Thursday, August 27, 2009

MRI was.....NORMAL!

That's right! I got a message on my machine today saying "Your MRI was normal, if you're still having problems you can come back for a follow up."

Thank you God!!!! That's who I'd really love to thank. I mean, I still don't know what's wrong with me- but at least I know what's NOT wrong with me, at least at this very moment!
Praise God!

I can't quite get my head around it. I have an idea about what I think is going on (the ocular migraine theory), so I might eventually follow up with the neuro-ophtomologist but it is so reassuring to hear that you have a normal MRI.
Thank you to all who have prayed.
Love you guys!!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Thank God that's over!

I can tell you right now that I hate MRI's. Hate hate hate! They don't hurt but they make you feel trapped and they make ridiculous amounts of noise. Plus you can't move a muscle the entire time you're in there (which is about 40 minutes!)
Anyway, I got my brain 'results' on DVD. Obviously I don't know what I'm looking at but the neurologist will explain what she finds to me hopefully very, very soon. I am going to be calling her tomorrow to set up a follow-up appointment.
As far as my brain goes it seems normal enough to me. I don't see any huge white mass or anything. On some shots there are some small white dots which could be totally normal or could be something significant...I don't know I guess we'll find out soon. I just want to know really.
I will keep you updated on when my 'results appointment' is. Thanks for reading guys. Please continue to pray.
Love,
D

Blessings.

Well here it is. Today I have the first major test of my entire life done...at 3:15 pm. The biggest test I've ever had done, up until today, was blood work. As some of you know, I'm not crazy about doctors or anything medical in nature. I can't stand the idea of someone looking and analyzing my brain. I mean, it's MY brain. You only get one. I guess ignorance is bliss to an extent. It's like, I know something is going on- but I'm not sure I want to know what it is. I just want to know what it is not. Does that make sense?
I'm nervous about today, but not scared. It's just a test after all. I won't get the results back today. I'm hoping to get the results by the end of the week so I don't have to think about it all weekend. I know I'll be scared to death for that appointment. No doubt.
I've actually been doing fine today. I have cried just a little- after reading the comments people have been sending me on Facebook. I posted a quick thing saying I was getting an MRI today and it really made me feel better reading that people were praying and thinking of me. I normally read that kind of stuff and I think- yeah right I bet they won't pray. It's just a pleasantry. But I truly hope that these people really are praying. And for some reason just hearing someone write "my love is with you" is extremely touching to me today. I know the MRI isn't a painful test. I know I won't be hearing anything back today. But this is extremely scary for me. I think it would be scary for anyone.
I want to talk about how blessed I am today. I have lived almost 27 years with absolutely zero health problems. I have never been admitted to a hospital. I've never had one single surgery. I've never been poked or prodded, I've never had to worry about my health. I have had two beautiful children that, so far, have been perfectly healthy. I have a wonderful husband that loves me- and as he has recently said to me, "Anyone problem you have is OUR problem." And that's truly how he feels. He would be with me through thick and thin. He would lovingly take care of me, if that's what I needed. He is my best friend. God couldn't have blessed me more.
I have great insurance that, thank God, is completely paying for my MRI so I don't have to worry about the cost. We have a roof above our heads and a bed to sleep in. We have food to eat and we have each other. And I have my family and friends, that, despite all of my shortcomings, actually really do love me. Amazingly. :p

I have so much to be thankful for. Instead of thinking how unfair it is to have to have these kind of tests at such a young age, I need to remind myself how BLESSED I am already. So so so so so unbelievably blessed.
I love you guys.

Dena

Monday, August 24, 2009

MRI scheduled!

Finally! I am now scheduled to have my MRI this Wednesday at 3:15 pm! This is at a place where it should be 100% covered, so that's a relief! Keep me in your prayers!
I did some research on the spot in my eye- which is difficult to explain, therefore difficult to find information on. Interestingly, though, I found it to be remarkably similar to something called a "scintillating scotoma" which is an extremely common visual aura that presents itself before a migraine. The main difference between that and what I have is that scintillating scotomas go away rather quickly whereas mine has stuck around. Obviously I haven't been having headaches, so I looked up 'ocular migraines' which are basically pain-free headaches that cause all the visual symptoms of a classic migraine (which, I might add, can also include things like tingling). From there I did find a group of people on medhelp.org that have almost ALL of my visual symptoms, to a "T." All of these people had normal MRI results and some have since been diagnosed with "persistent visual aura" as a result of ocular migraines. So who knows, I might be onto something. I did read several women who said that it gets obviously worse during hormone fluctuations (periods/childbirth/bc pills/menopause). My symptoms DID start shortly after the birth of my first child. So, again- I might be onto something.
I guess we'll get a lead after the results of my MRI come back. In any case, keep me in your prayers guys!

