Progress?!

So, I've been to the chiropractor 4 times now, I think. It seemed to be helping the headaches, until the last couple days. Now I'm right back to having all the sinus pressure. I want to scream!!!

The truth is if I scream, no one will listen, so I'll just suck it up and deal.

This video pretty much says how the doctors make me feel...

The chiropractor

I've been to one before. When I was in nursing school I had some lower back pain. She adjusted me a few times and gave me exercises to do that would strengthen my core. I really like her, but I still have restrictions and cannot do all those yoga type things right now, so I went to someone else.

My PCP recommended someone who he felt was less "Voodooish" than some of the others we have locally. After doing an exam, he said I am crooked when standing, my jaw deviates to the right, and my neck needs some work, but he thinks I can be fixed in a relatively short time.....PHEW! I hate how chiropractors want you to go 5 days a week for a long time. Who can pay a $25 copay every visit, that many times?!

I got x-rays done, had electric stimulation on my neck and lower back, and then he adjusted me using the ProAdjuster. It's pretty neat.

Anyway, he wants me to get adjusted 3 times a week for a couple weeks and in the meanwhile write down everything I eat. EEK, I don't want to share that information!! I'm trying to eat healthier, but it is a work in progress. I don't want him to see how much I don't eat (I don't eat if I'm not hungry) and how many processed things are in my diet! I know it is bad. That's why I'm working on it!!!!!!!!!

So, we will see how it goes. Hopefully it helps the headaches and fast!

I DO have a brain!

The doctor's office just called to tell me that my brain MRI results were normal!!

I do in fact have a brain (JEFF!) and it does not have cancer!

Sooooo, I guess if you were one of the "Everything will be okay" people, you were right....this time!

Now I am off to see the chiropractor to see what he has to say.

Thank you for all the prayers and support!

The Inscanity begins!

Today was my first ever MRI and I was NERVOUS!

1. They are shoving me into a tube. Am I going to be claustrophic? I don't know. I've never been shoved into a tube before.

2. They are scanning my brain to see if there is cancer there. I think that could make anyone nervous, don't ya think?!

So anyway, I lay down on the table, they give me ear plugs, strapped my head in, I closed my eyes, and they shoved me into the tube. It is a tight squeeze, so I'm not really sure how overweight people get this done. Open MRI maybe?!

Once in, they started the scan. It sounded like a freight train went over my head and then it sounded like someone knocking loudly. These sounds go back and forth for awhile. There is so much loud banging. I actually have a hard time believing they haven't invented a quieter version yet. Someone really needs to get on that.

They did the scan without contrast and then pulled me out, gave me the contrast and shoved me back in to scan some more. It took about 20 minutes.

I did peak once to see just how close the machine was to my face, I can totally see why people would have a problem, it is right there in your face. I was okay, because the ends are open and there is air moving. If it weren't for that, I would've freaked!

Now I wait for the results. Let's hope they say there is a brain in there and it doesn't have any cancer. Fingers crossed!

I quit throwing my tantrum...

just long enough to go see my PCP today. He did a neurologic exam and doesn't feel my headaches are caused by anything serious, but he said he would be stupid to not send me for a scan, with my breast cancer history and all. So, I go for an MRI of the brain, with and without contrast on Thursday to rule out metastatic breast cancer.

He also gave me a muscle relaxer to take at bedtime(in case it is tension) and told me to maybe give the chiropractor a try (in case it is my neck). If none of this works, then we will try something else. At least it is a start.

Whatsup doc?!

Today was my one week post-op appointment with my plastic surgeon and of course I woke up to it snowing. Why wouldn't it snow the day I have to drive over an hour away?!

























By the time I went to leave, I had to push about 2 inches of snow off of my car. It was really coming down fast. I was kinda worried that the slushy roads might get worse and give me a hard time.













Luckily, it slowed way down and the slush that had covered the roads melted. By the time I drove home, the roads were clear and it was only slightly flurrying. Thank goodness!


























