A blog from a foodie about living with allergy/immunology issues, Hashimoto's, lymphedema, kidney failure and other issues. I must eat all organic, gluten, nut, soy, egg and corn free. What's left you ask? Well, that was my thought too when things kept getting worse. I make it work and you can too.
I loved to cook since I was very young. I learned from the best, my two grandmothers and my mom!
Why be like everyone else. That's no fun. I mean, hey, I get to see GISTS, almost daily. My big outings these days are to GISTS!!!!! (See I SEE GISTS - Many, Many GISTS)
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Because of all my issues, they drugged me up with Benadryl through the IV before they gave me anesthesia. All seemed fine when I woke from the procedure.
I brought my own bottled water and rice cereal because I knew I couldn't consume anything they offered when I woke up from anesthesia.
CLICK VIDEO OF VOCAL CORDS
When I got home, I was really loopy still from the effects of the combination of anesthesia and Benadryl, same as last time. (See The Time-Censored Light Switch). I dozed on and off but was speaking fine from the moment I woke up in recovery.
I sat out back by the pool for a good hour, until about 8 p.m., with my mom and sister and we chatted up a storm as we watched the dog swim!
For some odd reason, I couldn't sleep last night. I think the Benadryl may have first caused me to be drowsy then caused me to be hyper. I went to bed at 5 a.m. When I woke up at 8 a.m. to use the bathroom... I HAD NO VOICE!
I had to text and write notes to my husband. He immediately grabbed the discharge instructions and called the number. He told them that I had no voice, my throat was slightly swollen and I felt some phlegm.
Stony Brook is great, but it's BIG and BUSY. We were told if we felt it was serious we should go to the ER immediately. I had no serious symptoms and didn't want to take up doctors' time when there are patients who really need the ER. Not to mention, every ER visit is about 8 to 10 hours in these here parts, no matter the hospital!
There was no fever, no bleeding, I could breathe ok, I could swallow. I just couldn't utter a sound.
We chose to wait for a call back from the doctor. My husband called again after 2 hours. They had a nurse call us back about 40 minutes later. He/she said this was unusual and she was putting a call into the doctor who did my procedure. We thought that had already been done!
We waited another few hours. My husband called a 3rd time. He was concerned, as was I. In the meantime, my phone accidentally dialed my niece. She called back. She happens to be a Physician's Assistant.
My husband told her what was going on. She said she didn't think it was anything serious, to drink warm liquids and wait for the doctor to call. She also gave us the warning signs to head to the ER.
My husband was concerned but also cracking jokes, which is good. It takes the edge off. Oh, he was having a field day with this one!
There really is a God he texted to his cousin.
He sang Silence Is Golden to me!
He said he was going to take the doctor to dinner.
He cracked jokes with my dad (the two of them are always in cahoots) and they got a good laugh over the whole thing.
He asked me if I wanted to sing a duet with him.
He had a ball all day. Now... he's finally quiet and amusing himself like a good boy!
The doctor finally called 5 hours from our initial call. She said this is a very strange occurrence, but then again, everything about my case is strange. That's the whole reason for doing the endoscopy and biopsy!
She seems to feel this is a delayed reaction to the anesthesia. I'm no doctor, so, I'm going by what she's saying. She said to give it a day and if I still don't have a voice by tomorrow, to go into the office.
I'm wondering if having Hashimoto's has anything to do with this? This is just a wild guess on my part, I honestly have no clue. (See Dealing With The Issues Associated With Hashimoto's Disease) I just thought of that now or I would have written that down for my husband to ask the doctor. She knows my entire medical history, and she didn't mention that, but who knows.
Remember, we don't know what IT is, so anything that is put into my body can be causing a reaction. The issue is involving my neck and throat after all and there is swelling. Not as severe, but, it did mimic IT. However, losing my voice is a first. (See IT Struck Again Last Night - What Is IT????)
It is now 9:18 p.m. and I still have no voice. My throat is still a bit swollen but not as bad.
So... we shall see. I hope I have a voice tomorrow!
To top it off, my dad put down fertilizer in the yard. It's horse manure. The dog rolled in it. So the dog now smells like horse shit! Lovely.
Dogs and kids are the same. They have a huge yard to play in, but they will get into the ONE thing they shouldn't. Now my husband has to attempt to get her into the stall shower. Fun times I tell ya! For update: (See Great News)
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Someone Asked Me Today How I Deal With... This insane, crazy medical situation. Well, I try to keep a sense of humor for one! (See I Thought I Was Alone, I Was Wrong. I'm Lucky I Survived!) In that post is a list of other posts where I also keep a sense of humor!
