At the cardiologist's office today, I learned that I have mild pulmonary hypertension and right sided heart enlargement. The most common cause is sleep apnea. I was tested for it 2 years ago and the test was negative.
I am scheduled with a pulmonologist very soon. Hopefully my sleep study was wrong.
Use your search engine if you want to know more about pulmonary hypertension.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
52 Books in 52 Weeks
Casey and I are doing the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. We are to read 52 books this year. I imagine we will surpass this goal.
I read Josiah for President as my first book of the year. I found it very entertaining and had some very valid political points. The Amish do not hold public office, but I do agree if we could go back to simpler times we would all benefit from it.
My second book was a piece of filth called Big Girls Do It Better. I'm not sure what I thought this book would be about, but I got quite the surprise.
I have been watching Upstairs, Downstairs from BBC filmed in the early 1970s. I am enjoying this series and it has aroused my interest in World War I.
Scott and I have been watching Deadly Women in the evenings. It is hard to believe such evil can exist in our world. This is not a series for those who cannot stand to think about the wrongful deaths of innocent children.
I am knitting a sweater from some alpaca fiber that took me over a year to spin. I used my electric spinner for it since even treadling my wheel can cause my heart to race. I am spinning a bit of Blue Face Leicester that my friend Louann dyed and gave to me. It is beautiful pinks and purples. I have been spinning it for several months, just a few minutes here and there.
Nothing changes much with my illness other than I get sick from viruses much easier than I ever did before. A trip out leaves me with symptoms for several days. I still go into anaphylaxis quite frequently.
The hardest thing for me continues to be accepting that I can no longer go to work. I miss it very much. I also miss driving, and being able to go where ever I want, when ever I want, and being able to do anything I want. Sick days leave me physically and emotionally drained. On days that I feel a bit better I tend to overdo, which leads to my being down for several days. I am so much better than a year ago, but still so very sick.
I read Josiah for President as my first book of the year. I found it very entertaining and had some very valid political points. The Amish do not hold public office, but I do agree if we could go back to simpler times we would all benefit from it.
My second book was a piece of filth called Big Girls Do It Better. I'm not sure what I thought this book would be about, but I got quite the surprise.
I have been watching Upstairs, Downstairs from BBC filmed in the early 1970s. I am enjoying this series and it has aroused my interest in World War I.
Scott and I have been watching Deadly Women in the evenings. It is hard to believe such evil can exist in our world. This is not a series for those who cannot stand to think about the wrongful deaths of innocent children.
I am knitting a sweater from some alpaca fiber that took me over a year to spin. I used my electric spinner for it since even treadling my wheel can cause my heart to race. I am spinning a bit of Blue Face Leicester that my friend Louann dyed and gave to me. It is beautiful pinks and purples. I have been spinning it for several months, just a few minutes here and there.
Nothing changes much with my illness other than I get sick from viruses much easier than I ever did before. A trip out leaves me with symptoms for several days. I still go into anaphylaxis quite frequently.
The hardest thing for me continues to be accepting that I can no longer go to work. I miss it very much. I also miss driving, and being able to go where ever I want, when ever I want, and being able to do anything I want. Sick days leave me physically and emotionally drained. On days that I feel a bit better I tend to overdo, which leads to my being down for several days. I am so much better than a year ago, but still so very sick.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Hello Darlin'
...it's been a long time. :)
Live continues in pretty much the same way. Anaphylaxis continues...
I am on a new immunosuppresive drug. It is making me significantly anemic and I stay so tired. My dosage was doubled on December 5th. We are hoping my white count stays above 4 and that my platelets remain at an acceptable level. Before anyone says something to do for anemia... this isn't a deficiency. It is a result of bone marrow suppression caused by the drug I am taking. I can eat liver until it runs out my ears and it won't help (not that I would eat liver anyway - yuck!)
I still knit some, make some cards and scrapbook when I feel like it, and read. I just started watching Upstairs,Downstairs on Netflix. I am amazed at the subject matter they showed on BBC in 1971.
Bentley had his first visit with Santa last night. He is growing up so fast.
Live continues in pretty much the same way. Anaphylaxis continues...
I am on a new immunosuppresive drug. It is making me significantly anemic and I stay so tired. My dosage was doubled on December 5th. We are hoping my white count stays above 4 and that my platelets remain at an acceptable level. Before anyone says something to do for anemia... this isn't a deficiency. It is a result of bone marrow suppression caused by the drug I am taking. I can eat liver until it runs out my ears and it won't help (not that I would eat liver anyway - yuck!)
