# 1 HISTORY & CUDOS TO TEAM OF DOCTORS

HISTORY

Because I have been challenged concerning my health I decided to start this blog to keep those interested up to date. Some things are just old age related and some are because of my poor choices, for instance 45 years of smoking cigarettes!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL OF THESE DOCTORS IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A GREAT ONE.  THEY ARE THE BEST! AND THANK YOU TO MY TEAM OF DOCTORS AND NURSES FOR THEIR LOVING CARE.  

  SO FIRST A LITTLE BACKGROUND:

SEEING A DOCTOR About 8 years ago my legs and knees were swelling a lot. After not having been to a doctor for about 25 years and finally having insurance again I made an appointment at the DUNCANNON HEALTH CENTER with Dr Bibosa. I found out I am diabetic, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and arthritis in both knees. My blood pressure was so high I was a stroke waiting to happen. So my doctor prescribed medications for the diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and for my tremors, friends have been calling me "Shake" for years! And I relearned how to eat properly. I knew how but had gotten sloppy in my eating habits.

For several years all was good but at some point I lost my insurance. I regained it a few years later with medicare and started visiting doctor again. With some new concerns Dr Bibosa referred me to THE ORTENZIO HEART CENTER, DR RAJESH DAVE'. The pain in my calf muscles when I walked was because of blockage in my legs. I was diagnosed with PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE. Two stents were placed in my left leg in SEPTEMBER, 2014 by Dr Dave'. 

In June of 2015 I was diagnosed with CERVICAL CANCER BY Dr. Willis of the ORTENZIO WOMEN'S CANCER CENTER after having been referred to him by Dr Bibosa after an abnormal pap smear. Even though Dr Bibosa had said at a check-up appointment that I didn't need a pap smear because of my age, I replied but last pap smear showed precancerous cells. So he changed his mind and did a pap smear. I am so glad I spoke up. The cervical cancer was Stage IB. Dr Willis performed a radical hysterectomy on July  24, 2015 (one day after my birthday!). When I came home from the hospital, without even trying or thinking about it I cut back to 1 pack of cigarettes a day instead of two. Good thing - I knew I needed to quit smoking!

Dr Willis then referred me to THE RADIATION ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE WOMEN'S CANCER CENTER, Dr Sood. .I received 4 weeks of radiation  September-October 2015. The side effects of radiation were a challenge. For me diarrhea was the worst. I tried to continue with my normal activities but sometimes I was afraid to leave my apartment for fear of an accident.  My eating habits had to change during this time from the "Healthy" food I had gotten used to eating again to a complete opposite diet - no fiber, white potatoes not sweet potatoes, no bananas, etc.to try and prevent diarrhea.  The toughest thing during this time however was MISSING GOING KAYAKING. A few weeks after completing radiation my body functions went back to normal.

 

ALSO, during one of my check-ups with Dr Bibosa he asked me how my eyes were and I replied, "Worse every day". He referred me to ARMESTO EYE ASSOCIATES. In June and July Dr Armesto did CATARACT SURGERY on both eyes. I can see again! There's trees on that mountain! I continue with care there  by Dr Hosey.

MEANWHILE, During one of the follow-up visits with Dr Dave' the tests showed blockage was not improving (80% both legs). Dr Dave' asked how far I could walk before the pain in the calf muscles started. I replied, because my arthritis in my knees was getting so much worse, "I can't get that far". 

So he referred me to a KNEE SPECIALIST AT THE ORTHOPEDIC INSTITUE OF PA, Dr Polacheck. He confirmed what I already knew that my knees were shot. After injection of  Cortisone in each knee, he determined at the 3 month point that the cortisone shots were not going to do the trick and scheduled RIGHT KNEE REPLACEMENT for March, 2016.

But HOLD ON THERE! Follow up pet scan order by Dr Willis shows spots on lungs and in lymph nodes, March 2016. Biopsy scheduled and knee replacement indefinitely postponed.