Eye Dr. & OB Visits

So... last night I noticed that I popped some blood vessels in my eyes, which FREAKED ME OUT! I don't like the sight of blood... ESPECIALLY in my eyes! So... I went to bed kind of scared and hoped to be able to get in to see a doctor the next day.

EYE DOCTOR VISIT

9 am - We went to see Dr. Boeke, my optomatrist to rule out anything serious. He checked my eyeballs and my vision and found that things seemed to be okay. I asked him if it was normal to feel that my left eye felt different than my right eye... like there was more pressure in that one. He said that there was more pressure in that one, but not to worry. He told me that the blood vessels probably broke when I was wretching on Saturday morning and my blood pressure most likely spiked, causing them to rupture. He said not to freak out if I see more blood on the white part of my eye as gravity will pull the blood down and then it will turn yellowish as it's healing. I'm so glad to know what to expect so I won't be so freaked out! I seriously was in such a silly mood today! He walked us up to the front desk and said to call him if anything happens. I told him I'd let him know if my eyeballs explode in the meantime!!! He's like... "Let's not go there!" HAHAHA!!! (As Ed and I were laying down for a nap later, Ed was like... "You hardly have any white left on your eye! Don't look in the mirror or you might freak out! It might be how you are laying though." Yeah... I will try not to look in the mirror any time soon! BLECH!!!

OB VISIT

10 am - Next stop, my OB's office. I wasn't scheduled this week, but we really needed to find out about what was going on with my glucose levels! Dr. Wing was so great as she explained soooo much to Ed and I. I seriously felt such a weight lifted off of my shoulders after we left! She said that when they check for glucose levels in the urine it's MUCH different than when they test the blood, so it didn't even really compare. Which means that I WAS NOT on the verge of a diabetic coma! *SIGH* She said that the sugar levels can spike when someone is sick, which I am and in pregnant patients because the kidneys often leak causing a spike as well. She's also not concerned because I did pass the second gestational diabetes test within the last month. I failed one of the tests, which you have to fail two in order to be considered to have gestational diabetes. She said that we just need to work on getting me feeling better, eating more protein and whole grains. So glad I went today. I just wanted to come home and sleep. She also prescribed me some anti-nausea meds since I've been feeling so bad for the last couple of days. Also... I'm not sure if I could find a Norman Rockwell painting of an OB office visit... who knows... ;o) hehehe

Sunday, November 1 - The Day After

Like I said in my last post, I woke up at around 1 pm when Ed said that his dad wanted to check my blood glucose level since it was at 500 yesterday in the E.R., verging on diabetic coma... NICE. They tested it today, although I had nothing to eat all day since I was sleeping and it was 89. That's what I'd like to hear. My throat was feeling better, my tooth was feeling better, but my headache was killing me and my eyes were still very sore from vomiting yesterday. Ed and his dad went back to eat lunch with Ed's mom and the kids. I went back to sleep until about 4 o'clock. Ed came back home without the kids, since I'm contagious once more... with something different. UGH! So... another week without the kids.

Tonight after we went to bed, I was missing the kids terribly and I started crying. I couldn't breathe because my nose was congested again so I went into the bathroom, blew my nose, cried some more, blew my nose again and washed my hands. As I was washing my hands, I noticed that my eyes were really bloodshot... I mean like... the white part in the corner of my eye was red. I lifted my eyelid a bit and there was tons of blood. SCARY!!! I told Ed that I think I broke a blood vessel in both my eyes. I was a bit worried. He got out of bed and looked up broken blood vessels in the eye and said that it could just be from rubbing them, crying, coughing hard, pressure, etc. I thought back to how hard I puked yesterday and the feelings I felt in my eyeballs and thought that the crying just made it worse. It may take up to two weeks to go away. Then he read about broken blood vessels due to being diabetic and I had to stop him from reading because it was making me queasy and scared. UGH... I don't know what more I can take. Now I can't cry from stress of being sick and missing my kids for fear of busting up my eyeballs... GREEEAAAT! :O(

Please... be better tomorrow... please.

Saturday, October 31 - Emergency Room Halloween

I had only about two hours of sleep, due to my pregnancy insomnia and other ailments as of late, when I woke up at six am to extreme pain in my tooth! I've had pain in that tooth on and off for the last couple of months and so I figured I'd deal with it AFTER the baby is born. This pain was HORRIBLE! I've never experienced tooth pain this bad in my life! It's the bottom right molar, the last one which is hurting so badly. It was hurting even when my mouth was open, but the pain was severe when I closed my mouth and my teeth met. Holy cow!


I got out of bed and looked up tooth pain and pregnancy to see what it could possibly be and if I could even do anything while I'm 8 months pregnant! From what I saw online, it seems to me that I'll either have to have a root canal or an extraction if it's a fractured tooth. I called my friend a few hours later who happens to be a dental assistant to ask her what it could be and she said the same thing. I called my dentist on the emergency number, but hadn't heard from him today at all. Anyways... I took my hydrocodone (for my back pain), and tried to do anything I could to ease the throbbing pain! Ed got up with me and called around to various dentists offices to see if I could get in anywhere, but since it's Saturday... no one is open. ARGH... why couldn't this happen YESTERDAY?!


Anyways... after a bit, I felt like I was going to puke, and finally at around 11 am, it came. Let me tell you that this was the WORST vomiting experience I've ever had! I've had a sore throat and congestion anyways... but bring on the vomit and holy cow... I thought my head was going to explode. I was seriously scared because I couldn't breathe! I was laying on the couch just heaving into the garbage can while the whole family is looking on! I hadn't had anything to eat yet today, but I just kept heaving and heaving sooooooo forcefully! I couldn't breathe because I got sooooo congested and I couldn't breathe out of my mouth since I was vomiting so I seriously thought I was going to pass out. VERY scary. I felt sooooo much pressure in my eyes and they felt like they were bulging out of my head!!! Afterwards my head was seriously swollen, my glands under my neck were HUGE, my eyes were swollen into slits which felt like they were popping out of my head and they were really itchy! My throat was on fire and felt like it was closing. I still felt like there was a pukeball lodged in my throat, but I couldn't puke anymore. No matter how much water I drank, I couldn't get that feeling to go away. Ed was just staring at me because of how weird my swollen head looked! He said that my eyes looked chinese because they were sooooo swollen. I have to admit that I was really scared because I've never felt this way during or after puking. It lasted for over an hour afterwards!!! I had a horrid headache, my eyes were killing me and my glands were still pretty large and my throat was killing me.


