Wednesday, March 20, 2019

A room with a view...well, kinda.


This has been my view for the past five days....
...at least, from my standpoint...or laypoint, I guess I should say.


I raised up high enough at one point to see that I was somewhat mistaken.
I actually think the yellow Porta-Potties add a nice spring-like contrast, don't you?
(sorry for the horrid cell phone shots)



But at least I always knew what time it was.
It's fun to watch the minutes and hours tick by when you feel like crap are as sick as a dog, right?

NOTE:
Before I go any further with the story, 
I want to stop right here and apologize for not answering emails, 
replying to your comments or visiting your blogs. 
I guess you see that I have been just a bit preoccupied. 
I know that y'all have been praying for me and I HAVE FELT THOSE PRAYERS...
and the best part is THEY ARE WORKING!

So when I last left you, I was due to go in for the final dreaded biopsy #5.

And that, I did.

I pretty much knew it would the most invasive procedure that I had had so far.

Have mercy...it was.

It was an outpatient thing and I was home by late afternoon the same day (Tuesday).
Wednesday was really painful but by Thursday, the pain was beginning to subside somewhat.
I thought I was on the upswing.

Wrong.

Although the pain was better, I was very lethargic and just had an overall feeling of yuck.
I began noticing the jaundice a bit on Thursday evening and had pretty much decided that
Friday morning we were probably going to have to head 30 minutes down the highway for Duke ER.
Friends, let me tell you, I was as yellow as minion, including the whites of my eyes.
After several lo-o-o-ng hours, many lab tests and a CT scan, I was admitted.
Did you know that most insurance companies require you to spend at least six hours in the ER
before they will allow them to admit you?
SHHH...don't tell anyone...it's a secret...
If you ask them they will deny it...unless that is if you are a trauma case.

My bilirubin level was dangerously high...the normal level for an adult is somewhere around 1.2 milligrams per deciliter (whatever that means)...mine was 19.4.

So you know those consent forms that we have to sign before having any kind of procedure?
There's always a potential risk and our anatomies are all unique as well...

BUT...and it's a BIG BUT...



...here's the absolute BEST NEWS YET...

...that last biopsy from he## that made me so sick also was NEGATIVE, PEOPLE!!!!!
Although I know that my God has always had this...and still does,
I'd be lying if I said I haven't had my share of doubts.
Being human has that effect on us, doesn't it?


By Sunday, St. Paddy's Day, I was feeling so much better and getting back to my old self...



...taking advantage of anything I could find to make the time pass more quickly.

My bilirubin level dramatically decreased over the weekend...
...on Saturday it had already come down to 7 and by Sunday, down to a 3.9.
I had been scheduled on Monday for an endoscopic procedure to see how things were looking
but the results of my labs were so much better than anticipated and it was cancelled...YAY!
Also, the CT results showed that the so called tumor had not grown in size at all...YAY!

On Monday morning, the BIG DOG doctor came to pay me a visit.
He just shook his head with when he saw me...in a good way, of course.
Just a month earlier he was sure it was cancer.
He told us that among the hundreds of patients he sees every year,
he might get two, maybe three tough nuts to crack like me among them. 
So finally it seems we are now looking at the autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) diagnosis,
the one that we have all been hoping and have prayed so hard for.
Autoimmune disease is when your own body doesn't play nice with other parts of itself.
Now, I wonder what in the world my pancreas and biliary system ever did to deserve such a thing?!
But you know what?
Even before the day I made the journey from my mother's womb into this life,
my Lord had already decided exactly how this body that He created would function...or not.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139: 13-14

So yesterday I began a short course of steroids which is the treatment for this AIP.
Hopefully, it won't be long before the "tumor" shrinks and I'll be good again.


But whenever I begin to look like this, it's time to stop...no matter what.
~
So I'm home, I'm feeling so much better and I'm looking forward to proceeding (with caution)
to a future filled with hope, dreams and many more of God's blessings!

Love to all, 

57 comments:

  1. Praise the Lord and we give Him all the glory! What a post of ups and downs and funnies, not to mention your usual inspiration. Honey, when you begin to look like that, we may all be in trouble. LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have sure had your share of health issues, Debby. However, although it is not an easy diagnosis to hear at least it is not cancer. I am so thankful for that and I know that the prayers went up over that. I am doing a small post tomorrow about Kris's hubby and I am going to create a link to this post so that people can read it, too, if that's okay.

