Possible Diagnosis

I blog a bunch in the beginning of the new year and it takes me nearly a month to get it together again to add another entry! In my defense, it has been pretty hectic around here. I cannot go into too much detail on some things yet, but I can in other areas at least.


If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know I have been having bad stomach issues since October of 2014. I had a sensitive stomach growing up, but it went way down hill then. I had my gall bladder removed, multiple tests at multiple doctors (primary ones, two gastroenterologists, and a rheumatologist) and still no answers. Medications helped some, but I was still having awful stomach attacks every four to six weeks with no explanation.


Well, we may finally have one.


My rheumatologist gave me some blood work results in November that he said he wasn't too concerned about but I should show to another doctor I was seeing just in case. Well, in December that doctor looked at it and went, "Um, no. Not normal. Definitely a problem." The possible verdict?


Subclinical Hypothyroidism.


My TSH (thyroid hormones) were at a 10.67 when the normal range is around 2-3. My thyroid antibodies were also super, super high. The norm is between 4 and 32.... mine were at 464. I was started on 100mcg of Synthroid within 24 hours and referred to an endocrinologist that day. My first appointment with the endocrinologist will be this Friday, so I am hoping we finally can fix this thing once and for all. I will most likely be on Synthroid the rest of my life, but hopefully we can lower the levels once my blood work balances out again.


The one doctor thinks that's why my stomach was so messed up, apparently metabolism and hormones and all sorts of other things can get screwy. It also adds to the tiredness, cold, and many other things. I did have to step away from Google, but fingers crossed we finally get somewhere with this.


The other goodish news is that I am transferring in my job. I currently work at the reference desk at the Main Library (which I do like don't get me wrong) but I will be moving over to the Research Library within the next month or so. The big perk to this will be a much more steady schedule and.... they're closed weekends! Hallelujah! As of right now I am working half and half (including some weekends), but once they hire another person I will be at the branch library permanently. It is also much quieter, a different sort of patron, and a definite change of pace I am looking forward too.


Hopefully I will be able to update with more shortly. Until then, thanks (as always) for sticking with me.

Not So Wordless Wednesday

On your birthday Starbucks gives you free drinks. The Starbucks on base doesn't use the app or whatever it is with the gift card reloadable thing (you can tell I do this a lot) but they still give you a free drink. I asked for a medium and the girl behind the counter told me to live a little, it was my birthday after all, so I ended up with a passion tea lemonade the size of my head! Plus they matched my new birthday present Ray Bans my mom found on major sale somewhere. So I took a rare selfie, especially since I had my hair curled, another rarity.

On 9/11 I didn't have work, so once Ryan came home we went to the 9/11 Memorial in Jacksonville. I am ashamed to say I didn't know it existed until that day and the base Facebook page posted about it, but I am glad we went. It is a piece of steel from the Twin Towers and you can see the notes and flowers people left throughout the day. We arrived just after it rained so it was just us for awhile in the evening sunlight. It was beautiful.

Football season started and I was super excited. Now both my teams are 0-2 and I want to bang my head on the wall. Sigh.

Last weekend my parents met us for lunch in New Bern and we tried a delicious restaurant called Persimmons, which we had never been to before. It was right on the waterfront and all of their food was made from fresh, local ingredients. Check out my fried green tomatoes (with regular tomatoes, goat cheese crumbles and balsamic reduction). Oh my gracious it was heavenly.

We walked around a bit then and just enjoyed the view and showing my dad New Bern since he hasn't been before. It was pretty hot so the breeze coming off the water was much appreciated.

I finally managed to snag something from The Enchanted Brush. I was way too excited and I already wore it! I ordered it Friday, it arrived Monday, and I wore it Tuesday. One day I will own a pair of her amazing shoes... when I can afford them!!!

