Hello Everyone,
I don't exactly know where to begin. This week has been insane!! First, I'd like to thank you all for your well wishes on my comprehensive exam. I did go by myself (very challenging) to take the test. I left on Tuesday and took the test on Wednesday. Although it was only 2 1/2 hours to drive each way, it would have been too much for me otherwise. Thank God I had a hotel across the street from the exam room. They let me type for one hour and I had less than 30 seconds for review. I knew the material, but that doesn't mean that I didn't screw up and interchange the words qualitativie and quantitative during my hurried typing and stressed mind time. Wish me luck with the results. It could be several weeks before they decide if I passed or failed.
On Thursday, I went back to my endocrinologist (about an hour each way) and he gave me the news about the growth hormone treatment. Apparently there are other hormone issues too, but we're hoping they will resolve over the next few months. Cushings has been ruled out now because all of the symptoms are secondary to the Growth Hormone Deficiency. Shots everyday forever, but I'm glad to do it if it brings my mind back. He also asked about the extreme vitamin D doses my PCP gave me and I told him I had elected to take the smaller doses every day. I now have to take the strong ones, but for 8 weeks rather than 12 as was written. He also had them up the torsamide (for water and BP) to double what was prescribed because the swelling is so bad. He also added 600 mg calcium twice a day and 1000 mg vitamin D after the 8 weeks of 50,000 units one a week. This will also apparently be forever. We then discussed these blasted hands and he definitely wants me to go to the Reumy for those. Says it's likely both osteo and reumitoid arthrits (sp? on all). This will be at lest 4 months before I can get in. So he added voltaren gel for the knuckles, but I have to clear that with PM on Monday.
I did do the family party last night, but not the one on Monday. It was insane with aunts bring laptops for me to work on and children begging for each other to go play. Almost all of the children ended up at my mother's for last night and today's Easter Egg Hunt....so I'm out of that too....YEA!!! I do worry about Mother though, since she just found out that she has to have a consult with a ortho on Tuesday to possibly do knee surgery and my step-father has a prostate text for very high PSA on Monday. Drama, Drama, Drama!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just hope they will both be OK to travel in May because they have a Hawaiin trip set that they are both looking so forward to. They are even taking my little girl to entertain and possibly one of my sister's children.
I will do my best to keep up and give some words of encouragement over the next week, but I may still be overwhelmed. Keep me in you thoughts and prayers for my PM apt on Monday (since I'm scared of what is going to happen next). I'm sure he's not going to be happy that I had to break down and buy a cane this weekend to be able to walk about without falling. I don't need it everyday, but I do need it for anything that takes much walking at a time....malls, small festivals and things like that.
Just a few more hurdles!!!!!!!
My best to all of you!