Ear Update

Today I went back to the ENT clinic at Sha'are Zedek.

Dr. T was on duty. She had seen me on Tuesday morning, but not since then. (When she saw me, she told me that she had just asked about me. Nice!)

She recommended lancing the ear (she used a fancy term for it). They basically use a laser, or very fine needle, to poke a hole in the eardrum and let the infection out of the middle ear. It basically ends the pain IMMEDIATELY. In most cases, the eardrum closes back up in a few days. (There is a slight risk that it won't close, and that's what worries me)

She says that without this procedure, it can take a MONTH for all the fluid to dissipate and for the pain/pressure/ringing to go away. That is unacceptable to me.

Even though I was impressed with her, I want a senior physician to give an opinion and do the procedure.

On Monday, Dr. S will be there (he saw my ear both on Tuesday and on the follow up visit on Thursday) and there should also be a senior physician.

So, I'm going back tomorrow morning.



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

More on Teenagers and Shoes

(For greater appreciation, read my post about Shoe Shopping with My Teenage Daughter)

This time, I really did promise Y that I would take her to get shoes.

She saw flip-flops for 10 NIS in the mall. I told her we could go get them this week and then I would take her out for lunch.

We were both looking forward to it.

As each day passed, and I was unable to bear the thought of shopping with my ear ache, Y's disappointment grew.

Next week, Y is going away for 4 days to a seminar for "madatzim" (madrichim tz'irim -- young leaders). All year, she had been taking this hadracha (informal education) course for 8th graders who are interested in being madrichim (leaders). At the end of the year, they receive a certificate and have the option of continuing the course at the next level.

I realized that if I did not take her for shoes on Friday (both to get flip-flops and a decent pair of sandals) that she would go off next week in her old, falling apart sandals. (the "new" ones are completely useless)

Thursday night, we discussed going for shoes on Friday, and it was clear that Y wanted to go, but did not want to count on it.

Unfortunately, there have been several occasions when I told her we would do something (usually involving shopping for something she needs) and then "something came up" and I had to cancel.

My daughter does not ask for much, and she is a tremendous help to me. It makes me sad to constantly dissapoint her.

Friday morning, we both woke up early (for us), but I did not feel up to it. After a nice breakfast together, I had to got lie down. I told Y to wake me up by 1:30, and, hopefully, we could go then.

Thank God, when she woke me up (the third time), I felt like I could manage to take her.

We left quickly, and went to the mall. The flip-flops she liked were no longer there. We quickly perused the other shoe stores, but did not find anything. (Y sort of liked one pair (for 100 NIS), but they did not have her size)

We left the mall. Y was bummed.

I had two ideas for places that we could probably find flip-flops, so the excursion would not be a total wash-up. Y chose to try Bazaar Strauss (a discount store that is really "hit or miss").

It was a HIT!

Right away we found flip-flops for 7.90-14.99 NIS. Y, of course, only like the more expensive ones, but she was willing to pay the difference. So we got her a pair, and a cheaper pair for A and me. (In the end, Y's pair also cost only 7.90, so we were all happy)

Then, we went inside and saw many pairs of nice sandals, on sale, for only 20 NIS! I have NEVER seen sandals that cheap in Israel! Similar sandals sell for 150-300 NIS in some of the boutiques!

I bought her 4 pair!

She now has 2 nice pairs for simchas/shabbat, 1 nice pair for shabbat/school, and a pair for school.

All for less than 100 NIS!

Not bad.

Hopefully, we won't have to go shoe shopping again for a LONG time.

And, since Y, A and I are almost the same shoe sizes, we can share!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Medical Update -- CT, Bone Scan & My Annoying Ear

CT -- shows no signs of cancer spreading

Bone Scan -- ditto

MRI -- LONG story! (maybe I'll write about it tomorrow) Short version: still waiting for an earlier appointment.

Ear --
1. woke up this morning after my first good night's sleep in days; noticed a slight decrease in pain.
2.went to the dentist, to eliminate my teeth as a source of the pain. My teeth are fine.
3. went back to the ENT clinic at SZ for follow up. The doctors noted that there is less pain, less redness & less swelling. I stressed, again, that I am still in significant pain, not to mention the incessant ringing, the relentless pressure, and the pain in my jaw, which makes it painful to talk and eat (two of my most favorite activities!). The very sympathetic and kind doctors again said "those" words: "It takes time. Let's give it a few more days..."
4. I made another follow up appointment for next week.
5. last night I was able to go to sleep without the Percocet (I did take Cod Acamol), and I did not take either of those drugs this morning. (I did continue to suplement the Optalgin with Ibuprofen).
6. the pain is worse now (though not as bad as Sun/Mon). I will take a Percocet soon and go to sleep.