I always try to look at the pros. (See Pros And Cons)
I was sitting in Stony Brook hospital on the 14th floor today! Anyone who knows me knows I'm terrified of heights, so that in itself was causing a ton of anxiety. (See What Is Gephyrophobia?)
CLICK VIDEO
Just dealing with Stony Brook also causes a lot of stress. Oh... it's me, not them. The care and service is great and they are all very kind and professional. However, Stony Brook is like it's own CITY. It's huge. I don't do well with, large, confusing facilities these days. For more on Stony Brook (See IT Struck Again Last Night - What Is IT????)
One of my BIGGEST FEARS is being involved in a car crash and having to be airlifted to Stony Brook. I'm terrified of heights, Stony Brook's size gives me a ton of anxiety and I have a fear of driving. With the insane amount of car accidents daily on Long Island, it gets to me! (See 12 Facts About Long Island, New York)
The nurse was attempting to start an IV. It's ALWAYS an issue starting an IV with me. I got lucky this time, it only took two attempts. The second nurse got it on her first try!
I think I can make the Guinness Book of World Records for having had IV's started. I leave the hospitals looking like a drug addict. I swear if I ever get pulled over, I'll get arrested for shooting up. The cops will be convinced I'm a junkie! (See The Craziness of June 24th - Part 4 of Series)
I was also filled with anxiety over having to get anesthesia. Yes, I've had it before with no problems, however, that means nothing. With this mystery illness, anything can trigger an attack of IT at any time. (See 10 Reasons Why I'm Terrified To Eat!)
This is the whole purpose of the tests to begin with. Originally it was going to be an endoscopy/colonoscopy. Instead, they just did the endoscopy. We are waiting for those results and if she needs to, she will do a colonoscopy.
They are trying to avoid the prep I have to drink because it caused me issues last time when I was an inpatient. I had nurses surrounding me, everyone going nuts, shoving medications into the IV to stop the reaction. Fun times. (See The Time-Censored Light Switch)
If I need the colonoscopy, it would be best to put me into the hospital to be monitored while drinking the prep. Getting the insurance to pay is the key. It will be a fight, but I used to write appeals for my clients, so I can do it for myself. The doctor's staff also puts up a good fight!
The procedure room they wheeled me into on the FOURTEENTH floor had large windows. GREAT. Thankfully, due to all my allergies, they shot me up with Benadryl into the IV. So I was fruit loops. Had I not been, those windows would have caused a real problem.
I had NEVER been in an operating room or procedure room before that had HUGE windows. Who needs a view under such circumstances?
This was my response to the question "how do you deal with this?"
Batman and Wonder Woman too! In fact, there's no superhero out there I couldn't take on!!
I replied (in a watered down version):
I've lived through a very close family member losing a baby.
I've lived through several young people very close to me being killed by drunk drivers doing innocent things such as going for ice cream, backing out of a driveway, riding a motorcycle, walking across the street. Yes, the old saying, "you could cross the street and die" holds true.
I've watched a young person try to fight a rare and aggressive form of cancer and lose the battle at age 24.
I lived through a terrible marriage.
I lived through a divorce, court battles, court appointed evaluations, etc.
I went on 4 hours of sleep a night for YEARS and managed to function, maintain an excellent GPA, be responsible and never miss a thing for my kids.
I lost people very close to me whom I loved dearly (grandparents, aunts, uncles and significant people in my life)
I thought my "senior years" were going to be one way, with a certain person and due to circumstances, they turned out a totally different way with my now husband!
I've dealt with very close family members fighting cancer.
I lost jobs, through no fault of my own, and still came out ok.
I moved many times, for various reasons, and it always benefited me and the kids.
This is just another battle along this crazy, twisting road called life.
This is how I see it... I have to say, my life has been more good than bad. The pros have definitely outweighed the cons.
Last but not least, things could be worse. In some cases, it might be at the worst, but in my case, it's not.
I did it my way, all of it, the good, the bad and the ugly. I always made the decisions I thought were best at the time. If they turned out not to be so good, I sought out better (be it a better life partner, better friends or better doctors). (See Do It Your Way!)
Last but not least, I live for ME and MINE. I do what I want, how I want, when I want, and as long as it's not intentionally hurting anyone or illegal, I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS. Never did, never will. (See Is Society Raising A Bunch Of Pansies?)
Please subscribe to this blog and my YouTube Channel - link below. Share with family and friends and on Social Media! Feel free to leave an on-topic comment, make a suggestion, share an idea or ask on-topic questions (all comments require approval)
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