Many Thanks…

for the birthday wishes and the lovely cards I received.  My daughter brought me lovely flowers a card and a birthday cake (my second cake) and tomorrow she and my SIL Mike are taking me to eat at Red Lobster.  I received a nice chunk of money from family which I proceeded to spend before it could burn a hole in my pocket.  Thank you to Paul my Boston friend who sent me several lovely shots of the lighthouse at Martha’s Vineyard.

The flowers from my daughter and son in law.  The cake is all gone because I had to eat a piece for each of you.  It was really good but I gained back a couple of the lost pounds.

Yesterday with the help and guidance of my Tennessee Twin I purchased an iPad 2 which is more than enough for me to start with.  I really would have enjoyed having that while I was stuck in the hospital with no visitors allowed.

I have an appointment this afternoon to see both my surgeon and my oncologist.  I have a whole page full of questions for them.  Monday I am having a CT scan.  I am a bit worried about that one.

Note for Happy One.  Yesterday was a hectic day for me and I didn’t get a chance to let you know that the blanket for little Lizzie was received amidst oohs and awes.  They all thought it was beautiful and the mittens for Addie adorable.  I have asked for a picture of Lizzie with the blanket.  I will send it along to you when I get it.

I hope you all have a truly Blessed weekend.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Life in a hospital room…

with radiation is not pleasant.   To begin with I  have these lead wires going up underneath my chin into my mouth.  There is a ball of radiation (somewhat like an over size BB that has been planted in the base of my tongue someway.  I don’t even want to know how.  I am praying all of the while that it is securely attached someway and I am not going to swallow it.  

Add the wires that are delivering the radiation to the right side and back of my tongue, then to top it off the guard that the dentist made which is protecting my teeth and jawbone and seems to be cutting my mouth to shreds.  I am not exaggerating one bit when I say that the pain is excruciating. 

One night I was just lying in my hospital bed punching the morphine pump and trying to think to say my prayers before I drifted off a bit.  I couldn’t for the life of me think what I needed to pray about.

When you have radiation like I did your room is considered contaminated.  There is a bag of protective footwear hanging on the outside door knob.  As you go into the room there is a protective radiation guard that the nurses stay behind when they come in the room.  You soon learn to separate the dedicated oncology nurses from the rest,  The ‘rest’ tiptoe in your room and ask '” is there anything you need dear” and hurry out quickly before you get a chance to answer.

All trays, garbage, etc. pile up inside your room and even though the radiation aide declares they are safe to be moved they are still in the room when I leave a few days later.  (More to follow.)

I hope this week is going well for you all.  I am determined to feel better and I keep praying for that.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Update…

I will be going in the hospital this morning.  Surgery is scheduled for 1 PM.  I have asked my cyber Twin and dear friend Carole to post an update for  me.

http://ramblingon-ramblingon.blogspot.com/

I appreciate so much the prayers for me.  I have read all of your comments and they comfort me. 

 May God Bless You all.

Stay safe and be happy.

Love,

Beth

Hospital again…

I spent yesterday afternoon in the emergency room at the hospital.  I had an abnormal EKG.  Now I will be wearing a heart monitor for the next month.  I really hate that as I did this for a month last year.  I have had my med changed for my BP again.  All in all I am not a happy camper that doesn’t feel well.  My posts may be sporadic and I may not get around to visit you all.  I will be thinking of you.

Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Short and..

and not so sweet because I am just home after being out in this dreadful heat.  It is in the 90s already and to climb to actual temperature of 103 –104. 

I had a test done at the hospital and then I went to Food Depot to pick up a few things.  Their brand of canned vegetables were all 38 cents a can.  I have used the store brand before and I think the quality compares to name brand.  I am picky and will not buy some store brands.

I hope you are all staying  in where it is cool.  It is too hot to be out very long.  I felt kind of funny this morning as I was out moving around in the heat.

I will try and get caught up with you all now.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Am I awake yet???

Not sure as I had a sleep study done at the hospital last night for sleep apnea.  http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-studies  I had little wires connected to my head with paste and a band around my chest to do an ekg and another band to measure the respiratory readings.  Plus a lot of other things connected with leads.  All together an unpleasant night.   I couldn’t wait to get home to wash my hair and take a shower.