I still knit some, make some cards and scrapbook when I feel like it, and read. I just started watching Upstairs,Downstairs on Netflix. I am amazed at the subject matter they showed on BBC in 1971.
Bentley had his first visit with Santa last night. He is growing up so fast.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Your Eyes Are Not Deceiving You!
I must admit I have had quite a bit of soreness in my leg. My calf muscles were pretty much flab so I have a way to go to build them back. I have aching at the fracture site too, but I hear that will always be with me at times.
In other health news, I am slightly improved on anaphylaxis - maybe every 3 weeks for the past couple of months. I fear that when the heat really sets in I will have more frequent issues. I have been having lots of rashes and itching. I don't tell someone every time I have a little symptom anymore - it stresses everyone and me being stressed is quite enough for this world.
My Irritable Bowel Syndrome is reeking havoc on my life. I went for about a month with constipation, which is miserable, but I am now back in diarrhea phase. Ugh.
I also need to thank my friend Ruth who sent some money to help out with expenses during the winter that I had previously forgotten to mention. My cousin Pam sent me a Cades Cove Mystery to read on my Kindle. I have to admit that I have not been reading much lately. I never knew before IA that you could be too tired to read.
Bentley started walking at 8 1/2 months. He now runs. He has several words in his vocabulary that we can understand, but he talks quite a bit in words that we don't understand. I am sure he knows that they mean because he gives me a very serious Bawbaw look when he talks to me. LOL
We are going to be bad this weekend! Bratwurst and hot dogs! Yum! Obviously they are not fat free hot dogs, but Nathan's hot dogs. Ah - a heart attack on a bun when you add Valleydale chili. Scott does try to soak up some of the fat in the chili with paper towels, but it still has plenty of yumminess.
Happy Memorial Day!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Easter
We had a wonderful family Easter. Bentley loves his Daddy, Pops, and Bawbaw so much and he had all three of them there. By the end of the day he was reaching for Uncle Mike too.
Kristen colored Bentley some real Easter eggs. We were anxious to see what he would do with them. The first he dropped and broke. The second he tried to bite into it with his little teeth. Jdub took them away so he wouldn't eat the shells. LOL
My stomach has calmed down a bit so I was able to eat a small meal with just some stomach pains. It is so hard when you have all that yummy food in front of you to just have a tiny portion of your favorites. I am really happy that I got to eat as much as I did. Food is such a wonderful thing.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
What A Relief
Yesterday was my hearing with the Administrative Law Judge.
Scott and I went on to Kingsport on Thursday night because we knew I would not be able to handle the ride over and then meeting with my attorney and the hearing. It is impossible to find an inexpensive motel in Kingsport. We ended up staying at the Jameson Inn off Exit 4. It was very nice and very clean.
I have been having tummy issues for a while, but Thursday night was the worst in quite some time. I ended up being up most of the night with severe cramping. When I saw Dr. Litchfield earlier this month he doubled the medication for "colon spasms", but it did not touch these. I fell in the bathroom, waking Scott. No serious injuries to me but Scott was very alarmed. LOL
Friday morning I could only sip water. I had been in this condition in December when I was admitted to the hospital.
We arrived at the Social Security building a bit early. My attorney went over all the questions he would ask me during the hearing. He said that the judge would also ask questions. A vocational expert would also be questioned by the judge.
Mr. Desparti explained that the vocational expert would be listing jobs I would be able to do. He told me not to panic, because when he questioned her that he would show why I was not able to do those jobs.
As Scott and I waited, we saw other people coming from their hearings crying or very angry. Only one of Mr. Desparti's clients looked upset. When he came to get me for the hearing to start, I was very nervous.
The room was nothing special. The judge was not wearing a robe. The court reporter came over and told me if I was unable to sit that I was allowed to get up and walk around. She said I could sip my water when necessary. My mouth was so dry that my tongue would stick to the roof of my mouth - I was very dehydrated.
The judge swore me in, and Mr. Desparti asked the questions we had gone over. The judge told me that all of my doctors thought I was unable to work. He asked if I agreed. Of course I said yes sir.
