Posts Tagged ‘health’

The Good News Is You Don’t Have Any Tumors

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

“The good news,” he says to me, “is you don’t have any tumors.”

I thought he was joking at first, the radiologist, but I could see from his scowl he was serious.

“But you do have other issues going on,” he says slowly, ”that’s for sure.”

Of course I have other issues.  Who doesn’t?  But I assume he’s referring to something other than my garage door compulsion.  I mean, does anyone else drive around the block just to make sure it’s closed?

What?

Just me?

Oh.

“You have acid reflux,” the doctor continues, “which is bit bizarre since that’s something old people like me have, not you.”

My family physician warned me I might have acid reflux.  When I sat on her paper coated padded table a couple days prior and complained about a weird lump in my throat, she said I was describing a text book acid reflux symptom.  But she said I should see a specialist for more tests, just in case.

“What other issues are going on,” I ask.

I could tell he either didn’t want talk or didn’t have time to talk, either way, he was going to talk.  I mean, I just swallowed a bunch of barium for him, the least he could do was talk for me.

“Well,” he begins, “your general practitioner will go over the results with you in detail, but I did discover, in addition to your acid reflux, you have a hernia, an ulcer, and a belly full of harmful bacteria.”  After taking a big breath he continues, “But don’t worry, you’re not contagious.”  And with that, he smiled and walked away.

The nurse told me to get dressed and not to worry.  “Your doctor will go over your results in detail,” she repeats, again.

When I met with my family physician the next day, she sucked her breath through her teeth when she walked in the room where I was waiting before saying, “you have a lot of issues going on.”

“I guess,” I agree.

She pulls out her pad and writes me 6 prescriptions.  I am now popping 20 pills a day, every day, for the next 14 days for acid reflux, a belly full of bacteria, a hernia, and an ulcer. 

And it’s been brutal.  Real.  Brutal.

I’ll spare you all the incredibly gross and incredibly gory medication side effects.

You’re welcome.

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Posted in health | 6 Comments »

30 for 30 Challenge – Day 14

Monday, February 14th, 2011

When David and I were invited to a fundraiser for Children’s Mercy Hospital a few weeks ago, we jumped at the chance to attend the event.  We felt honored to support the state of the art Kansas City medical facility since just months ago, the doctors and nurses who work there helped us through one of the most difficult times in our lives. 

You may remember earlier this year, our 2-year-old son, Latham suffered from severe diarrhea which caused him to rapidly lose more than 10 pounds – a third of his total body weight.  We were terrified when our doctor told us we had to take our baby to Children’s Mercy for tests which included cystic fibrosis and celiac disease.  (If you want to learn more about Latham’s chronic condition, you can click here , here, here, and here.)  But Children’s Mercy Hospital gave us the answers we needed; the answers no one else could; the answers which ultimately helped heal our son.  And the doctors and nurses interacted with us in the most caring, thoughtful and considerate way possible which made the ordeal we were going through manageable.

Our son is now healthy.  But so many other children are not.  And it’s through fundraisers, such as the one we attended Saturday night, that allows children all over the Midwest to receive the healthcare they so desperately need, even if they can’t afford it. 

So I hope you’ll forgive me when I tell you that I broke Kendi’s 30 for 30 Remix Challenge rules for the fundraising gala.  I confess I popped on my party dress – which was not in my 30 for 30 wardrobe – and even bought a new pair of earrings for the festivities.  David and I had a great time and I am happy to report the event raised well over a million dollars.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

BCBG dress, Dillards earrings, Dillards bracelet, Kenneth Cole ring, Target pantyhose, DSW shoes, OPI nail polish, David flowers, Jill the best hairdresser and friend in the world who did my gorgeous hair, Christiane did my beautiful makeup. 

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Posted in 30 for 30 Challenge | 9 Comments »

I’m Losing my Mind.

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

I’m losing my mind.

Completely.

Worrying.

About him.

There’s a haze.  And it’s engulfed me.

Entirely.

I can’t sleep.  I can’t eat.  I can’t breathe.

And yet, I do.

Because it makes others uncomfortable when I don’t.

Or if I say anything other than, “He’s fine.”

But he’s not.

Fine.

He is losing weight.

Again.

Latham.

So, we draw blood.  Collect samples.  And run tests. 

But they can’t figure it out.

The doctors.

And so, more blood.  And more samples.  And more tests.

And still.

He loses weight.

And yet.

 He eats.  And drinks.  And plays.

He laughs.  And sleeps.  And gives kisses.

 But his single symptom  is swallowing him.

Slowly.

And no one knows why.

And as I watch him, helplessly.

I’m losing my mind.

Completely.

 

Editor’s Note:  I wrote this blog weeks ago when I was at my most desperate with Latham’s health.  I didn’t want to share it with you because I was so scared.  And to be honest, I still am.  But I’ve always treated this blog as a journal for our family.  And Latham’s health is something that needs to be chronicled in it.

This is Latham’s second serious and chronic bout with diarrhea in 6 months.  It seems to pop up out of nowhere and ravage his little body for about four weeks.  But really, the only two symptoms of the condition are severe weight loss and chronic diarrhea.  And oddly, as soon as it starts, it stops. 

Doctors have poked and prodded my 2 year old and tested him for everything from Cystic Fibrosis and Leukemia to  Celiac Disease and food allergies.  And they’ve found nothing.  Nothing. 

We have an appointment with a pediatric Gastrointestinal specialist next month and have high hopes he’ll be the one to figure out what exactly this is that’s plaguing our little Latham.

Given all the negative test results, however, our pediatrician is becoming more and more certain Latham may simply have something called Toddler’s Diarrhea.  She says sometimes, toddlers have chronic diarrhea and there’s no real reason for it.  It’s not what he eats.  Its not what he drinks.  And it’s not his surroundings.  It’s just a chronic condition that most toddlers grow out of at some point as they age.

And I hope that’s all it is.  Please, let that be all it is.

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Posted in parenting | 10 Comments »