According to the World Health Organization approximately 100 million people worldwide have OSA (sleep apnea). In the
United States, OSA is estimated to affect 1 in 4 men and 1 in 9 women; and affects 23 million working adults.
Approximately 4% of men and 2% of women over the age of 35 years have symptomatic moderate or severe
OSA, affecting approximately 12 million people in the United States.  It is estimated that less than 25% of
OSA sufferers have been diagnosed,

One of my friends that I have had since I started blogging  along with her husband make many beautiful items out of wood.  Nancy is having a give away at her blog.  Please visit her, look at her beautiful items, leave a comment, follow her, and you will be entered in the drawing.

http://hollarwood.blogspot.com/2012/01/give-away-drawing.html

I am exhausted.  I just made a run to the store to get necessary items like bananas and Lean Cuisine.  Also some chicken as I am thinking chicken and dumplings on Tuesday.  Tomorrow after my lab I am going out for breakfast so I won’t be hungry.

My direct order (remember I worked for the military) for you all is to stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

I about forgot the countdown again,  it stands at 58 days!!

And the countdown to spring …

is 64 days.  This morning it is partly sunny and the temperature is 36 degrees,  It is to get up in the 40s today with rain by afternoon, then more snow predicted for later in the week.

I am here waiting impatiently for a call back from the doctor’s office about the allergic reaction to the med I started last week.  I hate talking to the nurses and the doctors.  They somehow make you feel like you have done something wrong because you have a reaction to something.

My niece in WV just got out of the hospital yesterday after a 4 day stay.  My sis and I have a list of doctors that we call Dr. God.  These are doctors who care not one whit for you as a person and see you only as a number.  My list of Dr. Gods is growing longer each day.

Last month when I saw my primary care doctor I showed her a letter that I had written to myself outlining all of the doctors I had seen since my hospital stay the first part of October 2011 and all of the different meds I had been prescribed, I further described how I felt like I was being jerked around by these doctors like a yoyo.  She asked if she could keep the letter and I told her yes.  As I was leaving she came over and gave me a big hug and told me she was sorry.

Consider this my Wednesday rant.  Then you all stop and take the time to stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

How not to…

spend a Saturday night.

Yes, I could almost feel it coming.  I had an allergic reaction to the latest med from the doctor I saw last Wednesday.  I spent 4 hours in the hospital emergency room last night.  At least I didn’t have to spend the night there.  I was home in bed by 2AM although it was much later when I finally fell asleep.  Thanks to my daughter who sat so patiently waiting while I had blood tests done and a cat scan.  I am worn out this morning but I am up and dressed.  If I sleep the day away I won’t get any rest tonight.

My mind is muddled this morning but I think the countdown to Spring is 65 days.  Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

It is a beautiful sunshiny morning checking in at 21 degrees and I am thankful for that as more snow is predicted for later in the week.

I hope you are all having a peaceful day.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

New Update..

My brother Bill suffered a stroke.  That is the diagnosis after all tests were completed.  He has lost all memory of events that occurred up until the time this happened.  He recognizes his wife and my voice and Rae’s.  He still has a tremendous headache and for the life of me I can’t understand why the hospital can’t take care of that.  I learned to be aggressive during Jim’s hospital stays and I think (my own personal opinion) that he should be moved to St Louis.  During a hospital stay we need someone to be our voice.

Some of you have asked what I am having done tomorrow.  It is called a kidney stenosis and involves a 6 hour lie flat period after the procedure.  I have been through this before so I know what to expect and because I know what to expect I am not looking forward to this, I just want it over and done with.  I am counting on the dear Lord to have a firm hold on my right hand tomorrow.  Thank you again for all prayers for my family and for me. 

Beth

Saturday, more sad news,

My brother Bill in Southern IL was taken to the emergency room at a local hospital last night.  He is in serious condition.  Rae came through her surgery just fine.  Rae and Bill are my only remaining siblings of 4 sisters and 3 brothers.  Needless to say I am worried sick.  It is almost 200 miles to where my brother lives and 500 miles to where my sis lives.  I am scheduled for the procedure on Monday.  Thank you for all prayers and kind thoughts.

