me to a T - Tracey Odachowski

About Friday…it was a great day. I just didn’t get the chance to post it all then. Friday, I met the new love of my life - my orthopedist! And for the first time in 1 1/2 years of pain, I finally have ANSWERS!!! PROGRESS!!! RESULTS!!! A PLAN!!!

First things first - about the tumor on my leg. I got to see it (on the MRIs and X-rays) - kind of freaky. You can see my femur (large bone in upper portion of the leg), and then there is the white mass in the middle of it. On cross section in the MRIs, it fills the bone marrow cavity. But it has clean edges, which is a good sign - most likely benign. Dr Reed estimated it to be about 1.5 inches x 1.5 inches. So, tomorrow I have to call to get a bone scan scheduled. This is a scan during which they inject dye into my vein which is taken up by the tumor. Then the 1st scan. A few hours later, they scan again to see how much it ‘took’. This will indicate whether it is metabolically active. We don’t want it to be! If it is showing activity, I will meet with an orthopedic oncologist and go from there. If not, we will leave well enough alone and check it every six months to monitor for growth/changes. Let’s pray for the latter, ok??? But Dr Reed is very optimistic. A bit concerned that the area aches every once in a while, but things should be good. So, let’s stick w/ that idea b/c I’m in a good mood and want to be positive.

So, now on to the great part about Friday. She knows what is wrong with me! And she is supportive! And she is getting stuff DONE! Man, this chick rocks! Really - when I walked in there Friday, I truly was reaching the edge of what I could handle mentally from this whole crap w/ my hip and back. The disability denial; my regular practioner not always the best; 2 failed injections into my hip to try to reduce the pain…shall I go on? Nah…let’s get to the good news. According to her, I have Sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Let me break that down…you know the 2 dimples you have at the base of your back/top of your butt?? (c’mon, even skinny people have these, not just me!) Ok - that is the SI joint. Usually, this joint has VERY little movement. However, during pregnancy, the joint relaxes to accomodate the baby. AFterwards, it usually goes back to normal. But mine was so severe and the nerve irritation in the area so bad during Emily’s pregnancy, it’s still around. Add to that the fact that it has been misdiagnosed, mismanaged, and even more irritated over the past year, it is still here in full force.

So…progress…physical therapy in the military sucks. It is no where NEAR the caliber of therapy I was receiving while I was in California. Here, it was actually made worse. Dr Reed got around this by also stating that I have pelvic floor dysfunction. Let’s not get into all that…I’ll just simplify it by saying the military doesn’t do therapy for that, so it imediately gets refered to the network (i.e., civilian therapists). I get to find a therapist that specializes in treatment for my disorder, AND is close to my home. YAY! Can you give me a HALELUHAH!!!

Also, The Most Excellent Dr Reed as specifically stated on my evaluation “pt not able to return to work as a nurse estimated will be unable to return for approx 6-9months more months.” Take that disability insurance. Believe me now??? Ok - it really sucks that I STILL can’t return to work as I’m really itching to, but at least now, hopefully, that little statement will help me win my appeal and I can get paid again. And we can go out to dinner again. And did I mention that I’d really love to have a cleaning service come in here? Just once???

More about the fabulous Dr Reed - she even gave me her pager number and email address. Ok. This just DOESN’T happen at the military doctors, so this is unprecedented. Did I mention how much I am in love with this woman? I think she must have thought I was crazy. But she was pretty crazy, too. My kind of woman. Laughed and cursed the whole time I was in there. She was good therapy. So, this week, wish me luck…the writing of the disability appeal letter finally begins.

Ok, Eddie…I didn’t mention Battlestar in my last post. That would be because it wasn’t ON yet when I posted! Ahh, yes, if you look at the time of the post, it is 38 minutes after it ended, but, alas, the time on this thing is 4 hours off, and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out the code to change it. So, here it is…you see, folks, my sci-fi-crazed hubby has made me obsessed w/ Sci-Fi channel’s series “Battlestar Gallactica.” And, besides the fact that there is some great eye candy on there, it’s a pretty darn good series! We just can’t wait for Friday nights to roll around! Accept, of course, when they break the bad news to you that the season is over in SEPTEMBER and won’t be back on again until JANUARY!!!!! FRACK! (yup - that’s how the get away w/ ‘cursing’ on television - they say ‘frack’ instead of another word. I kind of like it! Cracks me up!) So, go ahead. Make fun of me - I’m a sci-fi freak and I LIKE it!!!

Ok…I have rambled enough. This is so long I doubt anyone will read it! Nighty night!!!