I called my doctor's office and spoke to the triage nurse who didn't seem to be bothered by it. Ed had taken the kids over to his parents to get them out of the house. I was bummed because I had a fun day planned before we went trick-or-treating. My other symptoms felt like they were going away and so I was planning on going out tonight with them since I'd be outside anyways. We were going to paint pumpkins and make caramel apples as a family since we hadn't done anything this year since I've been so sick. Anyways... I posted my symptoms on FACEBOOK and a doctor friend said that I should go to the E.R. I was going to try and go to sleep and see if I felt better afterwards, but after I read that I decided to call Ed and have him take me to the E.R.


We got there and they took some blood and urine. They had to get it by catheter because there would be less bacteria in the urine... OUCH. Come to find out later... they put the wrong label on it, but luckily I could just pee in a cup that time. UGH. So... the doctor came in, we told her the brief version of my medical history and what happened that morning. She looked in my mouth and said that my throat looked horrible and that I most likely had Pharyngitis. I'd never heard of it. Anyways... she hooked me up to an IV, so I wouldn't get dehydrated because that is one of the biggest risks for fetal complications. The IV had antibiotics in it as well. We got there at around 1:30 or 2:00 and didn't get home 'til around 7:30 that night.


Anyways... I laid on the bed for awhile and Ed and I watched the Game Show Network while we were there. I tried to sleep a bit since I only had two hours sleep, but to no avail. I had to get up an pee several times while the IV fluids went through me. The nurse came in again with the results of my blood and urine test and said that my hemoglobin was low (I already figured that) and that my glucose level was a little high. She said that it was 500 and I asked her what was normal and she didn't know. So she left and came back and said around 100 is normal. I'm like... okay... what do I do for that? She just said to lay off the sugar. Okay... whatever. So... she gave me another bag of fluids and left again. She really didn't seem to know what was going on. I should have listened to my friend and gone to Allen hospital's E.R. instead, but I went to Covenant because IF anything were to happen, that is where my OB will deliver the baby. I had to ask if I was contagious, what to do for the symptoms, what I could eat and drink, etc. They weren't good about giving me any information. So, we got the paperwork and prescription for antibiotics and left.


Right after we left, my lips started tingling and I was like, "Oh, great! Why couldn't this have started before we left?!" Any little change has been freaking me out lately! We went to Walgreens and got my meds and some throat friendly foods and drinks and came home. Thankfully, my friends took the kiddos out trick-or-treating for me so they wouldn't have to miss out on that, too. THANK YOU!!! Then Ollie and Eden spent the night with Grandma Young and Jaren was still with G&G Palmer. Also... Ed was supposed to work his last overnight, but luckily Dan said he'd take his shift so I wasn't alone... just in case Ed needed to take me to the hospital again. THANKS, DAN!


We got home, popped in a movie, heated up some tomato soup and laid down. I was sooooo dang tired and feeling crappy that I went to bed at about 8:30ish. I didn't finish my soup because I was feeling urpy again and reeeeaaaallly didn't want to puke again. So... off to bed I went with my puke bucket right next to the bed. I slept most of the night (minus two hours) and slept until about 1 pm Sunday afternoon when Ed and his dad woke me up to check my blood sugar level since in reality I was verging on diabetic coma with a level of 500 at the ER the day before. It was 89. They gave me a blessing and I slept until about four. The kids are off to G&G's house for the week since I'm contagious until my symptoms go away. Another long sick week is ahead of me... *SIGH* :O(

Tuesday, October 27 - OB Appointment and H1N1

So, today started like any other day. I got up for my now weekly OB appointment at 9:20. Outside of the waiting room there was a table set up with some hand sanitizer, some face masks and a paper saying that if you have any of the following symptoms to put a face mask on. I had a headache, sore throat, congestion and slight cough, so I thought that I would go ahead and put one on. I entered the waiting area and talked to the receptionist only to find that my appointment was scheduled for yesterday morning. UGH. Luckily, she got me in to see someone anyways since I was 32 weeks along and obviously looking like I had just gotten hit by a MACK truck.

As I sat in the lobby, I could see everyone just staring at me like I had the freakin' plague! I'm thinking to myself, "I'm wearing this for YOUR benefit! I already feel like crap so stop freakin' starin' at me or I'll take it off and cough on ya!!!" I was annoyed because I missed my appointment and felt like an idiot, annoyed because everyone was staring at me, and annoyed because it was hotter than hell wearing it and every breath I took fogged up my glasses. I didn't want to touch any magazines because if I did people would freak out, but I had to grab one and start fanning myself as I felt like I was going to pass out any minute! A man came by and told me to follow him to a room. I don't know if it was from a sincere desire to help because he could tell I was miserable or if it was to get me to a room to quarantine me!! Either way, I was happy to get to a room and away from the penetrating stares.

I waited for a few minutes only to be greeted by a nurse wearing something that resembled a HAZMAT suit! She had on rubber gloves, a face mask and a robe of some sort. I had to laugh to myself!!! Later, the doctor came in looking similar to the nurse. I was thinking they were going to strip me down, shave me, shower me and put me into a plastic bubble! (I envisioned a scene from Monster's INC.) I told her my symptoms and she said that I probably had H1N1 (swine flu). I was like, don't you have to test me for it? She said that it's so rampant now that they just assume people have it and treat it as such. I'm like... GREEEAAAATTT... now I REALLY feel like I have the plague! Since it had been several days I couldn't have Tamiflu to help it. I just had to let it run it's craptastic course.

So... last week it was my parathyroid hormone level that was back up and now I supposedly have the freakin' swine flu. Anything else to worry about? CRIPES!!! Soooo... back home, kids are going to G&G Palmer's for the week while I deal with this crap. Even though they've been exposed to me already it's just safer for them, especially Oliver and Jaren because of their asthma problems. Even more to worry about. I just want to scream.

Oh, the Joys of Pregnancy

WARNING: Massive amounts of ranting and raving are about to take place. Read at your own risk.

