Catch Up

Wow! Almost two months since I last posted. Sorry to have left such a depressing post for so long. I'm going to blog some updates for historical purposes, so bare with me for those of you who've heard these stories already. Lumps, Bumps & New Jobs!! May 3rd we had a BBQ at my previous job (more on new job later). Someone had brought a Crab Salad. I knew this salad was going to be in the building. I had pitched a fit to the Safery, Training, Planning Coord. about this salad. I was blown off. BBQ day rolls around and I completely forgot about the carb. I spy a big bowl of Coleslaw. YUM!! Love Coleslaw. I slap a big dolup on my plate along with chips, baked beans, pasta salad, and my hotdog. I'm eating everything that has touched my coleslaw and then proceed to shovel a large bit of it into my mouth. Mmmmm...interesting taste. I don't remember tasting this in a while. OH, #@$#@!! It's CRAB!!!! I rush to spit the stuff out of my mouth and sit and wait for the inevitable praying that anaphlactic shock doesn't arrive to. After about 30 min, I look like I have a major sunburn and I'm itching. So off to ER we go while the MEN in at work are treating me like I am over reacting. While on the way to ER, I call my wonderful husband, who is out of town, and tell him what's going on. Then I receive a phone call from the HR dept of a local university requesting another reference as one of my great references (and former boss) is out of town. ARGH!! I explain that I'm on the way to ER for reaction to crab and will have to call her back. At ER, I'm taken back to triage. I of course have to tell them everything I'm on, explain that Metformin isn't being taken for Diabetes, and tell them why I did shoot myself up with my EpiPen (I'm a chicken). The dr. Rx'd Prednisone, Allegra, & Pepcid for the allergy. I learn that new studies show that H1 Blocker (Allegra) and H2 Blocker (Pepcid) used together work well in shutting down an allergic reations. They have me stay in ER for an hour for observation. I call K while I am waiting and he assures me that he felt that going to ER is the right thing. When the dr. comes in to check on me during "observation", I explain to him the reaction from the guys at work. He said that they don't have an allegry that they could potentionally die from and I do. He said that he would prefer to see me in ER so that if I have a delayed anaphlactic shock reaction, they can do something for me. He explained that if I'm outside of ER, there is nothing they can do. The dr. said that every time I have crab in my mouth or digest any, I must come straight to ER for observation. He did say to keep Pepcid & Claritin (or Allegra) on hand along with my EpiPen. He said to immediately take the meds and hopefully I won't react or the reaction will be less severe. He made me feel better about doing the right thing. So, I'm released from ER and while waiting for my ride, I call the HR dept and give them another reference of someone I hadn't worked with in a while. I was really bummed that my other good reference isn't available. I felt like it had cost me a new job. As for the crab reaction, I was on Allegra & Pepcid for 4 days (reacting for 48 hrs) and then I was fine. Whew! May 6th I call the University to see if they've made a decision yet. No they haven't. They are waiting on a call back from some of the references. *sigh* I'm cleaning house and waiting for K to return from his trip. While stretching I run my hands down my chest and freeze. OMG!! I felt a LUMP in my breast. Totally freaked me out. We have two friends who are Breast Cancer survivors, so I am freaked. I have K feel it when he gets home. I post to all my buddy. Everyone says that I need to call Dr. C's office A.S.A.P. I research all weekend what I should do and since I'm not cycling due to Lupron, I am not sure what to do. I talk to B at Dr. C's office and she agrees that b/c of all the medications I'm on, I really should have Dr. C take a look (or feel). So I have an appt scheduled for May 11th. I proceed to research Breast Cancer and try not to freak myself out. I read that the statistics are 80% of the lump found are benign or cysts. Cool! I've been up againt 80/20 odds before and got the 20 (see m/c in 2003). So I decided that it was MY turn for the 80 side. May 10th I am in my SIL's office dropping some stuff off for DNephew. She asks how things are going with the Job Search. I tell her that God is being TOO quiet. I'm not sure what to do. I tell her the University hasn't called, so I"m think that I should be getting a letter anytime soon similar to the one I got in April. I tell her that I'm at a loss of what to do. I've decided that maybe I am to stay at Chadux. I have peace, but I'm stressed to the max, so I don't understand why God is requesting I stay. I'll accept it, but I just don't understand. She tells me that she'll keep praying for me. I call back one of the employment agencies I had told that I was staying put and tell her more in detail of why I'm looking to leave. I tell her that I really do have a good job and have room to be picky, but so could she please pull my file and keep it active. She said that she understood and that she'd keep looking for me. Around 4pm I get a call from the HR Dept at the University telling me that would be making a decision on Wednesday. OMG!! Now why would they call me to say that? Could it mean that I got the job? Could it mean they are hinting that I shouldn't take any other job offers? I'm am elated. God was no longer being silent!! May 11th I wake up worrying about what do I do if I learn that I have cancer on the same day I get offered a new job? Is that why I'm supposed to stay at my current job? Please, Dear Lord, I pray, show me what I need to do. My appt with Dr. C goes well for the most part. She was very supportive in my having her determine what is going on with the lump. She felt that it was most likely a cyst, but it seemed rather "funky" to her and she wanted to be proactive in checking things out. She Rx'd a mammogram and an u/s. We talk about how I'm doing Lupron-wise and she is pleased with how great I feel. She is so excited and still feels this will give me "the best chance to get PG". The nurse made an appt for almost a week and a half later. How do I deal with that? I called K and asked if I could talk to his assistant how is a Breast Cancer survivor as the word "funky" coming out of Dr. C's mouth was buggin me. He agreed I could. She told me that she felt that was too long and the radiology dept. could do better than that, so I called back and learned of a cancellation for that day!!! WOOHOO!! Off to radiology to have my (.)(.) crushed by a massive contraption. Don't breathe, I hear has the turn my breast into a pancake. Believe me lady, you've sucked all the breathe out of my body, not breathing won't be a problem. Actually she was very nice and felt really bad that we had to repeat two slides. It really wasn't as bad as I imagined. Each slide only takes a few seconds, so all in all a mammogram isn't so bad. I do agree that if Men had to put the "family jewels" in something like that, they would have a new invention FAST!! I'm escorted to day surgery where the u/s tech is an as soon as she puts the wand on my breast I see two cysts that would so much better on my ovaries!!! Yep, I had TWO cysts. Yeehaw. I'm flying higher than a kite. So out of radiology to return a message to the HR dept at the University as they called while I was having my barbaric procedures. Had to leave a message. While at the post office, she calls back. THEY OFFERED ME THE JOB!! This day will be imprinted on my memory for life!! The offer was more than I had hoped for. I'm thrilled. Cloud 9, here I come!! I learned the hold up was the letter of offer they they still don't have done. No problem, I can except the job without that right away (I did get it signed a few days later). Unfortunately, I had to wait until Monday to resign b/c my boss was out of town and I didn't feel it was professional to call him up and resign. Life is turning out to be better than I had imagined. My first day at my new job will be May 31st. That means that I won't have any lapse in insurance coverage. Keep those blessing roll, Lord!! PRAISE THE LORD!!