Wounds

I am awestruck! Last night, through the preaching of His Word, God sat me down, cupped my tear stained face in His hands and tenderly reminded me that He is in control. My wounds, though open and raw, have passed through his sovereign hands. He will dress my injuries and some day when they heal the scars will ever be a reminder of His love for me.

Slight Complication

A few days ago I noticed some redness and swelling in the skin directly below my lower surgery incision.  When I started feeling crummy I passed it off as doing too much.  I don't know how I could have thought that, it's not like I've been doing much of anything...but eat, sleep and rest.  Believe me, I've been taking it easy but figured I had taken one too many trips up and down the stairs.

After the area became more inflamed and tender I figured I better see a doctor.  I saw a doctor yesterday afternoon who said I definitely have an infection but he was pretty sure it had not yet entered into my abdomen.  He was glad I hadn't waited any longer.  I'm now on a multi spectrum antibiotic for 10 days.

As a note for those who are praying for me, I have a recheck appointment on Tuesday in Michigan.  I really would like to be feeling much better by Monday when I head up there.  Brandon will be going with me since Scott is traveling in the South on furlough meetings.   He may just end up doing most of the driving.  Watch out Detroit!

Surgery Results

Thank you all for your faithful prayers for me on Monday, as well as for this week as I recover.

The surgery went well.  It did take longer than expected but I have done well with the recovery period.  I am very thankful to our friend Bonnie from our home church who gave us a place to stay this week.  She even gave up her bed for me so I wouldn't have to walk up stairs.


NOTE: More information about my surgery is included below if you are a man you may wish not to read beyond this point.

I have been dealing with an hormonal imbalance.  During treatment for that I developed severe physical side effects.  My treatment was immediately stopped and I was able to meet with doctors and have several tests done.  Some of that testing ended with a surgery date.

During the exploration part of my surgery the doctor was checking my reproductive organs and was unable to see my uterus.  It was hidden behind two very large ovarian cysts.  After removing the fluid, which looks OK, she proceeded with the exploration.

Many of my pregnancy ultrasounds revealed that I had intra-uterine fibroids, since my uterus is also enlarged this was one of the things for which the doctor was looking.  It does not sound like fibroids were found or visible.  However, each time she touched my uterus, to move my ovaries, etc, it bled, which can be indicative of Adenomyosis.  A condition where the endometrium grows inside the uterine walls.

In two weeks I have my recheck appointment at that time I should know what biopsies and labs revealed as well as more of the plan for further treatment.

Outpatient Surgery

Tomorrow we will be heading up to Michigan.  After we take the children to their grandparents we will head up to the hospital so I can have my pre-op blood work drawn.  And, Lord willing, at 7:15 AM on Monday, July 19th, I will be heading into the surgery room.

Everything is feminine in nature, hence the ambiguity, and a necessary part of any further treatment.  We are praying that the results the doctors are hoping for will be accomplished.  Thank you, in advance, for your prayers for safety and no complications.  I will do my best to have the blog updated once I am out of the hospital.    

Some Answers

After all the tests and exams we have some answers and have a plan to help deal with one of my major health issues.  My blood work came back good, for the most part and we were already aware of one of the things that was not in the normal range.  I will have 2 outpatient procedures done on the 19th that will allow for me to get continued treatment for this one ailment.

I had a stress test, to completely rule out my chest pain as being heart related.  We do not have the results back from that, however, my doctor isn't expecting anything major or he would have been notified already.  We are also waiting for some results back from some normal annual exams.

Though we still don't know the reason of the chest pain I am trusting that God will reveal that to the doctors in His timing.  It would be nice to be free of the pain but thankfully I have learned better to live with it, or at the least, tolerate it.

Thank you again for your prayers.  No doubt God was answering them as he arranged through our doctors office to get every test and exam done that I did in 3 short days.  Truly a miracle, especially the week before a holiday!

Update

Well, my doctor and his staff have done it again.  I had several tests run yesterday both in his office and at the hospital.  Will go back to the hospital this afternoon for more tests.  Tomorrow I will see another doctor to have some things checked.  And will end the day back at my doctor's to get the results of everything.  Please pray that the reason for my physical ailments will be clear and we can get them resolved. 

Seeing Family Doctor Hoping For Some Answers

Yesterday I was pulled off some of my medicines because of complications I am experiencing.  It just so happened (in those God type of "coincidences") that our home church Pastor and his wife were visiting us for the day.  When we found out I could get an appointment with our family doctor for today they offered to bring me home with them.

