me and lumpy

Today, I crutched up the street to my primary care doctor's office so that I could get him to sign paperwork for the genetic testing that was initiated back in December. The office had me come in for an appointment which seemed unnecessary. I felt so good that I made it the two blocks with energy. I didn't have to stop to rest.

When I got there, we spent a good ten minutes updating all of my medical records. I was frustrated that we were discussing cancer treatment instead of the hold up on the genetic testing. Finally, the doctor suggested that the assistant call my insurance company, the genetics company, and the oncologist. She came back about 15 minutes later and said that the genetics company had already started the testing process and didn't need anything else. Basically, there was some confusion about what needed to happen which wasted my morning.

While waiting at the doctor's office, I read a letter from my insurance company which denied coverage for my PET scan. The PET scan would identify any cancer in my body. Last year, after the initial breast cancer diagnosis, my doctors had tried to get me one, but it was denied. I can't help but wonder about how things would be different if the sarcoma in my leg had been detected before I even felt the pain. I might still have two legs that reach the ground. I can't do anything about that now, but I am calling the insurance company to find out how to appeal the decision.

When I got home, my prosthesist called to ask if he could bring me the socket, the part of the prosthesis which goes over my leg. He asked me to put the liner on my leg. I tried a few times before I was able to get it onto my leg. Jeff helped me put it on again. I think it just requires more strength than I put into it. He brought a clear plastic socket to try on over the liner. It kind of had to be turned as we put it on.

Then Jeff put a small stool under my leg and asked me to put my full weight on my left leg. I hadn't done that in so long and seemed to have trouble getting my right leg to take a short break. When I stood on the left leg, we could find the parts of the socket that put pressure on my hip and belly. I was surprised that the pressure was more on my "sit bone" than on the end of my stump. I practiced sitting and standing so that we could figure a better shape on how the socket responds to the rest of my body. Jeff said that the edges would be made of a soft flexible material, so it would move with me.

He might be done with the socket as early as next Friday. The next time he comes, he will bring a knee and a foot so that I can walk on it. I am so excited. It feels like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one. I will probably be walking by my birthday at the end of March.