    I have autoimmunes issues, too. Mine attack my muscles/tendons so when I have a flare I feel like I have severe tendonitis and it could be anywhere in my body--or all over it. I have been having a flare for about 18 months now and am on prednisone and anti-inflammatories--which work some days and not so great other days. It is what it is though and, like you, I could have something so much worse.
    Have a blessed, wonderful first day of Spring. xo Diana

    ReplyDelete
  3. Praise God! Debby, you have me laughing out loud. What a character you are! I am so sorry that that procedure made you so sick, yet it is the same one that reveals what the diagnosis is. (I confess, though you never would, that I’d like to give your doctor a little piece of my mind. I can’t afford to lose much more.) Here’s to happy spring days ahead and good health and plans going forward. A gentle hug to both you and your hubby. You’ve both done so well; your lights are shining bright!

    ReplyDelete
  4. So sorry you've had such a rough time, but SO GLAD that there is no cancer! Praise the Lord! Hope you are pain-free and back to your usual self in no time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh sweet girl, I am rejoicing in the Lord with you! I'm so very sorry that you've had to go through this! I was walking yesterday with my headphones on praising the Lord and you crossed my mind as you have so very much over the past few weeks. I just felt like lifting my hands, the Lord was so near. My prayers went something like this, "Oh God, it's such a beautiful day in TN. Will you give Debby the news and that she's gonna cross that bridge into this beautiful place soon, and I'm talking TN, Lord, not heaven." That's how my conversations with the Lord go. I just march boldy to that throne and tell him what I want. With holy respect of course, but he knows my little spunky nature. He made me that way. (smile) I love you and I hope you can fell my hugs (I'm trying not to squeeze to tight( and see that I'm jumping up and down in my spirit!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh my goodness, Debby! What an ordeal! I am so sorry that you have had to go through all this. You are a trouper for sure. (Had it been me, I would have stopped at biopsy #1.)Yet I know that God never wastes any experience He allows in our lives. He has already, and will continue to use this for good in some way. Praising Him with you for a good outcome and a glorious answer to our prayers! Happy Spring!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am so thrilled for you. Our prayers have been answered. Praying now that the steroids will kick in and you will be back to some normality soon. God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  8. You know I am dancing before the Lord! Girl....oh girl....You might have been sick but your sense of humor just makes me laugh out loud and I am so very thankful for laughter! I am thankful for you! My heart just melted seeing your bracelet. God's Got This! Oh yes He has and yes He does! Every single whisker on that chin of yours He's got! HA! You've had so many people praying for you and I know that you are so grateful for the prayers of others. I fully believe that God hears our every prayer. Every single one of them. But boy when God's saint's get together and start praying....WHOA! So glad you've had such good care with your doctors. And I had heard that same thing once about insurance wanting you to be in ER for so many hours before being admitted unless it was an emergency situation. You know....that's really sad that things has come to that. So glad you are feeling better. God has surely had His mighty hands upon His servant. Hugs and blessings to you my dear precious friend.
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am sorry to hear about the hospital visit and sickness, but as I was reading along, woefully, I came to the part, "...was as yellow as minion" and had to laugh. SUPER-MEGA UKULELE!

    :-)

    Also the color of the porta-potties, by the way.

    Glad you are feeling better!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh praise the good Lord!!
    God certainly hears and answeres prayer and what a blessing to hear of ALL those prayers going up for you!
    Prayers will continue here from my prayer chair, dear friend.

    My goodness, just look at what those steroids have done to you!!
    Now you will be needing some electrolysis for that hairy chinny-chin-chin of yours! ;)

    With all the health issues mom went through we discovered that you had to be kept for a number of hours in the ER, but we also learned from the bookkeeper where mom has physical therapy that if you go to the ER and you are not admitted Medicare will not pay for the ER visit. That's a new policy she warned us about. So many things you don't know about and they don't tell you.

