Yes we make jokes about our Mammograms and they actually used to feel like the garage door had closed down on them. Now it is a must have yearly if you really would like to be a woman who cares about your body. I am heading to get my yearly mammogram and yes I blog about it to remind women around the world to schedule theirs. It might just save your life.
I schedule my GYN exam and my yearly physical within the same week of each other each year so that I do not forget. Then I schedule my Mammogram at my yearly physical to get my referral. That way once a year my body has been through the microscope and I am finished and do not have to worry for another year.
So my rash cleared up thanks to a shot and 14 days of antibiotic. Within a few days it was back and stronger yet.
Luckily I had a scheduled follow up visit with the doctor any ways so I dragged my body in there yesterday.
Trust me, I would have rather have stayed in bed. Every joint in my body aches. The change in weather has not helped.
Our visit was quite interesting as she sat and listened and saw the rash again, noticed that I still had difficulty breathing.
We discussed the blood test that had been drawn for my pre allergy test. I found it odd that it suddenly showed that I was
now allergic to beef, pork and milk…on a severe level. As she put it guess what they are fed…corn…so she felt that it was
not odd at all.
I am now in the process of being tested for a problem called Alpha Gal.
According to http://alpha-gal.org/ :
Lone Star Tick
Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, or Alpha-Gal for short, is a delayed allergy to mammal meat affecting a growing number of the population. This allergy is initially caused by a tick bite. Since the reaction to eating mammal meat is delayed by several hours, the proper diagnosis is often missed or misdiagnosed. People who are afflicted with the Alpha-Gal allergy have to be constantly vigilant about the ingredients they consume, because an allergic reaction can be severe and life-threatening.
By getting the attention of the food service industry, particularly in schools, colleges and universities, and restaurants, sufferers will get relief. Adding beef broth to soup and calling it vegetable soup or adding bacon drippings to gravy can be life-threatening to people with the Alpha-Gal allergy. By including Alpha-Gal allergy information on menus or even more specifically, having ingredient lists available upon request, the constant worry will be eliminated from eating out.
Empower.
AGAA will strive to empower those with this allergy. Living with the Alpha-Gal allergy can be quite stressful, because many activities are planned around food, and it is often almost impossible to know the ingredients in many dishes. This problem can render a simple meal into an anxiety-provoking situation for people with the allergy, because they are very aware of the possibility they could be unknowingly ingesting food that contains an undisclosed allergen. By getting attention for this allergy, it is AGAA’s hope that those affected will be better able to cope with this allergy, due to others’ increased awareness and subsequent conscientiousness regarding food preparation.
Mission Statement
Enlighten. Empower. Eradicate.
The mission of Alpha-Gal Allergy Awareness team is to promote health and ultimately, save the lives of those afflicted with the Alpha-Gal allergy through increased allergy awareness.
Awareness Disclaimer
The materials and information on this page, along with any articles or other links, are for informational and educational purposes, intended to promote awareness and are not, nor intended to constitute or replace, medical or other health science advice or treatment. Alpha-Gal Allergy wareness strives for the information on the page to be accurate, but much of the information is opinion of others, including information contained in articles, so AGAA disclaims any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, as to any matter whatsoever relating to this site. In no event shall AGAA be liable for any indirect, special, incidental, general or consequential damages arising out of any use of or reliance on any content of this website. This is strictly an awareness site and no connection to the medical field is present.
I am now on an antibiotic for the next fourteen days and I had to get another shot. Now I have to go for a series of blood tests and see an allergist.
Perhaps after this I will begin to feel a little better and my body will begin to stop aching. Guess I will never be able to enjoy red meat or pork or dairy again.
There goes my bacon cheeseburgers. Needless to say I have a big pot of homemade chicken noodle soup cooking. My biggest fear is what did they feed the chicken.
Write the scene from three different points of view.
There once was a Woodshop owner whose life had gone astray for many years. His woodshop layed dormant and gathered many a cobweb while the two gnome guards stood out front and weathered the storms and the Wicked and Brutal Tennessee Mother Winter. They would see the Woodshop owner from time to time pass by without a single glance their way. Tears began to fall from their eyes causing them to fade in color over the many years.
Then one day in the Early Summer of 2014, something changed in the Woodshop owner. He was suddenly walking straight toward them with a smile upon his face. Day after day, into the long hours of the night he began to work in the shoppe cleaning and sorting. Tossing out and putting items into big white sacks. Oh how the guards shivered in fear as they anticipated the worst as the Woodshop owner approached with the big broom. He simply moaned and swept as he placed them back in their places after he had given them a clean place to stand. They were encouraged by this new change. Hoping that they were able to stay.
