TRUST ME I'M A DOCTOR

My entire lifetime is littered with experiences of having to place my trust in the medical profession. You walk into their rooms, you tell them what's wrong and then their super human brain works it all out, and they tell you what they're going to do for you. Usually then you shrug your shoulders, go " what the hell, I have no choice" and agree to trust them to do what they say, because you need the job done.

To me trusting a doctor had always been a given. My Dad is a doctor and I grew up around doctors. To not trust a doctor would be like telling my Dad I didn't believe in his skills, his judgement and his wisdom. Till last year it never dawned on me "not" to trust anyone in the medical profession.

When I trust a doctor, this is what I expect:

1. That they know what they are talking about.
2. That they have the skills to do a good job.
3. That they treat me ( and every other patient) as the most important patient ever.
4. That they don't rip me off. I still need to survive after the surgery and I will need money.
5. That they treat me with respect and that includes my after care, my worried phone calls and a year later if necessary.

A year ago a doctor who operated on me broke most of my expectations. The surgery was a mess and it left me in hospital for six weeks often fighting for my life. It was the worst period in my life and when you remember that I have had two cancer diagnoses, you might start to get a feel how bad this period in my life was. It was awful.

Its a hard thing this trust business and one none of us can really avoid. If you want a haircut, you need to trust the person with the scissors. If you want a meal out you need to trust that the chef is doing the right thing with regard to food safety. There are so many examples. You get a driving license and you then need to trust others driving around you to do the right thing. You need surgery and you have to trust the doctor.

In the last twelve months I have really struggled with the broken trust issues from this doctor. As a result I have become nervous, on edge and quite panicky about anything medical.When my daughter had to have surgery with a new doctor in recent months, it just about finished me off. I didn't know this doctor or anaesthetist. How could I trust them with my child? Cue a full blown panic attack. (Incidentally surgeon and anaeasthetist were excellent).

As a person with a condition requiring not one but an army of doctors, it hasn't been a good idea to be so doctor phobic. I have no idea why its got so bad, but I know I've been actively avoiding GP visits and blood tests especially. And visiting people in "that" hospital, forget it!

In the last week a few things have made this issue come to a head. Firstly one of my specialists rang me checking why I hadn't had my bloods done. He was actually concerned. ( Note to self - doctor cares and can be trusted). Then my psychologist told me that if I let this continue, I would become more of a victim than I already was because of a dud doctor. I like her because she tells me straight.

So, I am officially making an effort to move on from this issue. I am going to remember all the other doctors and medical personnel I have been able to trust and I am going to try to move on. Its another of those situations I really don't have a choice in.

Have any of you had any success with learning to trust again? All tips welcome.

I HOPE NOT!!!

Till next time...xxx

COWS WITH BREAST CANCER

You'd have to be a real hermit to not know that October is breast cancer awareness month. Social
media is full of advice on what to do and what not to do and the colour pink ( which I can't stand) is everywhere. I hate the colour pink being associated with breast cancer because it's a traditionally girly colour and this makes me feel sad for the men who get breast cancer. Yes, being male doesn't exclude you from getting breast cancer and if you're one of those poor blokes, the last thing you want to feel is that you've got some girly disease.  Maybe the colour should be green.

It's been almost eight years since my breast cancer diagnosis and only lately have I been able to think about it without shaking all over. Maybe the only reason here is that life is a series of events and other things have become more important. I can't be sure as to the reason but I am sure that I no longer worry as much about breast cancer. I hate that it happened. I loathe my saline fake boobs. I hate the way that one is higher than the other. I feel like a freak without nipples. BUT, the cancer itself no longer fills every waking thought. Everywhere I look this month breast cancer charities are actively encouraging people to fundraise so that they can continue to raise awareness and support people. Real people like me have received financial support or services because real people like you donate money. I'll save my hugs and kisses till I meet you. Just know that it helps.

