It's Your Time To Sparkle

This week has been full of appointments. Some were consultations and others were procedures. I have never been known to be strong on patience. My career ended in a project management role which helped me learn to look at a situation and create a series of steps to reach the end goal. I have used that in accomplishing goals, as well as surviving cancer in 2001. With that being said, once I saw my biopsy results on the medical charts from my health provider, I immediately started organizing what steps I needed to take. I reached out to local friends who had experience cancer and asked for referrals to good surgeons and oncologists.

My consultation to receive the results was set for Tuesday. Monday morning, I started calling the different doctor’s offices. I could not set up an appointment without a referral. So I called the number on my consultation notice and asked for a referral. She recognized I liked to be in control and offered for me to come in Monday afternoon, rather than wait until Tuesday. I was impressed with the procedure they have in place. The nurse navigator will be with me throughout the entire process. Kinda like a project manager. She scheduled all the appointments I needed and issued referrals.

Sleeping has been a bit of a challenge this week. So, rather than tossing and turning in bed, I get up and craft. This helps me get my mind focused on something other than my medical issues. I did an early morning live video on my facebook page where I enhanced a tray to use for my wine bottles and glasses on an upcoming girls trip; made an 18″ door hanger for my front door; and a video to share with people who request one of my Try Me Kits for my crafting supplies. I am grateful for my ability to craft. A friend offered me some yarn so I could knit or crochet while going through this process. I tried that once and the scarf I was trying to make, turned into a bowl. I do not think I have the patience for it right now.

My first appointment was an MRI with and without contrast set up for Friday morning at 8:00. This meant an IV, but first they had to test my blood to ensure my kidneys could handle the contrast without a problem. Let me tell you, I have never had a Breast MRI and it was an experience. Laying flat on my stomach with my girls in these two holes was one thing. The other was, I am not a small person, and when the MRI machine tried to slide over my buttocks, it was challenging. LOL. After several adjustments, the mechanism finally came to rest in a position that would eliminate any possibility of me moving or escaping. I should have gotten the hint of the level of noise the machine would make when they placed ear plugs in my ears. Even with the ear plugs, it was still loud. There were sounds like two different warning sirens and then loud thumping noises. When the sounds stopped, the silence was a little eerie. Now remember, I had earplugs in. The technician would ask a question through speakers and I was supposed to understand her. Not!. Eventually an hour later it was over and not too soon.

The next appointment was Friday afternoon with a Genetics Counselor. We discussed a thorough history of my and my families’ medical issues. Also discussed was how broken genes can be passed down and how they affect different possibilities for future issues. I was given the option to have one of 3 genetics tests or to decline having the tests at all. My husband attended this with me and we discussed the options and decided to have them test for 70 different possible genes. This would help the oncologist to determine the best treatments as well as let us know of any potential issues that might arise. If I have broken genes, my children have a 50% chance of having the same broken gene passed down to them. If someone suffers with anxiety, I would not recommend the full 70 gene test. My daughter actually does not want to know the results.

So, three needles later, my day was done. Now to move on to the meeting with the surgeon on Monday. I am trying to be patient but I wish I could have met with all of them immediately. I have several trips planned over the next few months and would like to know if I need to make changes. In the middle of all of this, my husband has been diagnosed with an issue with one of his eyes, and will need surgery in August. When it rains, it pours……