And more medical mysteries
In the beginning, yvonnedesousa.com was designed to be a showcase for my multiple sclerosis humor blog; a means (if you will,) to help me through the obnoxious emotions that came from living with MS.
Then, it turned into a multiple sclerosis/ breast cancer humor blog to help me through the terrifying emotions that came from living through a breast cancer diagnosis.
Of late, it has turned into a multiple sclerosis/breast cancer/hives humor blog to help me through the frustrating emotions three month of hives have brought into my life.
But now I think yvonnedesousa.com has just become a medical mixture of all the things wrong with my particularly, medically bizarre self.
Today’s post starts with a shadow. Or, of course in my case and just too make things interesting, many, many shadows.
Dark, itchy shadows.
You see, I was back at the dermatologist’s office for a follow up appointment regarding the hives. This appt was just after I saw my neurologist for my MS follow up but before I saw the surgeon for my pre-op breast reconstruction surgery part 2.
This, the hives appt, was to confirm what I officially diagnosed myself with as hives, and to see why the allergy regimen wasn’t working. Turns out when I told all of you in the last blog that I’d been diagnosed with hives, I was actually jumping the gun.
The dermatologist never confirmed hives- he just said it was a possibility. He couldn’t tell because he didn’t see any!!!!
How could that be? I was scratching like crazy and my skin had now turned into all different shades of darkened purple, but he didn’t see anything?
What is this patch of itch right here?
Or, how about this patch?
Or this one?
Or this one?
And so on….
“Those spots are not an actual condition,” he told me. “They are just shadows.”
Excuse me?
“You definitely have something going on. Or you did. But what’s left is just the shadow of something, not the actual thing. I can’t diagnose the thing if it’s gone and only the shadows remain.”
“But the shadows still itch like crazy!!!!” I told him.
“Yes, but they are just that- shadows.”
Do you remember in life when you first discovered your shadow and it was cool?
Well, not so much anymore.
My mind turned to songs about shadows.
Me and my shadows, strolling down the avenue
Me and my shadows, not a soul to tell our troubles too
Well certainly, not the dermatologist anyway.
Just a shadow of a doubt
She says it’s keeps me running
I’m trying to figure out
If this really is something
And if it’s not something then why the hell am I still scratching?
We’re running with the shadows of the night.
Baby take my hand, you’ll be alright
Surrender all your dreams to me tonight
They’ll come true in the end.
Wouldn’t that be nice.
My dream is to get rid of the dark, itchy shadows of something, whatever that something may be. Especially in time for my second surgery.
The dermatologist upped the allergy medications and wished me well. He didn’t know if the shadows would complicate the surgery, but he did schedule another post op, post-surgery but before my surgery post op.
Are you still with me?
Are you keeping track of all of this?
Good.
Can you please explain it to me?
But miracle of all miracles, I did get my wish. The hives or whatever have faded to a vague itch here and there. Was it the stronger allergy medications the dermatologist recommended? Was it the very unusual recommendations you, my precious readers, sent me? I don’t know but they have calmed down and I’m super grateful.
And to make things even better, I was able to proceed with the surgery which was way easier than the first one.
I did wake up in the recovery room sneezing like crazy and with a runny nose. Sort of like the sudden cold I get whenever I fly somewhere. For more of the medically bizarre please see this prior post Sniffles Not as Cute as a Hamster
But a cold, though annoying, especially when it comes on so suddenly and lasts for a couple of days, I could deal with. With the itching gone, I was now somewhat at peace.
The surgery was still painful, although not horribly so. I took the prescribed pain medications for 2 days to help the healing process along. On the third day, stricken with intense boredom and tired of reading the Kleenex box, I decided to read the informational newsletter that actually came with the prescription.
Under the section that says ‘Side Effects for Which You Should Call Your Doctor Right Away’ the first listing was-hives.
Yes, that’s right.
I finally know what caused my hives. It was the prescription pain medication.
So what if I didn’t start taking that medication until about 2 weeks after my hives cleared up?
In my bizarre medical world, it makes perfect sense to me.
And, of course, to my shadows.
First song lyric adapted from “Me and Shadow” by Al Jolson, Billy Rose and Dave Dreyer
Second song lyric adapted from “Shadow of a Doubt (Complex Kid)” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Third song lyric adapted from “Shadows of the Night” by D. L. Byron
Lol 🤗 glad the shadows are clearing.