  Beth

Update…

Just to let you all get caught up.  Yesterday at my primary care physician I had my meds changed around again.  Having a quite painful swollen right arm I had an ultrasound of my right arm to check for blood clots and one was found in the vein where an IV had been during my hospital stay.  I am still not feeling well today and I am having to keep a warm compress on my right arm.  I need to be all better by Monday as I have a kidney stenosis scheduled which means I will be in the hospital all day.  If things go OK I will get to go home Monday night.  I appreciate all of your kind thoughts and prayers.  They mean so very much to me.  Please take a moment to say a prayer for my sis Rae who is having surgery on Thursday.  God Bless you all.

It is painful typing so I will close for now.  I promise to get caught up with all of you as soon as I am able. 

  Beth

Update…

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.  I have a couple of difficult weeks ahead involving another hospital stay (hopefully as an out patient.)  I probably won’t be on the computer much this week but I will try to give an update tomorrow after I see my primary care physician.  A special thank you to my sweet Twin.

  Beth

Test done, dirt here…

After an hour of prodding here and there my test is done.  I will find out the results when I see my doctor next Monday morning.  Thank you to my niece who went with me to the hospital.  When I came home this is what I found.

My front yard all torn up and dirt is around back by my parking spot.  Thank you to the nice young man who took my ‘feel sorry for me, I could be your mother’ look to heart.  I will go outside in a few minutes and get the dirt moved around.  Hey, that is something else I miss since I moved, my rake.  I don’t miss it as much as my washer and dryer or my two car garage but this afternoon I miss it.  I will have to use my old broom to scootch the dirt around.  Now the oak leaves will fall on all of this dirt.  I hope we get some rain soon to settle it down.  None forecast for the next week, sunny and dry and high, upper 70s.

Thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers.  Bless you all!

  Beth

Just pretend I’m your mother..

Does a pitiful look on one’s face do the trick?  I think it might.  I was busy here a bit ago running the sweeper in the living room and dusting when I saw these young guys out shoveling dirt in the road.  I went out  and asked if I needed to move my car, and no surprise I did need to.  They directed me to their boss on the tractor and and using my most ‘feel sorry for me I could be your mother’ look I asked him to come around to the back and look at the drop-off where I will be parking my car if this concrete ever dries on the driveway.  Now mind you, these are city workers and not workers for the concrete company that did the driveways on the street.  He promised me that on Thursday they would bring a bucket of dirt and put back there for me.  Will it happen??  We shall see.  My ‘feel sorry for me I could be your mother’ look works only about 50% of the time (never works on my kids).  I will let you know when and if this happens.  If not I will go out to Wal*Mart and buy  a few bags of top soil and put it back there myself.

Tomorrow morning I go for a test at the hospital.  I am very worried about this test.  I know that my Twin has my back.  I would appreciate it if you think of it to spare a kind thought or a prayer for me in the morning.  I would be so grateful.

Lovely weather here today.  Sunshine and 80 degrees on 4 October.  It doesn’t get much better than this. 

I will catch you all on Wednesday afternoon or Thursday.  Stay safe and be happy!!

Beth

Retro Post

8/10/2006
Hospital again...
Yesterday Jim started with nosebleeds and is back in the hospital again. His white count is down so they are giving him shots for that and a saline drip with potassium in it as his potassium is low. He felt really bad yesterday and this morning but this afternoon he was feeling better and insisted I come home to get some rest. He should get to come home tomorrow if his blood count starts to rise.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

Flying colors..

at least the EKG part anyway.  The doctor told me that I passed the EKG stress test with perfect results.  Now I have  to wait for the results of the dye imaging camera pictures.  That is the hardest part of the test.  You lie flat for 20 minutes while the imaging machine is taking the pictures.  You have to lie perfectly still with both arms raised above your head.  This really made my shoulders and back hurt as I have arthritis and bone spurs in my neck and shoulders.  Then you walk on the treadmill for 20 minute with increased speeds and going up hill.  This part was not difficult for me at all as I am used to working out each day.  Then back to lie down with arms raised above my head for another 20 minutes.  I will find out the results of the imaging when I see my primary doctor on Monday.  Thank you all so much for the kind thoughts and prayers.  I had a couple of guys from Upstairs holding my hands so I knew it would be OK.  Thank you Carole for reminding me.
I am off to do some visiting.
  Beth

