Odds and Ends, more Doctors....

So I have the back fracture, the disk disease and now the gastritis. In the middle of all of this, and the multiple CT Scans, MRI’s and X-rays, they found that my “simple cyst” on my right ovary, has now changed to a “Complex Cyst” and my doctor advised me that I needed to get that looked at right away.

After meeting with a new OB, they went ahead and gave me a PAP and put me back on birth control to see if that will help with all those pains and cyst issues. One week later I got a phone call from the doctor’s office and they told me my PAP came back with abnormalities and they wanted to do a colopscopy (or something like that). To be honest, when the nurse called to tell me, my brain stopped working when she used the phrase “Cervical Cancer”. They scheduled the procedure for two weeks out. They told me that it hurts, and they recommend that I take a pain reliever prior. Mind you, with the stomach issues, there is nothing I can take that will not put me back in the hospital.

The basic idea of this procedure is to open me up, and put a solution inside me and then the light will glow where there is concerning spot. When my doctor started, it freaked me out when he said “Awe, crap!” sorry, but when you are in a compromising position down there, with medical instruments, that is not something that I really want to hear. The worst case scenario, which happened, they decided to use my insides as a human whole punch. He starting snipping away, and when they say “little pinch” it is not a little pinch. That hurt! I honestly could not walk or sit for the two days!

I received the results about a week later (let me tell you, having to wait for a week to find out if you have the C-word or not is DEVISTATING!), and found out that it is only mild hiplasia, which is the pre-cancer cancer cells. Thankfully, I just have to go back in 6 months to check it out again. Hopefully all will be well, and I can forget about this.

Gasritis

So after the visit to the ER for the allergic reaction, my doctors put me on more meds to counter act. The Spinal doctor originally prescribed me Naproxen to help with the inflammation in my back. The dangers of this drug is not mixing any NSaids so no over the counter medication without doctor’s approval, no ibuprofen or Excedrin, nothing nada zip. If you forget to take with food, your body will cramp up. There are so many wonderful things to say about this one. The doctors figure that with the double dosage of steroids and the naproxen caused the next issue.
Almost a week later I just lost it at work. I was shaking and in so much pain, I decided to talk with my director and go out on medical leave. My Primary care doctor thought it was for the best as well, since the stress of the year end and peak season was not helping promote my healing process. The next morning, exactly a week to the day (from the last ER visit) I woke up with the worst stomach pain I have ever experienced. Words cannot describe this pain, all I know is that it was so bad I could not stand up straight, nor move that well. I hopped into the shower and made the decision to go to the hospital. I was extremely nauseous and I felt the pain was getting worse.

I was lucky to have the green light pass straight back to a room, no wait whatsoever. I had 3 nurses and a doctor working on me to get me set. After a CT scan to make sure it was not my appendix and lots of morphine later, they diagnosed me with Gastritis. Basically, my stomach lining is inflamed and there is room for concern of stomach ulcers or bleeding ulcers. They removed me from the naproxen and added a higher dosage of omeprazone, more Percocet and carafate. They also made me drink something called “GI Slider”; this is hands down the sickest thing I have ever drank! It consists of liquid lidocaine, Mylanta and Benadryl. It basically numbs the esophagus down to coat the stomach.

Once I was released, I met with my doctor the next day. We went over the FMLA and leave paperwork and plan of action to get better. At this point, I had cried so much and just was ready to be done with everything. I decided to make the trip home for Christmas a little bit earlier. I left the following day to head up to my parent’s house in Idaho. It was nice to take the 4 hours to just relax and go over everything in my mind. My parents agreed to help me out with my bills and give me a cabin to help me detox and get better.

Most doctors say that gastritis goes away in about 2 weeks. Once I came back to salt lake on the 27th, my doctor was concerned that my stomach was not getting better. Due to my financial issues, I decided to go back to work earlier than she would have wanted me to. She also referred me to Gastro doctor to see if they can find something else that could be wrong.

Spinal Specialist

Now, I am not going to name names of my specialist that I went to, as I really do not like him nor do I have anything positive to say about him…. After meeting with him, he referred me to get an MRI and I had to wait for the results. When I went in about a week later, I was “officially” diagnosed with Degenerative Disk Disease (triple D’s as I call it). In plain terms, essentially the disks in my spine are deteriorating and there is no real cure, just some meds that will help manage it, and steroid injects.

Hesitantly, I decided to try for the steroid injections along with all the other stuff he gave me. Basically, they go in with a digital x-ray machine and put long needles in your lower spin and inject a 3 different steroid concoction and inject it in. I have asked plenty of times what the meds were, but the doctor has yet to come clean about it.

