Monday, October 22, 2018

Signed Up for Surgery

Last September, I wrote a blog post for the Fort Worth Moms Blog about my family's history with ovarian cancer and other gynecological health issues. "Blood on the Couch, Cramps in the Bed" is the title of the piece.

In writing this, I hoped to urge women to take notice of changes in their body, to be proactive about screenings and appointments because these types of cancers and diseases can be sneaky -- and are often explained away by our excuses and reasons.

Well, it's now time for me to practice what I preached. I'm signed up for surgery on October 25.

Some ongoing pain issues and changes here and there mean a cystoscopy, laprascopy, and hysteroscopy are on the docket. In other words, I'm having a lot of scopies. ;-)

So, I'd love to know, friend, if you have experienced any of these procedures, or are an expert on this topic, I'd love all your tips on recovery. Mama wants to be comfy as possible through the weekend. I'm getting uninterrupted sleep for three days, so I've got to make the most of this. Can I get an amen?

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Spinal Cord Surgery and Food Allergies

Wait. Wasn't I JUST writing about allergy issues with Anna Zane? Yes, yes I was. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Louisa had a MRI in April to re-check her spinal cord issues thanks to a new symptom that popped up. Today we had our follow-up visit with the neurosurgeon to go over the MRI findings. In short, he still thinks the results are inconclusive, which makes me want to scream, haha. (No really.) She does have a spinal abnormality and a filar lipoma, along with a couple symptoms of a tethered spinal cord, but he wants to hold off on surgery until we see more definitive symptoms. The doctor feels encouraged by how strong her legs are and her quality of muscle tone, so this is indeed encouraging.

I honestly haven't even had a minute to process much of this -- or fully decide if I want a second opinion because . . .

As we were walking out of he neurosurgeon's office, I noticed I had two missed calls and messages from Anna's school. It was the dreaded "allergy reaction" phone call. Thank God her teacher picked up on it quick, and the nurse responded quickly with the appropriate medications.

All of this allergy stuff lumped together may be simply coincidental, but the allergist is covering all bases, which means more testing for her in the next few days. We need to figure out what the heck is going on.

I'm thinking about turning this blog into a medical accounting of the Youree ailments. ;-)

Until next time. . .

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Cedar Mulch, a Pecan, and Congress

We've had one too many nights of watering eyes, itching eyes, and red, swollen eyes. While Anna Zane struggles with mild-to-moderate outdoor allergies (in addition to her food allergies), these last couple of weeks have certainly shown more intense symptoms.

Then Saturday happened. After being outside for a few minutes with a friend, Anna bolts in complaining from visibly watery eyes, itching, and congestion suddenly onset. I gave her Zyrtec and made a mental note. 

I thought something HAS to be going on outside because these symptoms seem to be building. She's played outside a lot the lately because the weather has been bearable -- which is rare. 

Cedar Mulch


That afternoon -- like a light bulb moment -- it hits me: We just had major landscaping done to our front and back yard, which was now covered in cedar mulch. 

Guess what is Anna Zane's #1 outdoor allergen? CEDAR!

Later that afternoon, Anna's symptoms increased in severity. She was at: itchy, puffy, watery eyes; nasal congestion; sore throat, sore and stiff neck; upset stomach; and ear pain -- along with feeling lethargic. Sunday wasn't much better. 

That was it: I was convinced. The repetitive exposure to the mulch exacerbated her symptoms. It was so severe, at one point, I thought I might need to give her an epinepherine injection. I stopped short of that because after a prolonged period, her symptoms didn't progress to her airways, lungs, and no significant swelling like what occurs when she has a sesame anaphylactic reaction

Monday finds her home from school and at the allergist, who burst my mulch bubble. He thinks it is very unlikely the cedar triggered this type of response because she is allergic to the tree pollen not the wood. He prompts me some more and thinks maybe it is a viral incident, but that doesn't really make sense either. So we've opted to keep up a rigorous antihistamine regimen (three times per day at least), and to document any additional flares with photos and notes. 

