Well, aren't you all so glad to read another post about my health? Oh boy! Me too!
My appointment with the Chief of Medicine was yesterday. It did NOT go how I hoped, which would have been like this:
Oh! HisGirl! Look at this! There is a teensy little splinter right here on the surface of your skin. *plink* I took it out for you, painlessly. And look! POW! You're cured! You're welcome.No, that's not how it went at all. Instead, it went much like all my other visits in which we discuss all the ways we know it isn't cancer, hypochondria, anxiety, mold, crippling lung disease in which you are going to die any moment, or dental hydroplosion. Then, he told me that though it is very odd that I am not responding to the current treatment (specifically that Prednisone turns me into a Superhero, but not one that can breathe properly) his diagnosis most likely going to be Asthma.
Me: If it's not Asthma, what else could it be?He was actually very compassionate as we talked about the next few steps. For now, my official diagnosis is REACTIVE AIRWAY DISEASE (dun, dun, dun) which sounds very dramatic, but really in my case RAD is just the diagnosis before the diagnosis of Asthma. We're not going to call it Asthma on the books until I take a series of lung function tests... likely next week. Immediately following the tests, we will sit down and make a plan about how we're going to manage this thing so I can get back to doing the finer things in life... like exhaling AND inhaling without keeling over. Very exciting.
He: Asthma.
Me: Or?
He: Asthma.
Me: So... we've ruled out everything ...
He: It's Asthma. (totally reminded me of this:)
X X
I told him I was disappointed that he told me that we'll get to the bottom of this and get my medications right and get me breathing in the next couple of weeks. I told him I was looking for 'later on today.' He laughed and said that I don't need to worry, I have a team now who's going to help me. Not very POW, but slightly comforting nonetheless, I suppose. In the meantime, I had to banish my feather pillows *sob* from my bed, and I'm no longer allowed to do laundry. (that last bit might not have been typed into the official paperwork, so I just went ahead and added it in myself with a sharpie)
Today, I woke excessively early thinking about all this. I was laying there on my new hypoallergenic and overpriced but seriously comfy pillow and cautioned myself not to get all dramatic about this whole thing. Perspective is really important at this point. Mentally, I reminded myself of all my friends (including Becky & Gretchen & about 5 more of you) who have told me about their own experiences with Asthma... and how it's a pain but not a crippling thing every day of their lives. I thought about Sheryl and Jess who both deal with (WAY more intense than what I'm experiencing) adult-onset chronic illnesses that are doing it so gracefully and honestly with Jesus that they have been encouraging me through their blogs for years way before this little breathing kerfuffle. I considered all of you who are helping their children through rough spots right now and/or whose children have always struggled with their health, yet... you're doing it. It's not POW! every day... but it's working out. This? this breathing thing? this is not a big deal. This is life. It's imperfect. It's inconvenient. It's uncomfortable... but it's not the end!
Remember when I went to the American Girl Store with my girls in September? I told you about this conversation on the way to the store:
(The dresses were a bargain find we discovered last week... but they were a little huge. As we headed to the store, K was fussing about how uncomfortable she was in the car. 'We are 12 minutes away, K... can you deal with it or not?' Her answer had me in stitches...'Are you kidding? I've been waiting to go to the American Girl Place forever! I could deal with it if i were sitting on ROCKS!')I keep thinking of that this morning because it occurs to me that though she was feeling all out of sorts, she was fine with being uncomfortable because she knew where she was headed! The anticipation of her ultimate destination made her able to overlook the discomfort of scratchy petticoats and bulky dress sitting. She had been studying catalogs and dreaming for so long that it made sitting on rocks sound like a small price to pay.
Let that be so for each of us, my friends.
May each of us look at our challenges,
even ones that last for the rest of our lives
as temporary.
'Cause, you know what?
This is not our destination! We still have ETERNITY!
Just thinking of being with Jesus someday?
Totally makes me feel like I could sit on ROCKS...
POW!
May each of us look at our challenges,
even ones that last for the rest of our lives
as temporary.
'Cause, you know what?
This is not our destination! We still have ETERNITY!
Just thinking of being with Jesus someday?
Totally makes me feel like I could sit on ROCKS...
POW!
For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
Hebrews 13:14-15 NLT
Hebrews 13:14-15 NLT
19 comments:
Sitting on rocks = very cute!