So anyway, back to my plastic surgeon appointment....Everything looks good!!!

No fluid accumulated, so there is no regret of leaving my old friend Mr. JP drain out of the picture and I got to find out what went down in the OR. I had been dying to know if she was able to do the revisions without the cadavier tissue and as it turns out, she was. I guess I won't be a member of the "Dead People Skin club" with Kim afterall. :(

She actually used my own tissue to create the sling and then stitch everything down. Now I have to be careful and let everything heal for about 6 weeks, which is an eternity. She recommends I wear an underwire bra to keep everything in place while it heals, no lifting above my head, or pulling anything too heavy. I can however, run the sweeper with my left hand and do things as long as I am careful with the right side. I will be able to feel when it starts to pull on the stitches, so I'll just let that be my guide. I go back in 6 weeks. Pretty easy appointment if you ask me!

Oh and a quick blurb about my headache issue...

They are still here EVERY.SINGLE.DAY!
I am still frustrated and haven't called any doctor about it.
My ENT's office called me to see how my immunologist appointment went.

My ENT is absolutely wonderful. It really is a shame I don't have any allergies and won't be needing him. He is so thorough and really cares about his patients. I spoke with his nurse and filled her in on how the appointment went down and how I am now writing off all doctors. She put me on hold so she could relay the information to the doc and before I knew it he was on the phone. He gave me the name of a good neurologist and said that if it isn't headaches causing my "allergy" symptoms (rather than the allergy symptoms causing the headaches) then he will be left scratching his head. He wants me to see this woman and let him know how it goes.

I haven't made the appointment yet.

Checking in before surgery

Yesterday I went for pre-op with my plastic surgeon. All of my pre-op testing was good, so she drew her plan of action all over my chest in preparation for today.

FYI: Do not wear a v-neck on the day your plastic surgeon is going to draw all over you, just sayin'! I did and ended up having to walk out with my hoodie all zipped up in order to cover all the black marker lines that my shirt did not hide! lol

She said she is going to try to achieve the desired results without having to use the cadavier tissue (or as my friend Kim likes to call it, Dead people skin) as a sling, in order to try to reduce the risk of complications, but it will be there for her in case she needs it. I also may be reunited with my dear friend, Mr. JP drain, UGH!! I really hope I wake up and find out she didn't need to use one, but she said since she will be messing with the capsule it would probably be a good idea. I'll deal with whatever happens, but my fingers will definitely be crossed.

I have to be at the hospital at 11:00 and my surgery is scheduled to start at 1:00.

My sister, Erika wanted to be cool like me and will be having surgery at another hospital today as well. She will be getting another skin graft, some scar revisions, and a hair transplant to make her a new eyebrow. It is a busy day for our family!

To quickly update on my headaches and mood...

The headaches are still here. They are getting worse and are constant.

I am currently on a med strike that started on my bad day. That night I picked up the bag that I keep them all in and whipped it across the room. I picked the bag up off the floor, but haven't taken any of them since. (Don't worry, my tantrum will eventually end and I will resume my compliance.)

So, that's my update. I will check in as soon as I can to let you all know how surgery went. Hopefully the girls will be looking beautiful!

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes...

...but not to say AY-OH, to say I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was one of those days.

I had two appointments.

The first one was with the ophthalmologist to have my left eye checked. He said the nevus is stable, measuring 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm. It looks okay, but mets cannot be ruled out. I am currently on Tamoxifen, which could be keeping it at bay. He said we could do a biopsy, but it would be major surgery, they would have to go in through the front of my eye, and it would cause more problems (vision problems, cataracts, etc) than it's worth. Yeah, I'm not really into all that, so we will continue to watch it. I go back in 3 months.