I am back to the "Let's guess why your digestive system doesn't work game." with a new gastroenterologist. So far I like him, we have some ideas, but until I have an attack again they cannot do as many tests as they want. I am under instructions to go to the ER during my next attack and have a CT scan and blood work done... which should be fun. When I am in attack mode I can barely move or leave the bathroom let alone get myself to the ER in time, but we shall see. I cannot seem to go more than six weeks without an attack so maybe within a month we will know more. He did decide to test me for celiac's disease with a simple blood test after my appointment. I went to the lab and I told the young HN naval guy I have deep veins, just to give him a heads up. He felt around, said he found one and was good. He then stuck the needle in said, "Oh." and promptly pulled it out again. As blood trickled down my arm he went and grabbed someone else and said, "Can you tap her, I blew out her vein." Sigh. I warned you dude. Now I have a lovely bruise on my arm. The other arm where the other lady tapped me? Not even a mark. I also have a gastric emptying test scheduled for this Friday. I sincerely hope I get some answers anyway possible at this point. I am tired of these stomach issues... it has been nearly a year now! But I like this doctor and I feel like he actually listens to me, unlike the other one, so fingers crossed.

When I visited my mom over the weekend of my birthday I got a gel manicure that lasted me a full two weeks. My nails are never long so I wanted to keep it up if I could. I went to Target and got the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish since it was no light necessary. I really don't have the time to go get my nails done every few weeks so I was excited to try this. Sadly, it chipped in less than a day. My nails look a little extra ragged from when I removed the salon gels, but the chips weren't even in the same spots on some of my nails. So yea, kind of disappointed. I have done a touch up already and those have chipped too. Just in case you were wondering before you buy! It's a shame because the colors are gorgeous and they dry pretty quickly, but they sadly just do not last with me.

I am trying to get back to blogging regularly, so thanks for sticking with me and my random accumulation of thoughts... especially in this post in particular.

This is not a sponsored post in any way, all opinions here are my own in terms of restaurants, Etsy shops, and nail polish... just sharing what I experienced!

Gall Bladder

So it has been over a week since I finally had my gall bladder removed and I am finally feeling up to blogging a bit about it. My recovery has been pretty crappy so far.... bad nausea and lack of appetite (sound familiar) have plagued me since the Super Bowl and I have been pretty miserable. Today marks the first day I put on jeans and ventured out of the house (to the grocery store) in almost two weeks.

Back to last Wednesday, the 28th, when I had the actual surgery. I was supposed to be there at 9am with the surgery at 11am. Anytime I have surgery I have bad luck with timing. The night before they call me and tell me not to come in until 1:30pm due to back ups in the OR with a surgery at 2:45. Goody. Especially when you can't eat or drink after midnight! My mom flew in the night before and we had a nice dinner at Olive Garden together before heading home. Ryan surprised the heck out of both of us when he managed to get off work for my surgery. We were convinced the SDA meant it was impossible but I was glad he was able to be there. So we get to the hospital around 1:30pm and the wait begins.

We waited and waited and long story short I didn't get into the OR until almost 4:30 that afternoon. Sigh. I was pretty hungry and thirsty by that point. I sat in a room with my mom and Ryan and watched TV for a few hours as we waited and once it is go time it is GO TIME. I felt like we were waiting for ages and suddenly I was kissing them goodbye and getting wheeled up the hall. I vaguely remember seeing the OR and then... nothing. My next conscious (and quite embarrassing) memory is waking up in recovery sobbing. I mean full on sob fest. My throat was scratchy from the tube and obviously my midsection hurt and I just remember sobbing my heart out and apologizing to the recovery nurses for sobbing. 

Ugh.

I was supposed to have an outpatient surgery but because it started so late the surgery center closed and they wheeled me into the actual hospital for the rest of my recovery. We thought that meant a few hours but then they mentioned keeping me overnight and that was exactly what happened.

My goals were simple... drink, pee, walk and eat. I couldn't go home until all of those were done. I was horribly itchy and in pain so they had me on morphine, then percocet and benadryl as I drank a ton of water. Ryan eventually had to go home since he had to be at work at the crack of dawn but my mom stayed with me. Actually when Ryan left they hadn't mentioned keeping me all night yet and he was quite surprised when he woke up the next morning and I wasn't there.

