How To Tell?

Tomorrow is kind of a big day as well.

Today wasn't really supposed to be that big of a day, but it was. 

Here's a little background of why tomorrow is big: 

Next month is my day surgery - the hysteroscopy and IUD removal. It's not that big of a procedure, but with my history, they are taking all precautions and preparing as much as possible. My surgeon is open to the idea that I will eventually need a hysterectomy, but she is hoping that the Lupron will continue to work for a while before we get to that point. 

Here's the problem. The last two months that I have had my Lupron shot, my throat has felt very funny about five minutes after the shot and lasts for about a couple of hours. This could be my body building up an allergy to the medication (which my body likes to do). BUT - with a possible underlying condition called Angioedema - my throat tends to swell when I am stressed, nervous, excited, scared; basically anytime my adrenaline goes up, my throat feels that way. 

I have to get my Lupron shot tomorrow - and if my throat swells, I have to get it looked at by a health professional and contact my surgeon. Now here is where it's complicated. I am obviously nervous about the injection (although I wasn't overly nervous the last two doses).... So if I am nervous and stressed my throat will probably swell. And if it's an allergy my throat will swell. 

So how do I tell WHY my throat might swell tomorrow? 

I mean I could feel nothing - and that would be awesome. Then we could simply go ahead with the day surgery, keep going with the Lupron, and talk about a hysterectomy at a later date. 

That's me being optimistic though. 

So what do I do? How do I decide the reason for any kind of throat swelling that I may have? 

The smart thing will be to take a valium beforehand to calm my body and my nerves before the shot so that any swelling SHOULD, in theory, be only due to a reaction... But still... It's pretty hard to know. 

And then what? 

If we go ahead with the surgery and I do end up being allergic to Lupron, then what? I can't take birth control pills, I sure as hell cannot allow my body to be thrown back into a cycle, and I really don't think putting ANOTHER Mirena in is a good idea... At all. 

Some of you may be thinking 'let the doctor decide what's best'. 

Guess what? 

I completely agree with you!! 

Here's the issue. 

My case is so complicated that doctors are very much tentative to make these decisions. So much could go wrong with any decision, so it's better for ME to decide, while in full knowledge of all of the risks. 

And what happens when you get to this point? Where everything is so complicated and delicate and intertwined and unknown territory that even the doctors are nervous to make any moves or decisions? 

Here is the good news: 

My life is NEVER boring. 

You would think that going to doctor's appointments and being pretty much homebound would make for a pretty mundane life. I mean, I read books, watch television, go for walks with my dog.... My very domesticated life may SEEM boring... But it never is. There is always something crazy going on. Some sort of medical drama. 

Tomorrow is big. 

And I have no idea what I am going to do about it. 

Maybe I'll just have a drink. ;)