Fun Stuff...

....not really.

I got one of those follow up phone calls to schedule a doctor's app't after having a mammogram recently. After years of normal mammograms it was a bit of a shock though I know I shouldn't worry as it's likely nothing but still I worry.... after all, I AM my mother's daughter!

Recently I signed up for "My Pocket Health" which provides me with unlimited access to my medical imaging records online and goes back years and years. After a one time $5.00 fee I can actually look at and print any x-ray, MRI, ultrasound and mammogram (plus accompanying remarks, diagnosis and recommendations) I've ever had! What a great service! So I went online and had a look at my last mammogram. There are two issues: abnormal breast density (which is common) and focal asymmetry (which is also common).  With abnormally high density, which shows up on the scan as white, it can prevent masses from being seen as they also show up white. White on white - who thought that was a good idea?

And the focal asymmetry could mean there is a mass but it can't be seen in a regular x-ray so I'll likely have to have an ultrasound or MRI after consulting with my doctor. What this all boils down to is there could be small lumps lurking around waiting to pounce that can't be seen. 

Do I feel better knowing? YES! I'm one of those people who'd rather know than NOT know. I feel quite sure that after more imaging I'll be told there's nothing to worry about. I might have to have more frequent mammograms and I can live (literally) with that. Right now I don't feel any foreign masses invading my body - gotta stay positive!

When the health care system works...

...it works really well.

I just read in the paper today about cuts to RNs (registered nurses) BUT I do have some good news about our health care system as well.

It helps to live in a city (London, ON) where several top-notch hospitals with world-wide reputations are located but I digress.

My doctor told me I'd be lucky to get an MRI done before my trip in September. But earlier this week (Tuesday) I received a call about a cancellation the next day - did I want it? Of course!

The MRI itself was quite an experience - I wondered if I would be able to go in feet first instead of head first and was elated to discover that yes I could. The technician was wonderful and very reassuring. She gave me a squeeze ball that sounds an alarm when squeezed so if I was feeling claustrophobic I could be let out of there PDQ!  She also place a cloth over my eyes which was very calming and ear plugs for the noise.

Holding still for 20 minutes seemed like a very long time but I just focussed on my breathing. Whenever I felt like twitching or I would get a "bad thought" like - "what if everyone goes home and forgets I'm in here??" I would concentrate on breathing slowly and deeply. (The technician said afterwards that they almost never forget that someone's in the machine!!) What a card!!

She said it would take 4-5 days for the results to reach my doctor but lo and behold I had a call not 24 hours later from my doctor's office that they had the results and could I come in the next day (today) to go over the results! So I've been and come home again.

There's a lot going on with my spine and lumbar region. I have mild to moderate disc compression, disc bulging and disc uncovering (?) and mild stenosis (abnormal narrowing) in the lumbar region and lower spine.

At today's appointment I was told that I can request a referral to a spine doctor to confer about surgery and it's a one year wait! Because the problems I have are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things (for a 59 year old woman with a previous history of back pain since I fell off a trampoline when I was 14) a spine surgeon wouldn't likely operate and having my back operated on really doesn't appeal to me right now.  The other option is to continue what I'm doing - meds and lots of exercise.

The meds are helping with the pain as well as anxiety/depression and I'm becoming more active again - 90 minutes of yoga last night, riding my bike again, hiking and walking again so I feel pretty darn grateful for the relief I am getting.  And grateful for our health care system that doesn't charge me for the MRI and got it done in record time.

There are two sides to every coin.

MRI

Great news! Someone cancelled their MRI appointment so I guess I was next on the list - I go today at 5:15pm.

The bad news is that sparkly nail polish I used yesterday on my toes? It's gotta go.

In other news.....when Kazi was at a music festival in Michigan 2 weeks ago "she met a boy". He's from New Jersey and just happens to be visiting in London and Toronto starting tomorrow. So of course they've made plans to spend time together.

