Today I had no energy. I slept until 10 am. I felt like I was always in a fog. I felt like I had trouble seeing. The fog was in both eyes. Nate was being a stinker so he lost his privilege to go swimming so he was stuck hanging with me. I went and poked around Target and stayed clutched to the shopping cart. When we returned to Silverthorne to watch Hans and Zane swim, I was thankful to just sit and watch. I think if I would have let myself, I would have fallen asleep.
Amazing how the days do vary. I want to stay up and watch the Spartans game against the Badgers and the Rangers against the Cardinals, but I think I'm just going to go to bed and find out the results in the morning. Just so tired today....
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Appointment with the neurosurgeon
This week I got my appointment set up for my consultation with the neurosurgeon. It isn't until 2 Nov. This gives me time to get all the things I need together for him. I have to pick up a CD of my MRI. I have to wonder if I can read/view any of it.
It has been an interesting week physically. I had two days where I would swear my eyesight was great. I also had three days where I tolerated low grade headaches. I've had moments when I couldn't sleep at night several evenings.
I'm doing my best at staying as calm and relaxed as possible in hopes that I can stay as strong as possible. I will try my best to relax this weekend as well. :)
It has been an interesting week physically. I had two days where I would swear my eyesight was great. I also had three days where I tolerated low grade headaches. I've had moments when I couldn't sleep at night several evenings.
I'm doing my best at staying as calm and relaxed as possible in hopes that I can stay as strong as possible. I will try my best to relax this weekend as well. :)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Macroprolactinoma
Well, I learned what type of tumor I have. Dr. B did some blood tests and they showed that the tumor is causing a release of prolactin by the pituitary gland. This should technically cause my breasts to leak, but that has never happened. All I can say, I don't want that to start happening.
I've been trying to learn all the new medical terms. The ophthalmologist told me I had bitemporal hemianopsia because I was losing my peripheral vision. He told me it most likely was caused by a pituitary tumor pressing on the optic nerves. After doing some reading, I know this is a common tumor, but in most patients, it never manifests itself where it needs to be removed. I"m just special.
There are so many questions still that need to be answered. I am hopeful that a phone call will occur on Monday so I can get the next appointment set up. My gut says this is going to move fast, but we'll see.
We are spending the weekend in the mountains and have had a great, relaxing time. I mentioned to Hans on the drive up that my right eye was bothering me more than normal (really my new normal). Zane heard this and asked what I was talking about. I told both boys about Siddy, that I'd be in the hospital a few days, then I'd get to come home. Pretty much didn't phase either of them. I don't think they realize what is really going to happen, but we'll talk about it again soon, I'm sure.
Siddy, your days are numbered.
I've been trying to learn all the new medical terms. The ophthalmologist told me I had bitemporal hemianopsia because I was losing my peripheral vision. He told me it most likely was caused by a pituitary tumor pressing on the optic nerves. After doing some reading, I know this is a common tumor, but in most patients, it never manifests itself where it needs to be removed. I"m just special.
There are so many questions still that need to be answered. I am hopeful that a phone call will occur on Monday so I can get the next appointment set up. My gut says this is going to move fast, but we'll see.
We are spending the weekend in the mountains and have had a great, relaxing time. I mentioned to Hans on the drive up that my right eye was bothering me more than normal (really my new normal). Zane heard this and asked what I was talking about. I told both boys about Siddy, that I'd be in the hospital a few days, then I'd get to come home. Pretty much didn't phase either of them. I don't think they realize what is really going to happen, but we'll talk about it again soon, I'm sure.
Siddy, your days are numbered.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
A little news....
I know that my surgery will be in Colorado Springs. I know that one of the doctors associated with Colorado Springs Neurological will be doing the procedure. It will probably happen within the next four weeks because I am having the vision issue. Since Siddy is causing a loss in quality of life, they want to get it fixed as soon as possible.
I told Dr. B that I had named it. When I told him what it was, he laughed and thought it was very clever. Thank you again CS.
I wish I knew more about how long I might be out but I don't. Yes I know, personal and family first, then job. I can't help it, I love my job. I still wake up every morning excited to go to it. Crazy! I think the best time is during EI, when that kid comes in and can't quite get a topic figured out but after struggling a few times on the board, it finally clicks (and you hear the sound!), it makes me smile. Goofy I know.
I told Dr. B that I had named it. When I told him what it was, he laughed and thought it was very clever. Thank you again CS.
