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A warm welcome to my Blog and my hope is that you find comfort in knowing you are not alone with your Acromegaly.

Saturday, December 4, 2010


Me with my kids. Time flies with 2. Sydney is great. We have lot of fun together. She is going to be 4 months on December 19th. Devon just adores his sister. He is a great big brother and loves to help.
I did receive results of my last IGF-1 tests: August was a reading of: 518 and September was: 447. I was just at the Lab this week for another IGF-1 blood test to see if my levels are going down? They are still quite high for me. Pre pregnancy, my levels were in normal range, around the 200. I'm also scheduled for my MRI on Tuesday December 7th. I'm looking forward to the results. I'm still experiencing certain symptoms and hope that it will be rectified once my levels are stablized. Once I get my latest IGF-1 results and the results of the MRI, I will be scheduling an appointment with the Endocronologist in Montreal to discuss maybe increasing my Sando for a while until I'm back on track.
The holidays are fast approaching. May you all have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Private Nursing Services Arranged...YIPEE

Great news, within only 2 weeks of filling out the Enrollment Forms, I was set up with a wonderful Nurse who comes to my home to give me my Sandostatin injections...all FREE of charge thanks to Access Sandostatin. The program also involves follow-up phone calls, assessments and replacement drugs if the nurse should happen to damage the vial.
Another great thing about this program is I will have the pleasure of having the same nurse administer my Sando. These nurses have had intense training on properly administering the drug.
I, along with my family, are so thankful for this wonderful service. I've been spreading the news...local pharmacy, family doctor ....

Julie

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Access Sandostatin LAR ~ FREE program for Acromegalics

I am pleased to write that after a stressful search for a nurse to administer my Sandostatin injections, my Endocronologist shared with me (which she herself just find out about this program) that the company who makes the drug supplies FREE nursing services all across Canada!!!!

I called and inquired and shared my story. The representative was very warm and understanding and very efficient on the phone. She explained that my physician needs to fill out the enrollment forms and I should hear back from them immediately. I called my Endo's office (once again it is the patient who does all the leg work), gave the great news to her secretary, and explained that the doctor must request access to the program and fill-out paperwork. I will give it a good 2 to 3 weeks for both my Endo and Novartis to get back to me. If I do not hear back from either of them, I will call my Endo's office. The patient must always be on top of things.

Access Sandostatin LAR Program
1-866-281-4688
*This program provides free nursing and financial services for individuals who use the medication Sandostatin. For example a person diagnosed with Acromegaly.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Now a family of 4












Sydney was born on Thursday August 19th, 2010 at 8:34pm. She is very healthy and a great baby. We are all happy to be home and enjoying our time as a family of 4. Labour was intense and now I am in the process of healing and have an appointement today to receive my Sandostatin injection (yipee). I am anxious to get the benefits and start feeling better. As I mentioned in my last post, I was experiencing Acro symptoms -snoring, sore jaw, bizarre sensations in my head and trouble sleeping just to mention a few. However, with pregnancy, my symptoms were 10x worse. As a result, I am bottle feeding and cannot breastfeed. Mom needs to be at her best to care for her children!
I have asked my family doctor to administer my injection as I am still in the process of seeking a private nurse. My Insurance Company has sent me the paper work for my Endo to fill-out. After speaking to a representative from my Insurance Company, my chances of being accepted are good. In the meantime, I hope to have my family doctor keep administering until this is all sorted out. Kinda sad when the patient is the one who has to be her best advocate.
All the best,
Julie

Friday, August 6, 2010

38 weeks pregnant


Been experiencing contractions but not often enough to head down to the hospital. I am still vomiting and am now feeling more Acro symptoms ie. swollen eye lids, bizarre sensation in my head just to name a few as other symptoms are also related to the pregnancy ie. swollen lips, hands, feet...just lovely hehe.
Results of IGF-1 during pregnancy:
Mar 3rd/2010- 251 ug/l & GH results 1.66
Apr 19th/2010- 210 ug/l
Jul 5th/2010- 307 ug/l
Augt 5th/2010- pending
As a result of my IGF-1 going up it was decided that I will resume my Sandostatin treatment every 3weeks starting mid-september and not wait for the August 5th bloodtest as it takes 1 month for results. I will at least have a few weeks to breastfeed. My husband and I are really ok with the decision as I do not want to fall sick again because I need all my strength to care of our newborn.
I also was told that I am no longer able to use our local clinic to receive my injections. It is no longer in their mandate to offer clients with intramuscular injections that service (I am very very disappointed with that news). They want a family member/friend to inject me (totally out of the question!) or that I pay for a private nurse in that case I can use the clinic. I am in the midst of trying to find the best possible option for me and hopefully the service will be covered by my insurance company. I will keep you posted both with the birth of our daughter and my search for a nurse.
All the best,
Julie

Sunday, April 4, 2010

5 Months Pregnant


5 months pregnant and counting. I have been quite ill throughout and am now off work until the delivery of our daughter in mid-August. I still wake up and cannot believe that I am still pregnant. I just can't wait to see her.
I'm being followed quite closely with both my Obstetrician and my Endocronologist. They both have been very attentive to my pregnancy and the fact that I have Acromegaly.
Happy Easter,
Julie

Monday, January 25, 2010

January 25th, 2010 ~10 weeks and 4 days pregnant and counting...



On December 17th, 2009, I found out that I was pregnant. Could it be true after 6 miscarriages in 5 years??? Well, it was confirmed with a blood test. I knew that I had to stop my Sandostatin and Diovan ASAP and call my Endocronologist.

Here I am today, full of nausea, fatigue and Acro symptoms already. My eye lids are slowly swelling, my nose is enlarging and my jaw and joints crack daily. It is all worth it though. The residual tumour will be monitored by Visual Field testing at the Optomotrist (No MRI for me) and lots of bloodwork. The baby is fine at this time. I had an early Ultrasound and the heart was beating and everything else was were it was suppose to be. My next Ultrasound is on Feb 10th.

My husband and I are still cautious but really hope that I carry through my 9 months!!!