Today's post will be an update day. First, there were no hospital visits today. Although my friend B is still in the hospital while they figure out why she is so ill.
BRENDA RECOVERY: today was not a good day. Yesterday was a good day but today not so good. Just a sign that recovery is a bit up and a bit down. I keep reminding her that she had a major organ removed as well as pounds of unwanted fibroids.
ANKLE RECOVERY: I got a shot of stuff shot in my ankle last week and it has been feeling better. Today I feel some weird pinching beneath the skin that seems weird. I will soon resume PT.
BUMP ON MY CALF: It is a fat lobule. Don't know what to do with it but it isn't cancer so I am happy.
RAT SITUATION: now I am not saying the rat situation is solved but it seems to be better. While we were away on vacation and the dogs were boarded we put down bait traps. It didn't seem like any of the bait was touched but it doesn't take much to kill a rat, does it? I also found out our neighbors cat caught a very large rat and eviscerated it. Unfortunately the cat moved away. I wish there was a rent a cat place. At least the dogs are not running out the door on the hunt like they were before.
Well, those are the updates.
Until tomorrow...
Friday, October 19, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
ANOTHER HOSPITAL VISIT
Don't they say when it rains it pours? Just when I get Brenda home and stable, my friend (let's call her B) called to say she was really ill and needed to go to the hospital. I rushed to her house and she was in a bad way. I called 911 and an ambulance came to take her to the hospital. After hours in the emergency room, they finally decided to admit her. Initially it looked like a case of dehydration from a cold but as the day went on it began to look like something else maybe going on. She was unable to hold even water down even after two bags of fluid and some medicine. After the third bag of fluid she was still in a bad way and felt just like she did when we called 911.
I felt bad that I could not monitor Brenda all day but I knew she was only a phone call away and my friend B had no one who would sit with her while she was going through this horrible ordeal. As we all know, when in the emergency room or hospital an advocate is the best thing to have. Someone who knows their way around the ER or hospital system and is not scared to speak up to a doctor or nurse. Especially when you are in a bad way.
I eventually had to leave once I knew she was going to be admitted. They were going to run tests but many of them would take a while to get results. I knew she would be going up to a room and going to sleep. I will call in the morning and see what is going on.
I would like to have a day that didn't include a hospital this week!
Until tomorrow...
I felt bad that I could not monitor Brenda all day but I knew she was only a phone call away and my friend B had no one who would sit with her while she was going through this horrible ordeal. As we all know, when in the emergency room or hospital an advocate is the best thing to have. Someone who knows their way around the ER or hospital system and is not scared to speak up to a doctor or nurse. Especially when you are in a bad way.
I eventually had to leave once I knew she was going to be admitted. They were going to run tests but many of them would take a while to get results. I knew she would be going up to a room and going to sleep. I will call in the morning and see what is going on.
I would like to have a day that didn't include a hospital this week!
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
WHY CAN'T THINGS GO EASY?
I go to pick up Brenda and she is SO ready to get out of the hospital. SO READY! We debate on whether she should shower at the hospital or shower at home. I know this sounds like such a little thing but it turns into a BIG thing.
Brenda decides to shower in the hospital in their lovely shower. She takes a really short shower, gets out and sits down to dry off. At that point she proceeds to sweat profusely and get light headed. I go get a nurse and Brenda's eyes start to roll and she gets lifeless. Luckily she is sitting down. The nurse gets another nurse and they talk about getting her to lie down. They go get another nurse and between the four of us we get lifeless Brenda on the bed. There was talk at one point of putting her on the floor but Brenda kept shaking her head. She was not going to be put on that dirty floor! Even in her state! She never lost conscienceness but she was close.
Once she laid down she began to feel better. Her eyes came back to normal and she stopped sweating. Turns out that her shower was too hot and her veins opened up making her blood to flow faster. This made her blood pressure drop. The nurses were impressed that she didn't lose conscienceness. After a short bit she was okay. She got dressed and ate some lunch.
This meant no going home. We had to wait until the doctor gave the okay. Another hour wait since the doctor was in surgery.
We are so thankful that she took the shower in the hospital and not at home! Imagine if she took the shower at home and this happened? It took four of us to get her from a chair to the bed. Imagine me trying to get her into bed if she got lightheaded getting out of the shower at home! It would not have been pretty! Now she is under strict orders: no showers for 48 hours! When she does shower, only cool showers.