I went to my regular OB visit to test for gestational diabetes and failed so off to my 4 hour test at the hospital. I downed the nasty orange drink that they give you in record time, only to feel sick about 1/2 hour later. I felt nauseus, lightheaded and had a horrible headache. I also had to visit the toilet... quickly a few times. I was fanning myself with a copy of the Ensign that I brought with me to read for the first hour. They called me back to get poked for the second time and I told them what was happening and that I felt as if I were going to pass out! They said that sometimes people feel sick during this test... YAY, ME! So, they led me down a little hallway to a small room and said that I could lie down on the examination table. YEAH... not the most comfortable thing invented. I would have much rather stretched out on the blue couch in the lobby, but I'm sure I would have gotten some dirty looks out there! So, after the second hour, I'm poked and the third hour, I'm poked again. Afterwards, they sent me home and told me that I would hear from my doctor.

I came home thankful that I could crash since I wasn't feeling well, as my in-laws were watching Jaren for me, but that didn't last too long since he was sick as well and had been crying all morning long. He had been on antibiotics for strep throat, as well as Eden, but he wasn't eating or drinking even. We took him to the doctor and found out that he had several sores in his mouth including a HUGE one on the side of his tongue! Poor little guy! The doctor said that it was a virus and that it just had to run its course. We got some stuff to numb it with the hopes of him at least drinking his milk, but he did NOT want to have anything to do with it! It sucks trying to take care of two sick kid, one of which just screams all day long, when I'm pregnant (anemic, horrible back pain, ligament pain) and sick as well. UGH! SERENITY NOW!!!!!! Some days I don't feel like I can handle it! I've been EXTREMELY tired and have been nodding off while laying on the couch or sitting in the recliner which is soooooooo not like me!

Soooo... a few days later, my OB calls and says that I passed the test. So... I guess I don't have gestational diabetes. Which is a good sign! But... my bad headaches, fatigue, nausea, back pain, etc. are still plagueing me. So... why is that I wonder. Many friends say... preeclampsia??? So... I look up preeclampsia and now I'm really worried because it sounds just like me. Plus the fact that they didn't test my urine for protein the last time that I was in there because I couldn't pee... yeah... that's really odd for me right about now... not being able to pee! So... I call my doctor, see a different woman since my doc is on vacation and find out that everything is okay. She says I probably just have a touch of the flu or something that the kids had. At least I know it's not serious.

To put it plainly... I feel like crap... all day... every day. I know that I should be grateful to be able to get pregnant and carry my babies... but I hate it. I hate the way it makes me feel. I seriously feel like I have the flu for 9 months, but worse. I have had chronic lower back pain for the last 10 years so I know what it's like to be uncomfortable every day, but this pain that I've been in for the last several months is almost unbearable. There are days that I can barely get myself to the restroom let alone care for my 2-year-old!!! I'm in CONSTANT pain. PAIN. I know that ladies suffer from backaches in pregnancy, but this is just ridiculous! I've seen my doctor, my OB, my chiropractor and a physical therapist for it, but it just does not go away and it's only getting worse the bigger this kid gets! I just want to scream some days. And I'm soooooooo freakin' tired... it's not even funny! I know that since I'm anemic that really doesn't help the situation and having two surgeries and recovering from those doesn't help. I take gobs and gobs of medicine on a daily basis that I usually gag on and throw back up... AWESOME. Plus, I can't sleep at night because of pregnancy insomnia and back pain! I can't wait for the next few weeks to pass. I pray that I can get better soon after I have this kid. Don't even get me started on my mental state... or my spiritual state... I feel like I've been to hell and back. I feel like my prayers aren't being heard. It just feels like everything is piling up on top of me and I honestly don't know how much more I can take. I can understand why people want to hurt themselves. Seriously. Most days I just feel like a zombie and I just want to stay in bed ALL DAY LONG. I really signed up for this?! Really? Reeaaalllly?!? I know there is a reason for my going through all of this... just don't ask me what the crap that reason is... because I haven't the slightest idea. This baby had better be healthy... that's all I have to say about that! (But... since it's a boy... I'm sure he'll be as sickly as my other two... woo-hoo!)

BACK ATTACK!

I'd hurt my back over 10 years ago and so I'm used to dealing with chronic back pain on a daily basis, however, I occasionally go through some 'episodes' of horrific pain that usually lasts a day or two at most. Well, this time, I've been dealing with it for over 3 weeks now.

I went out to eat with my mom and her teacher friends at Barn Happy, a cute eating place in an old hog barn that serves soups and sandwiches, and then we did some window shopping for about an hour on the Main Street parkade in Cedar Falls. That night I just KNEW I would be in terrible pain the next day... and I was right. I couldn't even walk! My mom took Oliver and Eden for me for a few days and Janine, my MIL, took Jaren for me while Ed was at work. I couldn't fix them lunch, play with them, turn on a video... heck, I could hardly get myself to the restroom. I called my chiropractor, but forgot that he was on vacation, but luckily he'd be back the next day!

So, the next day wasn't any better. Luckily I still had a walker from my surgery that I've been borrowing so Eden rolled that to me and I used that for a bit. I saw my chiropractor and he said that it was probably 'sciatica... the nasty of nasties', since I was in horrible pain. I have the majority of pain in my lower right side and tingling in my toes on my right foot. Since then, my entire back has been sore and painful because it all connects and overcompensates for the area that is really stressing out! I haven't been able to medicate myself since I'm preggo and so all I've been doing is icing the crap out of it. I've seen my chiro several more times and cried in his office simply because I just don't know what to do. Nothing seems to be working and he then said that it may be a herniated disc, but we couldn't tell because I can't have any MRI's or CT scans at the moment. I pretty much just have to live with it until I have this baby. ARGH!!!

So... it's been over three weeks now, a few days of not being able to move (I mean... it hurt to BREATHE for Pete's sake!!!) and the rest just in horrible pain, severely limiting my activities. I called my OB and said that I just can't take this pain and inability to take care of myself and my three kids, so she prescribed me some hydrocodone and set up an appointment to see a Physical Therapist. The first time I took the meds... it was heaven sent! The second time didn't even touch the pain......... what am I gonna do with myself!?! It's only going to get worse the bigger I get!

August 3rd was my first PT appointment and my PT showed me some stretches that I can do and that Ed can help me with. I'm hoping that this as well as my chiropractor visits will help me cope with this pain as much as possible. I'm PRAYING it does!!! My PT said that my ligaments are relaxing and that my hips are totally out of line because the ligaments aren't doing their job and holding the bones in place. It's common amongst pregnant women, but she said mine is worse because of my history of back pain and that I have had this for so long that my body just kind of gets used to its new position. I guess I'm just a crooked woman... I pray that this all helps. As I'm typing this... I'm in horrible pain all across my lower back. I only want to take my meds when I absolutely need them. I'm thinking I need them right about now. YIKES!

