Follow up

So, it didn't take 3 years - that's good. I guess there needs to be an update on me.

Currenlty I'm in a "waking up" phase. Sleeping parts are being awakened. While I know that this is good, it is mighty uncomfortable, different, and damn near hard to keep a hold of. While going-with-the-flow is typically viewed as a positive trait; it has turned into an incapacitating numbness for me at times. What all this process has in store I do not know. This process being God that is.

Part of this is about me looking honestly at what I know and what I believe. My life experiences have provided me a great deal of knowledge - for which I am thankful; however, it has almost become like gnosticism for me in that knowledge becomes that which is most sought. That's not completely true of me, but looking for and accepting knowledge as kept me from seeking reflection, discernment, and challenging my beliefs.

I need prayers. If you're willing to offer those I am grateful to you.
Pray I would develop a heart of prayer; I do not have it and I need it.
Pray I would have the desire to talk to God - a problem (not doing so that is) which has precipitated much of the dilemma in which I find myself.
Pray I would be brave in reaching out to others.
Pray for a safe community of believers both myself and my wife could engage.
Pray I would fight for ground in this process rather than sitting on a hill letting life pass by.
Pray I would do that which I know will be helpful to me despite what it may cost me and how it may receive negative reactions at times.
Pray I would have the courage to no longer live in fear and hiding.
Pray that I can find someone who can hold me accountable in some key areas of my life.

Results

After what seemed like forever trying to get arrangements made with the financial counselors at a particular hospital (because I'm without insurance currently), my health clinic and the lymphedema clinic, I was finally able to get an appointment. Sarah and I went to the Lymphedema Clinic this past Thursday.

The occupational therapist (OT) asked me a few questions about my arm to start things off. In very little time she stated that I pretty conclusively have lymphedema. To know for certain if it is lymphedema versus another time of edema - a.k.a. swelling - I would have to have an expensive test done where they inject dye into my arm and measure the uptake of the dye by my lymphnodes and all of that. Regardless of whether it is general edema or lymphedema, though, the treatment is the same. The OT said that I likely have primary lymphedema which means that I got it genetically. This surprises me because I don't know of any family members who had it other than my dad, but his was from cancer in his lymphnodes so his was technically lymphoma.

I begin treatment tomorrow. I am scheduled to have treatment every morning this week. Kim, my OT, does not think I will need all 5 days, but we scheduled it just in case. Kim's pretty certain that she can get my left arm back to its original size. On Thursday, my left arm was about 1.5 inches larger in circumference than my right arm (which is my dominant arm). The treatment is called Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT). It is basically the manual moving of the fluids from the extremity with unhealthy lymphnodes to other extremities. So, beginning tomorrow, Kim will push the fluid from my left arm toward my right arm and left leg. The fluid should then be processed properly there and no swelling persist, ideally. After she finishes the treatment tomorrow, I'll have to wear bandages on my arm until the treatment Tuesday and that pattern repeats all week. Once treatment is finished I'm pretty much set. I will learn techniques to perform "self maintenance" on keeping the fluid down in my left arm. I am to go see Kim after treatment is concluded if the swelling continues and persists for more than 2 weeks. So basically: I do this treatment this week and just go in for tune ups when I need them.

There are a few life changes that will have to come with this. One is knowing and dealing with the fact that I'm not invincible. Lymphedema is not curable, but it is treatable. Another change is that I will likely have to wear a compression garment when engaging in physical activity. A final change will be making healthier lifestyle choices. I will need to exercise more regularly (with my compression garments), eat foods that are low in fat and salt, and practicing meticulous watchfulness over my left arm including heightened skin care and steering clear of scratches, bug bites, needle pricks, etc. (these last ones are all due to the greater possibility of infection because of the lymph build up in that arm.)

So yeah. That's me right now. My wife and I are dealing with it and doing okay. I'm a little better than she is. Pray for her. Pray for me. Pray for us. Whatever the outcome of this, to God be the glory. He will work this out for good. I believe it, and I'm expecting it, and I'm naming it, and I'm claiming it, and I'm planting my seed, and I'm Benny Hinn-ing it...so yeah. We're covered.

Picture Tag

My lovely scrapper friend, Sarah, tagged me in this picture tag game. Thus, I will honor her request (though I have not honored many of your 25 random thing ones...ha. It is to come though.). Here are the rules.

1. Go to where you store your digital photos and open the 4th folder.
2. Go to the 4th picture and post it.
3. Explain the picture
4. Tag an additional 4 people.

While I am not on a computer where I store my digital photos, I will consider my facebook pictures that computer. Thank you for allowing me to bend the rules. :)



This picture was taken on my wife's brother's Mac computer (which flips the images around and makes it appear that Sarah's ring is on her right hand, which is false.) shortly after she and I were engaged. I believe this was technically our first "engagement pictures session" on his Photobooth program. It just so happens this shot was my favorite out of all of them.
Ok, next up to follow this little game are (if willing and able) are Cary, Joel, Sarah in Seattle, and Aubrey.

New beginnings

As is common for me, I am unsure how to finish and/or fix situations, so I begin new ones. Thus, since I could not fix my old blog here I am with a new one.

I hope the content is insightful, encouraging, entertaining, inspiring, and lots of good things and few negative ones.

Thanks for following me here you devoted few.