I makes your legs go numb and feel like jello. I couldn’t walk overly well for the rest of the day. I went ahead and took the next day off work just to be safe in case I experienced any of the side effects they talked about. Thankfully my mom was with me. As we were leaving my friend Tiff’s house (I started staying there for awhile, she was great to help and less stairs. I still have flashbacks and get scared to come down from room sometimes!) And heading back to my place to grab some more clothes, all of a sudden my chest, neck and face got sweltering hot and broke out in this giant rash. Concerned, I called my doctor. He called me back about a half hour later. When he did call back, by then my face was swelling and I lost feeling in my toes. He told me to take some Benadryl and call my primary care doctor (yes, he is a REAL gem…) from that point on, I was on a regular dosage of Benadryl and everything else. Maybe it would be good to mention, this was also two days before thanksgiving!
Unless you have experienced a severe allergic reaction, it is tough to explain. My face ached. Another issue was with all the overload of steroids in my body, I could not sleep. I went 3 days that round without any sleep. Finally one night my friend gave me a special pill that was able to help my body relax enough to sleep.

Fast forward two weeks, I was scheduled for my 2nd round of injections. I spoke with my doctor, the nurse and medical assistant all about my concerns. My doctor told me that it was a ‘fluke’ that I had that side effect and said it was vital for my recovery to go through the 2nd round. He also told me to take Benadryl prior to the office visit to see if I can cut the reaction off at the pass. He also suggested that I go to the hospital if my throat starts to close up and not to even bother calling him.

Sure enough, that night I started to get the swelling, and by lunch the next day my throat was clothing up, face swelling like a chipmunk and the rash was spreading. My friend Brenda was so nice to take me to the hospital during lunch. They decided to give me prednisone, omeprazole and an inhaler. I have never had asthma so I had no idea how to use an actual inhaler, it was a learning experience. They also gave me a couple of breathing treatments to open my lungs up more and help me out.
So back to the whole steroid issues, and not being able to sleep, try taking a physical pill steroid along with what is going on in my body. It felt like my body was fighting against everything. Will all the meds and problems, it felt like I was slowly crashing. When I called my Spinal doctor with my concerns and asking for help with the sleeping issue, he basically told me “It’s not my problem, call your primary care physician”. To me, that basically translated to, that sucks, deal with it. (Again, I love Love LOVE that doctor).

Fast forward 1 month, I had to meet with him again to follow up the injections and how I was feeling. After I listed off ALL the issues, he took no responsibility for the problems, did not offer an apology or anything. He gave me back all my films and told me he could not help me. Let’s review, still have back pain, it has helped a little bit everything, but I feel like I am still back at square one.

Why hello stairs, nice to meet you!

So I know it has been far too long, and there is so much I need to get caught up on, but where to start is the problem. Let me at least start by filling you on what is happened as of recently. End of October, first Washington DC with my roommate Penny and her niece Mandy to catch the “Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert rally to restore sanity and/or keep fear alive”. That is another blog all together though…..
We got into town around midnight on Tuesday the 2nd, and thankfully I took Wednesday off to help recover (4200 miles in 6 days is a lot!). I was awoken early that morning with a call from my buddy from work and my best friend had an accident at work and long story short was rushed to the ER unconscious (she is doing better now, but still plenty of medical problems). I of course freaked out and raced out the door to be with her. After she was released I spent the day helping her and her family out.

When I FINALLY got home I went upstairs to change, and as I was at the top of the steps I don’t know what happened, but I lost my balance and fell down the stairs. I hit my head really hard, and when I finally landed at the bottom it took a few minutes to catch my breath. When I started to stand, I knew something was wrong. This pain was nothing like I had experienced! Seeing as how I took the last week off work, I could not call in, so I went to work anyways. After talking to my aunt, I scheduled a Chiropractor appointment for Thursday hoping they could fix me up and help me walk better. When he first started to examine me, I nearly jumped off the table with how horrible the pain was. From that I was referred to a digital x ray for Friday.

After being at work and having to sit, I began to feel like I cracked my tailbone or something. When I went to the x-ray place at lunch, the radiologist was concerned and could tell I was in true amounts of pain. He told me to make an appointment and get seen right away. At this point, 2 days without sleep was wearing on me. I called my Aunt and she suggested I go to the Insta Care and get seen. When I got there, the doctor told me he was amazed that I was even walking and tried to make me take an ambulance to IMC. I waived medical attention so I could drive myself. Thankfully my aunt and my best friend joined me. I was really scared.
After a long night (getting there at 6:20pm and not leaving until 3:30am) I finally had answers! From a previous accident they found that my T11 is in a “constant back fracture state” (this meaning I fractured in a prior accident, more than likely the Vegas car crash of 05 and it healed wrong and it re-fractured on impact), minor scoliosis in my T9-T10 section, multiple deep contusions and a cyst on my lower right lung. I was referred to a Spinal Specialist, and other doctors to make sure everything heals correctly and what not.