Appointment number two was with the immunologist. My ENT wanted my immune system checked out since I have all of these "allergy symptoms" and sinus headaches, but my allergy testing was negative. I saw two doctors there (both commented on my crazy eyes). The first one came in and asked me a bunch of questions and the second one came in, sat down, told me he thinks I am having migraines and should see a neurologist, then sent me on my way. Neither one did any type of physical exam at all. I felt like bursting into tears at that very second, but instead I waited till I got to the car. Not only did he pass me off to another doctor, I am still having these unrelenting headaches, that hurt to even move my eyes and I will now have to wait for yet another appointment. It is so frustrating. I'm to the point of throwing in the towel. I want to quit seeing all doctors, quit taking all my medicines, and just let whatever happens, happen.

Surgery is Tuesday. Hoping my mood improves.

Things that make you go HMMMMM

Lately I have noticed a significant change in my short term memory. It is to the point where I will read one of my sticky note reminders in the kitchen, turn around to go do whatever it is, and forget before I hit the bedroom. Well I was talking to my mom about it and she wondered if maybe I was in peri-menopause, because that is how she was when she was there. I came home and started researching the effects of Tamoxifen on cognition and came across this....

http://www.springerlink.com/content/0p12681h108g6339/

The selective estrogen receptor modulator, Tamoxifen (TAM), is one of the most frequently prescribed drugs for the treatment of breast cancer; however, its effects on the cognition of users have not been adequately studied. Although TAM is an effective anti-estrogen that blocks tumour growth in the breast, it could also influence the activity of other target estrogen sites, including the brain. The exact nature of this interaction is unknown.

Methods
A cross-sectional design was used to compare cognitive task performance of two treatment groups: 1) women using TAM for the treatment of early breast cancer (n = 23); and 2) age-matched, healthy women not using TAM (n = 23). All participants were pre-menopausal, and recipients of chemotherapy were excluded from the study.

Results
It was found that TAM users scored significantly worse than controls on tasks of immediate and delayed visual memory, verbal fluency, immediate verbal memory, visuo-spatial ability, and processing speed.

Discussions/Conclusions
Although limited by the lack of baseline data and pre-morbid intelligence measures, the results of this exploratory study suggest that at least in pre-menopausal women, TAM may exert a widespread negative influence on cognitive abilities.

Implications for Cancer Survivors
Larger, randomized, prospective trials are required to confirm these results; however, TAM use in pre-menopausal breast cancer may be associated with cognitive difficulties. Knowledge and understanding of these complications will be important for professionals in communicating both the benefits and risks of TAM use in breast cancer survivors

I talked to my oncology nurse about this and she said they have never had any patients complain about this. She recommended I bring this up when I go see the immunologist, because it could be related to all the sinus headaches, etc. That being said she thinks the benefit of the Tamoxifen far outweighs forgetfulness, if it is indeed the cause.

I'm not sure I agree. It is horrible feeling like I would forget my head if it weren't attached.

Something to research and think about I guess.

WTH?!

Before cancer I never went to the doctor.

After cancer I go all the time and hate it!

For months now I have been dealing with what seems to be allergies. My PCP has me on 4 medications to try to control it, but I'm still miserable. I have a constant pressure headache behind and around my eyes, my eyes go blurry off and on and ache when I look around, my nose constantly runs (clear), my throat is sore from drainage, and my lungs ache (It feels like I'm getting a cold, but never do).

I went to see an ENT.

He sent me for a CT of my sinuses. It showed sinusitis (no infection, just inflammation). I did both inhalant and food allergy testing. All was negative. He doesn't know what the hell is causing all of these symptoms, so he has referred me to an immunologist to have my immune system checked out.

I am so frustrated. What the hell is wrong with me? If it weren't for the constant pressure I would just throw in the towel, but since I am ready to drill holes in my face to relieve this pressure, I won't.

My appointment with the immunologist is Nov. 19th. The same day I go back to the ophthalmologist to have my left eye checked to make sure my nevus is not mets.

I am so stressed.

What is wrong with me?