The Diagnosis...

So...I visited the dr. here in Ohio for the first time last Friday and it went well to say the least. My brother (from another mother) was there to support me and that helped a lot. The dr. was crazy funny and quick-witted. "Scleroderma is what it is", he said. "Depending on if its just skin related or lung related, it can be gone in at least five years." The tears began to fall. After 10 months of practically being hopeless and afraid of what life would be with an illness no one seems to be able to diagnosis, I was relieved to finally hear some good news. Though the good news came with some bad..it will get worse before it gets better. I'm glad (at least for now) that I will not have to adjust to living with this the REST of my LIFE.

Today I went in to see a pulmonologist and my dr. to determine if its lung related. The pulmonologist suggested that I may have PULMONARY HYPERTENSION. Something wayyyyyy separate than previous thought. I had to take 2 PFT (pulmonary function tests), a walking test (determines my O2 levels), a chest x-ray and they took 16 tubes a blood. After all of this I took a well deserved 3 hour nap. My hopes I won't have to go through 6 additional months of these types of tests before beginning treatment but I understand it may be a necessary sacrifice...but this sacrifice sucks! I go in again Thursday for an echocaridogram and something involving molecular imaging?

Funny side note: my dr. asked,"Have I told my new job about my health?" I responded, "No, I didn't want to hinder my chances of being employable." He then asked, "They did notice how hard it is for you to get up from chairs or how you walk?" I told him, "No, I don't think so because I fake it." He laughed, "How do you fake being in such bad condition." I laughed and said," I just do." ; ) Men...they will never have a clue.

I'm still trying to figure out do audio clips instead of typing my blogs. As soon as I figure this out, I will try to blog at least twice a week, until then I will only blog once a week.

Peace.