I had a nice view of the sunrise from my bed at least? It was a long night. I hate hospitals and my poor mom was in a chair... they didn't offer her anything more comfortable until about four am and at that point she didn't want to bother. I did eventually walk and use the bathroom... and when I did I nearly fell over. Blood pouring out of your bellybutton will do that to you. Apparently that's normal after my surgery so a well placed bandaid stopped that problem. Ugh. I finally ate breakfast in the morning and to my surprise my husband walked in as I was eating oatmeal and jello. Work let him go since I was still in the hospital. We eventually got discharged and I was able to go home by 8am or so. We all basically went straight to bed and slept until midafternoon.

I spent the next day or two on pain meds on the couch watching Friends on Netflix while my mom cooked and cleaned and was awesome just helping us out.

The Dup was a little put out at having to share her couch at first but she quickly became my snuggle buddy.

 

 As you can see she just squirmed right in between my mom and I and made due. At 90lbs, give or take, this is no easy task for a Dup!

My view.... she is cute luckily!

And the Dup loves her Granny, my mom, so they snuggled a lot too.

Saturday, the night before my mom left I started feeling nauseous. Saturday we went to the store and I was eating normally but sore... Sunday the nausea was worse. I barely ate all day before taking her to the airport and I was feeling awful by the time I got home. I got on the couch with the Dup to watch the Super Bowl but she wasn't too interested....

By halftime Ryan was home and I felt awful. Before the third quarter started I was throwing up and Ryan was giving me medicine and dragging me into bed to go to sleep. The next four or five days were miserable. I was on anti nausea medicine like crazy and eating nothing but fruit and toast and light bland things and just trying to stay hydrated. I went back to my doctor and they basically said it had only been a week post op and to give it more time. Very frustrating. Finally today I am feeling a little better. Good enough to at least put on jeans and go to the grocery store. I am still taking it easy and watching what I eat, but here is to hoping I am finally on the up and up.

Adios Gall Bladder. You will so not be missed. Here is to hoping I can have my long awaited cheeseburger soon. Really soon.

Training Cycle 1 and Life Goes On

As many of you know, my husband recently began his new job as a combat instructor with MCT (Marine Combat Training) as part of SOI East (School of Infantry). We are well in to his first training cycle and things have definitely been an adjustment. The hours are crazy, some nights he doesn't come home at all (and I have my trusty 9 mil on standby) and when he does the poor guy eats, showers and sleeps. He is definitely exhausted and I am trying my best to help where I can. I make his coffee, grab snacks and things for him when I can, have the house clean and leftovers in the fridge, and I try and keep the noise level down when he is home and asleep. It is weird after how much time we spent together lately that we barely see each other any more, most of that time is just sleeping, and he is usually too busy to even answer a text during the day. Training cycles are 29 days straight, so we still have a bit left to go in this first cycle, but hopefully with each cycle things will get a little easier. I know Ryan is pretty worn out already so here is to hoping things get better on his end too.

I finally had my pre-op appointment on Wednesday for my gallbladder removal. I met with the nurse, anesthesiologist and got blood work done. In between my meetings with each of them my doctor's office called me. I listened to the voicemail and they basically were saying there was a scheduling problem and they were wondering if I could push my surgery back until February 4th. Oh. Heck. NO. I was literally AT my pre-op appointment! Since Ryan cannot take leave my mom is flying in to take care of me. I am already scheduled for the time off work and the surgery is a week away! The surgery THEY scheduled back in MID DECEMBER.

Needless to say I was not happy.

I called them back and basically told them no... I could not switch. I mentioned my mom was flying in, ticket already booked, and it was not possible for me to reschedule. The nurse said "Ok, we will see what we can do. We just wanted to check with you and see if it was possible."

Well, it isn't.

I have been sick since October. I waited a month to get a diagnosis. When I finally did get one I had to wait another month to even see a surgeon. Then when I finally saw him I had to wait a week for them to schedule the surgery. Then I had to wait another five weeks for said surgery. Meanwhile I have been sick this entire time. I have altered my diet, I have endured gallbladder attacks, been nauseous nonstop, missed out on holidays and delicious food with my family, ruined date nights, been throwing up/nauseous/in pain/on medicines and I am DONE. There is no way I am switching my surgery when I am a week away from it... even if it is only by another week. Sorry. Done.