    It's good to see a posting from you with an up date.
    You are as beautiful as ever!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am sorry that you had endure all this stuff, but I praise the Lord with you that cancer has been ruled out. I pray that the medications will have the right effect and you will be back to your normal self in no time at all. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  12. You truly do make me giggle and bring a smile to my heart♥ Being yellow does not become you. =) So very thankful that you have finally been diagnosed and now you can begin to get better and see those long held dreams slowly begin. So many prayers have been answered in the most wonderful way. Our God is wonderful! So, so happy for you, dear Debby, and for your beautiful family♥

    ReplyDelete
  13. God is SO good, SO gracious! Very happy for you, Debby!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Praise the Lord for his mercies! So happy for you that we finally got the negative diagnosis.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well that's good news after all that pain and yellowness! PTL for the no cancer verdict. Praying right now your steroid treatments will shrink that tumor and you will feel good. Thanks for sharing the latest with us! Happy Spring to you!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Praise God!! Praise God!! Praise God!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such a wonderful diagnosis, s sorry you had to g o through such pain to get there. God has been good to you.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Debby, I'm sorry you have autoimmune disease, but so glad your last test result was negative. I hope your treatment for this work well in the days ahead. You are getting a bit silly with the St. Patrick's Day photo, and it's always good to be giddy. Yes, it sounds like you are a tough nut to crack. Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayers. : )

    ~Sheri

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh WOW! What great news!!! I am just now reading this, and so happy for you. So sad you had to go through such a rough time, but praise God it is going to be OK!!! Looks like you were a pretty lemon yellow in that one picture of the arm...but now you look nice and pink again. Yes, I do hope you don't grow whiskers and other unmentionable things...LOL May God continue to heal you and cover you with His healing grace and love. Praise God for answered prayers!!! Yay!! Hallelujah!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. My goodness Debby,you have been through the mill and back. I rejoice with you on the diagnosis but wish you didn't even have this but it does sound like you will make a full recovery. I know you are ready to get on with your life and I pray that will be sooner than later. Hugs to you!

    ReplyDelete
  21. After all of that pain and suffering you received good news! Woop! So glad for you!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Such a wonderful conclusion to all these weeks of uncertainty and tests. The admission to hospital isn't fun, and I'm glad to hear you are home and doing much better. Thanks be to our wonderful God.

    ReplyDelete
  23. God bless you Debby, I prayed for you, but I see God already knew you were going to be as good as mew!
    Your attitude helps lots, staying positive and knowing God had this from the start. Isn't He wonderful!
    He loves us so much, Praise Him for answering our prayers!
    Take care of yourself!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've just flown over from Diana's post...
    Goodness! You've certainly been going through
    the wars..
    The main reason l popped over as l see your a
    lady who, like myself, loves pink..'well is there
    any other colour really' :). And it's the bestest
    colour on the planet..Bar none!

    I've been doing quite a bit of praying lately..in my
    own way, so, l better fit you in as well..Bless!
    ´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´ ´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´

    ReplyDelete
  25. You know what Debby! You are amazing! Who else, lying in a hospital bed could write such a perfect post. Your selfies make me laugh. You are such a sweetie pie. I am so happy for you, so thankful! God does hear our prayers and answers our prayers. Love, Henny

    ReplyDelete
  26. Visiting from Diana's post. So glad to hear the good news. Sending prayers and positive thoughts that you are home soon.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I’m visiting from Diana’s today as well. I’ll take any excuse to drop in. 😊 Praising God with you all over again.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh my word, Debby, what an ordeal you've been through!! I'll bet it was really scary when you started to get jaundiced. I still don't understand what caused all of that, but maybe I missed something in your post. I am just so thankful that you now know that you have AIP, and that you can be treated. You make me smile with you funny pictures and how positive you are. Thank you for sharing with us, and the secret about the 6 hour wait time in the ER, unless it's a trauma case. Prayers will continue, my friend. Big hugs and lots of love are sent to you....God bless you, Debby!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Well, you've got a healthy does of good humor my friend and I know that goes a long way in helping you deal with everything that's going on. And your faith is strong and you have family and friends that care! Hope you begin to feel like your old self soon! We're praying for you my friend. Sweet hugs, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am so happy with this answer to prayer! You've had such a good testimony of trusting God. I'm sorry you got so jaundiced but thankful that you are recovered and that you have a non cancer diagnosis!

    Onward and Upward! You've got a house to sell and one to build! Fun!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Debbie, well hello! I’ve popped over from Nana’s blog to send you a prayer and good will. I too have an auto immune desease (MS) but I knew from the beginning it could be so much worse. And I thank God each day for that blessing. I’ve enjoyed your blog! Gert

    ReplyDelete
  32. God bless you, Debby! I have had an autoimmune disorder {MD} since I was in my thirties. It's no fun but if one has a positive attitude and you surround yourself with folks who love you, you will be OK. Of course faith in God plays the biggest part in it. Without Him, I don't know where I would be. So take care and know that I, as well as many blog friends are praying for you. Blessings and hugs to you...Sandi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS~ I'm a new follower so I can keep up with your progress. I love your sense of humour too.