She is home and all is well! Thank you all for your good thoughts and comments. I sure appreciate it. This is my first time being on this side of a crisis. Brenda is always the person sitting in the waiting room and taking care of me. I always thought, gosh she has the easy part. Now I see it is not so easy. It is stressful! All the running back and forth taking care of dogs, trying to get some work done, taking care of the patient, waiting to hear news, so stressful. I feel exhausted.
Until tomorrow...
Brenda decides to shower in the hospital in their lovely shower. She takes a really short shower, gets out and sits down to dry off. At that point she proceeds to sweat profusely and get light headed. I go get a nurse and Brenda's eyes start to roll and she gets lifeless. Luckily she is sitting down. The nurse gets another nurse and they talk about getting her to lie down. They go get another nurse and between the four of us we get lifeless Brenda on the bed. There was talk at one point of putting her on the floor but Brenda kept shaking her head. She was not going to be put on that dirty floor! Even in her state! She never lost conscienceness but she was close.
Once she laid down she began to feel better. Her eyes came back to normal and she stopped sweating. Turns out that her shower was too hot and her veins opened up making her blood to flow faster. This made her blood pressure drop. The nurses were impressed that she didn't lose conscienceness. After a short bit she was okay. She got dressed and ate some lunch.
This meant no going home. We had to wait until the doctor gave the okay. Another hour wait since the doctor was in surgery.
We are so thankful that she took the shower in the hospital and not at home! Imagine if she took the shower at home and this happened? It took four of us to get her from a chair to the bed. Imagine me trying to get her into bed if she got lightheaded getting out of the shower at home! It would not have been pretty! Now she is under strict orders: no showers for 48 hours! When she does shower, only cool showers.
She is home and all is well! Thank you all for your good thoughts and comments. I sure appreciate it. This is my first time being on this side of a crisis. Brenda is always the person sitting in the waiting room and taking care of me. I always thought, gosh she has the easy part. Now I see it is not so easy. It is stressful! All the running back and forth taking care of dogs, trying to get some work done, taking care of the patient, waiting to hear news, so stressful. I feel exhausted.
Until tomorrow...
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
GETTING OUT TOMORROW
Brenda has come through the surgery with flying colors! Thank you for all your kind thoughts, cards, flowers, and comments.
Here's what happened:
The surgery took much longer than expected. The fibroids were huge! The doctor said she was actually sweating when she was getting them out. She said she really had to work to remove them. They were between 5-7 pounds. Just like having a baby! She said a uterus is normally the size of a small tangerine but hers was the size of a small watermelon and it was ugly! I am sure Brenda will be more comfortable now.
Tomorrow Brenda will be discharged. Yesterday the-insurance-company-who-shall-not-be-named sent a letter stating that Brenda was authorized to stay in the hospital for one day, the day of her surgery. The breath was sucked out of me. I had just left her in horrible pain in a hospital bed. She was in no condition to leave the hospital!
First thing this morning I called the-insurance-company-who-shall-not-be-named and found out who needed to be contacted by her doctor. We can not afford a two day $30,000 hospital bill. The doctor assured us this was all okay and taken care of. Phew!
Tonight she has chills and fever so I am a bit concerned. They have given her some pain meds with Tylenol so she should be okay. Believe it or not, besides the fever, passing gas is the only thing keeping her in the hospital! We are wishing for just one fart...
Until tomorrow...
Here's what happened:
The surgery took much longer than expected. The fibroids were huge! The doctor said she was actually sweating when she was getting them out. She said she really had to work to remove them. They were between 5-7 pounds. Just like having a baby! She said a uterus is normally the size of a small tangerine but hers was the size of a small watermelon and it was ugly! I am sure Brenda will be more comfortable now.
Tomorrow Brenda will be discharged. Yesterday the-insurance-company-who-shall-not-be-named sent a letter stating that Brenda was authorized to stay in the hospital for one day, the day of her surgery. The breath was sucked out of me. I had just left her in horrible pain in a hospital bed. She was in no condition to leave the hospital!
First thing this morning I called the-insurance-company-who-shall-not-be-named and found out who needed to be contacted by her doctor. We can not afford a two day $30,000 hospital bill. The doctor assured us this was all okay and taken care of. Phew!
Tonight she has chills and fever so I am a bit concerned. They have given her some pain meds with Tylenol so she should be okay. Believe it or not, besides the fever, passing gas is the only thing keeping her in the hospital! We are wishing for just one fart...
Until tomorrow...
