Day 780

Figured after all the complaining I've been doing it's about time for happy things.

Like spring flowers.

Day 779

How much can one person take?

Despite my repeated declarations to the contrary, I've had to start back on the pain pills. Can't believe I crossed back over that line. I also have to get a shot today - in my rump - that is supposed to help with pain.

When I lifted those big, heavy boxes for the post office the other day I forgot something. Part of the recovery instructions from the cardiac catherization was to limit my lifting to three pounds. Oops. Now I'm paying for the oversight. The ache from the elbow to the wrist is not pleasant.

The soonest I can get into the doctor to discuss my pulmonary function tests is Wednesday. So more days of keeping still, more days of not being able to breathe.

Today is my chemotherapy drug day. Which means the next few days will have me feeling even worse than usual.

And the cherry on top for the day? I'm writing this from the rheumatologist's office. It's infusion day. Happy flippin' Friday.

Day 778

Still no word from the doctor, but I did get a nurse to read the results of my pulmonary function test to me. In hindsight that was probably not the best idea. Amid all the medical gobbledygook a key phrase stood out that I did understand. So Ms. Researcher me typed that phrase into the computer and added the words rheumatoid arthritis to the search.

Shouldn't have done that. All kinds of research studies connecting the condition to rheumatoid arthritis popped up. Studies painting a gloomy picture.

I can't let my mind go there. I'll go about my day, my week, my month and wait to hear the doctor's take on it and the next steps involved. And I'm pretty sure there will be at least one or more next steps.

To prove that I am moving on, we went to Alejandra's tonight. It has been so long since we've been there I couldn't even remember what menu item we were on. So I guessed. Two combination platters, one with a tamale and the other with a zope.

Day 777

Selling on eBay has been pretty fun. I get to clean out my stuff, send it to someone who could make better use of it, and make a little money while doing it.

Except on days like today when I have several packages going out at once. With me not being able to move/walk/stand but a minute or so before I run out of air it takes a bazillion breaks for me to get just these boxes packed, loaded, and to the post office. Boy, I hope I get some answers soon. Thank goodness my mind is still sharp (so far), because my body sure isn't.

Day 776

The soap opera continues.

I got the latest test results from the rheumatologist's office today. My inflammation numbers are down, like to normal. As much pain as I'm in I'm not sure I believe it. Looks like the doctor doesn't believe it either because he wants me to retake them next week. No question about my liver function, though. It's not working right, with the bloodwork showing my liver function off significantly.

Thank goodness for my flowers. Only thing getting me through today.

Day 775

Getting closer to answers. I think.

I had another test over at the hospital today, a pulmonary function test. It's a test all about lung capacity and force and oxygen saturation and so forth. I failed. Big time. They ran several tests and every single one was abnormal.  Every single one. My lungs ranked from 40% to 71% of normal on the different tests. Not good. Even the one where they did a breathing treatment with medication, medication that opens up the airways of asthmatics? Yep, that didn't show the results it should have. (In my mind that test told me I don't have asthma - don't know if the doctor will see it that way or not.) It'll be a couple days before he gets results and then I guess we'll see where we go from here.

And if that wasn't enough fun for the day, the rheumatologist and cardiologist had a consultation about me. They both agreed I need to, despite all the terrible side effects, continue with the infusions. That means I'm up for one again this Friday. I don't know if I have the strength.

Despite all that, I did have something pleasant today. Just look at our gorgeous tree!

Day 774

My daughter keeps telling me not to leave a bunch of stuff for her to get rid of. She's talking about when I'm no longer living and she has to clean out the house. We've been working hard at downsizing, but the sewing room? Yea, I'm afraid I haven't worked on downsizing it as much as I should.

I've always told kiddo that she wouldn't have to worry about my fabric stash because I'd use it up. But now with me being so sick I'm starting to wonder if I have too much. So today was spent getting ready to put some fabric on eBay soon. Might as well sell it there since that's where most of it came from anyway!

After spending the day working on what I can let go of, the boxes of colorful fabric fat quarters aren't even close to being full.

Day 773

Medicine is amazing.

Imagine such a tiny little hole in the wrist could be used to access an artery which in turn holds a guidewire which is then replaced with a plastic tube which is then guided into the heart and moved in and out as dye is injected. All while the patient is awake.