15 & 16 JUNE - Iowa City Hospital Visits

Monday, June 15, 2009 - University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics - Visit with the Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Pediatric Swallow.

Since Jaren has troubles eating certain textures and hardly eats a thing, we finally made the decision to see a specialist for his problems. We wanted to make sure that there was nothing wrong with his esophagus.

Jaren sitting in this little chair in order to get some X-rays.

Ed and Jaren waiting for the Pediatric Swallow.

The nurse blew bubbles to pass the time while we waited.

Jaren trying to blow some bubbles. He loved it!

This is the seat they put Jaren in for the Pediatric Swallow. He didn't like it at first, but when he saw his x-ray on screen he was enthralled and stopped crying. They mixed together some various foods with different textures to see how well he could swallow them. They couldn't believe how well he did, especially since he couldn't have anything to eat for a long time.

Here's the monitor that I watched from behind a wall. It was sooooooo weird seeing him actually chew and swallow things and how it traveled down to his stomach!

Here's a tiny video of what I saw. I was taping it and then I thought...

"I wonder if I could get in trouble for videotaping this..." so I stopped.

This is what Jaren saw on a screen in the room he was in as well. It was wild to see!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - UIHC - Children's Hospital - Center for Disabilities and Development - Food Study

Today we met with a Behavioral Psychologist and Speech Pathologist to see what we could find out about Jaren and his eating. We brought food he eats and food we'd like him to eat. We fed him while they watched in another room on a monitor. They told us it was most likely behavioral and to start swiping the food against Jaren's lips to make him at least taste the food. Ed doesn't buy it. I'm at a loss for what to do...

In the waiting room there was a child sized sectional sofa that was soooo cute. Jaren had to take a break and try it out!

After his tests, it was lunch time, so we ventured to Los Portales, a mexican restaurant in Iowa City and man was it delicious!!! We'll have to hit it again sometime when we are down there! I love this picture! Jaren is my crazy monkey!

Instead of stuffing the napkin into his shirt, he just holds it under his chin! What a funny boy!

"Oops... I Crapped My Pants..."

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Sooooo.... Ed didn't feel well yesterday when we were planning on having our Valentine's Family Candlelight Dinner... so today we thought we'd spend the day together and have our dinner some other night when we all felt better.

It was our first outing since my surgery down in Iowa City and so we split up for a while and decided that we would meet back up around noon to go to the Isle of Capri for their lunch buffet. Ed had promised Oliver that they would go and play Black Light Mini Golf at the arcade inside of Crossroads Mall.

So... Eden and I go through the mall and stop by an asian gift shop to buy my brother, Bryan a late birthday gift. As I was purchasing said item... a feeling rushed over me... like a voice whispering with a sense of urgency... GET TO A TOILET... NOW!!! I just knew that I was going to crap my pants... I just KNEW it... because Ed was sick the day before and I knew that he had given it to me. So I grab Eden by the hand and we hi-tail it out of the store toward the restrooms in BFE! I just knew that I wasn't going to make it and I knew that I was going to SHART in my pants... ya know... that fart that is really... um... well... POOP! Okay... so as we are briskly walking (running would have just let my insides loose) I'm trying to squeeze my buttcheeks together to keep anything on the inside of my body from coming to the outside of my body!!! But... to no avail... as we are rounding the corner of Walden Books... the impending doom was upon me and I farted and could feel something more... yes... LUMPY FARTS had entered my clothing and made me stink to high heaven!!!

I leaned over to Eden and said, "Your mom just crapped her pants!!!" We picked up the pace a bit and headed down the long hallway as I was half in agony and half in laughter at what had just transpired!!! I headed into the restroom stall and tried calling Ed, but the reception sucked, so I couldn't get a hold of him. I kept reassuring Eden that I was still there and told her to stay there and not leave the restroom. I kept saying, "Come on Ed... pick up the phone... I just crapped my freakin' pants... I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I JUST CRAPPED MY PANTS!!! Is this real? I feel like I'm in a movie... Dumb and Dumber or something!"

Evidentally a woman heard me and asked me if she could help. I said that Ed was in the mall so she paged him and told him that, "...your wife had a little accident and is in the women's restroom..." Another woman was nice enough to take the kiddos to play in the play area with her children while Ed bought me some undies, wet wipes and sweat pants!!!

(I still cannot believe that I soiled myself! So... not only do I have old lady bones... I have old lady colon elasticity problems as well... IT REALLY SUCKS TO BE ME RIGHT NOW!!!) So... I get all cleaned up and then I have to face this stranger who knows that I crapped myself and wrangle all of my kids. She was very nice and seemed like she understood that accidents happen! Thank you, Amie... and the other lady out there who paged Ed!!! I'd still be sitting on the toilet a week later if it wasn't for the kindness of two complete strangers!!! Life... oh... man... what a day!

30 Going On 13... Yeah... I Said It Right...

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Bird's Eye View of the Hospital in Iowa City.

Today Mandy and I ventured down to Iowa City for many different reasons... the first being that I had my post operation check up with my surgeon. Following that... lunch... OF COURSE... and then wedding gown shopping and looking for wedding rings for Matt. We had such a fun day together! Mandy picked me up at around 8:30 in the morning and we were off to U.I.H.C. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes to get down there, but then it took forever to find a parking spot!




So... I checked in and was sent back to the lab for blood work (3 vials) and then down to the radiology department for some x-rays. The first one was of my lower leg bones from my ankle to my knee and the second was of my femur, from my knee to my hip. They took the x-rays of my right leg, which I thought was odd since my left leg hurt more, but I'm sure they know what they are doing! :o) My left hip was hurting especially today which made walking around the hospital a bit tiresome... especially since I didn't get out my sweet wheels (walker)!!! You know... I didn't want to make Mandy jealous since she didn't have one to scoot around the joint with!!! :o)


After my x-rays were done, I went back up to where I checked in and waited for a few minutes to see Dr. Lal, my endocrine surgeon. If ANYONE reading this ever needs surgery for your parathyroid, thyroid, etc... I would HIGHLY suggest this woman! I can't believe all that she has done for me during this whole ordeal. I even told her that my mom and I were impressed that she actually called me to see how I was doing after my surgery. Usually... when I have surgery I never see that person again! She replied that her job wasn't over with surgery. I was very touched that she would call and she even called my pharmacy to straighten some medication questions out! Now that is what I call EXCELLENT service! It really means alot when you can feel that someone truly cares about your health and wellbeing. If you are reading this... THANK YOU!