GOOD/HAPPY Stuff:

I did teach swimming today (with the doctor's permission) (I did not put my head in the water)

I went to this month's Laughter Workshop and my daughter, A, came with me!


Chodesh Tov!! ("A Good and Blessed Month")



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Ear Ache -- AGAIN! STILL? When Will This Be Over??

5:30 in the morning.

WAKE UP IN PAIN!!

I thought I was over this part!!

WRONG!!

I'm in pain, like there was no yesterday!

Last night, after I posted, I went to bed, and realized the terrible ringing in my ears was still there. But the pain was less, and I was SO confident that I would get a good night's sleep and wake up feeling better.

MY EAR HURTS!! And so does my right JAW!!

I am so sick and tired of this!!

I took the ear drops and another Percocet (10 minutes early; I don't care!)

A few more minutes, and the drug should kick in....

My head feels like it is going to EXPLODE!

The Percocet is starting to work....



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

On the Road to Recovery... at least from my ear infection

Thanks to all those who wrote/called/prayed/etc!

I am (finally!) in less pain, and am hoping that by tomorrow, I really will feel the difference.

I now hear an ocean, more than ringing.

And my ear feels water-logged, and only a bit like it is bulging. (several times, I caught myself tilting my head and trying to bang out "the water" with the heal of my hand -- habbit! Now I understand why they call this "swimmer's ear"!)

I still can't hear in my right ear, but I am really hoping that will go away soon! (I am tired of asking everyone to repeat themselves!)

I am optimistic that I won't spend the night writhing in pain. (that is a BIG deal!)

Still, I am going to take a Percocet, to make sure I get some sleep tonight.

Laila Tov! (g'night!)



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Ear Infection and Cancer -- What Fun!

The emergency room was quiet, when we arrived, around 6:00 in the morning.

During intake, the triage nurse brought me a Percocet. I don't know if the Percocet made the pain go away, but it certainly made me care less!

Percocet really spaces me out. (and I'm already pretty far out there...)

The ENT on duty peered into my ear with some really fancy equipment; then he said those infamous words: "keep taking the antibiotics and you should feel better in another day or two."

Not this time!

"I have been taking antibiotics for 48 hours, and the pain is WORSE." I said, in a strong voice, belied by the tears visibly welling in my eyes.

"The senior doctors will be in at 9:00," said the kind, young doctor sympathetically, "You can come back then for another opinion."

It was 7:00.

I had plenty of time to go to the oncology ward, open my port, and get my blood tests.

We went up to oncology.... apparently the ward opens at 7:30.

There were two chairs in the hallway, outside the locked doors. Moshe and I sat down. I closed my eyes. Between the two and a half hours of sleep and the Percocet, I could have fallen asleep standing up!

At 7:15 my oncologist came strolling down the hallway.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, shocked to find us at the hospital so early in the morning. "I'm glad I got here early," he continued, inviting us into his office.

We had a comprehensive visit. I left with referrals for a CT, a bone scan, and an MRI. My markers are creeping up (more on that another time) and we want to identify what, if anything, is changing.

Then I went to have my port opened -- I was the first one in line! (will wonders never cease!)

And then, back to the ENT.

The senior ENT diagnosed an outer ear infection, and prescribed a different set of ear drops. He disagreed with the younger doctor's evaluation that the infection was also in the inner ear, yet suggested that I continue taking the Augmentin (amoxicillin), since I had already started.

"This way, you are covered from all angles," summed up the young doctor. "Come back in two days."

Without further ado, I was dismissed (and discharged).

Alas, my day was far from over.... I returned to the chemo ward, where my day was just beginning!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA

Too Much Pain, For Too Long

I am off to the emergency room to see an ENT (ear, nose & throat doctor).

I did not fall asleep until almost two in the morning (maybe later). By 4:30 in the morning, I was awake and unable to fall back asleep. The pain and the ringing is worse. The antibiotics are not working.

I've been on antibiotics for 48 hours. I've been taking a combination of Optalgin, Cod Acamol and Ibuprofen to compat the pain. None of these drugs has alleviated the pain.

I've been in constant and increasing pain for three days and nights.

I can't take it anymore!



Please daven (or send happy, healing thoughts) for RivkA bat Teirtzel.

With love and optimism,
RivkA