Anyway, I am working this weekend and Monday and Tuesday. My mom flies in Tuesday night and then Wednesday morning is my surgery. If anything changes that the hospital will have one angry patient on their hands! I may sound ridiculous right now, but I am so tired of not feeling well. I really hope this surgery works. I want to be able to eat again without being worried it will make me horrendously sick. I miss cheeseburgers. I miss just ordering whatever I want at a restaurant. I miss having the ability to cook anything and eat anything without fear of getting horribly nauseous or throwing up. I really, really hope this works.

Send some good vibes my way if you can!

Moving Forward

As you may remember I posted a few weeks ago about how I've been under the weather lately... and that may be putting it lightly. I missed almost a week of work, could barely eat, and was terribly nauseous. After a trip to Urgent Care, the ER on base (which was horrible for other reasons) and finally my own doctor we may have some progress. My doctor asked about my family history with gallbladder issues and I told her it was extensive. My mom, grandfather and I believe at least two of my aunts had theirs all removed. She scheduled me for an ultrasound that day to see if I had gallstones and fortunately I did not have any.

 

Just to be sure all was well the doctor sent me for a HIDA scan, basically a nuclear medicine test that checks the function of your gallbladder. The first part of the test I just had to lie there for maybe an hour while they took images of my gallbladder. Then they injected me with something that stimulates the gallbladder to empty it and mark its progress. Some people have zero reactions during this part of the test (which is usually six to eight minutes) and some people get nausea or pain, it just depends on how your body reacts to the dye. Either reaction can mean you're fine (or  not) so I was just hoping for no reaction.

 

Thirty seconds into the dye insertion I felt as sick as I did the first night at work when it all started. I got overheated, horribly nauseous and felt dizzy. Then my stomach felt like it was caving in on itself in pain. The techs had to talk me through breathing normally as tears streamed down my face... and by down my face I mean back into my hair and ears since I was lying down. It was absolute misery. Then, it stopped. It was a long eight minutes though. Afterwards I went and got something to eat from the hospital cafeteria and then went to work being told my doctor would call in the next forty eight hours with the results.

 

She called me less than six hours later.

 

I saw it was her and I knew I probably failed the test. Usually when you get a same day call your results are not optimal. Sure enough my gallbladder is barely functioning. You are supposed to have your gallbladder empty at a rate of 35% or higher. Mine was at a measly 8%.

 

So... we may finally have an answer. I got some bloodwork done this week to rule out any other possiblities, which it did, and now we are waiting for TriCare to process referrals to the gastroenterologist on my PCM's staff and for a surgeon. My doctor said some surgeons won't remove gallbladders without stones present, but with mine functioning at such a low level and the quality of life I've had the past month or so now she cannot see any reason why it wouldn't come out. In the mean time I have four medicines, two of which I take daily and two as needed, and I am eating a very bland diet. No fried foods, now high fibery things, no red meat, no raw vegetables...  basically a lot of the things I normally love are a big NO.

 

But at least it is an answer and hopefully a solution in the near future. Fingers crossed and thanks for sticking with me guys. I haven't blogged much since becomming sick but I am hoping to get back into things again.

Under the Weather

My poor blog has been so neglected this year. Not sure what else to do about it or if I even want to keep it going at this point.

Maybe I am just tired and grouchy from feeling sick.

Last Wednesday (as in the 15th) I got sick at work. I was closing and it was close to the end of my shift when I got really warm and dizzy. I threw up a few times at work and throughout the night. And the next day. It really stunk because, naturally, Ryan was in the field so I was home alone and feeling extra miserable and sorry for myself. I thought it was food poisoning and would go away.

Here I am a week and a half later and I still feel nauseous.

I have missed work, show rehearsals and just leaving the house.

I have been to Urgent Care, the Emergency Room at my regular Doctor. I have had to give more urine samples than I ever have before because no one believes a woman can be nauseous and not pregnant apparently. I had an ultrasound today that looked normal. I have taken drugs to stop throwing up but still am nauseous. For almost a week now all I have been able to eat are saltines and ice pops. Toast was a big breakthrough.

