Hello, Colleen. I've missed you, my lady. @colleenyoung

I use Microsoft Edge now on this laptop. Chrome? Have Firefox and plan to use it for security, but haven't set up yet. I use Bing and Edge.

Just spent entire day at Mayo beginning with referral to rheumatology from nephrology. Recently diagnosed with vasculitis, by nephrology. She wanted confirmation of the diagnosis so referral to rheumatology, which thrilled me since I have Sarcoid and should be seeing this specialty regularly for last 30+ years! Wonderful doc and resident! This has been a pretty rough year for me with a lot of strange, serious, infections and issues. He sent me today for bloodwork, urine, and chest CT. He's very concerned about my scarring in lungs, granulomas and such. I am, too, and have had worsening lung/breathing problems all year.

I currently have sphenoid sinus infection, probably picked up in one of the several hospital stays this year. It's quite resistant to antibiotics and tough to get rid of. Heading for sinus biopsy at rheum. request and then surgery to rid my sinus of this infection, clear out some calcification, reduce some enlarged cartilage and remove or whatever a cyst. I had determined I wouldn't have anything elective that requires sedation as I have to have deep anesthesia due to severe sleep apnea. I told my PCP not sedation....he said it's my decision but it really had to do with the quality of life
He's so right. So, I decided to have the surgery. I'm not sure it's really elective with this infections, etc.

Just saw my test results on portal! Have UTI with blood in the urine and squamous cells. No symptoms. No idea. Vasculitis it must be. Amazing how good this doctor is. His plan which brought me to tears is to treat many if not most of the issues I've had this year, last couple years, as a whole, a whole person, as if somehow they are all connected, caused by one issue.

Well, Vasculitis may well be the culprit. Not good diagnosis, but I have hope now for first time in a while. This fellow will find the answer and treat with some new treatments that work far better and with far fewer negative side effects than Prednisone, which I thought was the primary treatment, if caught early enough.

First, don't know if we caught this early enough.
Secondly, so much to deal with.

I'm encouraged, hopeful, but realistic and know all this is serious. I am so thankful for Mayo. These wonderful doctors and staff have saved my life. I think I would not be alive or be close to death if I hadn't been sent to Mayo by God and His marvelous plan. You must know you and connect have saved me emotionally, literally. I'm not alone anymore. Rarely do I have the overwhelming aloneness, that engulfs you and creates fears of many kinds. Connect and the wonderful folks who I now consider actually good friends, never met nor even know what most look like. If this isn't a miracle, what is?

Chatty Mattie arrived....Thanks for being you and for being there. What a gift you give...Blessings, elizabeth