Headaches & Hearts

"We are the women who want the thing God wants more than we are afraid of it, the women who know when the love of Christ motivates, the more fearless of everything we become, the women who know real joy is not found in having the best of everything but in trusting that God’s making the best of everything.
We are the women who make our lives about the cause of Christ, not the applause of men, live to express the Gospel, not to impress the Jones’, live not to make our absence felt, but to make Christ’s presence known."
                                            -Ann Voskamp, A Holy Experience
What a week!  A week with more to be thankful for than not.  Tuesday Sarah was able to take off of work for the morning to accompany me to my mammogram and ultrasound biopsies.  After searching long and hard for the two nodes under my arm, not getting a clear picture of the lump in my right breast and meeting with the radiologist, they decided I needed an MRI biopsy for clearer images of both sites.  I thanked the Lord that they weren't easy to find and hope that Jesus was already taking away any further spread of cancer cells!  Sarah was able to go back to work and get a half day in.
Wednesday started early with Ginny picking me up for my 7:30 a.m. bone scan and CT scan.  It was originally scheduled for the bone scan in the morning and then the CT scan in the afternoon, so the scheduler told me to be prepared to be there for the whole day.  Ginny and I came prepared for the long haul only to have God orchestrate our day better than we could have.  I went right in to get the injection for the bone scan (I take longer to start an IV than the average person because of my tiny/poor veins) once the radioactive dye was injected I had three hours to wait.  They were able to "walk" me into the CT scan and start that process while I waited for the radioactive dye to attach to my bones.  I was so thankful that the contrast I had to drink has improved in the last 20 years!  I remember trying to choke down 3 cups of chalky barium...now, it's a wonderful clear water drink that you can flavor with Crystal Light...no problem!  Of course with Ginny cheering me on it made it much better.  After an hour of drinking (contrast), talking and laughing it was time for the scan...simple.  Once done with the CT scan it was time to head back down to Nuclear Medicine and have the bone scan...simple.  We were heading out of the hospital by lunch time and so excited that we had the rest of the day to "play".  Of course lunch out and a little shopping hurts no one!
Thursday didn't start as early and my body was thankful for the extra sleep before my second opinion appointment at The Stephanie Spielman Breast Cancer Center at OSU.  I had the "troupes" with me for this big appointment:  my brother Mike, sister-in-love Cheryl-RN, sister Kelly and niece Emily-RN.  I have to confess I started the day with a headache and it only progressed throughout the day.  When they took my blood pressure they were not happy...high.  I don't usually have high blood pressure and they said I may have "white coat syndrome"...nervous about the doctor's appointment.  I'm not a nervous person, but maybe my nerves manifest themselves this way...not typical...I've had many doctor appointments in my life to prove this theory!  Anyway as the day became longer, my headache became worse.  I was so thankful for the encouraging news that the bone scan and CT scan were normal...other than a little arthritis in my neck...what a praise that the cancer hasn't spread!  However, the core biopsy didn't have enough tissue for a full report on staging and grading so the surgeon wanted to do another core biopsy.  Once we were finished in the surgeons office we were escorted up a couple floors to meet with the oncologist.  My appointments were 10:00 a.m. with the surgeon and 1:40 p.m. with the oncologist.  I thought this would be perfect so that we could grab lunch between the appointments.  Well, the wait for the mammogram (which I forgot to bring with me & my brother was able to go pick up at Riverside) and then the biopsy made for no time for lunch.  They did have some snacks and water for us and we were thankful for those.  Now this is where things became a little tricky...with my cancer history and having already received the maximum lifetime radiation dose and the maximum lifetime dose of Adriamycin...I am limited in what is standard treatment for my breast cancer.  The doctor didn't seem concerned and she has many other drugs to use.  I am currently scheduled for my first chemotherapy treatment on Thursday, November 29th.  I will need to have a port installed sometime prior to that.  I had a port before and wished now that I had kept it!  After the long, detailed and informative meeting with the oncologist (& some fellows) we were escorted back down to ultrasound.  It was their goal to get more biopsies under my arm and in the right breast...to no avail.  We closed down the office at 6pm exhausted and hungry.  We met up with Sarah at Olive Garden before getting home with a pounding head ready for bed.  It was a rough night of not much sleep, much heart racing/pounding and some unusual symptoms that caused alarm.  I chose not to go to the ER and promptly made an appointment with my family doctor on Friday.  Yes my blood pressure was out of control and I'm currently on temporary blood pressure medication.  After many tests they have come to the conclusion that I had a migraine headache that caused much of my distress!  I am thankful to Sarah and Julie Mitchell who came to my rescue in my time of great need.
I've taken it easy today getting back on my feet preparing for this next busy week.  Readying myself for Sunday worship, Monday dental appointment and financial planning session, and Tuesday a trip to see Matt play basketball at Grace College.  I will make the 3 hour ride with the Homoelle's.  Then on Wednesday I will have the MRI with 3-4 biopsies.  Thursday I will "GIVE THANKS" with/for all of you with turkey and all the trimmings!

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way."

Psalm 139:23-24