Love,
D

Got the pictures and dealing with MRI's...

Well, we got our beach pics! If you look on the side of my page you'll see one of my favorites! It has been so hard to pick the ones we want, so we're still sorting all that out.
I had an MRI set up for this Monday at the hospital- until I called my insurance company and found out how much we'd be paying to get it done at the hospital. So I had to cancel that appointment and I'm currently in the process of scheduling the MRI at a private imaging center (where it would be 100% covered by insurance). Definitely worth it!
Update on health- tingling has definitely decreased, but the spot in my eye(s) remains the same. Thankfully it hasn't gotten worse. Please continue to pray that it will go away completely. I really have nothing else to rely on but God.
I am still very scared although obviously most of the time I put on a brave face. I have moments of anxiety/depression that hit me at unexpected times. I am having trouble with trusting God as well. Please keep all of this in mind when you pray.

-D

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Appointment over!

Well I went to my neuro appointment today and it went exactly the way I thought it would go. I went in , explained my symptoms, and the doctor basically said that it COULD be MS, so she wants to take a look at my brain. And if they can't find anything there, they'll work their way down my spinal cord. Fun times.
I don't think I have MS. Although, with my symptoms, at this point it seems like a likely option. But I have met so many people online with my symptoms and all of them had an MRI to check for MS and it came up clear. I am willing to bet that will happen with me.
But, if I DO have MS, then God will give me the strength to deal with that. This week they will call and schedule my MRI which should happen sometime next week or the week after that. Until then, I am putting all of this out of my mind. What good will worrying do? Thanks to whoever is reading this and whoever has prayed for me. They did not do blood work. I am assuming that will come eventually.
Thanks,
D

FINALLY! Another post!

Hi guys!

Well I finally got around to putting up another post! We've had an eventful weekend. We went down to the beach and got some pictures done of our family this past Saturday. I'd been wanting to do that for ages, and it worked out perfectly because Jacob will be one year old next month. Which is very hard to believe! But I was able to capture him in his "infancy" before toddler-hood strikes. Although he's not looking very 'infant-y' lately! Abi was in a bad mood during the shoot so we're crossing our fingers and hoping we got some good shots of her. The photographer we had was amazing, so we're sure she got some good stuff. Hopefully she will post some 'sneak peaks' of her photo shoot later today and when she does I will post those on the blog. (For all 2 of you who read this...HA!). After we had the photo shoot we just hung out at the beach, did some shopping and had some icecream before driving back home. All in all, it was a really successful day.

On Sunday we went to church where I was put in charge of 19 3-4 year olds with only one other person to help me. And that was my first real day of teaching. WOW that was hard. Note to self: wear sneakers to church when taking care of kids. My feet felt like they were going to fall off. Straight after church we went to a friend's house for her one year old's birthday party. It was nice to just sit down and get a break after that frazzled morning.
Well that pretty much sums up my weekend. Now onto more pressing news regarding my health-
This morning I have a neurologist appt. Right now it's 6.11 am (yeah I can't sleep) and the appt. is at 8:30 am. I will update later after it is over. I am scared although I'm not really sure why. It's not like I'm going to be getting results on any test today or anything. But my stomach is in knots. I have never liked doctors- and when I go to a doctor, I am always paranoid that they will find something wrong with me. Well guess what? They might actually find something wrong with me this time. And that makes me NERVOUS! I'll just be glad when it's over. I'm worried that I won't like this doctor- that she won't be very friendly or that she'll jump to conclusions and scare me. Obviously I'm still worried about my eyes too- that even if they don't find anything with the tests, this eye thing will progressively get worse until I'm blind. Actually, that makes me paranoid. I probably shouldn't even think like that but I can't help where my mind goes.
I've noticed that the tingling in my feet (and just tingling in general) has decreased recently but yet the weird things in my eyes have increased. So I'm thinking that whatever this is seems to jump from one group of nerves to another. (And yes, one of the cranial nerves does effect your visual field).
Anyhow, please pray for me- that God will give me peace today, that God will give the doctor WISDOM, that she'll be kind and understanding, that maybe- just maybe- this can be explained by a simple bloodtest and treated quickly, with no other tests needed. To me that sounds like a loooong shot- but with God, nothing is impossible so please pray for that anyway.
Thanks guys and I'll keep you updated

-D