After a bit, I was called back to see Dr. Lal and she explained a few things to me. She said that my parathyroid hormone level was 94 and while that was a tad high (65 is the high end of "normal") she wasn't too worried. When I first went in to Covenant hospital, it was over 1,ooo!!! Before my surgery in Iowa City, it was 911 and right after my surgery it was 10... yes... ten. So... she said that it's a good sign that it was higher because that means that my remaining two parathyroids are "waking up" since my massive one was pretty much taking over everything!

I also recieved a sheet of paper "Surgical Pathology Examination" and my diagnosis was as follows:

A. Parathyroid, right lower, parathyroidectomy: Hypercellular parathyroid tissue (2.83 grams), consistent with parathyroid adenoma. (Dr. Lal said that hypercellular means that 50% of my large parathyroid was fat cells and that the other 50% was parathyroid cells. It was 2830 mg which was smaller than a plum. Normal is about 50 mg which is about the size of a small grain of rice or about 4 millimeters! It was VERY large in comparison!)

B. Parathyroid, right upper, parathyroidectomy: Benign parathyroid tissue (0.22 grams). (This one was also larger than normal, being 220 mg... normal is 50...)

History
30 year old female presented with calcium 19 and PTH 1000. Severe vitamin D deficiency...

And then there was some other stuff that I didn't understand on there. Anyways... she explained what the important things were and I just love that she takes the time to explain it all to me in a way that I can understand!

Close up of my sweet neckmeat... you can see the stitches on each end in a loop.

She also took out my stitches and told me that I should moisturize and massage my neck to help reduce the puffiness of the scar tissue underneath my surgical site. Also, I need to remember to use sunscreen on it as well. Interesting side note: It takes about 2 years for a scar to heal after surgery.

Dr. Thomas O'Dorisio - Endocrine Specialist,

Me - Freak of Nature,

Dr. Geeta Lal - Endocrine Surgeon

I also finally got to meet the other endocrine doctor, Dr. O'Dorisio. He was so funny! He told Mandy and I that he had on his Jerry Garcia tie and that the name of it was, "Creme de Menthe Hangover". He was so nice and funny! He told me that he was really worried about me that night that I was starting to cramp up due to my hypocalcemia! It's crazy how everyone tells you how worried they were about you after the fact... I guess people don't want to cause alarm in an already scary situation! Anyways... they were great and even let me take a picture with them! Yes... I'm a dork... I know this. :o)


***Soooooo... I go back down on Tuesday, February 24th for my bone density scan (DEXA) and to meet with Dr. O again on the Endocrine Floor.


After my meeting with them, we traveled by elevator to 2RCE where I almost got my arm ripped out of the socket trying to hold the elevator door open... with NO LUCK. I had to quickly reclaim my arm before it was gone forever! So... we went back to where I was admitted the first time to see Perla, my great nurse, but unfortunately she wasn't there. I did get to see Meghan and Robin, some other nurses and aides that helped me as well. They were ALL so fantastic! I miss them!

"Unlock Your Inner Chimp"

Then... we went to the gift shop and bought some fun key chain thingys called "MonKEYS... Unlock Your Inner Chimp". I thought I'd give them to all my close friends, because we all need to unlock our inner chimps! I kept the orange one for myself since Jaren does that same face lately! :o) I was parched at that time and Mandy said, "I have enough change to blow up the world", which was the funniest thing that I heard up to that point! After that we got in line to buy some Sprite or... "Spree-tay" as we called it. Mandy said to the cashier, "We'd like these... unless they are like 4 dollars a piece... then they'd be called Spree-tay..." like Tar-jhay... :o) We were just crazy! Too many laughs!! I'm from... IO-WHAT?! Yeah... I can't even remember what THAT ONE was about! Everything ended in "WHAT?!" We are such nutty fools, I tell ya! That's how I like my friends... nutty and chimplike... just like me! I seriously felt like I was in Jr. High again! I was 30 going on 13!


Sooooo... we leave the hospital and head to Walgreens where I purchase a short sleeve shirt to change into since it was "GORGE" outside! (Yeah... I changed in the car on the way back to Cedar Rapids while Mandy was driving down the highway... ah... the good ol' wild child days were back again... if only for a brief moment...) I got some more calcium, some watercolor kits for the kids and some delish Cashew Roca... oh my gosh... heavenly to my tastebuds!

Bread Pudding... BEFORE...

Bread Pudding... AFTER...

"Look, Ma... I'm a Whirling Dervish!"

We finally get to Cedar Rapids and eat at Biaggi's Italian Ristorante... I don't know if that's the whole name or not... but man... it was DELISH! Mandy ordered Butternut Squash Ravioli with walnuts and I ordered their special, Rigatoni De La Nona which was crispy eggplant and basil on a bed of Rigatoni pasta topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese chunks throughout. YUMTASTIC! WOW! It was excellent! (Too bad I left it in Mandy's car... ARGH!!) Then... for dessert... we split White Chocolate Bread Pudding and I even licked the plate afterwards... (only because we were like the only people in there AND... I just got off the crazy train!) "My food baby is crowning"... yet another hysterical moment of our crazy outing! We are both certifiable... I think... ;o) Our waitress had a good laugh chatting with us and witnessing our crazy antics! As we left... we sang... "The hills are alive.... with the sound of music... Ah... ah... ah... aaaaaaaaahhhh..." while I twirled around in the parking lot. Yes... flashbacks to Jr. High... :o)

Moving right along...

Next stop... Crazy Town... no no no... David's Bridal... *cue cheesy commercial ditty* "You'll Love David's Bridal..." We looked through some dresses, but didn't have much luck as they were all pretty much strapless. Not a modest one among them... BLECH! Don't get me wrong... the ladies there were really wonderful about trying to find dresses that were simple, yet elegant and tried to find some with a tad more coverage. Not everyone wants their goodies hanging out for all the world to see!!! It's kind of frustrating... but anywho... we came home and looked online for some dresses that actually had sleeves on them and found some GORGEOUS options! Yay!!! After that we looked at a jewelry store so Mandy could get some ideas on what to buy for Matt's ring and found a few that she liked! I'd post the photos, but I don't want to spoil the surprise IF she chooses one from that bunch! :o)

Close up of Mandy's GORGEOUS ring from Matt... It's just breathtaking... I LOVE IT!

