Raychel's Dr. Appt

It's been a crazy long time since I posted on here. I did have a doctor check up last week and had been having some pain in my sides (both) since having my gallbladder out a year ago so I went there fasting so she could do some bloodwork. We discussed the side aches and she had some ideas, so she ran specific tests to check my enzymes in liver, pancreas and wanted to look at my blood sugar too. We have been discussing weight a lot and since I had gained again since last time, she was getting concerned and was pushing gastric sleeve surgery. I really felt like I had gained for no reason, I didn't get it. I have been walking more often, I got a vivofit for my bday and somewhat curbing my indulgences. Of course when an obese person says this to anyone, they look at you like, yeahhh i'm sure you just gained for no reason! But, seriously.. It was like that I was not eating larger amounts or anything different.

Anyways, Got the blood work back.. everything was fine! EXCEPT for my Insulin. It was elevated and I was fasting. It was almost to the highest number the nurse said.. Highest for what? I have no idea. But, They called me in a script and said " see ya in 3 months!" No explanation. Nothing. So, I took my Insulin number and googled it along with my medicine name. First thing pops up, Type 2 Diabetes! uhhhh, freak out a bit then remember my sugar is normal. So, keep searching.. Turns out I have Insulin Resistance. When I say that out loud it sounds like the Lego Movie.. :)

To break that down for ya, quickly. It means my body has decided it doesn't want the energy, fuel, sugar etc.. that I am feeding it. It will not absorb it for my muscles to use. Causing me to get tired. This causes my pancreas to work harder to try to get the cells to absorb the energy. They don't. so then my body just stores it. ALL. Hence the easy weight gain.

The medicine helps the pancreas by getting the cells to open and receive this energy so, it doesn't have to work so hard pumping out more and more insulin. If I hadn't found this out, since it is very hard on my pancreas  it can cause it to burn out. Once the insulin secreting cells burn out, you have Diabetes and that's a whole world I know nothing about and plan on keeping it that way.

Basically when you see on the Biggest Loser the Dr say, you are Pre-Diabetic.. this is one of those conditions. Insulin Resistance. Also occurs in PCOS, I don't have that either.

So I will take my meds, eat healthy and exercise. I am hopeful that is the help I need to get my muscles fed and get some more energy! I have been soooo exhausted and this is the answer. So I am relieved but, know I am on the crossroads of a very serious medical condition and Fear right now is helping me. Avery and I just had homemade chili for lunch and then a platter of veggies as our snack. I am trying. I just hope my mind stays right and doesn't sabotage me.

That is why I overeat, emotions, stress and emotions. lol... Fear can be motivating and it can be debilitating. I am praying that HOPE takes over and gets me healthy. Just posting this story because I believe prayers work and positive thinking helps. So, any positive vibes or prayers you can lift up for me while I make this huge life change would be awesome!!

Thank You!

Avery turned 5!

We celebrated Avery's fifth birthday this year at the local pool that we spent most the summer at. We met up at a little park right outside the pool and did presents and cupcakes. Then headed over to the pool. It was a beautiful day and had so many friends come celebrate our girl.

Julianna and Avery- friends from Pre-K

Barbie Jeep!

Ken!

Making a wish

Candles keep re-lighting

Charly and Avery

Ethan

Silly

The Party Venue

MN trip June 2014

I took a solo trip up to MN this June. My youngest brother graduated high school in Pequot Lakes. My sisters and I rented a cabin for a couple days in the middle of the woods *literally* and hung out. It was nice to see them. My aunts Peggi and Kate made it up as well as my cousin Jason who was home from Marines. Peg and Rusty stayed with us the last night and then Peg and I took the scenic route back to the cities. Stopping in Monticello to visit grams gravesite and then visited with my Pops. I spent the night with my cousin Eli and his wife Kelly before heading back to KC. It was a great trip just wish I had more time to visit everyone

Rusty, Peg, Jae, Shawna & Kate

                                                  

Cousin Jase and Bro Rusty

                                                       

Four Siblings, youngest to oldest

                                 

Silly Siblings

Sisters at Graduation

Rusty at graduation

 

Summer 2014!

I did not blog this summer but heres some highlights!  I will resume blogging this school year.