He then asked the vocational expert based on a hypothetical person with the medical information in my file, what jobs she would be able to perform. She answered none sir. Oh boy! This was not what I expected. He then asked her based on my testimony if this were a hypothetical person of my age and training what jobs that person would be able to do. She answered none sir. At this point I felt sure that I was going to pass out right there! The judge asked the vocational expert what led her to come to that conclusion. The first thing she answered was unexpected anaphylaxis. She listed off almost all of my problems.
The judge then said that I would be receiving a letter in about 60 days with his ruling but he was going to give me a favorable decision. Wow - I could not believe that after all the fighting I have done since August 2010 that it would be this simple. The judge refused to make a decision based on my medical records 5 times, but now he gives a favorable ruling without even asking any difficult questions. I was in shock.
The judge did ask me to explain why I had wages after the last day I worked. I told him it was the vacation time I had left. He said that is what he thought and that we were dismissed.
In the hallway Mr. Desparti reiterated that it would take about 60 days to receive the official ruling in the mail, but that since I knew the ruling that I could put all of this behind me.
I got to the waiting room and had to sit down. Got to the chair closest to the door and had to sit down. Then I made it to the car. We were parked right in front of the door, so it wasn't very far. When Scott got in I told him we got a favorable ruling. We were thanking God that this fight was finally over.
Does this mean I will now have more money? No. My long term disability insurance will pay me the amount above what I get from social security to make up the difference through October. My social security check will be a great deal less than my insurance, so starting in November we are going to have to tighten up on the budget. I will be eligible for Medicare in January which will be very nice. It is extremely expensive for Scott to carry a dependent on the NC State Health Plan.
I thought once the hearing was behind me that I would feel much better. Wrong! Scott got me a diet Dr. Pepper. I couldn't drink that. He then got me a vitamin water. I could drink sips of that. We went by Scott's dads house and I rested on the couch. I kept feeling worse. Scott asked if I wanted to go to the hospital - no! I promised that if I was not better by Monday I would go to the doctor. On the way home, I felt like my blood sugar was bottoming out, so I asked Scott if we could get a snack.
.
LOL. We went all the way back to Valley Forge to get me a hot dog and diet strawberry lemonade. I ate the hot dog and felt better, but it made me very nauseated, even with Zofran and Phenergan. When we got home I went to bed. I got back up around 8, and Scott asked if there was anything I could drink. I told him nothing fizzy, so he made a pitcher of my favorite cherry-pomegranate drink mix. I couldn't drink it either. I went back to bed.
This morning I am drinking my Diet Sunkist and eating crackers. Go me! Things are looking up! Scott asked if I wanted the steaks he got last week on sale for supper. The thought of them didn't make me gag, so we will have those. I am hopeful that my stomach is settling.
Bentley is walking! He started taking a few steps at 8 1/2 months, and at 9 months he is on the move. A smile from this little guy can make me smile on the worst days. At my suggestion, Casey and Jeremiah did Baby Led Weaning with Bentley. He eats everything we eat. It is wonderful not to have to worry about baby food. Bentley loves everything, but his current favorite seems to be broccoli. He can even find it at the grocery store.
I haven't stopped reading, but did stop trying to keep up with all of them for the blog. If something is outstanding I will let you know about it.
Knitting is slow - I can't hold the needles for very long.
Scott and I went on to Kingsport on Thursday night because we knew I would not be able to handle the ride over and then meeting with my attorney and the hearing. It is impossible to find an inexpensive motel in Kingsport. We ended up staying at the Jameson Inn off Exit 4. It was very nice and very clean.
I have been having tummy issues for a while, but Thursday night was the worst in quite some time. I ended up being up most of the night with severe cramping. When I saw Dr. Litchfield earlier this month he doubled the medication for "colon spasms", but it did not touch these. I fell in the bathroom, waking Scott. No serious injuries to me but Scott was very alarmed. LOL
Friday morning I could only sip water. I had been in this condition in December when I was admitted to the hospital.
We arrived at the Social Security building a bit early. My attorney went over all the questions he would ask me during the hearing. He said that the judge would also ask questions. A vocational expert would also be questioned by the judge.
Mr. Desparti explained that the vocational expert would be listing jobs I would be able to do. He told me not to panic, because when he questioned her that he would show why I was not able to do those jobs.
As Scott and I waited, we saw other people coming from their hearings crying or very angry. Only one of Mr. Desparti's clients looked upset. When he came to get me for the hearing to start, I was very nervous.
The room was nothing special. The judge was not wearing a robe. The court reporter came over and told me if I was unable to sit that I was allowed to get up and walk around. She said I could sip my water when necessary. My mouth was so dry that my tongue would stick to the roof of my mouth - I was very dehydrated.