Anyways... THANK YOU, MANDISA for such a wonderful day of chatting and crazy times! I will truly miss our girly dates when you move!!! We'll have to just plan some girly WEEKENDS in order to hang out now! :o)

Olive Garden Baby Shower - Ollie's 2nd Ambulance Ride

Last night a bunch of us girlies got together at the Olive Garden for Meg's baby shower! She's having her first baby girl at the end of the month! Yay! We had so much fun eating, talking and laughing! I absolutely LOVE my Girls Nights Out! :o) They are an absolute MUST in order to remain sane and connected! Seriously... I feel re-energized afterwards!

Lindsay, Krista, Martie

Meghan H., Meghan G., Me

We met up there about 6 pm and waited for a while (almost 2 hours... yowzers). Luckily, a seat opened up for me in the lobby and I plowed through the crowd in order to sit and rest my weary bones! UGH! I have to say... my neck feels great, but my bones still hurt really bad! It hurts mainly in my knees, but sometimes they hurt so bad that I feel the bone pain in the teeny tiny bones in my TOES!!! Crazy, huh?! My surgeon said that it would take a while for the calcium to feed my hungry bones! On Tuesday I go back down to Iowa City for my post op check up and x-rays. I'd like to have a bone density scan just to see where most of the damage is done. I had all of the kids for the first time by myself in TWO MONTHS! Man... I was just exhausted!!!

Anyways... Meg H. picked me up at around 5:30 and we ventured out to pick up some clothes for the baby shower and a book... of course! I love giving books as gifts! My kids LOVE to read... and Jaren is starting to sit for longer periods of time now so it's fun to sit and flip through books with him! :o) We got there and like I said I sat for a while, took all my pills while I was sitting there (Thanks for the H2o, Krista!) waiting. Mandy came and Matt was there with 3 of his kids! I got to meet him, but didn't really get to talk with him since the lobby was PACKED with people! I feel bad that I didn't get up and give him a hug and greet all the kiddos, but my legs were KILLING ME!!! (Don't think I'm a huge jerk, Matt... cuz I'm not!) :o) I'm sure we'll meet again! SOON... or so I'm told! ;o) So... we finally are seated and of course it's like the table the furthest away from where I'm sitting!!! I was pining for my sweet wheels aka: my walker! Yeah... I feel like an old woman hobbling around on my weak legs! Yes... thanks again, Krista... for the old lady comments! Hehehe! You know I love ya! Man... I had so much fun last night... I must have REALLY needed to get out of my house... since that's where I am pretty much ALL of the time since our van is dead and has a flat tire. BLECH! Okay... my mind is just going all over today... sorry if you aren't following... :o)

So... we are seated at the table and we order. Meg opens her darling presents, we take pictures. YES... pictures... we seriously see a guy that looks AND sounds just like Jerry Stiller, George Castanza's dad on "Seinfeld"!!! Okay... so I HAD to take a picture of him with Meghan's camera! He even had a shirt on that looked like he borrowed it from Kramer! I wanted to go over to him and ask him to say, "SERENITY NOW!!!". :o) "Festivus... for the rest of us..." Good times!

During our dinner, the waitress comes over and asks if anyone has a white van. Krista piped up and said that she did. Then the waitress said that someone had hit it while in the parking lot. She went out to see if it was hers... later she saw that they had left a note. She wasn't too worried about it... because there was a crack in the bumper from a previous mishap. We think that they must have thought that they had done it. Good thing we are honest folks... RIGHT, KRISTA!?! ;o)

We had so much fun until Ed called Krista's phone and said that Oliver was in the ambulance. I was like, "What happened?" He said that he came downstairs and told him that his stomach hurt and then he started having an asthma attack and couldn't breathe. Ed gave him an albuterol treatment and that did nothing, so Chad came over to be with Jaren and Eden while Ed followed the ambulance to the hospital. Ed had to work at Goodwill overnight so his dad went to the ER to be with Oliver and took him back home with him at 12:30 at night when he was released. I guess his tummy ache was because he has impacted feces... yum. More water and fiber, please. Poor little man. He seems to be doing better today! Thank goodness!!!

LOW LEVEL ALERT!

So... I've been getting my blood drawn weekly, sometimes twice a week, since my parathyroid surgery. I had it taken earlier this week and Dr. Lal called and said that my Calcium AND Vitamin D levels were low (you need one to absorb the other). SO... I went back today to get my blood checked and my CALCIUM, VITAMIN D, MAGNESIUM AND PHOSPHOROUS levels were ALL low... AGAIN!!!!!!! I just want to scream! I just got one changed from a liquid to a pill form AND picked up ANOTHER form of Vitamin D to take. Here is what I take on a daily basis...

Calcium Citrate (3 large horse pills/4 times daily)

Calcium Carbonate (4 tums/as needed 4 times daily)

Ibuprofen (1 pill/as needed every 6 hours)

Hydromorphone (1/2 pills/as needed every 4 hours) GONE

Magnesium Oxide (1 pill/3 times daily)

Calcitriol (1.5 ml/twice daily) OR (3 pills/twice daily)(Vitamin D)

Easy Lax (1 pill/twice daily)

Senna (1 pill/twice daily)

Vitamin D (1 pill daily)

Citalopram (1 pill daily)

Omeprazole (1 pill daily)

Ergocalciferol (1 pill/Every Wednesday)(Vitamin D)

K-Phos (3 large horse pills/3 times daily) NOT NEEDED as of yesterday... who knows now, I might have to start taking them again!!! AGH!

So... as you can tell... I have a large amount of medicines in my body on a daily basis! Since Dr. Lal (my surgeon) is out of state, Dr. Ordificio? is supposed to call me and tell me what to do now. I'll keep you posted...

I Miss My Chitlins...

I really miss my kiddos, kids, chitlins, children, offspring, wee ones, spawns, heirs, etc.

Every morning Ed gets Jaren ready for Grandma and Grandpa Palmer's house and they watch him while Ed is at work. Oliver and Eden are at school all day and get off of the bus around four o'clock. I get to spend about an hour or two with them every weekday afternoon (unless they go upstairs to play). Ed comes home from work, picks them up and takes them to his parent's house to spend the night there. It's easier for his mom and dad to get them ready and fed at their house every morning. Ed drops them off and picks up Jaren to spend time with us in the evening and sleep in his own crib during the night.

