First round of testing........

After my first official visit with Dr. R last Monday I was told to go home and call the office back to set up my tests. I was pretty shocked that I was going to have my next MRI that Wednesday and my Evoked Potentials test that Thursday. It felt overwhelming, especially the part where I would have to have a closed MRI when I almost freaked out in the initial open one. Dr. R told me to take my Klonopin when I wake up and then another before my 11:30 test. My parents came to pick me up and we headed over to the Kenosha Radiology Center. I was getting loopy by then and got right in. I had a super nice tech who I handed my two CDs to and she promised to play them one after another. The first one was a rock Christian band called Kutless and then a relaxing one that Crystal had burned for me when she came for a visit from New Mexico. It couldn't have gone better. I felt like I had more room in the closed MRI. It's more of a dome shape and I didn't feel like a wall was crushing me like the open one. Also being in the closed one shortened the time by a whole hour! I had to also wear this crazy thing over my face for the brain part. Nothing bothered me, I could hear my music over the crazy MRI banging and I actually fell asleep. They had to shoot me up with dye at one point too. Only this time I knew about it. When I was done my parents couldn't believe I was out so fast. We went to Panera Bread for lunch. I wasn't very hungry but had French Onion soup and some strong coffee to get out of the daze I was in. It was just nice to sit and relax with my Mom & Dad. Then the next day I had to go back to Dr. R's office for the Evoked Potentials. It's a very strange test. I sat in a lazy boy chair and was hooked up with electroids on my head, back and hip. This very nice woman named Patty did the testing for 2 1/2 hours. We talked and talked the whole time and she made me feel very calm and relaxed. This test shows how well your brain and spinal cord communicate. She of course didn't give me any details but said I did well. So here it is almost a week later and no word. So I figure nothing urgent was found, but I still believe that doesn't mean something else wasn't found that isn't an emergency. I have to wait all the way until December 21 to get the details.
Right now I'm doing my best to take care of myself. It's amazing how easy it is to make the right food choices and stay on the cardio machines for an hour when you know it's about fighting for your life and not just to "look good". At this point I'm sticking with high protein, lots of veggies and NO sugar which is a major cause of inflammation. I'm taking lots of vitamins which I've never really done before, or at least stuck with it. I'm taking 3 grams of organic flax seed oil, Vit's C 1000 mg, Vit D 2000, Calcium 1200, Magnesium 250 mg, B12 5000 mcg sub lingual and the herbs green tea extract, ginger root and ginkgo biloba. I'm experimenting with dosages on some of these. I'm determined to make a difference on my next MRI which I guess will be in Feb. I MUST see shrinkage on this cyst. With all of the support and prayers I'm receiving how can I not see a change?
I'm literally overwhelmed with the love and support I am receiving from everyone. The way that John & I were brought to Christ 9 months ago, the way he brought just the right Doctors into my life one after another and the way I was diagnosed right away (I've read nothing but nightmare stories of being misdiagnosed and getting the run around by Dr's from many people, or just not receiving the right care etc...) My family, Johns family, the old friends who have been brought back into my life (some 20 & 30 years later) who are also Christians and are praying for me and helping me. The support at our church and from our Pastors. If this doesn't strengthen my faith in God then nothing will! He also let me witness a miracle that blew me away. He will heal me. This I know.