I got blood work back from the Dr. and as it turns out I have a major Vitamin D deficiency. As he put it my levels are "dangerously low".

Dangerously as in what can happen if you don't get enough Vitamin D? Well apparently lots of things..Bone, muscle, and joint problems, skin problems, weight gain, heart issues, cancer, even depression.

Who knew? I have almost no D in my body.

When I asked how long I have had this deficiency my Dr. told me I have probably been living with it my whole life.

As for the cause he basically said we have become a Vitamin D deficient society as a whole. Back in the day we labored under the sun planting and harvesting our crops and our diet consisted of just whole foods. We received all the Vitamin D we needed from natural sources of sunlight and food.

Now we live in a world where we wouldn't think of stepping outside without wearing sunscreen for fear of getting skin cancer.

And if you think about it not as many people got cancer back in those pioneer days, did they?

But as I'm learning it's also not good to be walking around completely devoid of a clinically necessary vitamin, and actually Vitamin D is a hormone.

So there has to be a happy balance.

It's not like you can just drink some milk and get the D levels back up. I would have to drink literally 50 glasses of milk a day to get the same effect of laying out in the sun with no sunscreen for 15 minutes or taking just one of the 50,000 unit supplements they have me on.

Apparently this is pretty common, my Dr. told me at least 50% of the population is walking around with a Vitamin D deficiency and doesn't ever know it but a simple blood test can confirm. I've spoken with a few people who have it and went on the supplements.

They all say within a month's time they can't believe how much better they feel. They have more energy, the unexplained aches and pains they had all over their body disappear, they are able to lose weight easier, and don't feel so listless and run down in general.

If any of this sounds like you, it might be a good idea to ask your Dr. to check your Vitamin D levels, it could be the culprit.

Between my supplements and spending more time in the sun I should be getting adequate supplies of D.

Hmmm.... Dr. mandated sunbathing....there could be worse prescriptions.

I will make a point to start this weekend.

Posted by Lori in health at 9:42 PM permalink Comments (5)

It's official, my hooters are happy and healthy again!
The stuff they saw in the mammogram was just some benign calcification. Nothing to worry about at all. The surgeon said I am clean and in no way does this even put me at risk for getting breast cancer in the future. The incision is very small and healing really well. There probably will not even be a noticeable scar :)

I will have to follow up with another mammogram in 3 months but the surgeon seemed confident that he had gotten out the entire cluster of microcalcs and we should not see them on my next images. Such a relief to have this off my chest, no pun intended.

Seriously....thanks for the support, good thoughts and well wishes, truly.

I don't want to gloat too much because I know this isn't the positive outcome that a lot of other women get out there. The whole episode has given me a tiny glimpse into the process they must go through and live with on a daily basis. My heart really goes out to them, the current battlers and the survivors - a few of whom read my blog on a regular basis...you know who you are :) I have a new appreciation for you, your struggles and your victories.

God Bless,

xoxoxoxox

~Lori

Posted by Lori in Daily , health at 10:13 AM permalink Comments (7)

Whooooo [Deep Exhale]

I am checking into the hospital tomorrow morning for surgery.
The results of my last "less invasive" biopsy were inconclusive so they are proceeding with surgical biopsy that is highly recommend when you are a number 4 on the BI-RADS scale like me.

I am praying to all the pug gods they get what they need this time so they can stop hacking into my boob. The surgeon warned me there is a 5% chance they might not get a good enough sample and would have to do this all over again.

Wtf, they already missed getting enough sample in the needle biopsy, they have a microchip in the spot to be biopsied.... and I'll have a needle marker inserted by the radiologist prior to tomorrow's operation as a guide for the surgeon. That means I'll be sitting around waiting for an hour or longer with a needle sticking in my chest. Presuming the lidocaine will have worn off at that point...Have. already. requested. strong. strong. drugs.

And at my pre surgical consult Dr told me there is a 20% chance it could be something bad requiring further treatment, more mammorgrams and surgeries. Apparantley these are things they are required to tell you before surgery. But now my head is swarming with visions of percentages and hospital gowns, fear of radiation, boob dressings, needles, iv drips, and blood.

Whooooo [another deep exhale]

Praying they get what they need this time and of course that the findings are nothing bad.

I'll be off the blog for the next couple days but would appreciate any good vibes you can send my way.

Posted by Lori in Daily , Lori , health at 1:46 PM permalink Comments (14)