Some Good and Bad News

Yesterday I endured the biopsy on my thyroid. Not the worst thing I've ever had to do, but it wasn't all that comfortable either. The procedure itself wasn't bad...it was once the lidocaine wore off that I was not a happy camper. Just lots of swelling and soreness.

So let's start with the bad news: Today I got a call from my doctor. She indicated that out of the 3 slides they took, 2 were abnormal or atypical which doesn't necessary mean anything, but the third was definitely cancerous. :( To make a long story short...I have Thyroid Cancer.

Here's the good news: Thyroid Cancer is one of the easiest cancer's to treat. The cells are a lot slower to reproduce making it a lot easier to control. Also, most of the time all it takes is the removal of the thyroid and your good..although sometimes small radiation treatments are needed. They are unsure just how much will need to be removed or if any other treatment will be needed. That's something they won't really know until they are "in" there. So we have a pre-op consult scheduled with the specialist on March 9th and surgery tentatively scheduled for that following Wednesday the 11th.

I have no doubt that things will be alright. I feel really blessed that this is all I have. I know it could be much worse and IS much worse for many people out there. I REALLY appreciate all your love, support, encouragement, and especially your prayers.

LOVES TO ALL!!!

Some Good News

My ovary screens all came back

NEGATIVE

for cancer!!!

This is obviously great news and a huge relief. This is the one I was most concerned about since it's a tough one to fight, plus no one wants to have a hysterectomy at 29!

My Thyroid is still very concerning as the ultrasounds showed more then one mass and some nodules (I have no idea what that means), so they have me scheduled to come in and do a needle biopsy and we'll go from there. I'm not as concerned about this as I recently learned my Grandma, an Aunt, and an Uncle (all on my Dad's side) have had benign masses removed from their Thyroid. Also, Thyroid Cancer is very rare and one of the easiest Cancer's to treat, so I have no doubt that even if I have it, I'll kick it's butt.

Again I thank you all for all for your prayers and love.

Freaking Out Less

I just want to thank everyone for their well wishes, faith, love, and prayers. I still haven't heard and probably won't have results until Monday, but I have had a complete feeling of peace all day. I am so grateful for the faith of others as well as the example, hope, and love they show to me. I am so blessed with wonderful friends and family. Your faith and encouragement has helped me regain my confidence that everything will be fine and no matter what happens, I know that Heavenly Father loves me, even when I don't deserve it. I hope you all know how much I love you too and how very grateful I am for you in my life! I also hope you know how much our Heavenly Father loves YOU, because that in and of itself makes it seem like all things are possible. No matter what has happened in your life, He is ALWAYS there. I know this for a fact. How lucky are we?

LOVES TO ALL!!!

Freaking Out

So I went to my doctor's today...for the routine yearly exam girl's have to go through as well as a follow up appointment for my hospital visit. I've been feeling much better and excited for good news.

Sadly, I didn't get any of that.

As she was checking me out she asked me casually if I had ever been tested for Thyroid Cancer. I told her no, and she mentioned there was definitely a mass on my Thyroid. I had NEVER noticed anything, but sure enough, once she showed me where to feel, there it was. She told me not to worry but that she definitely wanted to get it checked out ASAP, especially since we will be losing our insurance soon, so she scheduled me for some tests to be done tomorrow.

The exam went on as usual and then she asked me casually again if I had been having any pain in my lower abdomen. I told her a little, but nothing worse than when I went to the hospital and that I still had plenty of pain killers I was taking when needed. While in the hospital I had a CT scan performed to check out my kidneys and they mentioned there was a cyst on my ovary and that I had probably also had another cyst burst, which was just adding to my pain. They didn't say anything more about it, so I didn't really think anything of it as I have dealt with these before, although not since having kids. My Doctor said she could definitely feel a mass on my ovary as well. When she pulled up my CT scan all she said was "Oh Mandy...Oh Dear" and then proceeded to tell me my right ovary was 3 TIMES the size it is supposed to be.

Her casualness quickly changed and I saw a look of panic on her face. She told me that the Thyroid is directly related to our ovaries and the fact that they both had masses on them was NOT a good sign. She said the chance of me having cancer is about 75% and that I needed to get that checked out ASAP as well. So tomorrow and Thursday have now been dedicated to "TEST" days full of ultra sounds and biopsy's and who knows what else.

I know that medicine is not an exact science and that there is a very good chance that they are just benign masses and everything will be fine. I'm trying REALLY hard to stay positive and believe that everything will be alright and work out and to stay calm until we know more. But honestly I'm having a VERY hard time NOT FREAKING OUT! Curtis gave me an awesome blessing and I'm trying SO HARD just to have faith...but I'm wavering

BIG TIME.

So here's my plea...lend me some of yours!

Please?

I know more than anyone my faults and my weaknesses and that I am far from being great, but I also know that my friends and family out there who read this ARE GREAT...so I'm begging all you great people out there to please send me your faith and prayers. That is all I need from you, as it is what I am lacking the most.

My Vacation

Some of you may be wondering where I've been and how come I haven't posted anything lately. Well I took a unexpected vacation and am still recovering. This is where I got to go. Doesn't it look luxurious? I got to spend 5 fun filled days being pampered and waited on hand and foot.

Where is this beautiful place?

MCKAY DEE HOSPITAL

Wednesday the 4th of February I started getting a ton of pain in my back. I was pretty sure it was a Kidney infection again and Thursday I went to see my doctor. She confirmed it was and gave me some antibiotics. By Friday night I was still in so much pain I couldn't stand it. That combined with a very high fever led us to take a "quick" trip to the ER. Little did I know there was a lot more going on then just a kidney infection. There were also kidney stones as well as e-coli. So I was admitted to stay and instead of using the money I have been saving to go somewhere fun, I will now be paying for a very expensive 5 day stay in the hospital. Oh well, at least I'm alive...I guess.

My arrival home was less then ideal as well. My sweet Kylee girl had the stomach flu (which she had already been fighting for a couple days) and just was miserable. I had missed my babies so much (they weren't allowed to come see me, that's how sick I was) that I had no problem just holding her all day, other then getting thrown up on quite a few times. By Friday she was STILL throwing up (going on day 4) and I was starting to get worried. So we headed to the Wee Care at 9:45 at night and had her blood drawn and things checked out just to be sure. She was fine and is now on the mend.

My cute friend JILL just did a post on her blog that I loved and need to follow her example. It seems to be much easier to point out the bad (especially when it seems to hit you all at once), but I would like to try and focus on the good instead.

1. We still had insurance (it ends the end of this month since I will no longer be working).
2. I was "out" in time for Valentine's Day.
3. I had SO much WONDERFUL help with my kids from my mom and sister. I'm lucky to be close to family.
4. I did get out of "housewife" duties for 5 days.
5. I didn't have to cook for 3 nights after I got home (thanks Relief Society Sisters).
6. I got some beautiful flowers from my work.
7. Kylee is HEALTHY.
8. I think I had some of the best nurses I've ever had taking care of me.
9. I appreciate my health more.
10. I got a lot of well wishes from family and friends and felt very loved.

I am still on antibiotics and pain killers, but can tell I'm getting a little better each day.

Hooray for feeling better!!!

I can't wait for Spring. I think I'm also suffering from S.A.D.D. as I am ready for some warmth and sunshine and just can't seem to get motivated to do anything these days.

Here's hoping the rest of you out there are doing better then me! :)