The timing isn't the best as my 40th, yes you read that right, 40th high school class reunion is this weekend, of which I'm the hostess! That involved making restaurant reservations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday and organizing the event around a popular festival - SUN FEST - which is taking place in London this weekend.  So I won't see much of THE BOY as they are heading to Toronto on Friday, which is sort of a relief as my time will be mostly spent with my fellow 1975 grads.

So the next few days will be very busy and full of distractions, which is good and bad for the anxiety levels, but I'm feeling pretty positive about the whole thing.  The weather looks good and one of my fellow grads is my cousin (and his wife) who are coming up from North Carolina. Hotel rooms have been booked and the food will be divine though I'll likely put on 5lbs over the 3 days!

That's it for now - I've got to UNpolish my toes!

The Doctor is in...

It was touch and go but I finally saw a REAL doctor on Friday!

The medical centre that I go to is a teaching centre with residents coming and going every six months. We've been going to the same centre since Kazi was 2 so for 23 years and I've never had any reason to want to see a doctor rather than a resident.

But I pushed for an appointment with the head doctor of the team because I felt I wasn't being heard. And I'm glad I did.

There were a couple of delays Friday, unfortunately, as doctors are way busier than the residents and my app't ended up being switched from 11:15am to 1:45pm. So being close to my brother's house I stopped in for a cup of tea and a sandwich. Then I was finally in my doctor's office which is always hot, stuffy and claustrophobic when she popped her head in saying she'd be there in just a minute. It was after 3pm when I finally saw her. Sheesh!

First thing she wanted to know was why wasn't there any imaging (MRI) done? Because your resident didn't think it was necessary!!! (She was NOT pleased!) So, long story short, I'm being sent for an MRI!! Hurrah! And she thought I should go back on the two medications I had weaned myself off of last year. Being a realist and having the support of you wonderful people, I agreed. And I have a physio referral I can use at my discretion.

Now, that's what a doctor's visit should be like - she listened, used all the tools at her disposal and I feel like we can figure out a solution together. She has given me hope.

If only.....

Have you had problems with a doctor before?? I know Sonya Ann has!!

Ups and Downs

Kazi just showed me a snapchat of people still celebrating the Chicago Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup. Wasn't that a couple of days ago? It was a video of a stadium filled with thousands and thousands of people - still partying on...gotta love Chicago!!

I went on a 2 hour walk the other day in my favourite place - Killaly Meadows. It's a 2 minute drive from my house - I'd ride my bike there if it didn't kill my butt! There are a couple of main trails and lots of side trails some alongside the river and some meandering through meadows and forest.

I hadn't been there for a couple of weeks due to resting my knee that I hurt falling on a rock and lots of new things were blooming....

and in some areas the sun broke through the trees with major intensity.....

 such a simple flower, so beautiful...

...close up even clover is rather pretty...

I'm not really sure what these red blossoms are...

the river was very tranquil...

another gorgeous bloom...

I've been busy listening to Eckhart Tolle's audio tapes called "The Flowering of Human Consciousness" and am now listening to his book "The Power of Now." Waiting in the wings is his book called "A New Earth: Awakening to your Life's Purpose" which was an Oprah Book Club recommendation. I've heard that she has read "The Power of Now" 8 times. I can understand why she would read it over and over - there is such depth of spiritual knowledge and much to learn from his wisdom. AND I love his voice :) Soothing, calm, sensible and humorous with a hint of a German accent.

As my post title suggests my path is not smooth but filled with ups and downs. That's ok.  Tomorrow I see my another doctor with hopes of being sent for an MRI. And next Tuesday I see my counsellor. Kazi is getting ready to go to a music festival next week so I shopped with her today. We went to a dozen stores and I had the urge to buy NOTHING! I have so lost my shopping mojo and I don't mind that one bit. In fact I'd like to declutter the house and get rid of lots more STUFF!  There's no need for it. I'm sure I only use about 1% of 1% of what I own on a daily basis. If that. I'll add that to my list of "things to do"!

Hope your week is going well. Rumour has it that Maureen, from Australia, may start blogging again!