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How can not blogging for 4 days feel like an eternity?

Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Hello everyone!! Every day I tell myself that, "Today will be the day that I take/have the time to get back to that crazy techno-blog thingie and tell everyone hello and share whatever it is I'm suppose to be sharing. (I'm pretty sure any past and present difficulties in the GI body section would not make for good "blogging" material. OK, now I'm really grossed out by what I just wrote. But, if you are reading this, then you know me...so...). Well, a friend, who will go unnamed (tammy) politely told me that I need to update my blog. I think she actually said, "Lady! You've got to update your blog!!!!" So, here I am.

The last time we "met" Rod and I were heading off to a movie and I had just received a phone call from this amazingly smart and busy specialist on a Friday night. She shared that the last blood test was in that had been sent to the Mayo Clinic. That test was done to make the final determination of what was going on that caused me to get so sick. I do not have Addison's Disease. I also do not have a pituitary gland. The actual diagnosis is: Panhypopituitaryism. I started "googling" Panhypopituitaryism and the definition is horrible and quite frankly it doesn't really say what's going on with me. So, I'm going to do my own. Are you ready? Definition of "Panhypopituitaryism" by Annette Markin.

I don't have a pituitary gland. I had one at one time or I would have been unable to get pregnant with the boys. If you don't have a pituitary (that now and for ever-more shall be shortened to "pit" because I hate trying to keep spelling it correctly), anyway, if you don't have a pit you feel rotten. You don't have enough cortisol, aldosterone and thyroid. Cortisol is kind of a stress hormone, aldosterone helps regulate salt and water and thyroid regulates metabolism. So, if you don't have those (yes, Rod came in and filled in with the really big words), basically your whole system is off-kilter. So, since my system was completely off, everything went haywire like, being really tired, having trouble eating, muscle weakness, vomiting, general GI stuff. As some of you can tell, many of those symptoms are also ones that we see with Pulmonary Hypertension and are also side effects of Flolan. So, now, so much of this makes sense. I could have had trouble with "Mr. Pit." for quite awhile and we all kept assuming it was the PH and/or the Flolan.

So, now what happens? DRUGS!!!!!! Drugs (the prescription kind....calm down everyone...) have been MY friend ever since I was diagnosed with PH. Now that we know what else has been going on, all we have to do is replace all of the "stuff" that I have not had for however long. So, now, for the first time in at least 2-3 months, I'm getting steroids, some thyroid, some potassium and a few other things. I'm not quite leveled out with the mix yet, but that is ok, it will take a few months. After feeling like I have for this long, I'm ok with giving things some time. Don't get me wrong though. Even though we still have to "play around" with the levels and such, I still feel better than I have in YEARS!! I actually ironed Rod a shirt for work last night and today for work tomorrow! That may seem simple and many of you may be wondering why I don't just send the shirts out. The deal is, since being diagnosed with PH, there are so many things that I can no longer do around the house and am unable to help Rod with chores. Ironing a shirt for Rod for work every day was the one thing that I could still do for him. Simple or not, it was and is important to me.

OK. That is my new novel. Hopefully if you decided to read this incredibly long thing, you either had a lot of coffee, patience and/or nice, long breaks. Thank you all for your time, love and friendship. This has been and continues to be a very humbling experience. I mean, I even heard from Jenny W. who I use to teach with who has even moved to another city !!(maybe state too, I can never remember the difference between Sioux and South Sioux...)

All my love to all of you.
Annette

8 comments to How can not blogging for 4 days feel like an eternity?:

Di said...

Annette,
I am sure glad your friend forced you to blog again. I was getting tired of reading the same one you posted forever ago. Seriously, I am so thankful that you are feeling better!!!! I can imagine how wonderful it feels to have the energy to iron a shirt for Rod.

We continue to pray for knowledge for the Doctors and strength for our dear friend Annette. Your sense of humor is the BEST.

Hugs, di

Jacqniel said...

It SO good to hear from you! I have checked every day - please blog more often - we want to know that you are doing well.
I am so glad you are feeling more like yourself and gaining energy.
Prayers for continued improvement! Jacque

Colleen said...

I'm so happy you blogged too!! And I'm even happier that you are slowly starting to feel better! I can't even begin to say what they finally figured out it is you have (hypo-what? I almost thought you were trying to type hippopotamus LOL), but I'm glad it's been figured out, and that you can take things to balance yourself out again!

Sooo good to hear from you, and continue to post!!
*HUGS* Colleen :)

Lori Shaal said...

Annette,

Great to hear you are feeling better and they have found out the problem. As far as the ironing goes, I applaud you. I don't even know where my iron is, let alone remember how to use it!!! Now that you are feeling better, lets get the girls together for a lunch. Luv ya! Lori

Patty said...

Hi Sweetie it is just the Cuz......
Been thinking of you a lot and miss you all. Even though I try not to call too much we all still love you and think of you and pray for you.....
Anette........ironing a shirt!!...Good grief how about a TLC peanut butter sandwich instead!!!
Love you Patty

Nita said...

Hey Annette:) I'm glad you updated your blog even if it took a friend to push you into it. Thank god for friends! I was getting tired too looking at same-o same-o! Hang in there kiddo, you will be back to normal in no time at all with all those drugs;-) Keep on ironing Annette, we know you are OK and I a sure Rod's patients love to see him all dressed up neat! take care, honey. Love and Hugs, Neet

Cathy G. said...

Annette,
First let's clear one thing up...So.Sioux(my hometown)is NE and GoBigRed territory. Sioux City, is IA and Hawkeye territory. :)

You sound stronger! I have been waiting for another update and I admire not only the way you could explain things but also the spelling skills you demonstrate! Amazing how everything is so intertwined. You are blessed to have alert and determined doctors working with you.

We are blessed to have you back, regaining strength and bringing a smile to us with your unfailing spirit!

Continuing to lift you in prayer...
Cathy

nopitinPA said...

New blogger here, Annette. I just read your post from May 2007 because I googled "I don't have a pituitary gland" trying to find someone else like me. I hope we can be in touch. I'm having tons of trouble regulating... everything, and I'd love to here more about what helps you.