The judge swore me in, and Mr. Desparti asked the questions we had gone over. The judge told me that all of my doctors thought I was unable to work. He asked if I agreed. Of course I said yes sir.
He then asked the vocational expert based on a hypothetical person with the medical information in my file, what jobs she would be able to perform. She answered none sir. Oh boy! This was not what I expected. He then asked her based on my testimony if this were a hypothetical person of my age and training what jobs that person would be able to do. She answered none sir. At this point I felt sure that I was going to pass out right there! The judge asked the vocational expert what led her to come to that conclusion. The first thing she answered was unexpected anaphylaxis. She listed off almost all of my problems.
The judge then said that I would be receiving a letter in about 60 days with his ruling but he was going to give me a favorable decision. Wow - I could not believe that after all the fighting I have done since August 2010 that it would be this simple. The judge refused to make a decision based on my medical records 5 times, but now he gives a favorable ruling without even asking any difficult questions. I was in shock.
The judge did ask me to explain why I had wages after the last day I worked. I told him it was the vacation time I had left. He said that is what he thought and that we were dismissed.
In the hallway Mr. Desparti reiterated that it would take about 60 days to receive the official ruling in the mail, but that since I knew the ruling that I could put all of this behind me.
I got to the waiting room and had to sit down. Got to the chair closest to the door and had to sit down. Then I made it to the car. We were parked right in front of the door, so it wasn't very far. When Scott got in I told him we got a favorable ruling. We were thanking God that this fight was finally over.
Does this mean I will now have more money? No. My long term disability insurance will pay me the amount above what I get from social security to make up the difference through October. My social security check will be a great deal less than my insurance, so starting in November we are going to have to tighten up on the budget. I will be eligible for Medicare in January which will be very nice. It is extremely expensive for Scott to carry a dependent on the NC State Health Plan.
I thought once the hearing was behind me that I would feel much better. Wrong! Scott got me a diet Dr. Pepper. I couldn't drink that. He then got me a vitamin water. I could drink sips of that. We went by Scott's dads house and I rested on the couch. I kept feeling worse. Scott asked if I wanted to go to the hospital - no! I promised that if I was not better by Monday I would go to the doctor. On the way home, I felt like my blood sugar was bottoming out, so I asked Scott if we could get a snack.
.
LOL. We went all the way back to Valley Forge to get me a hot dog and diet strawberry lemonade. I ate the hot dog and felt better, but it made me very nauseated, even with Zofran and Phenergan. When we got home I went to bed. I got back up around 8, and Scott asked if there was anything I could drink. I told him nothing fizzy, so he made a pitcher of my favorite cherry-pomegranate drink mix. I couldn't drink it either. I went back to bed.
This morning I am drinking my Diet Sunkist and eating crackers. Go me! Things are looking up! Scott asked if I wanted the steaks he got last week on sale for supper. The thought of them didn't make me gag, so we will have those. I am hopeful that my stomach is settling.
I haven't stopped reading, but did stop trying to keep up with all of them for the blog. If something is outstanding I will let you know about it.
Knitting is slow - I can't hold the needles for very long.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
It's Been A Long Time
There isn't much new to report.
My stomach issues are less frequent but more severe when they occur. Sometimes the medications just don't work.
I am now allowed to put full weight on my leg with my brace on, but the bone is still showing minimal healing. The rod holds the bones in place allowing me to walk on it. I'm thankful that I was able to have the rod placed. If not I would still be no weight bearing.
The IA remains about the same. I also have the weakness, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue still. For the past few days my blood pressure has been extremely low even without my blood pressure and heart medications. I am going to keep checking it before taking the medications and see what happens.
Bentley decided to help his Mom bake a few days ago. He got into the flour container by himself while she was busy with other ingredients. He took 3 steps unsupported last week. He is exploring everything now.
My stomach issues are less frequent but more severe when they occur. Sometimes the medications just don't work.
I am now allowed to put full weight on my leg with my brace on, but the bone is still showing minimal healing. The rod holds the bones in place allowing me to walk on it. I'm thankful that I was able to have the rod placed. If not I would still be no weight bearing.
The IA remains about the same. I also have the weakness, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue still. For the past few days my blood pressure has been extremely low even without my blood pressure and heart medications. I am going to keep checking it before taking the medications and see what happens.
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