27. February 20, 2009

Just wanted to give a quick update....

I think the meds I'm on for the Lupus and Raynaud's phenomenon are helping...some...my days vary a great deal, but I do seem to be having a few more good days than bad days!! :) Hopefully once I get through the winter, the Raynaud's won't be aggravated quite so much...WARM WEATHER, COME QUICKLY!!! (never thought I'd hear myself say that!!)

I do have a few "bumps in the road" that have come up recently......

I have quite possibly torn my rotator cuff...I've been going to physical therapy for several weeks now, but instead of my shoulder getting better, it has only gotten worse. I will probably have an MRI in the next week or two to find out for sure. My shoulder has bothered me for MONTHS...but honestly, with all the pain I deal with...I just kind of "put it in a box" with all the other pain and tried to just deal with it and keep going. My rheumatologist (Lupus doc) got on to me and insisted I go to physical therapy for my shoulder and my knees because during an exam he could feel the inflammation and both feel AND HEAR my bones crunching and popping in my knees and in my shoulder. He didn't agree with my philosophy of "I already hurt so much anyway...what's a few more areas of pain!!" =) His opinion was, "you have enough pain to deal with, why not take care of the pain that you can easily treat?!!" Anyway....we'll see where it goes from here.....

A few weeks ago my endocrinologist (doctor I see about my thyroid...I have hypothyroidism...a common complication from Lupus) wanted to do a repeat ultrasound on my thyroid (a year or two ago he did an ultrasound and found several cysts...said they were all small, the same size...nothing to worry about). I went back today for the results of the ultrasound that was done a couple of weeks ago. I have a large nodule on my thyroid...large enough that it has made the whole left side of my thyroid larger than the right side of my thyroid. This was a "significant change" from my last ultrasound. I will go in a couple of weeks for a needle biopsy. It will take 4 to 6 weeks for the results to come back. (crazy...you can pee on a stick and find out if there is life inside of you in 90 seconds....but have to wait 6 weeks to find out if you have cancer!!) My doc said that honestly, we'll probably end up having to take my thyroid out whether it is cancer or not.....the nodule is large and with me having a history of cancer (malignant melanoma on my upper back in 2000 - melanoma has the highest rate of reoccurring / matastisizing somewhere else in your body)...sooo its better to be safe.

Just want to keep you all in the loop so you know specifically how to pray!! :) I am OK!!! Honestly...if you're reading this...please do not be worried about "how I'm handling all of this." I'M NOT.....but My Father is....there is NOTHING too big for Him...that is my hope that endures all things....I will not be shaken, but will stand firm in His Word and in His promises to take care of me!! I do greatly appreciate your prayers!! They encourage me more than you know!! I love you all!!