..gross.  Diet changes and thankfully I have never felt pains like that again.

Thursday is “prep day”.  Or maybe better thought of as “don’t wander far from the bathroom day”.

Friday of course is the colonoscopy itself, a day to look forward to if you have a very strange idea of fun.

Saturday we will be celebrating my babies sixth birthday.  So between now and then I need to get the house cleaned up.  It is not in terrible shape but it is not in “company” shape.  I actually cleaned out a few closets donating some things to storm victims of Sandy.  A few winter coats in great shape just grown out of, comforter, some clothes and  hygiene products.

So many small business in my area are acting as drop off spots, makes you feel that maybe there are still good people in the world.

By the end of the week I feel I will have been sufficiently poked, prodded and probed.

 

Never ending medical appointments

So I had the appointment with the gynecologist today…always a thrill!  It is interesting telling my Prophylactic Mastectomy story to people who are not aware.  According to her,  records are often not sent until you are released from care.  Since I am still officially undergoing treatment my GYN had no update since the mammogram of March 2011 that started it all.  She was a very interested audience.  The person I see at the office is one of the nurse practitioners.  I have gone to her for years, much easier to get an appointment that trying to see one of the doctors.  She was the one who was there the day I had my miscarriage and she was the one I saw following the birth of both of my beautiful girls.

She added to the chorus of folks who say how brave I am.  She also added to the list of those who want me to have further tests. She agrees with the colonoscopy and not to be out done by other doctors,  feels I should also go for a pelvis ultrasound. I feel like I am some pawn in a wired medical game, I se you mastectomy and raise you one colonoscopy and a pelvic ultrasound.  So if everything were to go perfect, I have at least 5 more medical appointments minimum before we can close this chapter of my life, and when does life go perfect?

The connection between breast and ovarian cancer is known.  Can I say clearly how F-ing tired I am of tests and doctors?  Of course I will go but think I am going to hold off making an appointment until next week.  I hope to get a date nailed down for the last of the breast procedures before making more appointments. I sure hope it is the last!

Doctors, and Dentists and blood work oh my!

As I was recovering from my surgery and the bills were coming in, I wrote a post that we all needed to get to the doctors since we had reached our out-of-pocket maximums.  Last night I was “refocused” by my daughters pediatrician to get back on track on this goal.  Years ago, I was  on meds for high triglycerides, another trait passed on from my mother.  When Frank and I decided to have another child I went off of the medication.  I also have made dietary and lifestyle changes.

Last year both of my daughters had blood work done and both came back with elevated levels of triglycerides.  I was so upset.  We reduced their fat and carb intake, went to skim milks and low-fat cheeses, and made sure to increase their physical activity.   Last night was Megan’s yearly well visit.  The doctor suggested that we had her checked to see if there has been improvement.  She then asked me if I was currently on medications.  So, here I am so proud of myself for having a Bilateral Prophylactic MAstectomy to hopefully avoid cancer and I had to look this doctor in the eye and admit that I had not even had my levels checked in a few years.  Sounds stupid right?  I am like a stroke risk just wandering through the day.

I took Megan for her blood work this morning and came right home and scheduled myself an appointment for next week.  I will have my blood work completed before the end of the week!

I have an appointment with the Gyn the second week of October, one day after my follow-up with Dr. Liu (my plastic surgeon). I am getting a cavity filled tomorrow.  Madison is scheduled for her yearly well visit in November and Frank had already been.

So back on track.  I am tired of doctors offices!