One of the things that does worry me however is Cow related. If you are new to my blog you may not realise I have Cowden's syndrome (CS), a rare genetic disorder that increases your risk of tumours and cancers. It's also called PTEN Hamartoma Tumour syndrome ( PHTS) cos somebody decided we needed four words instead of two. Same same just wordier my friends. Anyway, the reason I'm worried is that nowhere in all the advertising this month will you see information about CS and this is concerning on two parts. One is that CS carries with it a higher than average risk of breast cancer and two, according to Professor Charis Eng ( guru of all things CS), the condition is significantly under diagnosed due to doctors' lack of knowledge about visible signs which may suggest a diagnosis.

Now I have a friend in the UK who is pretty cluey on all things CS. She writes:

Benign breast disease is thought to be common in women with CS/PHTS, so women could be turning up at breast clinics with clear evidence of CS/PHTS on their skin, and/or oral mucous membranes, but that evidence missed due to lack of knowledge about CS/PHTS. Those women are then denied the opportunity to have regular breast cancer screening or prophylactic surgery. 

So, basically what she is saying is that there are certain lumps and bumps on the skin and in the mouth that may indicate you have CS and if you do then you may have an increased risk of some cancers like breast cancer. So you need to know this stuff, but don't panic and do get a doctor involved because you might need a biopsy to diagnose some of these growths.

So if you want to impress your doctor or intimidate him because you know something he doesn't, here are a few new words to google the hell out of. The most common skin signs are trichilemmomas (mostly found on the face), keratoses (mostly found on the hands and feet) and papillomas (mostly found on the oral mucous membranes). There are some other less common skin lesions, but let's not worry too much about them for now.

I hope I haven't scared you. Actually that's not true, I hope I have because then you might check for lumps and check for growths and see a doctor. Better to check stuff out if you have a concern.

And before I go I have one request. Breast cancer agencies don't publish information on CS because it's rare ( 1 in 200 000). Professor Eng is convinced it is likely higher. So please help me and my Cow friends get the word out by sharing this post. Would really appreciate it.

Till next time...xxx
Moo

LESSONS FROM BALI

This has been the longest and coldest winter in memory. I'm sure there's some good scientific reason for this, but I'm past caring and just want it to end. Everywhere you go people are whinging about the weather, because it is almost October and normally everyone would be in short sleeves by now. But obviously not this year. So here I am with jumper, jeans, boots and hot mug of coffee and not a bit of sun all day. It's positively un- Australian to have winter go on for so long.

In the search for warmth, last week my husband and I finally got to take the holiday we missed out on last December when I was ill. Western Australia ( home of the never ending winter) is 3 1/2 hours away from Bali, Indonesia ( home of sun, warmth, swimming, cheap cocktails and scrumptious food). It actually is so close it's ridiculous! When we stepped out of the plane the heat hit us straight in the face. It was fabulous and my body warmed instantly.

 

There is something magic about Bali. I have been three times now and each time I have come away a better person. It's the people who do it to me. They are so humble and so happy. When you say hello to a Balinese person, their face lights up with joy and they reciprocate warmly. One lady told me the secret to happiness is to be grateful and enjoy what she has. She never wishes for more or aspires to have more, she simply enjoys what she has. That's one hell of a lesson!

Another lovely lady by the name of Ayu told me the Balinese are happier than Australians because they take their time. She said Australians are in too much of a rush and walk too fast. She also said the proper way is to walk gently, stop, have a look, walk some more, stop, have a chat and repeat. Apparently, you get there...when you get there! I love it!

Our hotel in Bali

                  

Bali really is an exercise in humility and learning to appreciate what you have. I met people who earn less in a month than what I can earn in a day. But, they are happy and just grateful to have a job. I learnt that most young people get jobs to support the family income, not buy the latest " must have" item. They travel on their scooters in bad traffic and sometimes torrential rain. They get wet from head to toe and still offer to get you another drink with a genuine smile on their face. Yes, it did me good to hang around these people for a while.