I am exceedingly grateful that we have family (and friends) here that are willing to help us during this time with my recent health issues. I really do miss the kids though and I know they miss me too. I pray that I can heal quickly... that my neck will heal and that my bones will get the calcium they have been yearning for... for so long now. My legs ache... mainly my knees. It really hurts to walk and even change position in my chair. The worst thing is getting into a car... WOW... now THAT is a killer! I don't have to worry much though since I can't drive yet and I pretty much stay in the house all day long. It's getting kind of boring! I should be grateful for this time that I have to just be with myself. Maybe I could read or get some crocheting done. Sometimes all I want to do is sleep, since that's the only time I can get away from the pain. I'm not able to care for Jaren myself at this time because I can't lift over 10 pounds. He's CONSTANTLY motioning for me to pick him up in the evening when Ed is here and I have to tell him that I can't pick him up yet. It will cause too much of a strain on my neck.

It's weird to think about the doctors being in my neck fiddling around in there and then to be sewn up. I took the tape off of my neck and now I can feel the thread they used when they stitched me up. It feels like fishing line! It's driving me nuts everytime I feel it sticking out. I wish I could have kept the tape on it longer. Dr. Lal, my awesome surgeon, said that my wound would stick out a bit, but that it would shrink the more days it had to heal. She said to gently massage that area, but it still hurts quite a bit! I feel better every day, but it still is not up for being massaged I must say! Now... my shoulders on the other hand... could use a long massage!

I know that Eden especially wishes to come back home to stay. Today I overheard her tell Ed that Grandma's beds aren't as soft as hers is! She's been very teary eyed lately. I had to tell her that she had to go back for a while until I healed. I thought that I could manage this week, but I just couldn't. I did well on Monday... getting them ready, fed and off to school, but Tuesday was different. I couldn't even get out of bed because my legs hurt so bad! They got themselves dressed and ready for school. I just pray that I can heal and recover QUICKLY!!! I know that it will all happen in the Lord's time. I just need to be patient. Easier said than done.

Wow... Did You See a Herd of Elephants Running From My Direction???

Yes... my throat feels like a herd of elephants just trampled over it! Yowzers! The pain medicine really doesn't do a whole lot I must say. I've spoken with a few friends of mine today and relived some of my pain and fear... I'm exhausted from the retelling and the crying. I really am starting to realize now... what a life and death ordeal this has been for me. The hormones that have been going crazy in my body could have caused me to go into cardiac arrest. Just learning back in November that I have high cholesterol didn't really help the matter much! I really... REALLY... need to start taking care of myself more. And... the FIRST thing I'm going to do is to get a NEW DOCTOR!!!

I have been really good at seeing the doctor for my yearly full physical exams and going to the doctor for any ailments I'd been having. Now... I'm going to require better care for myself and I don't care if people think I'm bitchy or demanding. No one but myself is going to make it happen! I have a whole new view now! And... I'm not going to worry about all of the health bills. I'm going to adopt the motto that Ed always says, "Oh well. It's just money." Seriously... it's JUST money. I'd rather have my health and get checked thoroughly and spend more money than to be scared if my insurance won't cover something. It's just money. I have a family that is depending on me... on my health... so that I can care for them!

Something interesting I've noticed since I've been home is how much of a Ghost Town the house feels like. There are no kids here running around laughing, screaming or fighting. No toddlers squealing or crying. No noise whatsoever. Just a mess that was left from Christmas. Decorations still hung, the small tree still up and things just tossed here and there. Unopened junk mail piled up on the couch along with clean clothes waiting to be folded and put away. Everything was just left as it was or as it came. Ed had been in and out... from work... from the hospital here and in Iowa City. The kids have remained in the care of Ed's parents (THANK YOU!) and have had a consistant routine for this past month of being absent from myself. I don't know what I would do without their help in this as well as other times in my life. I also don't know what I would do without my mom being with me when all others were called elsewhere. She was with me in the hospital during the roughest times of this whole ordeal... during the painful IV that ripped through my veins and rendered me in the worst imaginable pain as well as my complete and utter breakdown that transpired in my hospitalroom on Saturday evening. It felt like the weight of the world was finally giving way and falling on me. It felt like all hope was lost.

"What else were they going to come in and tell me was wrong?"
"How many more times will someone come in and jab me with the needle and miss... causing painful bruising and sore limbs?"
"When will I feel any relief?"
"When will this be over?"
"Will I truly feel like a new person after this?"
"Why is Satan such a freakin' bastard? Why won't he just leave me the hell alone?"

All the while... worrying about what others will think of me. She's crazy... She's weak... She's unstable.

I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO A BREAKDOWN!!! Too bad it had to happen when I was sharing my hospital room and only divided by a curtain.

Life was passing me by. Other people were busy planning their lives and I wasn't a part of it anymore. I'll be missing some important days of my friends lives... important days of my children's lives... of my life. I just don't even know what to say or how to say it. Good freakin' night... my NECK HURTS!!! I just want to cry... I just want to sleep. That is the ONLY way I get away from the pain... the ONLY way I get away from myself, my depression, the things that Satan wants me to believe. "Kick her while she's down." I think that is his motto. Good thing the Lord is stronger. The Spirit's voice is much stronger and hope is renewed when all things are laying around me... crumbled. All that happens is in the Lord's time. The ONLY thing we can give the Lord is our will. Whatever happens will happen and I know that I will be okay, because I am the Lord's and He will do what is necessary and best for me. I knew this ALL THE WHILE, but of course Satan is right there when any doubt is felt and his misery is waiting to slowly take hold. Thank goodness for the words of the apostles and prophets. I had with me the General Conference issue of the Ensign (our church magazine) and I read and read so many inspired talks that were given for my benefit. For OUR benefit of course, but for MY benefit as I was really wanting some strength, knowledge and comfort at that time. So many talks touched me as I sat up reading into the wee hours of the morning. I really couldn't put it down. I know that my testimony of the Gospel was strengthened. My love of my Father in Heaven and of His Son, Jesus Christ have grown and I've more of an appreciation for the atonement... for all that Christ has done for us that we may live with him again, in a much grander existance than this crappy (at times) earth life. I know we are meant to have joy and by that we MUST experience the craptasticness as well or how would we recognize it!? I love the Lord. I love learning what He has in store for us and that I can take time out... sometimes He takes the time out for me... but to have some time to be able to reflect on who I want to be, how I want to be remembered and where I want to end up. I have been blessed beyond measure. I have been given a most wonderful companion... too good I often think that I deserve, but yet again I have been given him. For that I am wonderfully and eternally blessed. I love my husband more than words. He is my best and truest friend that I have in the flesh. He makes me want to be better. I know so many say that, but it is so true. He loves the Lord and he knows so much about the Gospel and what is in store for us. I want to become a good mother. I want to attend the temple more. I will never forget a Visiting Teaching message in the Ensign a few years ago that said that the Temple can change our natures. We do behave in a manner that is the result of the natural man, which is an enemy to God. We need to refine those manners and truly learn what we need to do in order to change that which is natural. I pray that I can go there often and make time for it... make time to be taught the things that are of infinite worth. It's strange when you think about the possibility of dying. The people you'd leave behind... The impression of yourself that you'd leave behind. I wonder what people would think of me. Would they know of the love that I had for my friends and family? Would they know of the love that I had for my Heavenly Father? Would they know how hard I tried each time that Satan would have me bound with depression and a mental illness... would they know how hard I tried to change? How hard I tried to rise above that weakness that was given me to overcome in this life? Would people know who and what I desired to be in this life and in the next? It's truly life changing. I am very blessed and I want others to realize how much they are blessed as well. I want to live my life more fully and richly. I want others to know how much that I love, admire and grow from their examples. I want to live with no regrets. ***BREATHE*** ***SIGH*** That's all I want.