I ended up spending the night at my friend Tiff’s house, since I was in no shape to drive. Thankfully, she lives right next to the hospital so we left my car there. The next morning, I woke up and felt really sick (morphine and Percocet on and empty stomach, not such a good idea). When we were getting ready to leave, I started to feel really sick. Tiff’s husband took us to my car and she drove me to Smith’s to fill my prescriptions. As I walked in the store, I walked across the front registers to get to the pharmacy, I made it down 4 registers, and I was violently ill. Thankfully, I found a garbage can, but I still feel awkward going into that store, I only shop there and Winco! Tiff’s husband helped me limp back to my car, while she helped me with the rest. Talk about embarrassing!!!!!!

Weight Issues

So where to begin…. So a few months ago, the end of August/early September I started going to the gym almost every day if not every day. When I had first got on the scale to see my starting weight, I was taken back, I have been at a solid weight for years, and the number I saw was 50 pounds heavier than I thought I was at. Mind you I can hide my weight very well, yes I know I am fat, but if you knew the number you would not believe this is how I look. Even at my highest weight in high school (only 25 pounds heavier than I thought I was) I was 3 sizes larger. So it also scared me to see the number, because I have been wearing the same size for the last 4 years.
Over the past months, I have lost 38 pounds, it is not my ideal weight loss, but I also did not go for 2 ½ months in the middle and what not. I have still continued to eat what I have when I went to the gym as often it was just the extra added exercise I cut back on. On an average week when I do go to the gym 5 times, I loose about 4 pounds regularly which is healthy figure for my body type. Since starting the gym. The very few and far between nights that I am free, I am exhausted and want to go to bed early. I have also been under a lot of stress with my job and It has started to take a toll and me and my health.

Most of my closest friends and family know that I have a cyst, and her name is Helga. I hate her, she comes and bothers me unannounced, uninvited and brings lots of pain. I have also been having strong stomach pains the last few months. I finally got into a doctor to be seen and after getting on medicine to hopefully shrink Helga, and lots of blood work I was referred to a general physician. This past weekend I spent the long weekend in bed sick because somebody in my office so kindly gave me strep. I had the appointment set up a long time ago, so it all worked out getting antibiotics for my virus and getting checked out for the other problems. While there, she did some poking around and lab works and ordered me for an abdominal ultra sound.

This morning I had the joys of going to the new IHC Medical Center Hospital for the test. Words cannot describe how much pain I felt! The tech when he got next to my gallbladder, I fought back tears from the pain. When he turned me on the side to get better pictures, he finally asked “Does that Hurt?” When he asked it was discomfort, but the next place he moved it I screamed! He then told me “Unofficially, off the record, you do have lots of small gallstones”. Oh what fun! Now I have to wait until my Doctor “officially” calls me tomorrow to tell me the results so we can go over options. After discussion with those close to me and people who have had theirs removed, I think I am opting for the removal of my gallbladder. I guess I will find out tomorrow the plan of attack and see where this goes.

Thinking back, this is probably related to my rapid weight gain, and the tougher time taking it off. After research, the gallbladder is an organ that is nice to have but generally removed if problems occur, just like with your appendix. The main function is to take complex carbs, cholesterol, etc and break them up for your body to digest easier. The worst I have heard people say, is that sometimes there are certain foods that is harder for your body to digest, but for the most part it is the better option. I guess we see and I will try to blog about this more when I have a free second.

Life Changes!!!!

So for anybody that really truly knows me, my heart belongs to the Northwest! I love everything about it, the Rain, the Trees, the Friends, The People, even the crazy awesome Hippie’s! I have been living here in Utah for a little over 3 years now, and some days it feels like a lifetime! I decided to move here to be closer to family and I felt a prompting to be here. Mind you, this is the longest time I have been away from the PNW, and it is killing me inside! I have a tendency to pick up and move at the drop of a pin, and that was why I had promised my mom that I would live in Utah at least 2 years. I have given it enough time, and it is time to close this chapter in my life I’m afraid.


