Skip to main content

Year Four, Day 50: Polyps!



I am having a crazy hair day.  Did not get much sleep last night.

Gracie has been sick. She had a most glorious 1 year old birthday party which I spoke of in my last post.  I am still grinning at the memory of her sitting in her high chair, in a beautiful light pink dress and a white bow in her hair.  Her mom gave her a cupcake with a candle in the shape of the number one on it. We all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She was surrounded by family and friends. At least 50 people.

And many flies and bees.  It was hot that day.

She looked quizzically at her cupcake and then proceeded to daintily wipe the frosting off with her pinkie finger. She tasted it and looked pleased.

She ate slowly and very dignified for a one year-old!

Surrounding her in a semi-circle were her admiring fans, cell phones in hand taking many pictures.  She seemed amused.  She was in a very pleasant mood.

Not so the next day. Very grumpy. Slept a lot.  Thursday night, I heard the howling of what I first guessed was a wild animal in much pain.  It was Gracie.  She woke up every hour shrieking. My daughter told me her temp rose to 104.6. She gave her a dose of Tylenol and nursed her.

By the morning, her temp was 100. The advice nurse said if she was playing and eating normally and her temp kept going down, it was probably just a virus. No need to bring her in. My daughter and I breathed a sigh of relief.  I would be gone until evening. My daughter had to go into work.

I babysat her in the morning. But in the afternoon I had my dentist appointment.  Which revealed no cavities, to my relief.

However, it provided no answers. And it added to my frustration of the question : What is up with this head of mine?  My right jaw is still sore. My top back molars are quite sensitive and there is some numbness in the gum.  My head is stuffy.  And that vice around my head is starting to tighten again.

However, ruling out a cavity is indeed a good thing.

After my dental appointment, I headed to the home of two boy students for a piano lesson.  They are a wonderful family. The boys are gifts, but humble.  And they have a new puppy!

We had a fabulous lesson. It felt good to work again. I have not done much actually teaching this summer. And I will be cutting out most of my home visits when fall term begins October 1st.  So I cherished this time with them.

After their lesson, I was chatting with their parents about the upcoming school year.  For some reason, I mentioned that I was having an MRI on Monday. Funny how I seem to fit my personal health information into most conversations!

The mom and dad looked concerned. I explained my symptoms, including my loss of smell and decreased taste.

"Polyps!" exclaimed the dad.  "I'd bet money on nasal polyps! My sister had them."

His wife nodded.  She had them too.  Apparently they are easily removed by surgery.


I practically skipped out of their home, armed with new clues and eager to do research.

This is what I discovered:

Symptoms of nasal polyps include:
  1. A runny nose.
  2. Postnasal drip.
  3. Decreased or absent sense of smell.
  4. Loss of sense of taste.
  5. Facial pain and headache.
  6. Pain in your upper teeth.
  7. Pressure in forehead and face.
  8. Snoring.
BINGO! I have all of the above!

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nasal-polyps/symptoms-causes/syc-20351888

I can't wait for my MRI!

But before I could celebrate my new findings, Gracie fell ill, as I mentioned above before I got into my polyps.

She became exceedingly cranky throughout the day yesterday, although her fever never rose. We were thinking maybe teething and possibly another ear infection.

My daughter just called me a few minutes ago.  It is just a virus. With possible teething complications.  This little girl still has no teeth.  Nor any sign of little white nubs.

Grace is rough and toothless!

And I am becoming tough and ruthless!


And I am trying something new with all the stress in my life. I am saying no to worry. I just imagine Jesus sitting beside me. Glowing radiant white light, smiling and me gently and holding out his hand. I am reading a psalm a day and reading the book of Matthew.

There is a lot said in the Bible about anxiety. In fact, the phrase "fear not" is found 80 times in the King James Version.

( http://musingsofaministerswife.com/ministry/so-how-many-times-is-fear-not-actually-in-the-bible/)

I think I will start memorizing those verses. Because fear and anxiety do tend to wield way too much power in my life.

Today's "fear not" verse is Genesis 15:1 (KJV): "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and they exceeding great reward".

Talk to you tomorrow!

Love,

Zita







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 347: My Big Fat Greek Salad!!

I have perfected the art of making a Greek salad!  I have made two huge bowls in the last week. My kinds rave. Essentially the secret is f vegetables , good feta cheese, Greek olives and a homemade dressing made with light, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar,  and oregano. Here is my recipe: MY BIG FAT GREEK SALAD Serves 4 hungry adults 4 cups greens (I used a "spring mix" from Fred Meyer) 2 cucumbers 6 roma tomatoes one small red onion 1 cup cubed feta cheese 1 cup Greek olives (pitted) Get out a big bowl. Peel a clove of garlic, cut in half and rub it over the interior of the bowl.  Wash the lettuce if it is not prewashed and packaged like mine was.  Dry the leaves, and tear into bite sized pieces. Throw into the big bowl. Note: Romaine lettuce is good to include in the mix, because it is hearty. Peel the cucumbers and dice. Add to bowl. Cut the roma tomatoes in half and squeeze out the seeds (otherwise they make th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Two, Day 307: Chasing Away The Gloomy Weather...with Music and a Smile! :)

It seems to me that most of the city is depressed, tired and sick. I still have my low grade snuffly nose, along with sneezing, and itching eyes.  Low energy. It is nice to know I am not the only one. Misery loves company, don't you know! Even through the gloom, I had an enjoyable day.  I told myself several times that I really am a lucky woman. My kids are grown, I'm going to be a GRANDMA, and I love my work. My church job is a nice secure little job and it seems I am quite needed there.  I am still learning the ropes. But I am enjoying it. Meeting new people. And best of all, I have only a 1 1/2 minute commute (by foot!). I have a cozy little room in a household full of wonderful laid back people.  People who love animals and music. But best of all, my afternoons are filled with music. I basically get on the bus and travel about town, sitting at pianos, visiting with students, who are like my family. We talk. They play the piano for me. I offer pointe...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year Two, Day 201: "I"

Before my first meeting with "I" I had a wonderful first date last night! We had a lot on common. The conversation flowed easily. We laughed. It was so lovely, that I think I shall not blog about him. Not yet anyway. I am just going to call him "I". I like I. 😉 Today was a long, wonderful family day. Went to church with my daughter and son-in-law. Very powerful, uplifting service. After that we went to the horse races. Had a blast. Broke even. Essentially had a free lunch and four hours of entertainment. After the horses, we had yet another Thanksgiving dinner at my niece's place. It was her first turkey. It was amazing! But thank God I had enough willpower to resist the pie! Tomorrow I go for my first physical therapy appointment. Tuesday it is back to the gym!! Happy Sunday!
Post a Comment
Read more