My show opens next week and work is (naturally) short staffed. I am tired of not eating and feeling sick to my stomach with no answers at all. One ER doctor even so kindly said to me, "Don't worry, you can survive without food for five or six weeks as long as you stay hydrated." before escorting me out of the office. I want to eat again. I want to not feel sick to my stomach. I want answers.

I want to feel better.



And now I am done feeling sorry for myself. Sorry for the pity party all.

Doctors Follow Up

Follow up from this post and sort of this post... the first one is the important one.

On Saturday I go and check the mail again and one of my two referrals came! It was for the plastic surgeon, still waiting on the physical therapist. One step at a time, maybe it's a sign? (:P)

Anyway I get recommended to this doctor and I was a bit shocked it is at Georgetown University Hospital! Way to go TriCare.

Yesterday I call and had to leave a voicemail, which depressed me a bit, as no one was there. I call back today and had to leave another one during my lunch. I am on the phone with my mom and I see a call coming in and I did a "Gottagoloveyabye" to my confused mother who proceeded to call me back during my attempts to schedule. But in the end, I have an appointment for a consultation! I cannot believe it. It is not until October 15th and I got the first appointment of the day so I wouldn't miss too much work... but I have it.

This is something I have considered for ten years now. It just feels surreal that it might actually be under way. And you bet your bottom dollar this is a sure fire way I will quit smoking, a big no no with general anesthesia.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Incidentally Enough...

First... can I just mention I am SO flippin excited for this!?!?




Second. I finally heard back from the doctor last night. Now it turns out the spot was there, but it is still an incidental finding. On the phone he was throwing out a lot of big words I didn't quite catch (like enterior portion, limbus fetibra etc) but here is the gist. As a kid your bones fuse together, well apparently one part of my spine didn't want to cooperate and an extra piece of bone fused to the outside of my spine on my L3. I think it is called having a secondary osefication center. Whatever it is, it makes the part of my spine have a different density. He said a lot of people have them, most commonly in their feet or even chest, but it is rarely ever a problem. Where mine is it is not located near any nerves or my actual center spinal column so we are just going to leave it.

If I start getting really bad pain or pins and needles again we may investigate further. Until then I am still waiting on my referrals to a physical therapist and a plastic surgeon (yay thanks for being prompt TriCare!). If I don't get it Friday I am calling and harassing them again on Monday.

But thank you all for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. At least it all wasn't for sh...crap. We now know one more thing that is not causing my pain. That tends to be the trend with me whenever I am sick... we eliminate everything it is NOT but rarely get around to what it is. Oh well. Next step ahoy!

Crazy!

I had a missed call and voicemail from the doctor today when I went to lunch... and he didn't tell me anything! I tried calling back, nothing, he was unavailable. Gave him my work number and have my cell phone out and nothing still. This is driving me insane!

Say A Lil Prayer...

You all remember my last doctor's visit from this post.


Well after work today I noticed I had a voicemail from a number I didn't recognize. It also called me twice the day before. It was from my doctor concerning the results of my spinal xray. I tried to call back and went through a maze (yay tricare!) but I eventually left a message for him to call me back.

I get a call tonight while Ryan and I are watching Hook and making dinner. It was my doctor. So apparently on my spine in two of the five angles they looked at there is some sort of mark. They want me to get another xray to double check their findings. It isn't a tumor or anything. But there are two possibilities. One is nothing. It was the angle I was laying at and my colon was there and it is an "incidental finding" (aka...well, crap). The other possibility is a spinal injury of sorts. My density is off for whatever reason. So if it isn't the incidental finding it is something else. He kept asking me if I ever had a serious injury (theory being it is post-traumatic injury or something that didn't heal) but I never have. Just pulling it out musclewise for 8 years. If the spot is in the same place on these new xrays then I need a CT scan or other tests to determine exactly what the damage is and what is causing it and go from there.