On one occasion I was sitting in a spa having a foot massage. After half an hour of pure bliss, I was told that to balance out ( so I didn't fall over apparently), my shoulders and back needed a quick massage. They got no complaints from me!  My tshirt was whipped off in record time and I sat with my back to her listening to the sudden flurry of chatter with her boss. I asked if there was a problem and she asked me what the scars on my back ( breast reconstruction scars) were. I immediately tensed up and sensing that, she reassured me everything was ok. I don't know what I was thinking but possibly the thought crossed my mind that she wouldn't want to touch me. Maybe I was seen as being diseased.

What they were actually doing was discussing the best natural treatments for me to have better health. Some I had not heard of but celery tea and pomegranate leaf tea are apparently amazing traditional treatments they swear by as well as coconut water (which I think I'll give a big miss to because coconut and I dont get on). The point for me was that these women were completely concerned about my welfare. They could have made more money off me with their advice but they didn't. And that's how it was pretty much everywhere. In another spot, another woman, noticing I had an allergy rash on my arms disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a tube of something she started rubbing on me. It was coconut oil and again apparently it works wonders if the person you're rubbing it in isn't also allergic to coconut! I was overwhelmed by the kindness regardless.

Hope the post Bali glow continues for a while. Lots of lessons in slowing down and being nice to each other have been learnt.

Till next time...xxx

BEATING COWDENS SIDE BY SIDE

There have been so many times in the last

ten years when giving in to Cowdens syndrome would have been so easy. I could have quit my job at the first sign of disaster. I could have curled up in a ball and totally withdrawn from society. Or I could have sunk to even further depths of depression than I did. But I didn't. The psych calls this resilience, and she says I'm the queen of resilience. I have to admit, it doesn't always feel like that, but that is what she says so I'll wear it.

In the same way I've tried to teach my children that giving up is not an option to take lightly. If you want something you work for it. If you have a goal you work towards it. And, you don't give up unless you've exhausted every viable option. This has been an especially important lesson for Ashton, my eldest, who was also diagnosed with Cowdens syndrome early last year.

Part of my ability to cope comes from being of a certain age. I was therefore concerned in 2013 when Ashton was struck down with a debilitating brain condition. It's hard to expect a 19 year old to understand and to fight and to not give up. I remember telling her through each of the 16 brain procedures which ensued, that we would beat this and that her Dad and I would do everything in our power to help her through this. But from day to day, we never knew what we would find. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't lived her life yet, that life is worth living for.

Anyone with a debilitating medical condition will tell you that life is never, ever the same again following diagnosis and that you will change as a person too. Friends who support you "en masse" at the start often dwindle with time, as they can not understand why you are not better yet. They run out of conversation and simply move on. Life therefore can get lonely but  you do learn to appreciate those that are there for the long haul with you more.

Doing day to day activities may become a challenge. In my situation working full time was no longer viable so casual employment became my income. Not the best pay but better than nothing! In Ashton's case, her brain procedures left considerable scarring which induced epilepsy. This resulted in the loss of her drivers licence, a bitter pill to swallow for a young woman. She could have crumbled, but instead she chose to find alternatives. It's how we have to roll.

The hardest challenge for my daughter in the last few years has been her studies. When all hell broke loose she was in the second year of a Bachelor of Arts degree. Fighting for her life she had no option but to withdraw. This was devastating for someone who had dreamt of going to university since childhood. But she fought, improved and returned...many times. Yes, relapses hindered her BUT she always went back, did a bit more and passed another unit. At one stage, after two craniotomies, she almost gave up, but she pushed through and would not let the condition win.

Tomorrow is a very special day in our family because tomorrow Ashton graduates from university. Despite extensive surgery, she has completed her degree and will stand up with other graduates at the University of Western Australia to be recognised. I am so proud I fear I may burst. I want to tell everyone how amazing a feat this is and how in the face of considerable adversity she has won  a gold medal. But instead I will sit quietly in the prestigious Winthrop Hall ( where I once graduated)
and cry a few quiet tears of joy and thanks.

We have this condition for life. There will be lots more ups and downs, but tomorrow will be a definite up. Tomorrow we are beating Cowdens side by side.