      Delete
  33. Prayers from North Carolina
    Sherry & jack

    ps: Yep for a construction guy, the porta jons' add to the picture, but most of all the color must do something to the spirit, it did mine

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh Debbie this is such great news. Here you are praying for my sweet husband today and you yourself are in need of lots of good wishes and prayers. God has certainly got your back and has proven that to you. Yeah!!! So happy you are doing better.
    Prayers, Big Hugs, and of course love,
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oh my goodness, what an experience! I am very glad to hear you are ok! Please get lots of rest and feel better soon! NO CANCER!!! WHOO HOO prayers answered :-) Hugs and many blessings to you!!!

    Jill

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm so glad you're home and doing so much better! Dolly

    ReplyDelete
  37. Sending positive thoughts and wishes for a fast and healthy recovery from Ireland. I came across your post from Nana Diana's blog.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Oh Debby... love the beautiful blooms you were able to see outside your window as you lay there in bed after such a tough go of it! You have sure been through the wringer, and yet, your praise and trust in the Lord has kept you through it all to this negative diagnosis on one hand, and a treatable condition on the other! The Lord is with you, He definitely has GOT THIS, and we are continuing to stand in faith and believe that all is well with you, and that you will come through this difficulty praising the Lord for His hand in it all. What a testimony you are to the doctors and nurses, and will continue to be! So thankful you are back resting at home, and be assured that many people are praying for you! Much love to you sweet friend!

    ReplyDelete
  39. What a time of it you have had but oh so happy and thankful it is NOT cancer and you are feeling better and back home.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Debbie, Praise God for the miracles that He is working in your life! I am so thankful that you are feeling better and that you are home.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Sending my thoughts and prayers.
    God bless.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  42. NO cancer!!! PRAISE GOD!!! This is the best news I have read in a while, and I rejoice along with you, sweet friend. May God continue to send the healing you need! Your heart must feel as light as a feather! :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. Debby, such a beautiful testimony! Sending lots of hugs and prayers...

    ReplyDelete
  44. Many prayers of thanksgiving for you. God is good

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hello! I'm so glad that you are feeling better and are home. That is quite the jaundice you had! My son's had really bad jaundice when they were born, so I understand the numbers.
    Glad that your tests came back negative...on to the next possibility. Praying you are enjoying more of the lovely flowering trees about. The porta potties do look kinda cheerful. :)

    ReplyDelete
  46. What wonderful news! So glad you are home and may each day bring you more healing. Your faith in God really touches my soul. You are an inspiration.

    I came here via NanaDiana's blog.

    FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh Debby! What a joy you are! I am so happy for your wonderful news. You are a blessing and an inspiration! What a relief.

    ReplyDelete
  48. God bless you always, new friend. I learned of you through Nana Diana's page/ It will be my privilege to pray for you.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Mom has a human blog too. No kitties much show up there. :- ) Katie Isabella

    https://ramblingon-ramblingon.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hi, I'm here at the urging of Nana Diana to wish you all good health and as speedy a recovery as God deems appropriate for you. He is faithful! I enjoyed your post very much and I have prayed for you tonight. God bless. xoxo -- Jenny

    ReplyDelete
  51. You'd think with praying for you every single day I'd also get to your blog to see if there's any news!! Well here I finally am, and what great news there is! Praising God along with you, Debby! What a lot you've been through. So the thing that made the turnaround was steroids they gave you in the hospital? And now you continue on steroids for a time, right? I'm so grateful for this news and grateful that God has given us doctors and knowledge and medicine, etc etc and that this is 2019 not 1950. Praise him for it all! So happy that things are looking up, Debby. Wonderful news! XO

    ReplyDelete
  52. Wow you have been through so much. I'm thankful it's the diagnosis you hoped for and that you are home now. Take it easy and heal well!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Hallelujah! I love your testimony to God's healing power. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Praise God, Praise God!! Hugs to you, continue to get better and may all your hopes and dreams come true!! Love, Roxy

    ReplyDelete
  55. Continued prayers for you Debby.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by today! Your sweet comments are such an encouragement to me.