Summer Treat at OrangeLeaf

Daddy catching his girl at Blackbob Bay

Hanging with Miller's at Frontier

Zoo fun with Vallad's

Swimming Lessons

Walking in the stream at Franklin park

Peach pickin' at Geigingers

Summer Blogging

I'm going to attempt to blog this summer.  It will be fun to look back on when school starts!

Our first week of summer break 2014!

Kids played with water balloons and squirt guns. Got the pups soaked! 5/22

First day at the gym pool this summer! It was 

Ice cold!!

Mommy got a beauty break w/ master stylist Lindsay!

Tall enough to slide this year! Yay!memorial day chillax day!

Rock bottomus

Here's the deal. I have had both these tumors for 1.5 years. One is an actual 3mm adenoma on my pituitary gland that secretes prolactin and the other is not a real tumor per se but exhibits symptoms like one.  I've had multiple tests. Been poked,  scanned,  prodded and quizzed and finally come to the conclusion. I hate medicine. It makes me feel bad.I have side effects like crazy, I get lethargic and depressed, I feel worse on the meds than I did before I jumped on this merry go round.

I met my new endocrinologist..hes pretty quirky. I like him. He listens to me and he doesn't sugar coat things. He also doesn't think I NEED extra hormones either. I like him. He does  think I need to lose weight the old fashioned way..in his words..go amish!

So now to talk to my neurologist about what I really need. My vision has stayed the same since oct 2012. No worse. Yes my pressure was high but I am considered obese and this could be a factor. So my case will be.. take me off everything.get my energy and spark back and let me lose weight and see if that doesnt fix it!

I dont want a quick fix surgery. I need to learn to be healthy or it won't last.  I don't want to be the sick one. The one who needs help all the time. The one who is the victim of life. I want to live and I feel like I'm just not dying some days. How depressing. So I'm at the bottom and I'm ready to climb the duck out of here. God can light my path and I'm not looking down/back. This shh has gotten bananas. I don't know who this person is anymore but I don't really recognize her or like her much. Im out.

Pondering

Since I've been resting and healing I've had waayy too much time to think ..and shop online... but that's another post. And I've wondered what's the lesson here? I  believe there's always a lesson to be learned in tough times even if it isn't the main reason for the tough time, if that makes sense.

I focused on the people that did the wrong actions and didn't do the jobs the best way. I focused on the pain I was in and what I was missing and I was miserable in every way. It wasn't until I realized I was fighting with myself. I was telling myself it wasn't okay to not be ok. Over n over. See the problem? I wasn't accepting myself as being the way I was suppose to be at that moment. This moment since I'm still in it. I tried to be stubborn n go to mops cause I felt bad for my kids being victims of my current illness. But then I ended up in so much pain and embarrassment that I had to leave in tears n be driven home (Despite my protests).. I'm so blessed n thankful for the group of moms around me that accept me and love me in spite of myself. Until I catch up. They have been a true blessing checking on me bringing food. Helping transport kids.I don't know what I would do without them seriously. I genuinely hope to be able to return the favor to everyone who graciously helped me. I hope I'm back to normal soon too now that I think the lesson is learned ;)

Results are in!

If you have been following this saga with my health I finally have some answers!  Hooray! I will try to keep this as simple as possible since it gets confusing.

I have two diagnosis'.. A. Prolactinoma which is essentially a benign tumor on my pituitary that secretes the hormone prolactin. I was diagnosed October 2012 with that.  My MRI scan from last week shows it has indeed SHRUNK! Not sure how much as I haven't gotten the report yet but since my old endocrinologist stated it wouldn't change in size I am happy for any change. I meet with my new endocrinologist through St Luke's in February to start treatment again.

My newest diagnosis B. Is Pseudo Tumor Cerebri also known as intercranial hypertension. It's when you display all the symptoms of having a brain tumor but no mass is found. I had a spinal tap last Wed and my pressure measured high, they drained it to normal and they started me on medicine already to keep it normal. One of the ways to combat is through weight loss which this medicine has a strong side effect of.

I could write a whole post on my experience with spinal punctures this week but its still fresh and hurts, literally.
I will say I hope to Never have one ever ever ever again.

Thanks for prayers n well wishes. :)