TheMosmillers.org

Important Health News

Before you read any further, I ask you all to read this article, written by Christine Miserandino in 2003. She has done a beautiful job of describing a vague concept to most, and hope you can get some understanding from the reading. Now to the meat of this message. It is not particularly kid-friendly, so I have provided you with the option to continue reading or not at your discretion.

As you may or may not be aware, a few weeks ago, I visited a new doctor in Reston, VA to try a new treatment approach for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Neurally Mediated Hypotension. I received a routine physical as part of my visit, and was sent for a sonogram due to an enlarged right testis. On Thursday (the 2nd of February) I learned that the sonogram showed possible signs of testicular cancer. I must see a specialist this Wednesday the 8th and in all likelihood have it removed in short order. At that point they will complete a biopsy and I will learn more about what is going on.

For those of you interested in the technical, here is the report:

The right testicle is enlarged measuring approximately 7 x 4 x 4 cm and is near completely replaced by mass with heterogeneous predominantly hypoechoic echotexture and diffuse increased vascularity. Appearance is consistent with testicular neoplasm, probably seminoma. The right epididymis, left testicle and epididymis appeared normal.

Before I found out about all of this I was exhausted. I have been struggling to research and cook healthy recipes following a particular dietary regimen, trying to learn about occupational therapy, exploring how to properly fix the little house next door so that I might move in, pursuing copyright process for my card line, rebuilding my small-weight and stationary biking routines, and attempting to start driving again as well as getting a hobby involving about eight people off the ground. It is fair to say that I have used up all of my "spoons" for the last few months and then some, and now I have to face recovery from surgery and undoubtedly a whole battery of tests to follow.

But somehow I'm going to make it. Whenever something really nasty has come up in the past, I've always instinctively tapped into a sort of "emergency energy reserve," and I have no doubt I will do the same in this situation. While I face a sort of undefined fear for the future, I have no regrets or reservations about the way I have lived to date, and that helps immensely. At present I must simply wait until a final judgment is given, but once this happens I will pursue all necessary measures relentlessly as I do with everything else in my life. Faith and self-confidence make a powerful duo even in the worst of times.

So, if you don't mind, say a prayer for me tonight that I might have enough "spoons" in-hand to get through all of this ok, and possibly another that, after more comprehensive testing is complete, everything might turn out to be not such a big deal afterall.

Thanks everybody.