The following post appears on Vicki's blog this week. Please keep her in your prayers in the days ahead. THANK YOU! ~ DavidI've run out of steam. It's like a signal to stop and listen. Take a break. Thanks to the ladies who checked on me recently to inquire about my biopsy. I forgot to post an update - assumed everything would be fine. The first thyroid biopsy came back nondiagnostic, so I had the biopsy done again by a different doctor. Thankfully, my pathology report came back benign.
Wish that was the end of it, but it's not. A recent barium swallow shows the mass is causing some deviation into my esophageal area. Need a flow volume test and a surgery consult next.
Let's certainly pray God's will for me in all this, but frankly, I loathe the idea of surgery (don't we all?).
My options:
1. Thyroid medication... to shrink the mass (my TSH is normal) but there's no guarantee it will help. Over time, if it does work, these thyroid meds could increase my bone loss (already have osteopenia) or cause other issues. Taking the meds means constantly monitoring my thyroid hormone levels so as not to take too much medication, while keeping my blood levels on the high end of normal range.
2. Surgery... to remove the mass before it interferes more with other structures. The doctor also says there is always a slight chance of some malignancy hiding behind benign tissue. A biopsy is only as good as the tissue retrieved, in other words.
3. Ignore it all and hope it goes away:-)Certainly can't ignore it. God will get me through this little rough patch. It seems insignificant compared to my husband's aneurysm and open heart surgery last year, but I still need His wisdom and peace along the way. My emotional/brain chemical wiring and personality is more prone to anxiety than hubby's. I need God constantly, not occasionally.
Now, to the techno-fast. I wanted to take a week off sometime soon, just to have a little retreat. This seems as good a time as any. My youngest son's 26th birthday is coming up, so I'll be designing, baking, and decorating his b'day cake soon. I'd also like to do a bit of organizing at home and get my writing office in shape while setting up these next tests and consults. More than anything else, I just need to "retreat" this week and stay off the computer.
Please pray that the Lord's Spirit would refresh me and prepare me for whatever.Thank you for praying, caring, and reading. I'm so blessed to know each and every one of you. ~ Vicki
8 comments:
Thank you Pilgrim for posting this update...I've been wondering about her all week, but have not had the time to check her blog! :(
Mrs. Gaines, know that you are in my prayers daily, and I think of you throughout the day. I pray God gives you wisdom and peace as He walks beside you on this difficult path.
Love and Prayers,
Lil Pilgrim Pal
Yes we are certainly praying for both Vicki and Donna, Pilgrim.
They themselves have prayed so many times for us and probably still are even though they are both ill....Love Terry
Thank you for the prayers. So appreciated. I'll be seeing the pulmonary doctor on Wed. for the flow volume test, just as Donna is having surgery. Then on Valentines Day, I will meet the surgeon and hopefully get more info.
Continuing to pray for all the Pals.
PS--I should let you know, that is an old picture of me...LOL...if only my hair was still that dark.
It doesn't matter what color your hair is, Mrs. Gaines...you are truly beautiful from the inside out! You are such a lovely lady, and I am so blessed to have met you on Pals ;)
God bless, refresh, and strengthen you,
Lil Pilgrim Pal
That's for sure Little Pilgrim!
Love Terry
well, gee, Lil Pilgrim, that was so sweet....just caught that one:-)
Post a Comment