Steinbox

That’s right folks, after two years I finally have an official diagnosis!

Click for more and pictures!

Dr. Plansky decided to make it official last Friday. So yes, I’ve known I have Crohn’s disease for a week without posting it, but we have been SO busy getting ready for Round-Up, the week of Camp that Ben is assistant directing. We leave Saturday morning and are really excited.

Anyhow, I’ve been having a rebound effect from coming off the steroids…went to the ER last Wednesday because we thought I had a broken wrist. They said it was severe tendonitis and put me in a wrist brace (I have never had tendonitis before-in fact my freshman year at Roberts I think I was the only piano major who didn’t have it–probably because I didn’t practice enough!!). I also have a toothache (in a tooth that has a root canal and crown and should not be able to feel anything…). My dentist could not find a problem and suspects an inflamed abscess. My endodontist (who performed the root canal two years ago) said let’s give it a month and see if it gets better or not.

They all want to put me on antibiotics for the tooth, but that’s what got me into this mess to begin with. Anyhow, Dr. Plansky said that while on the steroids, it suppressed my immune system (all inflammation went away), and when I went off them, it gave a rebound effect, which means that all previous inflammation came back PLUS new inflammation (ie my wrist and my tooth). At least I got a diagnosis out of it!

Dr. Plansky is researching treatment options (as am I) and was supposed to call me by yesterday with some choices. He hasn’t. He wanted to also consult with some specialists as he said the drug treatment will need to be customized for me, as my presentation and combination of symptoms is unusual, etc. I also wanted to know pregnancy classes on each choice. I won’t be starting a drug until after Camp at this point. Likely it will be an anti-inflammatory drug.

In the meantime Ben sprained his wrist and then developed tendonitis on top of it–so he’s in a wrist brace, too! He’s been off work most of this week since he can’t type. Between us we are not accomplishing much! I shouldn’t be typing either…but at least I can now without too much pain. Ben is still jabbing at the keyboard with one finger! Amelia is upset that no one will pick her up. Thankfully my aunt Ellie is taking her to the zoo this afternoon. She is restless as I didn’t babysit this week (can’t really care for an infant with one hand–although I did discover I can tie a bow with one hand!!), so her playmates were not here, and we’ve been so busy on the computer, ‘phone, and at meetings getting ready for Camp. Ben can drive but I can’t, but I think today that’s going to switch, as his is getting worse and mine is getting better. My thoughts are more than a little scattered today…

Amelia took these pictures of us–she was so funny posing us and telling us how to sit and where to place our arms! That would also explain why our heads are cut off!

In other news, my sister, who is expecting her second child in December, found out yesterday that she’s having a girl! Her son just turned a year old a few weeks ago. And my mom will be celebrating her 50th birthday next week, while we’re at Camp!

Good-bye party for our friend Esther, who is going to teach art at a school on Grand Cayman Island for a year! Amelia is showing off her new jewelry…

Oh, also someone rear-ended our fence with their car the other night and knocked over an 8-foot section of fence and split off one post. We are waiting to hear if our homeowners’ insurance will cover it, but it doesn’t look likely at this point. It was a hit and run!

We found out from our health insurance that I am responsible to pay 25% of the consult at the Cleveland Clinic (in addition to the co-pay), which is about $100 (it was over $400 for a 10-minute appointment!!), but we are still waiting to hear what percentage of the special cat scan we’ll have to pay (originally they were asking us to pay about $1,100 of that one–it was over $4,000 for the scan).

So thanks to all who’ve been praying for my health…many people would be devastated to learn they have a life-long disease–but we are so thrilled to finally put a name to it and get on with treatment. For two years we have known I have SOMETHING…so I am way past dealing with the psychological aspect of it and am so blessed to finally be making progress with the medical establishment!!

Pray also for our week at Camp…we have about 50 campers registered (ages 10-17) and are looking forward to a great week!