Ok so in Part One we talked about the onset of neuropathy and what was already ruled out for a cause.
In September of 2014, besides the blood tests, full body x-rays had also been ordered. They were looking for lytic lesions which I am to believe would show up black on a bone. Thank God no lesions were found (or there to BE found).
In October we met with a local Hematologist/Oncologist and he performed a bone marrow biopsy and ordered additional bloodwork. I still remember him saying about a certain protein in the bone marrow being at 8.2% but I was like “SO? what does the 8.2% mean?” as we had no basis for any comparison. He said “Well if it was 10% I’d say you have stage 4 bone cancer”… This was sobering as 8.2% seems really close to 10% on my calculator. The doc assured us it wasn’t that bad. My diagnosis was MGUS.
Here’s what I put out on the prayer chain at church
Good Morning to you all-
I wanted to give you all an update but I wasn’t done deciding what to say as of yesterday at church.
We went to see the hematologist/oncologist last Friday 10/31 and the good news is the diagnosis is not cancer. The specific name for what I have is MGUS (Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance). If you like reading about medical stuff here’s a link to the Mayo Clinic’s write-up on it here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mgus/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20026422?p=1
This is a strange place to be because I make a living (and fill my time with) fixing things. The “Fixer” attitude is often good for some people in your life as there are plenty of times when things need fixing. It is convenient to have things fixed, especially if you don’t have to pay for it. I have found though that a fixer attitude is not always the thing to have on a personal or a spiritual level. The other part of this issue is that when we learn to rely on God we learn to operate in His strength because when we operate solely in our flesh we set ourselves up to fail.
- In a case like this when I need to know more about a medical condition there is a wealth of information online. We must be our own advocates as the doctors we go to only see us for a short period of time. They have MANY patients to see and try to help and I think they do the best they can but we know our symptoms and how we feel better than others do. The danger is that all the information we read online may not apply to our own case. I have seen the benefits or reading up on and understanding concepts so I can have an intelligent conversation with my doctors and maybe have a valid point of something can should be checked or tested. The biggest danger I see is that we can hone in on the wrong info; the negative information. If we take that fork in the road it is simply a sign that we are not placing our trust in God. Since I am not qualified to make medical decisions I am best to defer to a healthcare professional although I reserve the right to ask questions.
- When a friend or when Rita wants to talk; to tell me something that is bothering her it took me a long time to realize that this is not necessarily the time for a fix. Sometimes a problem will have a simple solution and as the Body of Christ we are called to support and to pray for each other. Many times Rita just wants me to listen and HEAR HER. If I go running off (in my mind) trying to come up with a solution I have just at least partially tuned out what she is saying as I waste mental capacity attempting to help her. I have been reading books more lately and see a common thread where the wife shares a problem and the husband with all good intention tries to help but our wives just want us to LISTEN to them. In your quiet time after reflecting on Scripture or praying make time to listen to God as He may be trying to speak to you through His spirit.
In the kitchen Sunday School Class we are (still) in a book written by Pastor Kerry Kirkwood entitled “The Power of Blessing”. Kerry basically says that EVERYTHING that comes out of our mouths is either a blessing or a curse. Let that sink in. There’s that negative fork in the road again. We have patterns in our lives; things we do on a regular basis. We tend to handle situations the same ways over and over again. Since we read in scripture that we reap what we sow it’s better for us to reap blessings; so in order to reap blessings we better be sowing blessings especially since God’s system involves the law of increase. Without the law of increase you would plant 100 pounds of seed corn to get 100 pounds of corn in return. Hardly worth the effort right? I think you can get 100x increase from what you sow in a good corn crop; the law of increase applies with reaping blessing and cursing.
In our Sunday School book there is a section comparing FACT to TRUTH. On the face of it, it would be likely that some of us will say that FACT and TRUTH are somewhat interchangeable. I admit it, I fell for that thought process initially. Here is an excerpt from the book so you can see it.
My test results show that 8% of my plasma cells are positive for monoclonal plasma; at 10% they call it multiple myeloma. (Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell.)
The fact is that it’s pretty close. Eight percent is pretty close to 10%. God’s truth will be what it is so there is no need to worry. If we can get to the place where we can totally put our trust in Father God like a child trusts a loving parent then we have no need for fear or worry.
God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
In context this was given to the nation of Israel specifically to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. I think it applies to any of us who have accepted Jesus as their Savior. Each of us are individual parts of a larger body called Salem Church which in turn is a small section of the Body of Christ. I am thankful we are a loving church and fairly united too. Please remember we are a corporate body meaning although we are a group we are made up of individuals. On an individual level the better we do at sharing the Gospel and reaching out to those around us as well as praying for each other the better it is for all of us. If I sin I drag us all down.
God is not the parent that is always trying to catch us doing something wrong. He sees all and knows all and loves us in spite of what we say and do. When He seems far off it is often due to our own shame or guilt. Press in to Him and pray and ask for forgiveness; He will welcome you just as the Father welcomed the Prodigal Son. May we all work to do a better job at blessing and trusting God in Faith as we go through our journey together.
If you stuck with me through all this, “Thanks, I appreciate it” I get carried away sometimes. Jesus died for us and He gave us Authority over Evil in His name. God offers us tools and guidance and has already spoken Love and Blessings over us throughout His Word. We pray and ask Him for things he has stated in His Word that we already have.
May we each feel His Blessing as we seek to Bless those around US
Sam
I was set up for a followup test of blood and urine at 6 months.
So I considered this my “wake up call” and cleaned up my diet. More raw fruits and vegetables, more salads, cut way down on the fried foods. We started to use coconut oil in place of butter when cooking and I finally became interested in Rita’s Nutri-Bullet for making “shakes” from fruit and vegetables with other supplements added.
By December 2014 the neuropathy was really debilitating with my feet feeling like pins and needles or a walk on burning coals or maybe a shark just made off with a foot… I had done some research and read about Aplha Lipoic Acid (ALA) being very helpful for some who suffered from neuropathy. Rita got some at the health food store (600mg) and I began taking them the same day. The improvement was noted almost immediately (3 days?) but the benefits did seem to fall off over the next month or so. On New Year’s Eve we cooked up some shrimp and that definitely caused a flare up in the feet. It seems to me there is a correlation to the neuropathy and gout symptoms.
It’s funny looking back; the things that go through your mind under circumstances like these when you are presented with reminders of your own mortality. And as further chapters of your life play out you don’t know where you’re headed. You hopefully have your reservations made for your final destination once you depart from this Earth but there’s still a fair amount of mystery as to what you’ll do and places you’ll go in the meantime.