I wish I knew more about how long I might be out but I don't. Yes I know, personal and family first, then job. I can't help it, I love my job. I still wake up every morning excited to go to it. Crazy! I think the best time is during EI, when that kid comes in and can't quite get a topic figured out but after struggling a few times on the board, it finally clicks (and you hear the sound!), it makes me smile. Goofy I know.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Beginning
So much has happened in such a short period of time.
On or around Wednesday, 21 September 2011, I noticed a film in my right eye. At least that is what I thought it was. I'd rub my eye (yeah, I know) but whatever was in there wouldn't clear. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for Friday, 30 September 2011, so I figured I'd talk to Dr. B about it.
I did, and he thought it might be allergies since my blood results had indicated that my white blood cells were working overtime fighting allergies. He gave me something to help fight the allergies with orders to let him know in a couple of weeks if things didn't change. I casually asked him if it would be OK to go to an eye doc and he said yes.
I called my eye doc later that morning and got an appointment for Tuesday, 4 October 2011. The time was before I was scheduled to give the Science Final but the receptionist said it would only last 30 minutes.
I arrived at the appointment early so I could out the obligatory paperwork (I hadn't been to see him since 2004). I go through all the normal "eye" tests: color blindness, peripheral vision, distance, depth perception, etc. After Dr. D reviewed my results, he thought I'd not done the peripheral test seriously or something was done incorrectly. I went to complete it again and gave him the same results. He then had me do a fancier peripheral vision test and this one came with a print out showing what I saw. Clearly it showed that I was not seeing well and it wasn't in one eye but both. At this point, it is waaaay past the 30 minute mark so I am getting a little concerned. Dr. D comes back in and tells me I have something wrong. I can't remember the fancy medical name, but basically I am losing my peripheral vision. He told me that in 95% of all cases, this is due to a tumor growing on the pituitary gland and it is pressing on my optic nerve, thus the lost of vision. This made sense to me. He called my doc, Dr. B, to get an MRI of my head scheduled. He asked me if I was OK. I told him I was because I didn't know anything about what was going on so I couldn't worry about anything yet.
Dr. B called me that evening to see if I had gotten my MRI scheduled. I had. He told me this is not common and he only sees this diagnosis about once every 2 or 3 years. I still wasn't worried, I didn't know much, but I decided to start with some Internet research.
One of the best sites I have found with good information is the Pituitary Network Association (www.pituitary.org). This site said that it is estimated that 1 in 5 people have a growth on their pituitary but most never manifest major symptoms that require removal (like vision loss).
My MRI was Friday, 7 Oct 2011. I slid into the closed tube and simply relaxed, listening to the sounds of the machine. All was good but I didn't enjoy the injection of dye. No metallic taste for me, but the injection was uncomfortable. The nurse said my doc would have the results after 48 hours. I thought about it in my head and said, hopefully by Wednesday.
Monday, 10 Oct 2011, I had the day off from work while the rest of my family went to school or work. I did some things around the house, a little cleaning, and some work on the course I am teaching. I didn't fell too bad, other than my normal tired, and that had started about 4 or so months ago.
Tuesday, 11 Oct 2011, I woke with an incredibly sore throat and I knew I had Strep. It made sense because of all going on. I emailed in sick and called Dr. B's office to get an appointment and meds. In a way, this was a good thing. Yep, I felt horrible, needed that antibiotic prescription, but it allowed Dr. B to let me read the MRI results instead of listening on the phone. I kept reading large sellar mass .... measuring 2.8 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm. I knew I had to learn some big fancy medical terms to better understand what was going on. I understood volume. That growth/tumor/doodah was big, in my head, and didn't need to be there. Hence, to keep it in perspective and make it understandable, I decided it was about the size of a key lime. Now, for those of you who don't know, the pituitary gland is about the size of a pea. Pretty darn small for the most important of glands in your body (he's known as the master gland). I just pictured a key lime glued to a pea. Holy crap, this thing is huge! OK, still not really panicking, I don't know what the future holds other than, this thing has got to go! Dr. B put the request in for his favorite neurologist (he warned me they tend to be a bit arrogant but I can see that, since they get to go poking around in your skull with sharp tools).
This is all I know. I have something in my head that can change my life forever. It also explains so much that never had explanations. This possibly affected my ability to get pregnant. If so, I wouldn't have my two squirrels I love so dearly. I am not mad, but I can't say I am excited to have a tumor in my head. At least I know its there, and it needs a name. My old college friend CS suggested Siddhartha. I had to look that up (yeah, I need to read more!) and I think it is perfect. (Siddhartha means pathway to enlightment). It fits well, so Siddy, welcome to my head and I can't wait to see you go!