Monday, October 15, 2012
WAITING ROOMS
Everyone in the waiting room is crowded around a computer monitor. Not sure what that is for but I am assuming it is like at the airport an arrivals and departures screen telling folks about surgery times. Brenda has just gone in so I have some time to wait. She has been so excited to get this surgery done but this weekend she got very anxious and this morning she got VERY anxious. Poor thing. I wanted them to give her Ativan but they couldn't.
Our plan is that I wait a short time and then I go home and let the dogs out for a quick walk around the block and get back before she wakes up. Poor babies are locked up all day.
Waiting rooms are weird places. A bunch of folks are chatting and the lady in charge is VERY elderly and hard of hearing. She is cute and probably a volunteer. Not so good at answering questions though.
All the rest of the folks are staring at their electronic devices. Hey, we could be at my brothers movie night! Some folks talking others staring at devices. Ha ha.
Well, I have run home and let the pups out. Keep Brenda in your thoughts.
Until later...
Our plan is that I wait a short time and then I go home and let the dogs out for a quick walk around the block and get back before she wakes up. Poor babies are locked up all day.
Waiting rooms are weird places. A bunch of folks are chatting and the lady in charge is VERY elderly and hard of hearing. She is cute and probably a volunteer. Not so good at answering questions though.
All the rest of the folks are staring at their electronic devices. Hey, we could be at my brothers movie night! Some folks talking others staring at devices. Ha ha.
Well, I have run home and let the pups out. Keep Brenda in your thoughts.
Until later...
Sunday, October 14, 2012
ENBREL
I have to do my Enbrel shot tonight. Last week when I did my shot I had an oops. I use the sub-Q needles and not the sure click pre-fill applicator. There are parts that have to be put together to give myself the shot. I didn't have the bottle of liquid screwed on all the way to the plunger and the liquid poured out. I watched $800 worth of liquid pour out. It was almost funny. Or sad. Not sure which. Tonight I will be more careful although in all the years I have been giving myself shots, this is the first time I had that happen. I once had a needle come undone...
I just saw that Enbrel commercial with Phil Mickelson. Our family got into a discussion about that commercial last week. I was telling them how I hate that commercial because it makes it sound like if you take one shot you will be cured and out running a marathon! I have been taking the shots since they have been on the market and I have not run a marathon yet. No disco dancing all night long. In fact, I have gone from wearing high heels to wearing sensible shoes! This weekend I have a new pain in my hip joint that made walking quite painful so I don't see any disco dancing in my future either!
The discussion became about whether Enbrel worked for Phil Mickelson or not. Which I said it probably does but it may not work for everyone in the same way. It is not the miracle drug the commercial makes it out to be. Phil could not play golf, took some shots and now his is winning tournaments. I think that is great for him but the commercial should have a disclaimer that says "results may vary" or "results not typical". Some folks hear I am on Enbrel and think I should have the same results as Mr. Mickelson but it doesn't work that way. Plus the commercial doesn't mention what other drugs Mr. Mickelson may be taking in coordination with Enbrel.
Anyway, tonight is my shot night.
Tomorrow is Brenda's surgery so it is early to bed!
Until tomorrow...
I just saw that Enbrel commercial with Phil Mickelson. Our family got into a discussion about that commercial last week. I was telling them how I hate that commercial because it makes it sound like if you take one shot you will be cured and out running a marathon! I have been taking the shots since they have been on the market and I have not run a marathon yet. No disco dancing all night long. In fact, I have gone from wearing high heels to wearing sensible shoes! This weekend I have a new pain in my hip joint that made walking quite painful so I don't see any disco dancing in my future either!
The discussion became about whether Enbrel worked for Phil Mickelson or not. Which I said it probably does but it may not work for everyone in the same way. It is not the miracle drug the commercial makes it out to be. Phil could not play golf, took some shots and now his is winning tournaments. I think that is great for him but the commercial should have a disclaimer that says "results may vary" or "results not typical". Some folks hear I am on Enbrel and think I should have the same results as Mr. Mickelson but it doesn't work that way. Plus the commercial doesn't mention what other drugs Mr. Mickelson may be taking in coordination with Enbrel.
Anyway, tonight is my shot night.
Tomorrow is Brenda's surgery so it is early to bed!
Until tomorrow...
Saturday, October 13, 2012
BURRITOS
On vacation we ate Mexican/TexMex a few times. (I am still clear on the difference between Mexican food and TexMex) But it did mot satisfy my craving for Little Chihuahua. Tonight we went to my favorite burrito place, Little Chihuahua. They have fancy burritos, not plain beans and rice burritos. I order the Black Bean and Fried Plantain Burrito (pictured below poorly). It is delicious. Like, dream about it good.