They watched nervously as one day the Woodshop owner and his wife came outdoors with two new gnomes that were fresh in paint and very sharply dressed. They both felt their hearts sink as they viewed the smiles on the two owners faces as they rounded the corner of the main house. Oh, they were not walking toward them at all but to the front portion of the main building where the other gnomes had their posts. Who was having to leave? Would they all be allowed to stay among the plants out there?
Several days past with more and more of the white sacks being loaded out. The Woodshop owner’s wife began to stop often to visit, commenting each time on how nice things were beginning to look to the Woodshop owner’s new beginning to a new life.
During one of the visits, the Woodshop owner’s wife stopped and nealt down to get a closer look at the two of us standing guard on the porch. She simply smiled and continued on to speak with her husband. The following day after leaving they returned and the wife strolled out to the workshop and stopped at the porch area where the two gnomes were guarding. She smiled as she picked up the two and tucked them gently into her arms. The Woodshop owner noticed her and asked where she was heading with his gnomes with a heavy concern in his voice. She softly replied for him not to fret that she would be kind and show lots of love and compassion. She told him that she was not going far away and that they would not be gone long.
She had prepared a work area all lined with a soft surface as she gingerly sat each gnome down to look at each other. She simply said poor babies and disappeared into another room. She sat at the work area for several hours taking a break to allow them to dry in between, rotating between each and snapping photographs to document their transformation.
The Woodshop owner kept coming in to refill his coffee often, and would peek over trying not to let her notice. She would smile and ask him if he wanted to see the progress and he would come running over to comment on each one with a big smile. The two gnomes suddenly felt quite important and quite loved. Within two days every detail was touched up and refreshed and the pair were returned to their prior posts on the porch of the Woodshop to stand guard. They both suddenly felt very important.
The Woodshop owner came out to view their new positions on the porch and was smiling. He kissed his wife. Then he returned back in to the Woodshop, feeling content.
That was the story of the Guard gnomes, the Woodshop owner and his wife.
You discover a letter on a path that affects you deeply. Today, write about this encounter. And your twist? Be as succinct as possible.
The letter read that he had left because of his PTSD. He knew how much his crying out at night was upsetting her and he did not want to hurt her any more.
He loved her with all of his heart and owed her every thing. He did not feel it was fair to make her suffer the way that he did each night in his mind as he relived his war days.
As I turned the envelope over I could see drops of tears on the front with slight drips of mascara.
On the bottom, there was an impression of a kiss with a scribbled note that said I will find you.
Sometimes we read things on others Facebook posts that were not necessarily meant for us but the point is taken anyways.
Today was one of those days as I glanced upon my wall and saw a post about Motherless by Choice. It hit a nerve with me and hurt.
If I could be anywhere today just for a fleeting moment in time it would be to sit next to both of my daughters just for a few minutes of their busy lives.
To be able to give them a hug, a big kiss and tell them that I truly do love them. How proud I am of them and their success in life.
I know that there are scars in the past life and that they hold them tight. My heart aches over this and you can’t go back and erase time or get a redo.
Life is a learning curve. We learn from our mistakes. We get stronger as we get older and we learn what not to do again.
I have asked forgiveness and was not allowed to have it. From that one must go one with life. It does not help the pain.
As I sit here and shed tears it does no good. I realize this. Only a head ache will occur.
Just a few minutes to hug my grand children would feel so good. I am not getting any younger and I know that my health is not getting any better either.
These past few years have really taken a toll on me and as I reflect back it is useless to comprehend on what could have been different. It can’t change now.
Little do they know that my heart is always with them and that my thoughts follow them through their journey of life. Even if it is only on Facebook or an occasional text.
Perhaps some day things will be different. I pray every night that God will soften the pain for all three of us.
Switch of medications today was quite interesting as taking off from minipress and seroquel combo with ambien to a half of zoloft. The cocktail mixture did increase his appetite and make him fall to sleep right away but he only slept for a few hours.
Zoloft has kept the appetite which is great and he has gone to bed two hours later. Time will tell how long he sleeps. Hopefully all night with no problems or nightmares. March 4th can’t get here soon enough for the consultation so we know what we are facing and can prepare an accurate plan of attack.
Must ask about H-86 as an alternative instead of chemo if it comes to that. Although it is experimental could it possibly be less expensive than chemo? I guess if they will only pay 80% of a mask that he has to have for his CPAP machine and the Machine then goodness knows they would not pay the full shot for anything to do with this either.
