The Hubster's Odyssey
A very long journey that The Hubster and I had been on for the last year has finally come to a conclusion, we hope. Man, are we tired!
Last fall, The Hubster started having some pain in his legs and hips. It was getting stronger and included numbness and tingling. His regular doctor told him to knock off exercising on the treadmill for a few days. He said it was just part of aging. The pain kept increasing, so we found another doctor. And another. And another.
They all had opinions...arthritis, bursitis, fibromyalgia. One even said it was all in his head. And the tests! He was poked and prodded and scanned and lit up for eight solid months. And then it got scary. One of the blood tests detected a cancerous blood disease. The Hubster was diagnosed with Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS). It is a chronic cancer, not an acute type. However, it must be monitored the rest of his life, as it greatly increases his risk of a blood-borne acute cancer, like multiple myeloma.
We still kept coming back to the pain, though. The cancer doesn't cause any pain, so it must be coming from a different source. During this time, his wonderful primary physician, Dr. Chopra, moved back to Wisconsin. After several false starts, we found Dr. Bryan Davis of Winfield. He has been a Godsend. Very professional and very easy to talk to.
Dr. Davis knew that The Hubster was taking an ever-increasing amount of pain meds, with limited relief. So he referred him to Rita Simpson, PA, at Advanced Pain Management Associates of Wichita. Rita and Dr. Jon Parks reviewed every test, every doctor's report and compiled a theory. After a final spinal MRI, they have an ultimate diagnosis.
The Hubster has two herniated discs, several cysts, arthritis and a lining tear, all on his spine! NO WONDER he was in pain. It shocks and horrifies me that he has that much wrong with him, and that he was in that much pain, and no one could figure it out. As a wife, I felt helpless to watch this unfold. I coped by becoming his "health advocate." I spent hours researching symptoms, conditions, doctor's credentials, and I took notes at every doctor's appointment.
Through all the frustration and searching, one thing has been constant: God's abiding grace. He has been so good to us; lifting us up when we had no more strength and encouraging us when it was too much to take. Our faith and our marriage are stronger and more mature because of this medical journey. We believe that the prayers of ourselves, our church, our family and others have brought us to this point.
Now, the treatment begins. The Hubster will have many days of injections, laser treatments, possibly surgery. Please keep him in your prayers. And thank you, from his pain-in-the-tushie wife!
***
Momala's Netflix Movie Pick: We watched "Seven Pounds" on Saturday. The film stars Will Smith and Rosario Dawson, among others. It is a gripping drama about a man who is tortured by his past. Although the plot is a little disjointed at first, you will catch on to it soon enough. It's worth it. Also, not for youngsters. I gave it three out of five stars.
***
Exercise Update: I did three aerobic workouts and three sets of hand-weight calisthenics last week.
***
Notable Quote:
2 Cor. 12:9 (KJV)
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Last fall, The Hubster started having some pain in his legs and hips. It was getting stronger and included numbness and tingling. His regular doctor told him to knock off exercising on the treadmill for a few days. He said it was just part of aging. The pain kept increasing, so we found another doctor. And another. And another.
They all had opinions...arthritis, bursitis, fibromyalgia. One even said it was all in his head. And the tests! He was poked and prodded and scanned and lit up for eight solid months. And then it got scary. One of the blood tests detected a cancerous blood disease. The Hubster was diagnosed with Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS). It is a chronic cancer, not an acute type. However, it must be monitored the rest of his life, as it greatly increases his risk of a blood-borne acute cancer, like multiple myeloma.
We still kept coming back to the pain, though. The cancer doesn't cause any pain, so it must be coming from a different source. During this time, his wonderful primary physician, Dr. Chopra, moved back to Wisconsin. After several false starts, we found Dr. Bryan Davis of Winfield. He has been a Godsend. Very professional and very easy to talk to.
Dr. Davis knew that The Hubster was taking an ever-increasing amount of pain meds, with limited relief. So he referred him to Rita Simpson, PA, at Advanced Pain Management Associates of Wichita. Rita and Dr. Jon Parks reviewed every test, every doctor's report and compiled a theory. After a final spinal MRI, they have an ultimate diagnosis.
The Hubster has two herniated discs, several cysts, arthritis and a lining tear, all on his spine! NO WONDER he was in pain. It shocks and horrifies me that he has that much wrong with him, and that he was in that much pain, and no one could figure it out. As a wife, I felt helpless to watch this unfold. I coped by becoming his "health advocate." I spent hours researching symptoms, conditions, doctor's credentials, and I took notes at every doctor's appointment.
Through all the frustration and searching, one thing has been constant: God's abiding grace. He has been so good to us; lifting us up when we had no more strength and encouraging us when it was too much to take. Our faith and our marriage are stronger and more mature because of this medical journey. We believe that the prayers of ourselves, our church, our family and others have brought us to this point.
Now, the treatment begins. The Hubster will have many days of injections, laser treatments, possibly surgery. Please keep him in your prayers. And thank you, from his pain-in-the-tushie wife!
***
Momala's Netflix Movie Pick: We watched "Seven Pounds" on Saturday. The film stars Will Smith and Rosario Dawson, among others. It is a gripping drama about a man who is tortured by his past. Although the plot is a little disjointed at first, you will catch on to it soon enough. It's worth it. Also, not for youngsters. I gave it three out of five stars.
***
Exercise Update: I did three aerobic workouts and three sets of hand-weight calisthenics last week.
***
Notable Quote:
2 Cor. 12:9 (KJV)
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
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