FROM THIS:

TO THIS

Till next time...xxxST

FIGHT LIKE A GLADIATOR

On most days I fight like a gladiator and deal with whatever life throws at me. But there is usually a point where everyone (even a gladiator) breaks. And funnily enough I always find that after managing big, scary issues it's usually something tiny and seemingly trivial that tips me over. I don't think I'm on my own in this regard. For example, today my heavily pregnant sister in all her gladiator splendour, almost broke over a zebra clip. She has battled through all the challenges of pregnancy with a two year old in tow and she's almost at the finish line. But her two year old's tantrum today about the choice of hair clip almost broke her. That and the fact that said toddler today also didn't like the fact that her shirt had armholes. Like I said, even a gladiator breaks sometimes!

So three weeks ago I was in my own gladiator splendour...

Daughter having thyroid removed? No problem!
Panic attacks while daughter in theatre? No problem! I'll push through.
Mother falls over, breaks shoulder in 3 spots and needs taking to hospital? We got this!
Mother admitted to hospital for 5 days because of breaks and flu. Still soldiering through!
Daughter 2 has mini medical drama...sorted .
I get flu ( worse than Mum)...pfft
I get laryngitis...who needs a voice anyway?
Husband gets flu ( worse than anybody in the universe).

And then one day while getting ready to fight another day, I looked in the mirror and that's when my gladiator armour dissolved. I looked bloody awful. My nose was red raw and looked about twice its normal size. My eyes were bloodshot and my skin was terribly blotchy, presumably from the stress which had totally taken over my body.

It was the giant nose that really did it! That was my breaking point. And I tell you crying about it didn't help, because the laryngitis made me sound even more pathetic than I looked.

I'd like to think I gave in gracefully. I let my daughter ring for a doctor. I stayed in bed and slept and slept and slept. I even took a holiday from my blog. As my psychologist would say "I self cared". The old me would have soldiered on and would never have had 5 minutes to look in a mirror.

The newer me knows better than to be beaten by a big, ugly, red nose. The newer me also knows that fighting like a gladiator for long periods will eventually make you break if you don't take a deep breath, take time out, reorient yourself and then eventually move on.

I'm feeling very wise and so much better.

Till next time...xxx

DON'T BE AN ASS

Everybody has a cross or two of some sort to bear. Some crosses are small, others huge. Some people

http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/don-t-be-an-ass.png

make crosses bigger than they have to be. Others seem to " manage" whatever is thrown at them with ease. But the thing is we are all weighed down by something.

 Last night I spent quite a while "chatting" to an old friend who flits in and out of my life regularly. His kids have exhausted him physically, mentally and I'm guessing financially. All are adults and all have mental health/ drug related issues. All I could do was listen and hope that God would give me the right words, even though nothing I could say would take away the pain. That one I know from experience. It is simply a large cross to bear and you just (as my friend said) " keep moving on". Incidentally he found time to ask about my crosses. Nice guy. That's why we're still friends after 30 years.

In a cross of a different kind, this morning I found that an ex student of mine was being trolled online. The woman and young mother is very talented and restores old furniture. It's not the sort of work that would appeal to everyone, but most people have a brain and keep their mouth shut if her work is not for them. Not today though. Two women went out of their way to tell this woman her work is rubbish and deserves to be binned. What good comes from hurting people like that? If you don't like it keep your mouth shut and move on. Adding crosses to the load this woman undoubtedly already has...not cool at all.

http://endiem.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Donkey.jpg

And continuing on...as I left a shopping centre today a young mum with a look of death on her face and a toddler in a pram, side swiped me. The expression on her face never changed and nor did I get an apology. Hmm, I'm guessing that the child was the cause of the problem, the cross to bear. But, walking around ramming people with your pram isn't going to fix much is it? No need to be an ass to others just because you're having a bad day. 

And then I look at my family and our never ending health issues and how they impact on family who support us. For eight years, my younger daughter has really struggled with a sister and mother in and out of hospital and in and out of danger. It's been a huge cross to bear for one so young, but she continues to persevere with grace and resilience. Her life can be really tough sometimes but watch her interact with others and you would never know. While she shares the load of her crosses with those near and dear, she doesn't make others pay for them.