Thank you Peter!! Thank you for checking out and supporting my blog!
Glad that you have still kept your sense of humor doing all that you have gone through in the past several months.. I felt like I was bombarding you with things to try to get rid of the hives which didn’t work but happy you are feeling better now.
Not at all my friend. I was desperate and took every suggestion that came my way. Now I’m doing all kinds of things and not sure which is doing the trick but as long as they are going away, I’m happy!
You are toooo much!
Hahahahaha…….Thank you my friend!!
Yvonne,
I was diagnosed with PPMS in 2011. A few months later, I was diagnosed with Cervical cancer and had a complete hysterectomy. Thank goodness I was spared the hives or their shadows 🙂
I love reading your blog, you always keep me smiling!
I have always believed that it is better to laugh when you have cried.
Hi Glenda My goodness, that is a lot as well. Are you cancer free now? I hope so and am sending you many well wishes. Thank you so much for following and commenting on my blog. I agree- laughing has been HUGE for me. I think I need it as much as I need the meds- hive inducing or not!
Yes, itching is one of the most common symptoms with opioid-based pain medication, even if you aren’t actually allergic to it. I experienced that itching (no visible hives) the last several years I took it. Then last September I had a full-blown allergic reaction to Hydrocodone that required an ER visit for treatment. So add Opioids to my ever-increasing allergy list- aspirin, NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e., Ibuprofen, etc.), Sulfa, and Lopid (cholesterol-lowering agent).
I’m glad you’re doing better, Yvonne.
Thank you so much my friend! Why on Earth don’t I just call you instead of putting myself through the medical ringer all the time!!! You sure have been through a lot and with your nursing experience, I’m super grateful to have you on my team!!!
I too have gone through a diagnosis of breast cancer, with a mastectomy.Two weeks after surgery a severe exacerbation of my MS. Right now the itching is so bad.From the breast cancer drugs? the high dose prednisone? Who knows, just miserable and trying to deal and co-ordinate with four differant doctors.
Oh wow my friend. You and I are on the same unfortunate path and I hear you about trying to sort out different meds and doctors. I had a major exacerbation after my mastectomy while I was still in the hospital. Most of the nurses and doctors were awesome but several didn’t believe and thought I was just being a “crybaby.” Really, really infuriating. On this resent surgery the anesthesiologist added a steroid to the anesthesia and that seemed to help a bit. I know that one cause of the hives can be stress and what we are going through right now is beyond stressful for sure! My very best to you my friend!!
Oh, I am so glad the shadows are gone! You sure have been through the wringer! Hopefully now you can concentrate on resting and getting better!
I told you the last time about my brother’s ashes at Nickerson. Well this past Saturday we have bought a camper and I can finally take a vacation!!! (It’s “only” been 5 years…) This year we’re staying closer to home but next year I made my husband promise we could go to the Cape. I wouldn’t mind swinging north to Salem. I found out my 9th great grandmother was Rebecca Nurse from the trials!
Thank you so much my friend- I really appreciate that! Very cool about your new purchase and I hope you can make it up here. I love family history and find it fascinating! Hope you get to Salem and can learn all kinds of interesting things about your grandmother.
Thank you for your writings. Tonight I am sitting at home with a start of the school year cold. I am happy that I saved your posting for tonight. You help me remember that all the little stumbling blocks we face everyday can be smiled at and know that we will be stronger for dealing with them.
Your attitude helps all of us laugh and I thank you for that. Remember if you come to Alaska we can fly to a glacier and jump from ice berg to ice berg. Only 10% of our summer guests fell into the water.
Hahahaha Darla!!! I can swim and LOVE the cold so if I fall are the chance good I’ll survive? I’ve actually always wanted to visit Alaska so it’s possible. Thank you so much for your very kind words. They made me smile and I am very grateful! Great, funny blessings to you my friend!
I’m thankful your hives & shadows are disappearing. Hope the 2nd was easier !!!! I’m like you, find a song that helps make a way. Take care our Friend
Thank you so much my friend!!!
Gosh, sorry to read about all that. Strange how with MS & cancer–it’s the itching that drives you the craziest! More power to you. Keep it strong (leaving one hand free to scratch!).
Right!!