So long story short I'll FINALLY be seeing my family doctor in person.  We have a great amount of confidence in him and he has been a tremendous help to us over the years.  I am really hoping, and praying, that once he sees me in person today he will know what is causing my pain and other health issues I've been experiencing.  I would greatly appreciate your prayers today as the Lord brings me to mind.  Pray for Dr. C to have wisdom and discernment.  Also pray that if I need to see a specialist I will be able to get in quickly so I can get back with my family sooner. 

Tick Tock

Wow, I really falling back on the Israel blogs. I'll get back to them next week.

Before I tell you about my test results I want to thank you for praying for Sabina. You will remember me mentioning her in a post recently. Scott and I were able to stop in a visit with her for awhile today. She is recovering well from the Gullien Barre syndrome which caused her paralysis. We are very thnakful that she has regained feeling and movement in her feet, legs and hands. She may be released tomorrow from the hospital. We were able to give her a couple of books to read, a coke and cookies to enjoy while she finishes out her stay and continues in her recovery at home.

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After a freezing, literally, it was only 5° C in our van, ride to Montevideo I arrived at the British Hospital to have 6 more vials of blood drawn for some tests our doctor in the States ordered. He tends to be an excellent diagnostician and so we are hoping these tests will be the last and we will finally have an diagnosis for what is causing me the chest pain.

After the lab visit we headed to have my color doppler heart scan done which showed a larger than normal mitral valve coupled with a smaller than normal mitral valve. The sound the doctor heard was from the force of the larger valve closing. The cardiologist said that it is a birth defect and isn't the cause of the chest pain. Otherwise my heart is fine and looks great and is functioning well.

Back to the Hospital Britanico we went to have a recheck appointment to discuss my CAT scan and the labs the Gastroenteroligist had run. All of those were good as well. So the next step is to wait for the labs drawn this morning. Send them, via email, to our doctor in the States and wait for his opinion. That won't be until at least the 14th of July.

I continue to have the pain, though less frequent, as in not every day, all day long. I have a few pain free days followed by several days of pain. I continue to look for a pattern and I'm not seeing anything. I'm going to start keeping a diary of what I do, eat, how stressful the day was, how I slept, etc. to see if a pattern emerges. At this point it's the only thing I know to do.

Without question this mystery has been frustrating. But I'm challenged, and encouraged, by the thought that this is no mystery to the Great Physician. God knows exactly what is happening and why. He is allowing this in my life for reasons not yet known and reasons very clear to us. I'm very thankful to have the Lord helping me through this trial and teaching me to trust in Him more day by day!

Someboday get the umbrella...

it's raining...it's pouring. Fall has definitely arrived here in Uruguay and though the weather today has been very pleasant we have had a few days of rain and cooler temperatures. We need the rain and so we're thankful for it but we sure love to see the sunshine!!!

Not only have we experienced down pours in the weather we are experiencing them in our lives. My health has been drastically affected since late last year. In November I found a large lump in my breast that appeared literally overnight. Thinking it was an infection I waited for it to clear. Eventually seeing a doctor for it and having it checked by ultrasound she was diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease. Wednesday morning I had a mammogram and another ultrasound and received the very good news that it is a cyst and has no signs or markers of being cancerous. The doctor recommended leaving it alone.

In January, I caught a severe intestinal virus that caused me to lose over 20 pounds in just a few days. At that time I began having pressure in my upper abdomen. That pressure changed to a radiating pain that came and went. As well as having increased problems with mitral valve prolapse. Because my sister has thyroid disease I saw an endocronologist. Last week we received the news that all the tests including a thyroid ultrasound came back normal. For which we are very grateful.

The night we returned from that appointment in Montevideo we headed to the ER because my chest pains were nearly constant and were much more severe. Thankfully, the doctor on call that night is our family doctor. He ran an ekg which was normal. I was prescribed Prilosec and a liquid antacid to rule out acid reflux. Though some of the symptoms have lessened the pain is still there and very distinct. From what I am able to describe to the doctor and from his exam he is now trying to rule out a hernia, or other physical abnormality in my stomach or abdomen.

I need to have an abdominal ultrasound and an endoscopy. The ultrasound is scheduled for the 24th of this month and we are waiting for the date on the endoscopy. I also need to see a cardiologist to have my mitral valve checked as well as rule these problems out as being heart related. We would really like for all of this to be much sooner than the end of the month and Scott is going to work on getting the dates moved up.

We have a trip planned to Israel, with our alma mater Ambassador Baptist College, in May and I am concerned about traveling with this pain and problem unresolved.

Scott has taken much of my load so I can rest. He is trying to relieve as much stress and unnecessary responsibilities from me as is possible, so I can have the energy to focus on my family and the kids schooling.

We are also experiencing showers of blessing as we see God meet these medical needs. And as we receive the grace He is giving in this trying time.