Mom Update

[nockergeek]

The good news: so far, every test for intestinal problems has shown up clean. No diverticulitis problems, no inflamation, nothing. Colon's as clean as a whistle... at least, one that's been up a colon. Nothing life threatening has made its presence known.

The bad news: that doesn't mean that nothing's been found. She has an ovarian cyst, and possible fibroid tumors in her uterus. Oh, and fatty liver disease. Nothing horribly dangerous, and certainly nothing that should put her in the kind of pain she's been in. Some pain/discomfort, sure, but by themselves, not this bad.

The odd news: she may also have a deep hernia that requires surgery. Emphasis on the "may" here, because two separate doctors can't seem to agree on the diagnosis. She might have a hernia, she might not. She might also have some neurological issues - if the cyst or the fibroid tumors hit a nerve or two, it could cause a great deal of pain. Right now, we're all just waiting for something definitive. Dad's been at her side all that he can today, and the_z's mom stayed with her for part of the day yesterday. We've visited, and Mom's more concerned that I take care of the pregnant Z.

In other news, we bought the second season of House today. If only Gregory House, M.D., was a real person and practiced medicine in Lee's Summit - he'd figure out a diagnosis.

Comments

[mad-and-crazy.livejournal.com]

If this was House, it would still take them five times to get everything figured out, plus a) medical drama would demand the appearance of New, Dramatic Symptoms, and b) your mother would have had a lumbar puncture by now.

Still, try to keep sane. I remember going through all of this with my mother, and hospitals still bring back rather unpleasant memories.

[animarelic.livejournal.com]

IT COULD BE LUPUS.

[(Anonymous)]

This is Dark Isawa's old man--there's already been a lumbar puncture, last year when the medical professionals were testing for MS. Of course, that came up negative as well.

I saw a show the other day called "Medical Incredible," concerning dramatic cases of (sometimes) life-threatening illnesses or conditions. The main thing seemed to be that the situation in each case was _visually_ jarring--a young man born with no legs, a kid with a huge growth in the mouth that interfered with breathing, that sort of thing. What wasn't touched, and probably won't be, is a condition that defies easy diagnosis or treatment that _isn't_ some kind of freak-show vision. From my own experience and that of people I've talked to, there are a _lot_ of situations like this involving people who have hard-to-diagnose conditions that the average MD just can't deal with. We need a whole phalanx of Drs. House, muttering to themselves and staggering down the hallways making life hell for interns.