A Pecan


Then we drive home. Anna Zane remembers something we'd both forgotten: She touched a pecan just after her friend arrived on Saturday.

Mystery solved.

With that said, the pecan does not explain her previous less severe itchy/red eyes that have occurred before Saturday, but it most certainly explains the much stronger, obviously allergic reaction she had on Saturday -- and that lingers still today. She's on day 4 and still struggling. 

I'm thankful her reaction to the pecan didn't involve wheezing and significant swelling. I'm discouraged because a quick, 2-second touch of pecan resulted in all of this. No eating, no rubbing a pecan all over her face. Just a touch. It's a sobering reminder that her food allergies are no freaking joke. 

We are still watching for any continuance of symptoms. She may have some newly developed outdoor allergies, or we may need to pursue cedar oils (from the wood) more seriously. All of which require more testing.

Congress


Along the food allergy lines, I'd like to ask your help. You see, sesame isn't considered in the "top 8" by the FDA so it does not require food and cosmetic companies, etc., to disclose sesame in their ingredient list. Sesame oil and seeds and tahini can lurk in verbiage like "spices," "natural flavoring," and what not. Recent studies show that 1 in 1,000 people have a sesame allergy, which is a more common incidence than tree nuts. Tree nuts get lumped together and thus represent a higher percentage. Even in Anna's instance, she can eat almonds, hazelnuts, and pistachios all day long -- all tree nuts -- but she cannot touch a pecan, walnut, Brazil nut, or cashew. Yet, the FDA makes no distinction between these and labels them all as "tree nuts." By not knowing what foods contain sesame or were produced in the same facility of sesame, food buying becomes tricky and taxing. Yes, meaning literal phone calls to manufacturers asking about the definition of "spices" and "bread crumbs." 

Anna Zane has never swallowed sesame in her life. She's only rubbed a microscopic oil in her eye once and touched her tongue to some hummus. Her allergic reactions are intense and severe -- and bi-phasic anaphylactic, which is some of the worse reactions you can have.

Yet, right now there is a bill making its way to Congress that has the support of the Food Allergy Research and Education -- and the support of Bryan and Emily Youree.

H.R.5425 and S.2647 is on the floor and is being supported by FARE. If enacted, this legislation would require that sesame be labeled under the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) and that allergen information be included on the labels of non-packaged foods sold at retail.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE consider contacting your legislators asking them to support this bill. Yes, I am begging! It is so easy to do; you can click this link HERE.

I encourage you to mention in the "personal message" section to mention that you know someone who lives with this terrible food allergy.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING ANNA ZANE!

Saturday, February 17, 2018

The Truth About February 17

On February 17, 1998, my nephew died . . . before he even breathed his first breath. He was 40 weeks gestation, full size and full term. I was 16 years old -- full of nothing but myself.

The magnitude of the grief I felt -- unfamiliar to me -- paralyzed me emotionally. The magnitude of grief I witnessed seared my soul. It felt all wrong.

As my sister buried her infant, the layers of the loss became deeper and deeper for our family. February 17 is a day of sorrow, mourning a child who never tasted air. We remember all we lost in losing him, wishing the story was different. February 17 is a day death won.

So imagine my shock on March 7, 2011, when I received the most life-changing phone call: "Congratulations, it's a girl!" This was followed with all the pertinent information, like her birth date: February 17.

Thirteen years to the day after Kyler left this world, the most life-filled little girl entered it. She is a wonderfully constant reminder that God hints at His redemption and restoration in all kinds of ways, in all kinds of ways that reach to the most tender corners of our heart.

February 17 is a day of sorrow and celebration. We cry a good hard sob, and we sing "happy birthday" to the top of our lungs. Ashes and beauty. Death and life. Loss and hope. That is the truth about February 17.