Let's see, when last we left, I was diagnosed with simple endometrial hyperplasia. The original dose of Prometrium didn’t work to the point where I ended up in the ER on October 29, with low blood pressure, tachycardia and down two units of blood. I got transported to Markey Cancer Center to see my gyn-oncologist very early the morning of October 29. When I saw him later that day, the doc increased my dosage but also said to think seriously about having a hysterectomy.
After I saw my rheumy on November 17, I went back to the oncologist on December 1 to discuss options. All the way over, my prayer was You know I’m tired of this. You know how I feel. I’m putting this in Your hands. You show me the way. You tell me when I should do this. I couldn’t say the words hysterectomy, so the doc said to do some more thinking and call.
We had just barely turned onto Limestone when my husband said I would have loved to have had children with you, but the most important thing is for me to have you around. I said I feel the same way. Oddly enough, my bionic left shoulder was hurting that day and I got to thinking about my shoulder replacement surgery in 2013. While successful in doing away with 24/7 pain, it was not as successful as it could have been in part because I have cervical spine involvement and in part because the damage had gone on too long before the surgery. But shoulder replacement surgery typically doesn’t kill. The gold standard tests say I don't have cancer.
When we got home that Monday night, I realized that after 103 days (August 20, when I had my endometrial biopsy to December 1), I hadn’t bled at all that day. The increased dosage of Prometrium had begun to work and has continued to do so. I had scheduled a pre-op appointment Christmas week, but when I called and said the meds had kicked in, the doc told me to come back in March unless I got in trouble before then.
God has a wicked sense of humor. I thought the answer to my prayer is you need the surgery; I’m giving you a time of grace to enjoy each other because there’s another dry spell coming after surgery. Now I’m enjoying the benefits of Progesterone and enjoying life!
Of course at Christmas, once my body (and brain) realized I was going to be off and had time to breathe after the last four months, I went into a flare. I caught it early and started Pred but I didn’t feel so hot from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day. My husband's sister and her husband were here from 12/26 until Monday, the 29th, so they got the full monty of what it’s like with me in a flare.
I also realized there is a reason why I’ve been watching my sugar intake. I made some fudge (the same way I do every year) 12/23. Eating the fudge also set off the flare. Once I realized it might be doing it, I told Paul to throw it away. The next day (literally), I could tell the difference.
Then Monday morning, January 5, as I was getting out of the shower, Paul made me an offer I had no intention of refusing. Tell that to my right foot, which missed the 2 inch ledge in the front of the shower. I fell out of the damn thing!
I got up but I’m happy no one was in the house when we were coaching me through it. The cats decided their after breakfast naps were more important than coming to see about Mom (let me spend what they consider too long in the bathroom any other time and I have a dang parade).
I’m walking around like something that rusted in the rain (still but it's better). I didn’t fall on my bionic left arm, but I hit it on the bathtub. And I have a pain in my neck. Ortho says I have a slight rotator cuff tear in righty arm, so I'm back in physical therapy with an MRI in the wings.
Even with all that, I've found the combination of drugs which keeps me in decent condition: 1) inject Humira every ten days; 2) 200 mg Progesterone twice a day; 3) a lower dosage of thyroid replacement; 4) good multi-vitamin; 5) fish oil; 6) 2500 mg D3; 7) cinnamon/chromium; 8) exercise (started slooooowly and kept it up, six days a week.
Y'all take care.
