Now then

So, the past couple of months have been pretty crazy. I had my MRI and CT scans in late May. They were all fine, because they were at St. James hospital where the staff are much more efficient. A week or so later, I got the worst UTI I've ever had! It was horrible. It came complete with horrible stomach cramps. Even when the UTI cleared up, this pain in my stomach just wouldn't go away, so I spent June trying to figure out what was going on. I'd say that during the month of June I saw a doctor every week, trying to explain what was wrong. During this time, not only were my pains getting worse, but I was finding it hard to eat as well.

Now, when I had the UTI, for the first few days, I had a bit of trouble keeping food down (I don't think this is even a symptom of a UTI. Just something my body does nowadays) When the UTI cleared up, the stomach problems lingered. I originally dismissed it as my body having a bit of trouble bouncing back. It didn't go away though, and alarm bells started to ring. The pain was hard to explain, but the doctor felt my stomach and saw me wincing, which I think was proof enough. This, coupled with my inability to eat much before getting full, rang alarm bells for the doctor, too. She wanted me to be tested for bowel and ovary problems, including OVARIAN CANCER!! Then she told me not to worry, which was useless, because I already felt like I'd been punched in the head. She sent me for an ultrasound and a blood test, and it just reminded me of being tested for thyroid cancer. Even though there were many things that could be going on in there, the word cancer was just stuck in my head, and I just couldn't help but think the worse.

 When a doctor suspects ovarian cancer, and they send you for a blood test, that blood test is looking for high levels of something called CA125. I didn't have that, thankfully, but obviously something's going on in there so I just had to wait for the ultrasound. While I was waiting to hear about an ultrasound appointment, I was also waiting to hear about the results of my MRI and CT scans. I gave the thyroid specialist nurse a call, just to tell her what was going on, but also casually mentioned the fact that I was waiting for my scan results. She managed to find the letter in the system and read it out to me. She told me that the CT scan showed that the nodule in my chest had not changed. The MRI however, had shown that there's still some cells in the thyroid area. So, I have to have a thing called a PET scan, which is like the most thorough of the scans! Depending on what that shows, I may have to have more surgery. I don't want that. I don't want any of this. I was very upset. I keep getting my hopes up, and then my hopes get dashed. I was so sure this time, and I just feel like I had every reason to think this would be okay. I was still fretting that I might have ovarian cancer, then to be told that my battle with thyroid cancer wasn't over yet, really knocked me sideways. I just knew I couldn't move forward till I got a date for the ultrasound.

 This happened late last week (don't ask me the day, life has become a blur of waiting rooms) Saturday I received a letter about my ultrasound so I spent my weekend just trying to pass the time. I don't mind ultrasounds. Of all the scans I've had, ultrasounds are the least intimidating. They're also the most fascinating to me! The worst part about this, was that I had to drink loads of water, so it was pretty uncomfortable. Despite the fact that I nearly wet myself, the scan went pretty well. The nurse who did the scan thinks (and is pretty certain) that I have endometriosis. She has no idea what my doctor said to me, so I think she was pretty surprised by how relieved I was! I asked her, just for peace of mind, if the UTI was related, and she no. I guess it was just a particularly horrible infection. Maybe I should let it go! (Sorry, if that song is now in your head. If it's any consolation, it is now in mine, too)

 You may be wondering what endometriosis is. I know I did, because I came home and Googled it (I know! I figured it would be okay this time) The good old NHS website informed that endometriosis is a condition where the lining of your womb tears away and sticks to other organs. It's not exactly treatable, but with pain relief, it is manageable. I say it's , "not exactly treatable" because there are some possible solutions, You can have surgery to remove the wayward bits of womb lining, but that does not mean that the problem wouldn't recur. You can also have a hysterectomy, but this is very drastic and I don't want to put my body through that. Not removing anymore organs if I don't have to, thank you! My doctor now has to refer me to a gynaecologist, who will face a barrage of questions from me! Mostly I will be asking for something for the pain...Unless my doctor prescribes something sooner

 The PET scan is next week, and I just kind of want to get it over and done with. I would really like only part of my body to freak out at a time, and the past few weeks and have been stressful, and really got on top of me. Hopefully, we are getting somewhere though, and I guess I have to be more patient. Both with myself, and my body. As much as I'd like to get on with life, my body is saying it isn't quite ready yet, and I have to listen to that. So, keep me in your thoughts, because I've still got a mountain to climb!