I don’t always share things that are going on in my life. It’s not that I try to hide anything, it’s just that sometimes sharing too much information isn’t always a good idea. Today I’m going to make an exception because I think there’s a lesson that can be learned. At least I’ve learned from it.
Over the last year, it seems like I’ve had one medical problem after another. In fact, they’ve come so frequently that I’m almost embarrassed to tell anyone for fear of being labeled a hypochondriac.
As those who read my blogs know, I have Myasthenia Gravis. My symptoms are fairly well controlled with medication and accommodations. For example, I’ve learned that if I take a nap in the afternoon, my symptoms aren’t as bad in the evening, so a nap has become part of my daily routine. I try not to overdo it and I rest when I get tired. I take my meds on schedule and as directed by my neurologist, and I try to listen to my body for signs of impending fatigue. All said and done, I do fairly well, except when I get a cold and have trouble breathing.
My eventful period began late last year after being referred to a dermatologist by my family practice physician for a sore on my chin that would not heal. The dermatologist took a biopsy and determined it was basal cell carcinoma. I underwent Mohs surgery to remove it. Mohs surgery is a surgical technique where the surgeon removes the cancer layer-by-layer until they can be assured it is completely removed. They start out removing the visible layers, and they leave the wound open while they process the tissue to determine if all the cancer cells have been removed. If the cancer cells are not removed on the first attempt, they go deeper and a second layer of cells is removed. This continues until the margins show clear. In my case, the second attempt got all the cancer cells and the surgeon was able to sew me back up. The incision was rather large (about 3″), but he was able to follow a natural curve line in my chin to reduce the visibility of the scar. After a few weeks, the incision healed and you can hardly tell I even had surgery.
Also last year, I developed an inguinal hernia. I’ve had two of those before, so I know the regimen. I went to my family practice physician who referred me to a surgeon. The surgeon determined I also had an umbilical hernia that I wasn’t aware of. Both of my previous hernia repair surgeries were “open” surgeries meaning they were repaired via a large incision rather than with a scope generally used for less invasive surgeries. The surgeon this time informed me the repair would be done via robotics, which is far less invasive, requires less recovery time, and is the preferred method for hernia repairs. I was pretty excited, because recovery from an “open” repair is no piece of cake. The problem was the anesthesiologist must use paralytics for this type of robotic repair and paralytics can be dangerous in a person who has Myasthenia Gravis. That meant, because of MG, I wasn’t a candidate for robotics and would need another “open” repair.
The surgery went fine and I had the normal six weeks of recovery before being able to lift anything. In the meantime, blood drawn during my original appointment with my family practice physician indicated I had an elevated PSA. I was now referred to a urologist to check my prostate.
The urologist discovered my prostate was enlarged and ordered a cystoscopy. During the cystoscopy, it was determined the prostate had actually infiltrated my urethra and was causing me problems urinating. An MRI was ordered and it was determined my prostate was much larger than originally thought. The good news was the doctor did not feel it was cancer, but rather a condition called BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia). The best repair for this condition is a surgery utilizing robotics. Yep, you guessed it. Because I have MG, I couldn’t have the robotic surgery. Instead, they put me on a several month regimen of medicines to help shrink the prostate and then I will need a specialized surgery to remove as much of the prostate as possible.
It doesn’t end yet. During a pre-surgery physical for the hernia surgery, inverted T-waves were discovered on my EKG. Since this was something new, I was told to check in with my cardiologist. My cardiologist ordered a nuclear scan which indicated ischemia (reduced blood flow) in the left anterior descending artery. This artery is called “The Widow-Maker” because if blood flow is too restricted to this area of the heart, it can result in a major heart attack. Monday of this week I had a heart catheterization. It was determined I only have a mild-moderate reduction in flow and a stent wasn’t necessary at this time. The cardiologist will adjust my meds and keep a close eye on it.
So, why am I telling you this? I share this with you to encourage you not to get down when issues start to accumulate. I’m still being actively treated for several of these issues, but “I’m not dead yet” (to quote Monty Python).
We all face getting older. We all face medical conditions and sometimes those medical conditions get compounded or more complex due to Myasthenia Gravis or other health issues. The key is to not let them get you down.
Through this entire process, God has had my hand. Sure, I had times when I worried. Sure, I became anxious. Sure, I had thoughts of what would happen if things went south. What pulled me out of my worry was my faith in God. I didn’t go into a depression. When I felt myself getting down, I gave my worries to God. I know I’m not over everything just yet and unless there is a miraculous cure discovered for Myasthenia Gravis, I more than likely will live with that the rest of my life, but my life is good. It’s good because God walks with me. He walks with you, too.
Yes, I’ve had my hands full. Yes, there were times I began to feel like Job, but I didn’t give up and that’s my message to you. Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose faith. Cling to your faith. Use it like a crutch. When you have trouble standing tall, God is there to help you.
When things get tough, remember that you’re not alone. Turn to God and don’t be afraid to reach out to family and friends. You don’t want to be a complainer, so don’t go to the well too many times, but when you need someone, reach out to someone you love. And, of course, reach out to God. God doesn’t care how many times you come to His well. He’s always there, always ready, always caring for us. He’s your strength when you need it the most.
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