To be continued.....
On or around Wednesday, 21 September 2011, I noticed a film in my right eye. At least that is what I thought it was. I'd rub my eye (yeah, I know) but whatever was in there wouldn't clear. I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for Friday, 30 September 2011, so I figured I'd talk to Dr. B about it.
I did, and he thought it might be allergies since my blood results had indicated that my white blood cells were working overtime fighting allergies. He gave me something to help fight the allergies with orders to let him know in a couple of weeks if things didn't change. I casually asked him if it would be OK to go to an eye doc and he said yes.
I called my eye doc later that morning and got an appointment for Tuesday, 4 October 2011. The time was before I was scheduled to give the Science Final but the receptionist said it would only last 30 minutes.
I arrived at the appointment early so I could out the obligatory paperwork (I hadn't been to see him since 2004). I go through all the normal "eye" tests: color blindness, peripheral vision, distance, depth perception, etc. After Dr. D reviewed my results, he thought I'd not done the peripheral test seriously or something was done incorrectly. I went to complete it again and gave him the same results. He then had me do a fancier peripheral vision test and this one came with a print out showing what I saw. Clearly it showed that I was not seeing well and it wasn't in one eye but both. At this point, it is waaaay past the 30 minute mark so I am getting a little concerned. Dr. D comes back in and tells me I have something wrong. I can't remember the fancy medical name, but basically I am losing my peripheral vision. He told me that in 95% of all cases, this is due to a tumor growing on the pituitary gland and it is pressing on my optic nerve, thus the lost of vision. This made sense to me. He called my doc, Dr. B, to get an MRI of my head scheduled. He asked me if I was OK. I told him I was because I didn't know anything about what was going on so I couldn't worry about anything yet.
Dr. B called me that evening to see if I had gotten my MRI scheduled. I had. He told me this is not common and he only sees this diagnosis about once every 2 or 3 years. I still wasn't worried, I didn't know much, but I decided to start with some Internet research.
One of the best sites I have found with good information is the Pituitary Network Association (www.pituitary.org). This site said that it is estimated that 1 in 5 people have a growth on their pituitary but most never manifest major symptoms that require removal (like vision loss).
My MRI was Friday, 7 Oct 2011. I slid into the closed tube and simply relaxed, listening to the sounds of the machine. All was good but I didn't enjoy the injection of dye. No metallic taste for me, but the injection was uncomfortable. The nurse said my doc would have the results after 48 hours. I thought about it in my head and said, hopefully by Wednesday.
Monday, 10 Oct 2011, I had the day off from work while the rest of my family went to school or work. I did some things around the house, a little cleaning, and some work on the course I am teaching. I didn't fell too bad, other than my normal tired, and that had started about 4 or so months ago.
Tuesday, 11 Oct 2011, I woke with an incredibly sore throat and I knew I had Strep. It made sense because of all going on. I emailed in sick and called Dr. B's office to get an appointment and meds. In a way, this was a good thing. Yep, I felt horrible, needed that antibiotic prescription, but it allowed Dr. B to let me read the MRI results instead of listening on the phone. I kept reading large sellar mass .... measuring 2.8 x 2.2 x 2.0 cm. I knew I had to learn some big fancy medical terms to better understand what was going on. I understood volume. That growth/tumor/doodah was big, in my head, and didn't need to be there. Hence, to keep it in perspective and make it understandable, I decided it was about the size of a key lime. Now, for those of you who don't know, the pituitary gland is about the size of a pea. Pretty darn small for the most important of glands in your body (he's known as the master gland). I just pictured a key lime glued to a pea. Holy crap, this thing is huge! OK, still not really panicking, I don't know what the future holds other than, this thing has got to go! Dr. B put the request in for his favorite neurologist (he warned me they tend to be a bit arrogant but I can see that, since they get to go poking around in your skull with sharp tools).
This is all I know. I have something in my head that can change my life forever. It also explains so much that never had explanations. This possibly affected my ability to get pregnant. If so, I wouldn't have my two squirrels I love so dearly. I am not mad, but I can't say I am excited to have a tumor in my head. At least I know its there, and it needs a name. My old college friend CS suggested Siddhartha. I had to look that up (yeah, I need to read more!) and I think it is perfect. (Siddhartha means pathway to enlightment). It fits well, so Siddy, welcome to my head and I can't wait to see you go!
To be continued.....
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)