A friend just called in and I told her the subject of this post. She told me that 5 months ago her boss asked her to do a particular task. Once completed my friend received no feedback and secretly suspected her boss hadn't really given it a look. Today her boss told her in no uncertain terms that the work she did 5 MONTHS AGO was unsuitable. Not only was she spoken to inappropriately but now my friend has an additional cross to bear as she is already snowed under with other work. I'm "guessing" someone was in a bad mood or forgot to take her happy pills, but seriously 5 months later!!!

I'm in to morals lately, so here are the morals of these stories:

1. Having a cross to bear does not give you the right to be an ass. Be nice to each other, people! As the saying goes, " if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing". And if you decide to ignore this and talk anyway, speak to people with a respectful tone.
2. Your cross might be heavier than someone else's but it still doesn't give you the right to be an ass. Smiling, saying sorry for ramming people with your pram and asking after others are acceptable non- ass behaviours.
   

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Till next time...xxx

THE HUMAN FACE OF COWDEN'S SYNDROME

Almost three years ago I decided to start blogging about my life with Cowden's syndrome (CS), a rare genetic disorder which increases my cancer risk because the gene that controls cell growth is damaged. I had no wish to write for " pity", but I did and still do have an urge to inform others, about what I feel is a condition that effects more people than the accepted risk (1 in 200 000) indicates. As the months unfolded and my blog grew, one of my own daughters was also diagnosed with CS. Luckily our second daughter tested negative, but the result is bittersweet when both are not negative.

Ready for surgery AGAIN

Up till now Ashton's journey with CS has been different to mine. Regular readers will recall sixteen brain procedures in 3 years and the overwhelming grief as cells multiplied without hesitation causing no end of life threatening problems. This condition continues to mutate and plague her but with excellent doctors we take one day at a time and we pray. We always pray.

Recently as I watched four doctors looking at an ultrasound picture of her thyroid with mouths hanging open in amazement, I realised this part of the story we would share. Like my thyroid, hers was huge and so full of nodules it looked like a visitor from an alien country had taken up residence in her neck. This was a goitre - a bloody big one - and as the surgeon said the need to remove it was a " no brainer". Ie it was coming out.

As Ashton has recently finished her university degree she is currently applying for jobs. The hospital could not guarantee a date as technically speaking there did not appear to be a need to rush. This was my first worry. I didn't want her to get a job and immediately have to take time off for surgery when her date arrived. After sharing a hotel room with her, I spoke to my husband as I had further worries. She appeared to be struggling to breathe properly. We decided to use the surgeon privately ( think $$$) to speed things up and within two weeks we had a surgery date.
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The risk of thyroid cancer in men and women with CS is estimated to be 35%. Thyroid cancer in CS is most commonly the follicular type but may also be the papillary type.  
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Yes, we agree doctor. It's a " no brainer".

Back from theatre and sound asleep

The thyroid gland, or simply the thyroid is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body, and consists of two connected lobes. It is found in the anterior neck, below the laryngeal prominence(Adam's apple). The thyroid gland controls rate of use of energy sources, protein synthesis, and controls the body's sensitivity to other hormones.These hormones regulate the growth and rate of function of many other systems in the body. T₃ and T₄ are synthesized from iodine and tyrosine. The thyroid also produces calcitonin, which plays a role in calcium homeostasis. ( thank you Wikipedia)

2 DAYS LATER: She is still in hospital because thyroid hormones and calcium levels are yet to stabilise. I remember this stage well. You get pins and needles in your fingers and toes and it is so uncomfortable. So she is on serious calcium therapy until the  doctor is happy that she is safe. Apart from the levels, the doctor told us that a normal thyroid weighs about 10g. Ashton's thyroid he guesses was about 80g - EIGHT TIMES ITS NORMAL SIZE. AND, it had wound around her esophagus. No wonder she was struggling to breathe.

DAY 2 - doing well

This is just part of our story.

This is the human face of Cowden's syndrome.

We await pathology results.

Till next time ...xxx