During a visit to the Surgeon it was recommended that he be tested for Prostate Cancer with a blood test called PSA. It tests the area between the two testies since the physical tests that doctors do to the patient can not determine the findings in this area. We are still waiting to hear the results on the findings. It has been almost a week.
I have been praying that it will just be a simple procedure of laser and then a plastic surgeon to do corrective surgery following.
God please hear my prayer that the other tests come back good if it be your will.
Saturday Log – He was up early as usual. Woke me looking for his aspirin and was a tad grouchy but then became very happy after the aspirin kicked in. Has been in a good mood since.
Sunday Feb- 23 He has a vision (half dreaming) that there are clouds around him with children smiling and his father smiling and looking at him. He asks me to take his temperature and it shows as a low grade temp. I wait for an hour and take again. The thermometer suddenly reads the minimum reading. No matter what I do to it, I can’t get it to read.
He does not tell me about his dream. I ask him two different times, trying to stay calm to let me take him to the emergency room and both times he said that he needs a nap. He suddenly appears in my office with his coat on and states he is ready to go.
We spend from noon till 7PM with a heart monitor and two IV’s later, I get to bring him home. When we had arrived, his blood pressure was 145/84. That is really high for him. His temp was low grade but not as low as my thermometer. 96.7 at the er. We came home and I prepared Chicken with garlic, stewed tomatoes, spinach and bowtie macaroni so that I could pack a few more vitamins in him. He did eat.
Monday- Getting him to eat Special K breakfast bars has been wonderful. (Great invention) He had the chicken dish for lunch. Much better mood although he is still tired. I am exhausted so I am sure he is.
Wednesday- He has managed to sleep a little longer than he usually does so this is good. Quiet day today. Lots of energy today and has a good appetite. Spirits are up and down throught the day. Not sleeping well at night. He managed to polish off most of the left over Chinese food from Chopsticks.
Thursday – We are up super early to fit our showers in before we head to see the Lung Specialist. Hubby seems to like this doctor a lot. He has a very heavy European accent and yet his bed side manner is such that you feel right at home and comfortable with him right away. It helps that he can tell hubby that he also sleeps with a C-Pac machine and the setting is almost the same as his.
Interesting discussion while in the office today. Melanoma is the only cancer that can not be traced back to tobacco or it’s use.
We grabbed an open hot roast beef sandwich with veggie at https://www.facebook.com/mosssoutherncooking. Have never had anything but that sandwich there. Why change a great thing…
Tonight I made him Shrimp Scampi since that is what he began to think about on the way home from the doctor. All I could think about was how full I was from lunch.
Tomorrow he was supposed to travel to Nashville for the VA for an appointment but today has really tired him and we will reschedule that appointment since it was not related to the illness to a later date when we are finished with all of the doctor appointments.
We only know it is sun exposure or radiation exposure. We only know that it is stage III but not which stage III.
T1a to T4a, N1a or N2a, M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness, but it is not ulcerated. It has spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes near the affected skin area, but the nodes are not enlarged and the melanoma is found only when they are viewed under the microscope. There is no distant spread.
Stage IIIB
One of the following applies:
T1b to T4b, N1a or N2a, M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness and is ulcerated. It has spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes near the affected skin area, but the nodes are not enlarged and the melanoma is found only when they are viewed under the microscope. There is no distant spread.
T1a to T4a, N1b or N2b, M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness, but it is not ulcerated. It has spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes near the affected skin area. The nodes are enlarged because of the melanoma. There is no distant spread.
T1a to T4a, N2c, M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness, but it is not ulcerated. It has spread to small areas of nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor, but the nodes do not contain melanoma. There is no distant spread.
Stage IIIC
One of the following applies:
T1b to T4b, N1b or N2b, M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness and is ulcerated. It has spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes near the affected skin area. The nodes are enlarged because of the melanoma. There is no distant spread.
T1b to T4b, N2c, M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness and is ulcerated. It has spread to small areas of nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor, but the nodes do not contain melanoma. There is no distant spread.
Any T, N3, M0: The melanoma can be of any thickness and may or may not be ulcerated. It has spread to 4 or more nearby lymph nodes, OR to nearby lymph nodes that are clumped together, OR it has spread to nearby skin or lymphatic channels around the original tumor and to nearby lymph nodes. The nodes are enlarged because of the melanoma. There is no distant spread.
