August

Simply put, I don't have as much time on my hands as I used to. Hence why it has taken me so long to post a blog on here. Believe me, a lot has happened to keep me off of here.

I'll start with the fact that for almost a month, I had two jobs. I use the past tense, because I finally decided that the commute to Ben and Jerry's did not equate the hours or pay that I was receiving there. I knew it would be part time when I was hired, but I didn't fully realize the hassle and strain that it would create. I kid you not when I tell you that one day it took me three hours to get home, just because of traffic and such.

Speaking of working, for a brief period last week I had three jobs. The third one was training to become an election poll worker, which I will be doing tomorrow. Where I live, they pay you $125 for the day and there won't be much that you will be doing. I was told by everyone that I should bring plenty to read. The only snafu is that it's from six in the morning to after eight at night with only one hour lunch for a break. But still... If all goes well tomorrow, I will do it again in November.

The other job that I have is a Christian bookstore in the mall that I have worked in for in the past. In fact, there are times when this mall is my ball and chain. I thoroughly enjoy my job and I am picking up very quickly on the ins and outs of the job. My manager is impressed by how well that I'm doing.

The other bit of news that I have involves my kidney. For a while after my second opinion, I was pain free and feeling great. Then the dull aches came back and last Saturday night (not last night, but the week prior), I had another massive attack comparable to the one I had back in April. I told my sister (the eventual med student) this and she suspects that I might not have one cyst, but several. A cyst cluster, if you will. She thinks that the two attacks were, in fact, the cysts popping (which is a good thing-despite the pain) and that is why it didn't go away after the first attack.

Now, had I time, money, and insurance, I would have told you what the doctor has said. But the lack of these has prevented me from setting up any futher appointments in the near future. Speaking of doctors, one thing that I negected to mention was the fact that when I did have my previous opinions, neither one tested me for cancer. They just were trying to figure out what the lump on my kidney was and that's it. I am in no way saying that I have cancer-only that the next time I visit a doctor, I will insist that they test me.

Anywho, there's more news, but no more time for me to tell it. I hope all is well, and I hope to post again soon.

Take care,
Jeremy

Quick Update

So, thanks to a cousin of mine, I saw the midnight showing of The Dark Knight. I'm not going to tell you anything about it, as I feel that you should see it yourself. It is easily the best movie I have seen this year so far. When you hear the critics say that Heath Ledger deserves an Oscar for his role, they're not lying. It's that good.

Anyway, so as we were waiting for the movie to start, I ran into an old coworker from Starbucks. She's in school to become a nurse and has given me health advice many times in the past. I told her about my kidney and she said "You know you're supposed to get checked out once a year now, right?"

Well, no; no I didn't. This was something that the doctor neglected to tell me. But it's advice I am definitely going to follow.

Other news is that I am now officially working at Ben and Jerry's at Southcenter part time (not by choice) and there's a very good possibility that I will be working as well at a Christian bookstore in a local outlet mall as well (this would be full time).

Anyway, I just thought that I would give you an update.

Take care,
Jeremy

Lump- The Final Insult

Sorry, I'm in a great mood and I feel like being a dork. I went and had my second opinion yesterday. This one lasted the same amount of time as the first one (five minutes), but he was really nice and was able to feel around it without actually hurting me (bonus!) and said that it's either a benign fatty tumor or a cyst. It may go away or I may have it the rest of my life. Either way, he told me not to worry about it, but to keep an eye on it just the same.

I hope all is well with you. I am in a great mood, let me tell you. I had no idea what a relief a diagnosis could be. Peace of mind is a wonderful thing. I'm sure that I would feel different is the prognosis was different, but just knowing is wonderful.

Anyway, I'm going to go out and seize the day. Take care and I will post again.

-Jeremy

Lump-Part 2

So I went to the hospital yesterday. I went alone, which did nothing to help my nerves. But the worst part about it was the wait.

I waited for three to four hours in the waiting room and was either bored out of my skull or on pins and needles. There were people who definitely needed to be seen sooner than I, which was what took so long. Apparently we are in the beginning of "trauma season".

Anyway, the doctor called my name and took my back into a room that had four to five different beds for examinations. At first neither she or I could find the lump and she was pressing down on different parts when she pressed down on it. The pain was immediate and intense and she told me that I most likely had a fatty tumor, but strongly urged me to get a second opinion.

I will. As soon as I can, I will

So I shall post again soon.

Lump

So, admittedly, this is news that I should have divulged a lot earlier. News that effects me very personally. So here goes.

Back in December, I had a doosey of a kidney infection. While I had it, I discovered a bump on my right kidney (December 12th is the date). Thinking it was just part of the infection, I paid no attention to it. Well, the infection went away a few days later. The lump did not.

Now you would naturally think that I would just get it checked out and that would be that. Problem is is that was when my grandmother's health was beginning to go downhill and I was much more focused on her than I was on something that wasn't even hurting. Most days, I didn't even think about it until my hand graced that area and I felt it. At most, I would have a twinge of pain maybe once a month.

Then came Sunday, April 20th. It was in the evening, I remember, and I was watching My Boy Jack about the son of Rudyard Kipling on PBS. My grandfather had already gone to bed and I was sittng on the couch enjoying the show. All of the sudden I felt a pain in my side so intense that I dropped to the floor and was gasping for air. It felt like this massive hand was squeezing the life out of my kidney. I remember looking at the front door, thinking that it was locked and that there would be no way for the paramedics to get in and I could not move because of the pain. I couldn't even reach for the phone, because it was too far away. It lasted for, I believe, 15 minutes before subsiding. I should have call 911 then, but I didn't. I know, that was very stupid of me, and it was a mistake.

Since then, the pains have been dull, but increasing in frequency. I did some research online last week and of all the possibilities, it sounds like it's a cyst. After I made that conclusion, I decided it was time to finally tell someone. So, I chose Kati.

Kati is easily one of my best friends and I tell her EVERYTHING. There are times (like now) when I'm more open with her than I am with my own family. I don't know why, but that's just how it is. She's essencially like a nonrelated sister. We discussed all the possibilities and she told me that cysts are actually very common, but she was very concerned that I get it checked out.

So that's what I'm going to do. On Monday, June 30th, I am going to admit myself into Harborview ER (because I hear it's free if you make less than $1,000 a month-definitely me) and I'm going to get an official diagnosis. If all goes well, no surgery and I will leave the same day. If all does not, well...

There is one person that I have been wanting to tell this entire time. I did not because I wasn't sure how to or how you would react. If that person (you know who you are) is reading this, please call me. I need you now more than ever. And if it's serious, I will call you from the hospital. I will call everyone.

Take care you all and hopefully I will post again in better health.