After dinner we get in the car and drive to Ft Belvoir. I was glad Ryan was with me because I couldn't help but feel a little panicky and worried. I wasn't expecting this at all. I was convinced my chest was causing back pain but what if this is causing it too?

48-72 hours for the results. So think positive for me.

Best case scenario... we drove all the way for Belvoir for shit :P

No?

Ok I laughed. Sorry.

Doctors and Opinions

So I have had back issues since highschool. They come and go, it is usually horribly tight and I pull it out very easily. I did so last month quite horribly. Ryan almost took me to the ER since I was in so much pain, but the idea of getting in the car made me feel physically ill. Instead we dug out the percocet and I knocked out for the night. For days after I couldn't even bend, which was hell working all day with six year olds!!! But from then on I tried to get a doctor appointment. I had enough. Eight years of this on and off is ridiculous!

I relocated to Bolling Air Force base for my Dr and I could not get an appointment. I was off for two weeks before starting my new job and there was zero availability. If I heard, "If you are in severe pain you can go to the ER or Urgent Care." one more time I was going to lose it. I was not in pain at the time, I was trying to prevent future issues and figure stuff out!! I finalyl got frustrated this week and called TriCare and changed my provider to Ft Belvoir. I changed my information, called the appointment line, and had an appointment scheduled THAT NIGHT at 6:40pm!! Amazing. This was Monday by the way.

After work I drive over to Belvoir, about twenty or thirty minutes away, and my GPS takes me to the wrong gate. You military gals know that is a pretty big no-no. Oops. Even playing the "Sorry I've never been here before" card I still felt like an ass. So I get to the right gate and no surprise I get pulled over for random inspection. Apparently I was the first gold car they saw that day and he thought, Why the heck not? His words exactly. Did I mention I have five minutes to find the hospital at this point, and park and get to my appointment? I pop the trunk (and prop it open with my stick as the spring doesn't hold it open anymore) the hood (with difficulty, I couldn't get it for some reason) and all the doors as the dog sniffs around. They give me directions to the hospital and I have one minute to get there.

Oy.

I arrive at the hospital almost ten minutes late. I RUN up the stairs and somehow find the clinic and miraculously enough they agree to see me! My blood pressure and heart rate were through the roof from my run so the nurse had to take it three times! Oops again.

I see the doctor, he is not my new primary but he was available and I was fine with that. I told him about my back pains, my problems, and my theories. It was the most productive appointment I ever had. Within five minutes after my appointment walked down the hall to the pharmacy and got my two perscriptions filled (free! I love that!) for Percocet and Flexoril, a muscle relaxer, for when I need them. Then I walked a little further down the hall and right in for an xray on my back. No wait whatsoever!! I am pretty impressed Belvoir! I also got two recommended consultations, one with a physical therapist and one with a plastic surgeon.

A plastic surgeon you ask?

Well, myself and quite a few people I am close with have a theory behind my bad back. It started in highschool when I went from an A cup to a C cup my freshman year. I have never in my life been a B cup! I skipped right over it. Ever since I routinely pull my back out. It is excrutiating! I slouch all the time, I am extremely self conscious of my chest size (which has since of course grown). Clothes shopping is awful. If it fits my chest it doesn't fit my waist and vice versa. Don't even get me started on bathing suits! The one bikini I have owned in the past eight years I got at a specialty store and came with underwire and thick straps. If I wore, say a bikini from Target, I would look like a street walker. If I put two together I would maybe cover one! Once I heard Barbie, if she were a real person, would not physically be able to stand up straight because of her proportions. I can relate.

I have considered a breast reduction since about my senior year of highschool, when my chest started getting really big. No I know my size compared to some is not that bad. I borderline a 36D and DD. It is hard. I feel very out of proportion. In jeans I maybe wear a size 4. My waist, like when I am finding dresses, can fit into a 6/8... but my chest I have to get a 10 or 12 to fit! I was terrified when shopping for my wedding gown I was going to look huge and top heavy no matter what. I didn't want a strapless dress at all. But luckily I found a beautiful dress that somehow worked with my shape.

