Health

My mom has cancer

by noelle on May 7, 2010

UPDATE:  PRAISE GOD!!!  It was stage one!!  The cancer is gone!!!

I found out a few months ago that my mom, my poor mom, has endometrial cancer.  Endometrial cancer is sometimes also called uterine cancer.

From Wikipedia:

Endometrial cancer refers to several types of malignancy which arise from the endometrium, or lining of the uterus. Endometrial cancers are the most common gynecologic cancers in the United States, with over 35,000 women diagnosed each year in the U.S. The most common subtype, endometrioid adenocarcinoma, typically occurs within a few decades of menopause, is associated with excessive estrogen exposure, often develops in the setting of endometrial hyperplasia, and presents most often with vaginal bleeding. Endometrial carcinoma is the third most common cause of gynecologic cancer death (behind ovarian and cervical cancer). A total abdominal hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is the most common therapeutic approach.

Endometrial cancer may sometimes be referred to as uterine cancer. However, different cancers may develop not only from the endometrium itself but also from other tissues of the uterus, including cervical cancer, sarcoma of the myometrium, and trophoblastic disease.


I have not felt like talking about it, so very few people in my life know about this.  Today, she finds out what is going on.  Two weeks ago she had a total hysterectomy.  They removed everything, including 14 lymph nodes from her abdomen.  Today she will get the results of the biopsy they have done on the lymph nodes and tissue.  She will find out if she is “cured” or will have to undergo radiation treatment.  She is so scared.  I am sitting at work on pins and needles, waiting for an update.  I am praying that it was localized to the endometrium and that she will not have to undergo any more treatment.  Please say a prayer that the news is good news.

This is turning out to be a great year so far :(

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No May Baby and Gout

by noelle on September 3, 2009

I am sad to say that there will not be a May baby joining us next year.  I thought we did everything right.  I am so bummed about this and am really beginning to worry about maybe having fertility issues.  For now I am hoping for a June baby.  This month, we are going to try the “Sperm Meets Egg” plan.  Hopefully, this works out for us.  The plan can be found here.  I am willing to try anything to get us a baby as soon as possible.  It’s probably better that I ended up not being preggo this month anyway.  Here’s why…

The foot pain that was has having only intensified to the most horrible, indescribable pain you can imagine.  By Friday, I was ready to hack my own foot off just to alleviate the pain.  The Tylenol I was taking was not touching this devil pain that I was experiencing.  So, I caved and took Advil, even though I may have been pregnant.  I know, I know, I am already a horrible mother to my unborn children.  I promised myself I would only take one dose of Advil, but one dose turned into every 4 hours…on the dot.  I eventually couldn’t stand it anymore and went to the doctor.  He then proceeded to give me an X-ray; another bad mommy move.  The doctor said it would be fine, but the X-ray tech ended up scaring the shit out of me.  She looked at me and said “Did you tell the doctor that you may be pregnant?”  “And he still sent you for an X-ray?”  She made me sign a waiver that I knew that I may be pregnant, and that she would double shield me.  Oh, I should add that at that point, it was way too early for me to test, so there was no way for me to tell if I was or wasn’t “with child”.  Anyway, there were no broken bones in my foot.  The symptoms I was having made the doctor believe that I was suffering from gout.  Yes…gout.  A disease that affects mostly men, and women after menopause.  It very rarely affects women my age.  Also, I have no family history of it and do not indulge in foods high in purines.  I am now waiting for the blood test results to see if I indeed do have gout.

So now, after reading all of the information that the internet has to offer on the subject of gout, I am convinced I am suffering from one of the following ailments: Renal Failure, Leukemia, or early menopause, just a few of the many possible causes of gout.  I will just have to wait to see if it is actually gout.   Anyway, whatever it was, I would not wish it on my worst enemy.  It was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life.  It felt like this:

gout-cartoon

Like Satan himself was gnawing at my foot, but 1,000,000 times worse.  Unbelievable.

On a totally unrelated note, Michelle Duggar is announced to the world that she pregnant with her 19th child.  She is 42 years old and got pregnant “by surprise”.  Her last baby is merely 8 months old and the woman is already incubating another one.  I am so jealous.  Anna, her daughter in-law, is due to deliver Jim Bob and Michelle’s first grandchild in little more than a month.  How is this woman getting pregnant so easily?  Can you pass some of your magic fertile Myrtle dust my way Michelle?  How many kids will they end up with?  My money is on 20.  I just pray that Michelle gives birth to a healthy child.  At 42 years of age, she is extremely high risk for genetic defects.  Those are some old eggs!  Ugh…the obsession continues.

theduggars

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Sick

by noelle on March 15, 2009

I am so sick.  I feel like I am swallowing razor blades everytime that I swallow.  My lungs feel so tight, and I cannot breathe through my nose.  So sick.  It all started on Thursday when the sore throat appeared.  I think I am going to have to go to the doctor tomorrow, because I really feel bad.

Not much is new.  We have booked both our honeymoon and Vlad’s brother’s wedding.  I am tres excited to go on vacation.  Really.  So excited.

My shower is coming up on March 29th, and my bachelorette party is on March 27th.  These dates were originally set for the original wedding date, and we decided, instead of changing everything, we would keep these two dates as they are.  I am soooo excited for both!

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Sinus Problems

by noelle on February 13, 2009

I am constantly battling a clogged, stuffy nose and sinuses.  I have tried countless prescription, and over the counter medications to try to alleviate this problem, but nothing seems to help.   I was in the drug store a few days ago, looking for something new to try, and I came accross this:

neti1

I looked at this tea kettle like object and thought, “Hmmm, how interesting!” and I almost bought it, but stopped myself, as I thought I would research it a little bit first.  When I got home, I discovered that this contraption is called a “Neti Pot” and is used to clean out your sinuses.  I was intrigued.  I read countless reviews on this device (and others much like it) and decided that I would give the neti pot a try.  I ended up ordering a porceline version from an online pharmacy:

neti-pot

This one got really good reviews online.  It will arrive today when I am at work, so hopefully I will be able to pick it up today and give it a try.  I am excited, and hopeful that this thing may actually work.  We will see.

In unrelated news, we found out recently that Vlad’s brother’s tour in Afghanistan may be extended, and that he will not be able to attend our wedding.  He is supposed to be the best man at our wedding that is nearly 2 months away.  Needless to say, Vlad and I are not very happy about this fact.  It pretty much sucks.  But with the wedding so close, there is nothing that can be done, except hope for a miracle.  I have emailed the army trying to get some general information about what can be done in a case like this.  They have not responeded yet.

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