This morning I spent close to two hours in the exam room. First the nurse's assistant (I am so bad at remembering the different kind of nurse titles) took my vitals, then another one asked me how I felt and entered the info in the computer then a nurse practitioner came and physically examined my chest area (well since there are no more breasts it is mostly the thin layer of muscle that covers the ribs) and underarms. She also addressed the "discomfort" I have been having on my right side of the chest. It really isn't a pain, rather a pulling sensation, sometimes a little burning sensation and it is most likely due to the scar tissue left over from the mastectomy and nerves trying to rewire. But every time I feel these sensations I become overly sensitive and wonder if it is more than that.
I also had problems with my ears for the last two weeks or so. It felt like they were clogged, almost like having water in the ears, making it hard to hear. I had even gone to the ENT but he couldn't see any infections and gave a nose spray to lower the swelling of the nasal tissue. Well the spray has a risk of allowing fungal infections to occur and since my chemotherapy I feel like my Eustachian tube is especially prone to fungal infections. So I have not used the spray. I have been able to equalize the pressure in my ears since the doctors visit and have been patiently waiting for the "clogged" feeling to go away. Guess what? yesterday in the airplane going up and down I had some trouble equalizing the ears, but something happened and I can hear fine again! yaaay! You know.. when things like this linger I start thinking of unpleasant scenarios... I wish there was a way of "seeing" what is going on in my body without exposing myself to more radiation than I already got.
Anyway since this problem was solved, I didn't have to talk about it to the Dr. - it was on my list originally though.
Well finally after 1 hr and 45 minutes the Dr. came, talked about the scar tissue, saying that the pains from surgeries sometimes do not go away for years. I told her about my D&C story but she totally dissed it saying that my gynecologist should be looking into it. I know she specializes in breast cancer and I know they are very busy, but sometimes I wish a doctor of mine would not just focus on my ears, or just on my uterus or just my breast but see me as a whole!! The first time I had heard of holistic medicine was in grad school, but now I understand it with all my being and wish to find a doctor where I do not feel like I am taking up their most precious time by talking about another part of my body. I think the closest I have to what I want is my Dr. of acupuncture. I feel like she listens to me, and treats my whole body. It has been a great decision to try acupuncture and stick with it, it has greatly helped me in this last year. (I wish the health insurance would pay at least part of it).
Anyway to cut the short story even shorter, she wants to see me in March, I will get a CT scan of the chest also.
By the way not to go into politics but health insurance has been on my mind a lot lately. For over a year I managed to get medical bills around 10K per month. Thankfully my health insurance is great and has covered a LOT (even with health insurance though our medical bills were high enough that we could get a tax deduction). Now I wonder if health insurances are given the right to refuse coverage or individuals with preexisting conditions, what would I do? One of those CT scans is around 8-9K!!
Something to ponder about...
Tomorrow I fly back home, I miss my girls, I miss my husband. I miss my cute little town, it has been crazy today driving in a big city with traffic - despite my navigator on my iPhone. I am excited to get back to my classes. I am thankful that it was a boring Dr.s visit and hope all will be like this.
Till next time, y'all, Good night and Good luck!
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