Isn't this SpEcIaL (said in a Dana Carvey Church-Lady voice) Got my test results back

[HokeyReligions]

I have had some health problems over the past year. I haven't really posted a lot about them because they have not been uppermost in my mind. Finding a job with insurance benefits is what I need. But I promised that if I didn't have a job with benefits in January I would start seeing a doctor and just paying for it.

 

One of the problems that I've been having is memory loss. Very specific stuff, not like I can't remember what I had for dinner last night, but old memories are completely gone. This happened a few years ago when I realized that I have absolutly no memory, not even a residue of memory, of when my husband proposed marriage. That's not something a woman forgets!

 

Anyway, I've been not only losing some memories, but I've been confusing things too. Like someone asked me how many dogs do I have and I honestly replied three. I was sure I had three dogs, no question. Didn't give it a second thought. They asked me their names. I said, Lucy, Tiger, Dutchess, Katy, and Willy.

 

I thought I was just tired, but deep down I knew it was more than that. Now, I can't remember how old I am. Seriously. I can figure it out, I know what year I was born, but just to ask me off the top of my head how old I am, I don't know---I HAVE to figure it out. Its not just memory that is a problem now. I can figure it out and tell someone and five minutes later I have lost that number in my brain again and have to refigure it out.

 

It's not a lot of things, and most of it has to do with very old memories, or numbers. That's what I mean about specifics. And it's only a few things. I'm not like in danger of not being able to function or something! Its more of an annoyance, and what is strange is that when I'm working on budgets or schedules I don't forget things. If I have the information in front of me, I know how to process it and I can still rattle off file numbers and speak in engineering acronyms. But stupid stuff like my age, and how many dogs I have (I know I have five and that number has not left me) seems to go missing in my brain sometimes.

 

The test results that I have received show that I had a series of small strokes over the last year or so, and as recent as a few weeks ago. They are changing my blood-pressure meds and putting me on something else to help the blood flow and vascular health. Can't restore the memories, but hopefully I won't lose any more!

 

What really scared me, they want me to do some tests (genetic) to see if I'm more prone to Alzheimers. They said this test is not a guarantee or anything, but they think they can tell if I'm genetically predisposed to this disease. I'm young for this, but then again I went through menopause at 32! I do a lot of things young!

 

I can't do the gene testing --- its going to take me years to pay off the medical bills I have already accrued. Plus, the lump in my breast is so large now that they are insisting on a biopsy (not a needle biopsy, but an outpatient, general anestesia surgical removal) before it can get into the lymph-nodes. I have to pay for some of that up front though, so I'm on some meds that will help slow down any more growth. At least I was able to negotiage some paid vacation days at this contract job, so when I'm ready to do that I won't lose any pay.

 

The thing about the Alzheimers really had me spooked. Brrrr WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE AGAIN? :D WHY ARE YOU IN MY COMPUTER? WHAT'S A COMPUTER?

[Max Overclock]

Sorry to hear you're going through all this. Hard to believe some of the things that we all are going through as we post away on here.

 

I hope things work out well for you with the lumpectomy, etc. Keep us informed.

 

We're rooting for ya! Keep your chin up, and take care dear!

 

Max

[HokeyReligions]

Thanks Max!

 

Its funny how I'm not really worried about it. Except for being a little freaked out about the Althzheimers at first, the whole thing is like "yeah, whatever" and it doesn't scare me. Maybe my priorities are screwed up right now!

[Kizzyfur]

Sorry to hear you're having to deal with all this and at one time basically. I recently had a surgical biopsy done to remove a lump in my breast. If all goes well you'll be out within a few hours. I live almost 2 hours from the hospital where I had mine done. Had to leave here by 4 in the morning and was home little after noon. Unless your job requires you to lift heavy objects, or you just want to take a few days off for the hell of it, you should be back to work the next day.

Mine turned out to be nothing to worry about. Which is what I'd felt all along. My GYN was more worried about it than I was. I hope you're just as lucky.

 

GOOD LUCK!!!

[brashgal]

I'm no medical professional but I thought Alzheimers affected your short term memory first before it would attack your long term memory. Sounds like your memory issues are more directly tied to your strokes. What a scary thing that you don't even realize you're having them - I've been having headaches lately, now you have me second guessing. I do remember how many cats I have and their names so I can't be too far gone. Oh yeah, and the two kids, whatshis name and whatchmacallit.

 

Oh, wish I could cheer you up, take you out for a drink (what's a few more brain cells?), help you win the lottery...it's hell getting old Hokey but you're in good company.

[moimeme]

Gosh, Hoke! That's scary stuff. Medicine's great, these days, though, and you should be fine with the new meds and the lump gone.

 

Good luck with it all!

[RoboHobo]

Geez, sorry to hear about all that stuff hokey. I really hope that every thing works out for you. My family is really prone to cancer so I find the breast lump scary. As moimeme said, medicine is really good today and I'm sure that you will be in good hands. All this will sort itself out in no time.

 

Keep on being positive, and good luck!

[Debster]

Yikes, hokey. You are definitely dealing with a lot right now.

One thing though, from your posts I can tell you have a lot of inner strength. I hope that you have friends and family near you who can be there for you to help you deal with all this crap.

 

Best wishes.