Beginning in the middle

I am little over halfway through the most medically populated month of my life. By that I mean variety and frequency of medical appointments. So far it is one dental visit (I have fantastic teeth and gums, according to the dental hygienist), one visit to the GP, two to the gastroenterologist, one EKG, two mammograms (not one on each side, two visits), one blood test, and two visits to the orthopedic surgeon. Next week is an ultrasound and thumb surgery. I am medically exhausted.

Why all the visits?
The GP visit and mammogram #1 were routine annual checks. Mammogram #2 was because they found micro-calcifications in both breasts. Follow-up in six months to see if they grow. At least there is an 80% chance they are not cancer.

Ortho, EKG, blood test and pending surgery are to remove a teeny abscess in my left thumb. Amazing how something the size of a pin head can cause so much trouble.

Everything else...two months ago I went to the ER with violent lower ab pain, nausea, and a migraine. Diagnosis-acute diverticulitis. They did a CT scan and sent me home with pain meds and antibiotics with instructions to stay home from work for a week and go on a liquid diet. That led to the follow-ups with the gastro. During the last follow-up he mentioned the CT scan showed a slightly enlarged uterus. Which is really odd because I had a hysterectomy 11 years ago. Hence, the ultrasound next week. Plus, I will need a consult with the surgeon and colonoscopy, since my pain has not cleared up and the diagnosis is now chronic diverticulitis. Surgery is recommended to remove the damaged part of my colon. Recurring infections are dangerous for all the usual reasons, plus I have a titanium hip from an accident several years ago and any infection that spreads to the bloodstream can lodge there and require two more surgeries to clean up.

I decided to chronicle my journey with all the medical, emotional, personal, and spiritual facets exposed. This is not the first set of challenges I have faced (more about them later) and they probably won't be the last. I needed an outlet. Maybe no one will read this, maybe someone will. Maybe someone will be encouraged by my journey. I hope so. I hurt, I get tired, but I know God has His hand on my life and He won't cast this flawed gem into the fire, except to refine me further.