X-ray

Sierra fell a couple of weeks ago and landed on her left hand more than the right.  It was bothering her before that but it really started to hurt. I wanted her to go to the doc to get it checked out but she didn’t want to find out it was broken and not be able to have her shoulder surgery.  

Saturday and Sunday she found herself not being able to straighten her index finger.  

Monday she went to dr. Hassan and he sent her for an X-ray.  Her hand isn’t broken so the doc suspects torn ligaments.  She is wearing a brace but her finger is getting worse.  We will see how it goes. 

Rotator cuff

Saw the orthopedic surgeon today.  Dr. McMurray in Overland Park, KS.

He said the only thing to do was repair the cuff surgically.

They did some pre-op stuff another doc came and listened to her heart and said she has an irregular heartbeat when she takes a deep breath but that that was normal.  Wierd. 

A nurse took some blood and gave her a note for work.  This surgery and recovery will be a marathon not a sprint.  3-6 months before she feels “normal” the funny thing is she is in so much pain all the time I am hoping she notices a difference early on.  

She hates getting her blood drawn.  She is brave.

MRI and results

Sierra had an MRI of her right shoulder on Friday October 6th.  She took 10mg of Valium about 30 minutes before the procedure and it went GREAT. Best MRI experience yet.  She needs the Valium to hold still and deal with her anxiety/claustrophobia.  1st mri that she has been able to hold still. The MRI was done at Blue Valley Hospital in Overland Park, KS.

Tuesday October 10th Sierra saw PA For dr. Lasalle, Chris something- he told her the MRI results are a complete full thickness tear of her superspanadeus ligament in the right shoulder.  A cortisone injection would only help for a week or two. Recommended a referral to orthopedic surgeon Dr. McMurry.  Chris couldn’t believe Sierra was still functioning at all with her right arm.  He said that kind of tear puts full grown men completely out of commission. So sad, just means she is so used to being in pain that she can continue on doing what she needs to do.  My poor warrior girl.  She is scared for major surgery but we will get her through it.  

Blue valley pain and migraine center

12880 Metcalf Ave 

Overland Park, KS

Keeping up

I haven't done a good job of keeping up so I am going to add a few things and try to do better. 

*MRI left shoulder July 2017 at Blue Valley Hospital - findings were a siginificant tear/almost a full thickness tear.  

Cortisone injection by Dr. Lasalle Blue Valley pain in Overland Park, KS July 31 2017 -hurt for a few days but slowly improved and got better

August 2017 trigger point injections with Dr. Latif at Kansas University in Overland Park, KS.  We have been doing these for about a year and they help tremendously. 

September 1-4 right shoulder pain flares up terribly. Extra pain meds needed. She can't sleep or move the arm.  

September 5, 2017 begins physical therapy at Western Missouri Medical Center.  Met with Mallory aqua therapy is recommended. 

September 8-9 2017 ER visit after Sierra fell in the shower.  Caught herself with right arm got hit in the face with conditioner bottle on the right side.  Slight black eye.  X-ray shows no dislocations.   Torridol given, then morphine.  

New doc in a small town

Saw an internal medicine doc yesterday.  Not going to make this post long as I need to get some sleep.  

We saw the new doc for a second opinion, here's how you know you live in a small town....

Our new doc owns our house, we have been renting here for almost 18 months.  We deal with a property manager who owns the local performing arts studio, used to live across the street, and is also the mayor of Warrensburg.  Lol.  Small town living is the best! 

Dr. Hasans nurses raved about him.  They assured Sierra that he was not your run of the mill doc who treats all patients the same.  Good news, if it is true.  His nurse also told us he is a genius with a photographic memory who only needs to sleep three hours a night.  He is on call for his patients 24/7 365.  Amazing news, if it is true.  When doc H came in he started from her stomach issues and worked his way out.  He was amazing.  After making a plan for each issue he would say "what else?" And go on to the next thing. He also told Sierra "You don't need to go to the ER anymore.  If you are hurting you call me and I will help you.  24/7 365." He seems very committed to his patients.  Maybe he is who we have been looking for.  Wouldn't that be something if he is?  We have seen dozens and dozens and dozens of doctors and not only do we find a great doc in this small town but it turns out we live in his house?  Lol.  Sierra and I both left feeling genuinely hopeful.  We always have hope-most of the time.  I am a positive person and the opposite of hope is giving up. Which isn't an option.  This time though....genuine, real hope.  Only time will tell. 

Side note:  dr. Hasan said her PIPA test came back normal.  Her issue isn't her gall bladder.  He thinks it's her stomach.  He is scheduling an endoscopy.  He also ordered X-rays of her back.  Her back has been hurting for years and he is the first doc to want to take a look further than just trying to treat her pain without knowing the full story.  

Pippa test

Today Sierra had her PIPA test.  That test checks the function of the gall bladder.  No results yet.  We see an internal medicine doc tomorrow.  Not sure if he will be able to help but we will see every doc until we have to.  In other news doctors offices and insurance is frustrating.  Here is Sierra's fb post today...

"*schedules a doctors appointment last week* 

me: So, I don't need a referral right? I'm all set?

Them: Yup! See you next week! 

*cut to: today, less than 24 hours before my appointment*

~ring ring~ 

Them: Just calling to confirm your appointment for tomorrow.

me: Great! thanks, I'll be there! 

*ten minutes later*

~ring ring~

Them: Yeah, we're going to have to cancel your appointment because you never sent us a referral from your doctor. 

me: You said I didn't need one????

Them: oh...well...*proceeds to make excuses and blame me for this happening* So you'll need to call them and sort it out.

yeah. ok. I'm feeling very very very not happy. I'm over stupid doctors and stupid receptionist and being in pain. I'm not seeing you guys because I think it's fun or because I'm bored and needed something to do, I'm seeing a doctor because I'm in so much pain that I'm going to the ER three times a week. I am appalled at how difficult it has been to just see a doctor to get an opinion about what could possibly be causing me this much pain. I'm tired, I'm in pain, and I'm over it."

My poor warrior is so done.  Please pray for her to find the strength to keep fighting. 

Abdominal ultrasound

Sierra had an abdominal ultrasound today at WMMC.  The doc called with the results and there are no stones in her gall bladder.  Good news, but not. For the simple reason that we were hoping to find something really clear.  Tomorrow she has a pitpa or pippa test to check the function of her gall bladder.  We will see....