I am so sorry to hear about the likely impending diagnoses of asthma and the temporary RADness.
Meanwhile, I am getting very little POW out of my prednesone. Wait, I stayed up an hour later last night. Does that count? :-)
Wiping my tears away to chuckle at the word "kerfuffle". Nice. I'll have to find a way to use that today.
So, when's your devotional coming out again? BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE PUBLISHED! POW!
Wow, Amber, sounds like an amazing team of doctors are working with you. My HMO, without getting too specific, has never made me feel that "taken care of". Perhaps it's because I'm lucky enough to never have to deal with what you are going through, though, so perhaps I'll count my blessings. I am really praying for you and know this will be a minor glitch in your incredible, AIR FILLED, life journey.
I think you deserve a literary POW for incorporating "kerfluffle" into a blog post.
And Chica, you'll always be RAD in my book. ;)
The sitting on rocks thing is adorable! It made me think of this quote:
"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion."
-Henry David Thoreau
You'll always be rad in my book, even when you have your diagnosis and aren't RAD anymore. POW! You may not be breathing well, but you're still breathing! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
P.S. Put me down for one of those books Gretchen mentioned. ;)
oh,((hugs)). The funny little part about how you wanted them to just pull out the splinter made me laugh, but I can appreciate how frustrating this must be for you. I am praying that things get under control for you a.s.ap. In the meantime, I admire your attitude!
Amen and Amen! These are but light & momentary troubles...
Having to remind myself of that on a DAILY (if not HOURLY) basis right now!
Laundry.
Sharpie.
Snort.
Giggle.
Thanks for the laugh, and would you know that every little stinkin' thing that I've accomplished this week is because I've said "POW!" to myself before doing it?
Your not breathing thing has done wonders for my productivity.
I think Reactive Airway Disease sounds so much cooler than Asthma. I'd stick with that.
(yes i had to delete my previous post because i have a pride issue. there was a typo!)
oh how i love you! your posts are hilarious and full of truth. it's hard to keep your eye on the prize when "life" gets in the way, but i see that you are doing a fine job.
thanks for the shout-out. very humbling.
praying that each breath today is just a bit easier.
Oh my dear daughter ... you crack me all the way up!
btw: I have some pics of "wonder woman" Amber ... must find! Will share when I locate them.
My asthma is reactive to only certain things and came on when your baby bro was a baby ... soooo ... that means it began when I was 34 ... hmmm ... coincidental? Bet not ...
PS: I also LOVE all your readers! They make me LOL too!!! You are ALL precious ... and F.U.N.N.Y!
great perspective you have superwoman!
my husband has asthma and a drawer full of meds that keep him functioning happily. but i have to keep him off horses (which is not very hard). he's highly allergic and it makes his asthma crazy.
How cool is it to have a "team"?
And really, HisGirl Wonderwoman, there were plenty of other ways to get out of doing laundry, did you have to pick the tough one?
:)
Still going to pray for quick outcome and good meds!
Oh, I am so glad this world is not our home! You had me rolling with the comment about not doing laundry and that you added it with a sharpie! Thanks for the laughter amidst the news that you didn't really want to hear.
I'm just glad to hear you were not diagnosed with diabetis. I know a lot of people who went off the deep end and got severly depressed once they find out they were diabetic. Like they were told they had a month to live or something.
I know asthma can be bad depending on the severity. It is something I grew out of (thank GOD)and I hope your doctor is able to help you get through this and on your way to feeling normal again. You and your doctor will be in my prayers.
God bless,
Angie
You look just like Linda Carter in this picture!! While I'm sorry you have RAD (which is kind of funny because you ARE rad), I'm glad they at least know what's going on. Here's to breathing in the next couple of weeks!
My two sisters and I were "Charlie's Angels" as kids! We used to race around the house with our pop guns blazing! ;) So glad that even being RAD, you can draw from your inner super woman and inspire all of us to do the same through Him...have I mentioned lately that you rock?!
Although it's not the diagnosis you were hoping for, I am thrilled that you have a diagnosis and that you are moving forward in some way. I am continuing to pray for you girl!
Oh, and totally milk that laundry thing as long as you can!
I, too, challenge you to look for the word 'kerfuffle' on my blog sometime this year ;)
Even in your struggles, you make me laugh. I like that about you, Amber.
And, I keep hearing Michael W. Smith. "You are the air I breathe..." There's some serious POW!
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