My friend that I used to work with at my previous employer prior to being laid off, is also working in the same office again with me (thank you to a wonderful referral bonus :) She has been trying to get hired on with a police department and utilize her military background and criminal justice degree. She has gotten through the initial screening of Tacoma PD, and has been asked to come test for them. The process all in all will take roughly 4 months. She is going up the last weekend in March for the BIG test, I would love to join her on a weekend getaway, however I will be in Myrtle Beach with my mom for her Christmas present, yes a 9 day vacation to the east coast, and we are both counting down the days!

Anyway, she is really excited and hopes she gets this job. She has applied for Las Vegas, King County (Seattle), Pierce County (Tacoma) and Portland PD. I have lived in all of those places, and I would move with her to every place except Las Vegas (been there, done that….). The likelihood of her taking Tacoma is very likely, and I excited to say I will more than likely move with her! We were looking at houses today, and found great rent for really cheap and by the waterfront. One in particular is in Gig Harbor, where I grew up until I was 10 and misses so very much!

The best parts will be, being back home in the land that I love, Being close to family I do not get to see very often, a 2 hour drive back to Vancouver/Portland so I can visit more frequently on the weekends, my friends who I miss and care for deeply, the beach, the weather (I am the happiest when it rains) and the city life I miss. Of course there are some sad things, but I can live my life the way I want to, and be closer to those that helped raise me. I will miss my aunts and uncles that I have grown closer to, but I knew in the beginning that Utah was never my permanent home. And even by some crazy miracle that I did ever get married here in Utah, I could never see myself raising a family here.


Either way, I have been thinking very strongly about this move since my most amazing trip back home to Vancouver in October courtesy of the Jacksons. I was sitting the airport waiting for my plane that was delayed and I could not contain my great sadness in saying goodbye to those I care about. So many people helped raise me and make me who I am today that I lost full and utter control when I had say goodbye and leave. Not to mention everything the Jackson’s have done for me and how amazing their family is, it is strange to think the oldest son is already 12, I CHANGED HIS DIAPERS!!!!!

Anyway, I am excited thus far where this year has taken me. Things to look forward to this year (in no particular order) Starting my new business (Pampered Chef), a dating life again (yes, it’s been awhile since I have felt comfortable to get out there again), New friends and old, Trip to the east coast in March/April (adding 7 states to my list), Trip to Chicago in July, Moving back to the NW, great roommates, and last but certainly not least a new nephew in April! So far, GREAT New Year and decade!

Life's New Adventures

So I have decided to something special with whatever little free time I have. Last Friday night I went up to Centerville to see a really close friend who recently was married. It was great, and mostly because it was a girls (well almost) since her husband was out of town on business. Her co-worker was having a Pampered Chef party and she had to go. I have LOVED going to them since I was about 10 years old! That was when everything just clicked!

As of this Friday, I will officially be the newest Pampered Chef consultant! I am super excited!!! I have always thought it would be fun to sell, but just never really given it much thought! I am not the type of person who likes to sell stuff, and especially if I do not believe in it. I know I worked at Best Buy for many years, but the beauty was that I did not have to sell stuff unless I wanted to. And I know everybody and the sun pretty much sells Avon, Mary Kay, Scentsy, etc, but I really do think this is going to be amazing!

So since I am now going to be selling these products on the side, there are tons of perks, and I excited to hit the ground running! If you Host a show (an actual party or even just a catalog party) in my first month of signing up, you get a free extra Host gift. You will also get the Host gift for the month we are in, free products, up to 60% off other products and anytime you want to order something for the next 12 months an additional 10% off! Pampered chef also comes with a Lifetime Warranty on most of their products and some of your older products that may have been broken or not working properly we have replacement parts.

One thing that I have learned starting training, is that most, well 80% of all the products are under $20. The average family eats out at least 3-4 times a week because they don’t have “time”. Well that is what I love about the Deep Dish Baker, is that you can make a healthy meal in less than 20 minutes!

We made Chicken Fajita’s in the microwave! Yes, the Microwave! I know, microwave chicken sounds dirty, and I would not have believed this If I had not seen it myself! We sliced fresh onions, red and green bell peppers, place chicken and rubbed it with Chipotle Rub and cooked it for 15 minutes. Because of the stoneware and the way it cooks, the chicken came out super juicy and tasty! Not only that, we checked it with the thermometer to make sure it was done fully, and when we put it back in for a few minutes, it did not lose any flavor! In less than 20 minutes we made chicken, fresh salsa and guacamole! It was a healthy meal and way cheaper than going out to a restaurant to buy it.

Until I get my website up and running, please email me at amber.coonce@gmail.com to either look at becoming a consultant, hosting a party or if you just want to buy products.