The salsa and black beans give it a spicy kick while the fried plantains are sweet and delicious. The roasted red peppers give it a roasted taste. The whole thing just tastes so good that I have dreams about this burrito. They also have a wild mushroom burrito that I want to try but I can't get past the black beans and fried plantain burrito.
Isn't it funny when you have a food that is so good that you dream about it? A few years ago we went to Vegas for my brothers wedding and Brenda and I ate at the restaurant Todd English's Olives at the Bellagio. I can still taste the food. It was that good. I would go back to Vegas just to eat.
Do you have a food you dream about?
Until tomorrow...
The salsa and black beans give it a spicy kick while the fried plantains are sweet and delicious. The roasted red peppers give it a roasted taste. The whole thing just tastes so good that I have dreams about this burrito. They also have a wild mushroom burrito that I want to try but I can't get past the black beans and fried plantain burrito.
Isn't it funny when you have a food that is so good that you dream about it? A few years ago we went to Vegas for my brothers wedding and Brenda and I ate at the restaurant Todd English's Olives at the Bellagio. I can still taste the food. It was that good. I would go back to Vegas just to eat.
Do you have a food you dream about?
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, October 11, 2012
SHOT IN THE ANKLE
Today I went to the ankle doctor because my ankle still hurts. Surgery was May 9, today is October 11 so why is my ankle still hurting? It has been 5 months. I get that I heal slowly and it should still ache a little but it should not hurt with every step.
The doctor agreed. She wanted to have me get an MRI but the chances of The-Insurance-Company-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named giving me another MRI are slim. So she gave me a shot instead. She took a big long needle and shot something into my ankle. We now wait and see if that fixes it. If not an MRI in January when I pay for it.
So far today it feels better. Yay!
Until tomorrow...
The doctor agreed. She wanted to have me get an MRI but the chances of The-Insurance-Company-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named giving me another MRI are slim. So she gave me a shot instead. She took a big long needle and shot something into my ankle. We now wait and see if that fixes it. If not an MRI in January when I pay for it.
So far today it feels better. Yay!
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
GOOD NEWS!
After a month I finally got the MRI on my leg. The verdict is that I have an asymmetrical fat lobule in my calf. It is not big or bad enough to be a lipedema.
It is not a bruise or torn ligament or cancer. I don't know what to do about a fat lobule but I am sure a doctor will tell me soon. It is not life threatening. Life is good!
Until tomorrow...
It is not a bruise or torn ligament or cancer. I don't know what to do about a fat lobule but I am sure a doctor will tell me soon. It is not life threatening. Life is good!
Until tomorrow...
Monday, October 8, 2012
MRI
Sitting here in the waiting room of the MRI department thinking about the nice nap I will soon get to have. I love to take a nap in MRI machines. Wrap me in a warm blanket and I am good to go. I fill out all the paperwork and told them where all my metal is located (markers in my breasts and clips in my ankle) and now wait. I got here too early because I never know what the parking situation will be.
Hospital paperwork is so funny. First they make me verify my name, social security number, date of birth, address and then have me fill out another form with all the same information on it. Doesn't that seem stupid to anyone other than me? Couldn't they just make the form so they could have me verify it and then they print it on the rest of the forms that need the information? I am telling you I could revamp healthcare and save the industry! I would be hailed as the Lee Iacocca of health care.
MRI is finished. I asked the woman to not give me the updates before each MRI test. "This test will take 3 minutes". I had a migraine and wanted to fall asleep. I love sleeping in MRI machines. Put that blanket on me and wrap me like a burrito. I will fall asleep. This place even gave me ear plugs instead of those bulky things to put over your ears.
I will get the results in a few days. I have an appointment with my doctor on Thursday morning.
Wish me luck!
Until tomorrow...
Hospital paperwork is so funny. First they make me verify my name, social security number, date of birth, address and then have me fill out another form with all the same information on it. Doesn't that seem stupid to anyone other than me? Couldn't they just make the form so they could have me verify it and then they print it on the rest of the forms that need the information? I am telling you I could revamp healthcare and save the industry! I would be hailed as the Lee Iacocca of health care.
MRI is finished. I asked the woman to not give me the updates before each MRI test. "This test will take 3 minutes". I had a migraine and wanted to fall asleep. I love sleeping in MRI machines. Put that blanket on me and wrap me like a burrito. I will fall asleep. This place even gave me ear plugs instead of those bulky things to put over your ears.
I will get the results in a few days. I have an appointment with my doctor on Thursday morning.
Wish me luck!
Until tomorrow...
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