The doctor did warn since I am not, "that big", I may have a hard time getting such a thing approved. Also because I am young, and never had children it is another factor that makes them wary. That is one that makes me push, I know when you get pregnant your chest grows. I am terrified of that. I'd get bigger than this??? Also already having back problems I would not be a happy camper. My mother-in-law mentioned when she was pregnant with my sister-in-law Hannah that Hannah sat basically on her spine the whole time. She felt like she had "back labor" towards the end. I wouldn't be able to move if I had that!

I know elective surgery is risky. I have never had anything like that done, I mean I still have my wisdom teeth! But I think the risk may be worth it. To not be in pain. To wear clothes that fit. To not be self conscious all the time. To meet someone and have them look me in the eye instead of the boobs. To not have indents in my shoulder large enough to fit my finger in from my bra bearing so much weight.

So I am reaching out to you readers. What are your thoughts on such a thing? Is an elective surgery a good idea? Should it only be a last LAST resort? Should I go for it and see if they would approve it? Ryan supports it if it means being out of pain and comfortable (Of course I want a B and he wants a C but that is a whoooole nother story!)

What do you think?

One More Theory Tested...

So I went to another doctor today as mentioned in an earlier entry to test out my mom's theory about my thyroid possibly being funny. I filled the doctor (a regular old general doctor, no more specialists for me!) in on my extensive medical history for the past year or so and our theory. He agreed to test my thyroid but he also asked me if I ever had lyme disease. I said yed I did, in third grade. So he said he'd like to test me gor that as well, my symptoms may be from that, it could have reoccurred or even I am just unlucky and could have gotten it again. Fingers crossed that it is something to give me an answer already!

After I met Danielle, Sam (my Maid of Honor)'s little sister for lunch. I am glad we have gotten much closer over the past few months. We've always been friends I think, but maybe just more through Sam than in our own right. Now we definitely are. We have had a lot of great talks and she has helped keep me sane here in NJ. After lunch she came over and helped me organize and go through a lot of the junk I had stored in the garage and the bridal shower gifts.

We went to her house for dinner with her mom who made pizza and watched Pirate Radio. If you like Rock n Roll at all you MUST see this movie. The soundtrack is killer and it is hilarious. I highly recommend it!

More Checks Off the List

I worked all day today, picked mom at work since the landscapers blocked her in this morning at home, and have been doing wedding things all night! I called the van company and booked vans to take people back from the reception to the hotel and was on the phone for forever. I got disconnected once and the woman was a little short with me and kept putting me on hold after that to take other reservations. Oy.

Then I emailed Father Tom the readings Ryan and I picked out and the reasoning behind why we chose each reading. Now I am working on scanning Ryan's baby/childhood pictures from his scrapbook so we can have his and mine in a digital frame at the reception together. It is taking forever.

I still haven't started packing yet!!!!

I have to go to the DMV this week, I have another doctor's appointment Thursday (fingers crossed), I have to get my nails filled (oy), and be ready to go for when Ryan gets here Friday.

I hate packing.

Busy Days and New Theories

I am still feeling a tad under the weather, it stinks that these little flare ups now last days instead of just for like a night like they used to. So from that, needless to say, I had a slow start this morning! But I had lunch with mom and Wawa forgot to put the turkey on my turkey sandwich. Hellooooo Monday. Then I went to the municipal building and got the marriage license we need the priest to sign and all that jazz. Did a brief two hour stint at Social Security to get the stuff I need to change my name and have my many questions answered. I grabbed a quick dinner and barely made it to work for 5pm! It was a sloooow night. I teched/did back register and read a lot of my book. After work I met my mom at the Culvers and had a lovely grilled cheese sandwich for dinner as we all talked.

Now the new theory came up at the Culvers. My mom read an article about a woman who had a lot of digestive problems and was tired more than usual and actually she had a thyroid problem. Hm.... never had that test. I will call the regular doctors office up here and try and get an apointment this week for a thyroid profiling. Can't hurt right? Wish me luck!

I was talking to Ryan and he told me a lot about his day, then as I started telling him about mine I noticed he got a lot more quiet. Then silent. I think he fell asleep on the phone with me! I tried calling back twice and got no answer. :( So much for the best part of my day....