Monday…

and I slept really good in my own bed last night.  Hospital beds are not made for sleeping, they are made for torture in between the blood pressure readings, the pill giving and the blood taking.  I am glad to be home.  I have the stress test scheduled for early Friday morning.
I wanted to tell you a little bit about my roommate in the hospital.  Her name is Joan and she resides in one of the nursing homes here.  She was admitted about 10PM Saturday night.  She has congestive heart failure and many other things wrong with her and yet she is a very brave, gutsy lady.  The curtain was drawn between us so I couldn’t  see her family when she first came in.  I did hear them talking and I heard them leaving.  Each one told Joan “I love you” as they were leaving.  One of the family even came back a few minutes later to tell Joan again that they loved her.  Me, I was just laying there in my bed with tears in my eyes, it moved me so much.  I then proceeded to say a prayer for Joan.  Sunday morning I did meet her and she told me about her family, her youngest son being 40 years old.  I met some of them before I was discharged after lunch.  They are a loving family and they know that Joan is very ill.  I think that this all was a lesson for me and believe me I took it very seriously.
My daughter took me to the hospital Saturday and stayed with me in the emergency room for about 6 hours until I was finally admitted.  I am so thankful for her and for my son in law.  They have been so good to me since I moved here.
The weather here is gorgeous again today, 61 degrees right now and to be in the 80s again.  Watch out for November.  Last year the snow started in November and didn’t stop until well in to spring.
I have done a few things here this morning but I am planning to not do too much until after I have that test on Friday.  Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers.  Most of you have been my friends for almost 6 years now and I am ever grateful for that.
Beth

Sunday, a better day…

I am just home from the hospital this afternoon.  I was admitted after chest pains yesterday morning.  The EKG was a bit abnormal but three consecutive blood tests 8 hours apart showed the enzymes were normal with no sign of a heart attack..Because of the EKG I will be having a nuclear stress test this week and a follow-up visit to my primary care doctor a week later.  I am so glad to be home.  A big thank to Lady Pen who called clear across the ocean to see how I was.  It was so lovely to hear her voice.  Thank you Pen.
Rae, did a first for her and she posted a comment to my blog saying that I was in the hospital.  I am pretty tired now.  I will post tomorrow and tell you all about my roommate, a lovely lady of 80.
Thank you all for kind thoughts.
Hugs,
Beth

Retro Post

8/30/2006
Wednesday, home again...
The last few days have been traumatic ones. Jim was hospitalized on Sunday with fluid on his left lung and pneumonia. I just brought him home from the hospital today. But another side effect of the chemo. This puts off his next round of chemo which could be dangerous as the lymphoma will start to grow again.

I returned my new computer from Sam's ( they returned my money with no question) and had the same folks that built my previous computer build me another one. I just got it today so I haven't had access to the internet for the last few days. Sorry to leave everyone without letting you all know. I spent all day long each day at the hospital.

I am very tired. I will be around to visit everyone tomorrow if possible. Thank you all for your comments and prayers.
7:09 PM | Add a comment | Read comments (12) | Permalink | Blog it | Health and wellness

Retro Post

7/2/2006
Sunday...
We are home from the hospital a few minutes ago. They kept Jim overnight because they used a new drug in the chemo and were watching for any side effects. So far, so good! It had been exactly one year ago when he had his last chemo treatment. We had about 9 months where he felt good and was able to get out and go places. I thank God for that time.

It is very hot here today. 94.5 as I read it. Too hot to do anything outside so I will tackle the watering of the flowers and garden when it is cooler this evening. I wonder if I will be serenaded tonight from 2 doors down. If so, I would request George Jones instead of Charlie Daniels. E., the Nascar/Gordon fan, has decorated for the 4th and has a big sign that says 'honk for freedom' on it in his front yard. I think he puts this sign out and then leaves. That is what he did last year. lol The traffic in our little town is not so heavy that we only hear a horn honk every few minutes. I'll honk for freedom myself!!

Heartfelt thanks to each of you for your comments and your prayers. We love you all! God Bless You!