Last Thursday (the 23rd), my mom had an appointment with her endocrinologist. She went for her follow-up appointment with her doctor after she left the hospital. They drew some blood and did a urine test. Unfortunately, I got a call back the next day from her doctor's assistant. She told me that my mom's calcium levels were still elevated (remember that's what got her into the hospital though she should have been admitted sooner...back then her calcium was so high that the endocrinologist was afraid it would take a toll on her heart). So she set up an appointment for my mom to see the endo. This is the same doctor who got her admitted into the hospital when her doctor didn't take things seriously; the one I credit for helping save her life.
When she was in the hospital, the doctors thought it might be multiple myeloma that was causing the increase in calcium. It is cancerous...well, let me just quite a website. "Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects the plasma type of white blood cells. Myeloma cells tend to collect in the bone marrow and in the hard, outer part of the bones. Sometimes they collect in only one bone and form a single mass, or tumor, called a plasmacytoma. In most cases, however, the myeloma cells collect in many bones, often forming many tumors and causing other problems. When this happens, the disease is called multiple myeloma." But thankfully that was ruled out. She also recently had an ultrasound because the doctor found cysts on her ovaries, and that also turned out to be nothing to worry about.
The endo is having a very hard time figuring out why my mom's calcium was so high. But he seems so concerned and determined to figure this out. Her infected kidney made her calcium levels go up and once she had it removed, I think the levels went down. But the endo is suspecting that maybe her other kidney is having problems, or it could be her thyroid. This is not good news. She only has one kidney. What if it is failing and she has to go on dialysis? This may sound weird but I'm hoping it's her thyroid. Wouldn't that be not as bad as her kidney? I don't know much about the thyroid. She doesn't need any more problems with her kidneys. So she got more blood drawn and a 24-hour urine test on Thursday. Now we wait and see what they find.
Currently she is having a nurse come to her home a few days per week to change the dressing on her leg. I can't believe it still isn't completely healed. She had the surgery on January 6th or 7th! She also has a physical therapist coming out a few times this week. All of this is covered by her insurance until May 11th. We can appeal this, but the last time we did, when she was still in the SNF, it didn't do any good. I don't know how soon we should appeal if we choose to, but if that wound isn't healed up pretty well by then, I think the insurance company should at least let us keep coverage for the nurse, though I'd like it if she could have physical therapy for as long as possible. Ugh. Stupid insurance companies.
The bad (and good) thing is that she is doing great with her walking. She is getting around very well with her walker and is starting to be able to take a few steps without it. She was able to do laundry today, which I have been doing for her. And she's been organizing some stuff around the house too. So she is really improving! The said part is, all of these improvements she is making could be jeopardized if she is sick again. She is doing so well, and I am so happy and proud of her for making improvements almost every day. So it's like, I'm very excited that she is coming along so well and so quickly, but worried at the same time about her health, which I thought was pretty much a non-issue now, aside from her leg wound. And then this comes along and I'm worried and don't know what to think. How much more can her body endure? How much more can SHE endure?
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