So Much is Getting Done!

So this weekend was extremely productive. Ryan and I got a lot done which provided a nice couple of checks on the master list. We stuffed and labeled and stamped all the invites, nearly 100 of them! It took me, Mom, Ryan, and Stefan to get everything in and done, but it was done! I mailed them all off today. Ryan and I also went to the Grand Colonial, our reception venue, and solidified our menu and everything. We picked out all the appetizers, dinner, the wine, and the cake (!!) which sounds so delicious I cannot wait. We also went to another bakery and got Ryan a groomscake for the rehearsal dinner. Hint, if you have ever seen Steel Magnolias you will LOVE his cake! Jill came over Saturday night and spent the night, and until I had a stomach attack we had an awesome time. Stupid stomach. And Sunday was great. I can't go into details, but let's just say we are now one step closer to May 1st.... (:

I still need to call the florist and get transportation and a make up artist, then it is basically all done. PreCana is on Saturday which should be interesting.

Doctors... had an appointment Friday. Starting to get weened off the scary medicine as it wasn't doing what he thought it would, only maybe half. I am now going for a CT scan with IV contrast of my BRAIN because maybe the problem is neurological since my digestive tests are coming back normal. Ugh. I am so sick of being sick. I tried to call the radiology place I went to last time and since the test has an IV and I am allergic to penicillin I can't go there because on the offchance I have a reaction they don't have the equipment for it. So I called the hospital to schedule and waited ten minutes and got disconnected, called again and waited twenty minutes and at 4:59 on the dot they sent me to voicemail as the place closed! UGH.

I ran lots of errands today besides being on the phone for forever. The vet, Dunkin Donuts and the pharmacy for mom, resealing the invites, making dinner... only to be called in to work to work closing shift and getting to eat McDonalds on my way and not my chicken :( Oh well.

Ok, sticking to it. It will all get done. Work tomorrow, job interview with a summer camp in DC on Wednesday... wish me luck!

Home

So I have been home for about a week now. It is so weird being back again. I am desperately trying to find a job. I have put a lot of applications in everywhere and so far no one has gotten back to me. It is extremely frustrating. Tomorrow I am biting the bullet and going back to Kohls (ugh) to see if they are hiring. I worked there throughout high school and part of college and I really hated it, but I need money so back I go. I have applied at three travel agencies, an HR position at Protege, Borders, and I tried Macy*s and they aren't even hiring again until mid-March! I also tried through a friend to get a job at a publishing/distributing company she works for Baker & Taylor and I haven't heard back from them either. So like I said, back to Kohl's I go.

Ryan was here all weekend, the definite perk to living back at home. He can drive up and see me most weekends which I love! We solidified our reception venue (http://www.grandcolonialnj.com) and the church since we met with Father Tom officially on Sunday. He even blessed our engagement and my ring. He also encouraged us to get civially married SOON so I can get enrolled in DEERS and TriCare and in the system...plus an extra month or two of BAH will only help us find a place come May! We also went to Macy*s and worked some more on our registry. I love our china we picked out, let's hope someone nice gets it for us!

My Babci and Poppy also gave us their hope chest... it is 63 years old, as old as their marriage, and they are passing it down to me. With a knife set. I was so touched! It is cedar with green velvet lining the little shelf on top, it is so wonderful.

My parents went to North Carolina yesterday to close the sale on the new house (which is where Ryan and I more than likely will spend our honeymoon!). They don't plan on moving until Stefan fiishes 8th grade, so next year, but they are basically ready and starting to move stuff down. Which means Stefan, the dog, and I are alone until Thursday. I am in charge. Dear Lord help me!!! I have to get an adolescent up for school at 7am!

And find a job.

Oh! Ryan and I went to the doctor up here for me today. MUCH better guy. He named three posibilities that could be what is wrong that the other doctor never even mentioned. He also told me to stop taking that damn horse pill four times a day because "It is crap and doesn't work anyway." I like this guy. I am going to get another test done this week maybe and we will go from there.

Wish me luck!!!