T'was the Morn of My Surgery...

Monday, December 22nd, 2008 - HEEL SPUR SURGERY

This morning I was to be at United Medical Park at 6 am for my heel spur surgery scheduled for 7 am... I am NOT a morning person! I was really starting to get nervous as 7 am got closer and closer. I had a cold for about 2 weeks before today and still had a stuffy nose so I wasn't sure if they were going to postpone my surgery for a second time. The nurse talked with the anesthesiologist and he agreed that I would NOT continue with the general anesthesia, but I would have a local and something else to make me sleepy. I was so scared that I would be awake for it... knowing that they were cutting into my foot at the end of the table!!! Luckily I fell asleep and don't remember a thing!!! THANK GOODNESS!

I was out of it for a while and I remember Ed reading a bit of "Pride and Prejudice" aloud by Jane Austen, one of my favorite authors. Soon I felt good enough to leave. I had my boot on and left the building with my crutches as well as support from Ed. We stopped by the video place and rented tons of DVD's since I'd be restricted to the couch and recliner. We also got something to eat on our way home as well.

Ed was wonderful, as always, getting things for me non-stop. The kids were very helpful as well. One day I woke up and Eden actually got a bowl and made me some cereal! I was pleasantly surprised! Then, Oliver chimed in, "I GOT YOU THE SPOON!!!" I said thank you to him as well, of course!

We've been watching lots of movies and I have been slowing healing since. It's amazing how we take so many things for granted when we can't do what we normally do! So many times I've wanted to get up and vacuum and help out around the house! It turned out to be a success.

One More Week...

Well, today I was SUPPOSED to have my heel spur surgery on my left heel, but since I've had a cold for several days and threw up yesterday morning (while Jaren stood laughing at me...) it is now postponed until Monday, the 22nd of this month. I've been dealing with this pain for some time now and it's only been getting worse. To top it off, my back pain has been amped up because of how I've modified my walking due to the pain in my foot. To put it plainly... I'm 30 and I'm falling apart.

I've tryed different exercises, medicine, ice packs, heating pads, prescribed pain meds, new shoes, losing weight, trying to stay off my feet (VERY difficult when I have a small toddler scampering around), orthodics ($400 - NOT covered by my insurance) AND several cortisone shots in my foot. I've also been seeing a chiropractor for my back pain. Still in pain... hence the decision to get surgery.

You'd think that by losing 42 pounds (hey... every pound counts) I'd feel great! Yeah... no such luck. So, my heel kills, my back kills, my knees and sometimes elbows have been giving me problems, not to mention that I just generally don't feel well. I'm going to see a specialist in January for some of those concerns.

I'm starting to get a little anxious because of my AWARENESS ISSUE during my gallbladder surgery after I had Jaren. It's like I could foresee it happening. I had the surgery with no problem, but the next day I went under again because a gallstone was too large to pass through a tube. They had to go in and cut my tube so they could retrieve the stone. ANYWAYS... I was still awake and there were lots of nurses coming in and out of the small room that I was in. The doctor was in and out and I thought, "Man... are they changing shifts or what!? I sure hope the lady gives me enough meds to knock me out for this!" Eerie thought BECAUSE... during that procedure, I woke up (I couldn't see, hear, speak or move) and FELT someone SHOVING this long tube down my throat and I could feel myself gagging. It only lasted for a few seconds, but I remember it vividly!!! HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! I do NOT wish that on ANYONE!!!

Needless to say... I pray most fervently that it doesn't happen again! I will welcome anyone to pray that all goes well for me on Monday!!!

Unsolved Mystery Heel Pain

I've been dealing with some nasty pain in my left heel for over 3 months now and I've been to the doctor, who said it was Plantar Fasciitis, my chiropractor who helped with my back pain that was out of control... I'm sure because of the way I've been walking and FINALLY I went to the Podiatrist who took an x-ray of my heel and found that it was a heel spur. This is where the tendons and ligaments pull a part of the bone away from the heel and cause lots of pain.
He said I was extremely inflammed and gave me two cortizone shots in my heel. Yes... it was the most painful shot I'd ever received, but it wasn't as bad as I had expected it to be. My podiatrist said that it would last for 2 - 4 weeks... I'm guessing helping with the inflammation and NOT the pain because I'm still in a good amount of pain right now. He also gave me a wrap to wrap around my ankle and under my foot to help support my arch a little. I wear that whenever I'm on my feet (always with shoes), ice my foot at least 3 times a day, take ibuprofen and do my stretches throughout the day. He also said to stay off of my feet. I laughed and said, "Yeah... I have two young kids and a 6 month old! Like that's gonna happen!"

He said that most people live with this by getting orthodics to help, in my case, with my high arches that are the cause of the heel spur. It's just fantastic to learn that these orthodics will cost upwards of $400 and then to find out that my insurance does NOT cover it! Oh... FANTASTIC!!! (See the movie "SiCKO" for more outrageous insurance screw-overs)

Anyways... I thought, "Well, I guess if I can 'live with it' I HAVE TO HAVE the orthotics to help." So... I went back to get my feet scanned by walking on a mat and seeing where the most pressure falls on my feet. It will be about 2 weeks until they arrive and I pray that it helps!!!

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/generalinfo2/a/heelspur.htm