Our next step is to find out which category that he fits into:
T stands for tumor (how far it has grown within the skin and other factors). The T category is assigned a number (from 0 to 4) based on the tumor’s thickness (how far down it has grown). It may also be assigned a small letter a or b based on ulceration and mitotic rate, which are explained below.
N stands for spread to nearby lymph nodes (bean-sized collections of immune system cells, to which cancers often spread first). The N category is assigned a number (from 0 to 3) based on whether the melanoma cells have spread to lymph nodes or are found in the lymphatic channels connecting the lymph nodes. It may also be assigned a small letter a, b, or c, as described below.
The M category is based on whether the melanoma has metastasized (spread) to distant organs, which organs it has reached, and on blood levels of a substance called LDH.
There are 2 types of staging for melanoma:
Clinical staging is based on what is found on physical exam, biopsy/removal of the main melanoma, and any imaging tests that are done.
Pathologic staging uses all of this information, plus what is found during biopsies of lymph nodes or other organs if they are done.
The pathologic stage (determined after the lymph node biopsy) may actually be higher than the clinical stage (determined before the lymph node biopsy) if the biopsy finds cancer in new areas. Doctors use the pathologic stage if it is available, as it gives a more accurate picture of the extent of the cancer, but in many cases lymph node biopsies are not needed.
They have come a long way with modern medicine and laser sugeries have made a huge difference in the various techniques that are used today.
This we will find out after the March 4th Visit.
Next week I will start Part II of the findings.
Till then eat healthy, be loving and be kind to those around you.
My neighbor is very supportive of his son. I have had many posts on my blogs about the family previously if you search through my two years of blogging and you come across anything to do with MikeFest. They are the founders of that program.
Their son is in a group that is called Eye Tooth. This band plays not only locally but across the state of Tennessee. They have been in a competition recently and have required people to vote for them.
Right now their standings are looking rather good.
I have watched this young man grow up and be a part of not only this band but also this community. He is a good role model for our youth and should be supported.
Since June our lives have been in a small tornado of whirls here and there. Mostly we have been to various doctors offices to spend our days with appointments.
It took from June till December for hubby to get cleared for a double hernia operation and a blockage in the private area. Would have been November but he took ibuprofen not knowing that it is the same as aspirin. So December it was, just a few days prior to Christmas.
He sat on ice packs and followed the doctor’s orders and was semi mending fine. On to next doctor.
In January he had part of the inside of his mouth removed by the lower lip and chin area. A few stitches that he called a caterpillar on the top of his lip and we were told that we were doing good. It had been pre-cancer cells and that it was good that he had come in to have it done.
The day that we went to have his stitches removed it felt like the world had just been swirled around in a circle for us.
It was the first time I have ever seen tears come to my husbands eyes in a doctor’s office as they called me into the exam room.
The doctor told us that the results showed sun or radiation damage and that he was looking at stage 3 cancer.
Now the appointments are being made to travel on a regular basis to Nashville TN where we will be seeing specialists at Vanderbilt Hospital.
I have the crying down to just in my sleep now so life is better.
Where we go from here is totally in Gods hands and lots of prayers. The doctors there are some of the best in the nation.
Trying to blog or do anything right now is an effort. I know that I must push on and be strong.
I am grateful for wonderful and comforting friends who are supportive through this and we both have wonderful family who are with us through all of it.
With time and prayer we will concur this and life will get better. I have the faith.
Lessons learned…
Love your spouse each day and appreciate that they are here.
Do not take any form of aspirin or ibuprofen if you are due to have surgery for a month prior.
Tell us about a time you found out after the fact that you’d been mistaken and you had to eat a serving of humble pie.
Photographers, artists, poets: show us REGRET.
_________
Participating in NaBloPoMo? Head to BlogHer’s NaBloMoPo Central for more prompts, inspiration, and motivation to help you post every day — in November and beyond! (Not participating? Why not? Get posting!)
It took me an entire day of reading this prompt to consider writing about it.
I do admit when I am wrong all of the time. That was not the problem. To write about it was.
There are already enough negative things in the world without adding one more.
Here are what a few other Daily Prompt Writers had to say:
What does love mean to you?
We talk about love all the time, but rarely do we sit down and think about what it is.
How our behavior helps us get more or less of the kind of love we desire.
How does platonic love differ from romantic love?
How does the love we get from a parent differ from the love we get from a friend?
Or a dog?
Is love a feeling or a set of behaviors?
My Daily Prompt Blog 