Latest Health Update
I have more consults and tests scheduled. Since I last posted, my oncologist decided he wanted to repeat all of my lymphoma testing in May or June, just to be sure. At this point, no one suspects cancer at all. He's a super nice man originally from Ukraine. I got to practice the little bit of Russian that I picked up in New York on him. So I don't mind seeing him again and making sure I'm cancer free.
I'm following up with my liver specialist right around the same time. The symptoms of my condition are just miserable. I itch ... a lot. My eyes are dry. I get pain in my upper abdomen. My MELD score is too low to consider a liver transplant at this time. So, we are treating the symptoms until we can't anymore. One of my adult children has offered up part of her liver once the time arrives. I am fortunate enough to have a really common blood type and blessed that a lot of people in my real life are kind enough to be willing to donate to me if it will save my life.
To be clear, without a transplant, my life expectancy is 4-15 years. The wide range is because some people respond better to the medication than others.
How did I get this? Well, auto-immune illnesses run in my family. My mom has lupus, for example. If they run in your family, there's a strong chance you'll pick one up. This is mine.
For those who are curious, my condition is called Primary Biliary Cholangitis. I'd never heard of it, and I'm an RN in real life. It's not common.
Finally, my left anterior descending artery in my heart needs to be looked at. I'm doing that next week. It's always something. 😆
I've learned an important lesson from this. People in a virtual world will say they care about you. Some will. Others will cease caring once you become less fun than you used to be. As I engage more in what is real, I've been learning more and more that the people who really know and care for me are OUT HERE.
(There are exceptions. You know who you are)
2024 is going to be a challenge. My youngest graduates in 2025, and then he's off to college. My kids are my life, and I've been doing my best to be present for them.
I'm determined to get through all of this to the other side. For those who have reached out and been so kind, thank you. You mean more to me than you'll ever know.
To those who should have and didn't?
You can fuck right off.
❤️
Latest Health Update
I have more consults and tests scheduled. Since I last posted, my oncologist decided he wanted to repeat all of my lymphoma testing in May or June, just to be sure. At this point, no one suspects cancer at all. He's a super nice man originally from Ukraine. I got to practice the little bit of Russian that I picked up in New York on him. So I don't mind seeing him again and making sure I'm cancer free.
I'm following up with my liver specialist right around the same time. The symptoms of my condition are just miserable. I itch ... a lot. My eyes are dry. I get pain in my upper abdomen. My MELD score is too low to consider a liver transplant at this time. So, we are treating the symptoms until we can't anymore. One of my adult children has offered up part of her liver once the time arrives. I am fortunate enough to have a really common blood type and blessed that a lot of people in my real life are kind enough to be willing to donate to me if it will save my life.
To be clear, without a transplant, my life expectancy is 4-15 years. The wide range is because some people respond better to the medication than others.
How did I get this? Well, auto-immune illnesses run in my family. My mom has lupus, for example. If they run in your family, there's a strong chance you'll pick one up. This is mine.
For those who are curious, my condition is called Primary Biliary Cholangitis. I'd never heard of it, and I'm an RN in real life. It's not common.
Finally, my left anterior descending artery in my heart needs to be looked at. I'm doing that next week. It's always something. 😆
I've learned an important lesson from this. People in a virtual world will say they care about you. Some will. Others will cease caring once you become less fun than you used to be. As I engage more in what is real, I've been learning more and more that the people who really know and care for me are OUT HERE.
(There are exceptions. You know who you are)
2024 is going to be a challenge. My youngest graduates in 2025, and then he's off to college. My kids are my life, and I've been doing my best to be present for them.
I'm determined to get through all of this to the other side. For those who have reached out and been so kind, thank you. You mean more to me than you'll ever know.
To those who should have and didn't?
You can fuck right off.
❤️