Patiently Waiting.....

These past weeks, (meaning Thanksgiving week and this week) has been filled with medical procedures and doctors visits.  Our family had a pretty laid back Thanksgiving due to my not feeling well at all.  My pain level was sky high and I was extremely worn out all day long, and actually mostly all the rest of Thanksgiving week.  Anyhow, this week, I had THREE UVA appointments.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get all of them in one trip, but I got two of them in one trip. Wednesday, I had my usual check-up with my surgeon, Dr. Gampper, to look at my facial tumors all over my head as well (he decided I needed another CAT scan to determine if the tumors are spreading around the interior part of my head, so this is scheduled on Tuesday.....so tired of medical tests!!) Thursday (Dec 4th) was the longest day of my life (felt like it). I had a 9:30 appointment with my Neurologist, Dr. Leone  It was such an incredible and encouraging visit.  He honestly wants to help me get down to the root of all my chronic pains in my abdomen and head and neck.  He spent a good 30 minutes with me; when he asked me about going back to the Pain Clinic there at UVA and working with them ( Side note; he felt that at this point, working together with Pain Clinic is the best option and that continuing to take so much different oral medication wasn't the best thing to do.... he was thinking about perhaps I would be a good candidate for a narcotic pain patch or pump, which is better in the long run that all the other 5 medication I take twice daily).  When he mentioned the UVA Pain Clinic, I told him honestly that I wasn't very happy with UVA pain clinic nor the GI Clinic and told him the reason why I decided to switch to Augusta Health with Dr. Lee who also is referring me to a former UVA GI doctor.  Well, it turns out, Dr Leone and Dr. Lee are really good friends outside the realm of the "doctor world".  So, Dr Leone told me that he was going to maintain close contact with Dr. Lee to figure out what is going on with all this chronic pain.  I told my UVA neurologist, Dr. Leone that I rarely ever get disappointed by UVA docs; but he understood my feelings and felt that with my complicated situation and at birth health issues, he too agreed I should be always seen by an attending at all times, not just a fellow doctor or resident. All three doctors, my two new doctors, Dr Victor Lee (Pain Clinic at Augusta), Dr. Leone (my UVA neurologist), and Dr. Vanessa Lee (my new GI doctor at Augusta) is going to work as a team to try to figure out my complicated case.   I will be working with the Attending Physicians and not any of the Fellows or Residents, which is very reassuring.  I'm NOT in anyways against Residents or Fellows and I do understand it is a way for them to learn, but I was getting frustrated that I never got to actually see my own doctor, but for 5 minutes, even if it were for that long! Please pray that things work smoothly between my Dr. Leone and Dr Victor Lee, especially as they work together to figure out the pain issues  It sounds great and promising; but I don't want to put my trust in the hands and the sayings and promises of theses doctors; I'm trusting God in all of this.  Dr. Leone hasn't ordered any more tests for the abdomen or head and neck (whew! Thank God!) until he consults my Pain Management doctor.

My other appointment Thursday (Dec 4th at 10:45) was with my specialty eye doctor.... He's a Neuro -- Ophthalmologist (Dr. Newman) who has taken care of me since I was 5 years old! I have special eye issues and neurological issues with my eyes that needs special treatment  (but yes, I am cleared to drive per Dr. Newman; however, I rather be the passenger then driver or drive at day then night!).  Dr. Newman takes really good care of me and my  *good* eye (left) since it's the only one I can see out of. He spends a lot of time and does a lot of the same test on me every time I see him; I asked yesterday why do I have to do these tests every single time and he told him is just to keep a check on my to make sure things are O.K. with my eye since it is the only good eye I see clearly out of.   Since I'm doing very well,  he has cleared me for 18months without seeing him.  I usually have to see him anywhere between 9-12 months.   (Side note: It was a long day yesterday...between each test, we had to go back to the waiting room and wait  our turn for each test; it was such a "long" wait time.....we didn't get out until 3pm and home at 4pm!  I wasn't feeling well the whole time, I forgot to bring my pain medication with me, I was so tired and I had not had lunch.....I wasn't a happy camper)

I continue to try to remain faithful and trusting God through all of this.  I am continuing to have a really rough week of pain, discomfort, and extremely low energy from all that has gone on the week of Thanksgiving and this week.   I wait and pray that my strength will be renewed soon.  I try to wait patiently as my Father works out the details about my health issues and for my doctors to work together to figure out my physical issues and hopefully come up with a cause and treat.  In it all, God is good

"Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord; We will wait upon the Lord; We will wait upon the Lord..........You are the everlasting God; The everlasting God. You do not faint;  You won't grow weary!"