So i forgot to write a post after the event, but Friday was the day of my check-up with Dr. Schnittker (my surgeon, infamosly referred to as Dr. Snicker in several of my past posts). After dropping the boys off at Kathy's (which turned out to be fun for them because there was another boy there who they like and play with often)
So after a quick drive to Elkhart hospital, i went to radiology first to get some x-rays (rather than an MRI becuase this was more of a progress report check-up). It was my first time getting x-rays too, so it was another fun, new experience. It was like getting a mug-shot more than anything. I first stood with my left shoulder up against this flat screen which had several squares and intersecting lines (kinda like a target. Sure glad that the lens they were pointing at me didn't have bullets or darts in it!) and faced the wall (so the enormous machine was shooting my profile (which reminds me of the smaller verson of the machine that is used in dentist's office when they're taking x-rays of your teeth and have to put that uncomfortable little plastic square in your mouth so you hold your jaw in such a way) )
First i was asked to just stare at the far wall, the woman who was operating the machine put a finger under my chin and tilted it a little more up, which made me think of how i used to hold my head in marching band (make an 'L' with your thumb and index finger and put your thumb to your throat and your index finger under your chin). She took one shot of my head straight, then asked me to bend my chin down as far as i could (not too far but decent considering how long i've been recovering) and then another shot with my head bent back as far as i could (that kinda hurt). Then one more shot with me facing the giant machine, and i was done.
After spending over an hour (maybe) in Dr. Schnittker's waiting room at the hospital, Mom and I were taken to one of the rooms (ironically the same one i was in last i came which was to get my staples removed) and after a short wait, Dr. Schnittker came in and ran me through some tests (walk around, on heels, on tip toe, squeeze his fingers, close your eyes with your feet together and arms out to test my balance, walk heel to toe - i won't be passing the drunk driving test any time soon - touch a finger to my nose with my eyes closed and when he taps the finger...)The results? I'm going to live! I've learned that the bit of tumor on my artery may, in time, just erase itself, that i'll be starting physical therapy in order to get full range of motion back in my neck (i don't know when, he's gonna set that up for me), and i'll be getting another MRI in 6 months to see how the area of my cervical spine is doing.
Did i have any questions? Yes, and that was simply if it was possible for me to get a copy of the pictures of my MRI, and the answer to that question is yes, too. I may have to call the hospital or the place where i got my MRI for the cd of pictures, but it's possible, which is way cool! (Dr. Schnittker also told me that i could've gotten the pictures of the MRI when i got them done, that, had i just requested it at the places i got my MRI, i could've walked out of the place with a cd with the pictures on it. Unfortunatly no one told me i could do that at the time so it never occured to me that i could ask)
Oh, and one other thing to add because i did write about it and that is about the strange bumpy rash on my left arm. Whether or not it's impetigo is still unknown, but after a few weeks of using the steroid cream, it's finally ALMOST gone, which isn't to weird because i read up on impetigo and learned it can take weeks for it to fully go away.
Oh, and i suppose i should also mention that Thursday, the day before the Elkhart appointment, i had a brief visit with Dr. Clayton (but this was about needing another perscription i was getting low on), and i know i commented about the irritating gas pain in my chest, which still hasn't completely relieved, and i've been diagnosed with having GERD. (AKA- Reflux Esophagitis / Gastroesophagael Reflux Disease). He prescribed a med, which takes a little time to take full effect but i've already been taken note of the ease in breathing and eating, so as far as the gas pain problem, it's doing a lot better.
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| My neighbor's lovely Koi, Shubunkin, and other goldfish |
On another small note i start classes the 29th of August, and on a 2nd note, i thought i'd explain why the title of my last post was 'bugs and butane'. I mention this because i was chatting with my neighbor (the one with the Koi) and i happened to note that there was a bee hovering around his lighter (he smokes) and he made the comment that bugs do that often after he lights up, that it has something to do with the smell of butane, and i thought that would be an interesting title of something 'bugs and butane'.
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| After surgery |
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| After staples removed |
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| After a month healing |
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