Just amazing. (Not so amazing on the bruising.) Sorry for the icky picture.

Day 772

Finally home and finally into different clothes.

I had planned on being in Boise this past week for a conference so I had three sets of dress clothes. Unfortunately I wound up missing the conference and spent my days in the emergency room, the cardiologist's office, the rheumatologist's office, and then just yesterday the hospital. All situations not requiring dress clothes.

So I've been wearing the one set of comfy clothes I brought with me for several days in a row. But today I felt strong enough to head back home.

Ahh, clean clothes. And ooh, tulips in bloom.

Day 771

I was good today. I should say my heart was good. They went through my wrist into my heart. Weird. But no blockages. So I'm here in the hospital bed with a clamp on my wrist to seal up the artery. I'll be here several hours until it's closed. What does the clamp look like? Another case of weird. A pretty white bracelet. I'll spare you the bloody underside.

Day 770

When I was a teenager, I used to watch soap operas. Once I got to college the only one I kept watching was Days of our Lives. Once I started teaching and actually worked during the day I stopped watching. Occasionally I'd watch in the summer, but over the past several years my viewing has become non-existent.

It's not like they don't have interesting story lines - they certainly do. But they just didn't seem believable anymore. How can the same person have a child they don't know about, get amnesia, find they have a deadly disease and be treated at the hospital by that same long lost child, and then miraculously be cured by the blood transfusion they received from the brother they thought was dead? (Okay, that's not a real story line but it could be!)

Anyway, I feel I'm starting to live a soap opera myself. Every day there has been a new development in my health. Today was the rheumatologist appointment. What did he have to say? Maybe it's about time I started back on pain pills to cut down on the pain until we can get the arthritis under control. Yeah, like that's going to happen. And what else? Oh, just that it's probably time I go on temporary disability. Yeah, like that's going to happen.

Now tomorrow is my angiogram. Can't wait to see what that doctor has to say.

Kind of like I can't wait to see what is coming up out of this pod in the rhubarb. It's sticking up a little higher than just the other day.

Day 769

My trip to the cardiologist today is helping rule some other things out. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we're bypassing the stress test and going straight to the angiogram. A long thin tube through the groin, up an artery, and into the heart. Add a bit of dye and he'll get a good look in there. If all is good I get to go home the same day (Thursday). If not, there's a bit more involved. (I'm planning on all being good!)

Good like my daughter's kitty. Remember my cat that wouldn't get in the carrier? We gave the carrier to my daughter and take a look what her kitty does with it. No fair!

Day 768

Thanks for all your kind thoughts through all this. I spent the afternoon in the emergency room and got some things excluded, others not. I have an appointment with a cardiologist tomorrow and hope to have answers soon. I've been told to lay low for a while so no work for me for at least a couple days. Just hanging out in Boise, close to the hospital.

Discovered something new out my window. Rhubarb.

Day 767

Only one thing to do when you feel as bad as I do and have an excruciating headache and have blood pressure numbers looking like this. Decide it's time to head to the hospital.

Day 766

Even kitty knows things aren't right with me. She's sticking pretty close these days.

Day 765

I decided to stop with the book giveaways. No interest and I'm just sooo tired and get so winded just picking up a book let alone two or three. I have a feeling something is wrong. Something besides arthritis, besides asthma. I suspect an emergency room visit may be in the near future.

In the meantime I have to lay low. Just hanging out in the recliner, feet up. And looking out the window.

Day 764

It's "thank goodness it's yours and not mine Friday."

Your pick - books or cat, just for cost of postage. Just kidding on the cat.

Day 763

Call me Mrs. Do-It-Yourselfer.

Hubby needed a valet parking board for prom. He had the board, he had the nails. But no ideas.

So Mrs. Creative here cleaned off her sewing room table, dug out her yardstick and tapped into her brain power. I first drew some lines.

Then added some nails.

Wrote in some numbers.

Added some tear away cards.

Done and ready to go!

Also ready to go, my Win It Wednesday book. First person to respond gets it, free postage.
When Jaycee Dugard was eleven years old, she was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in South Lake Tahoe, California. She was missing for more than eighteen years, held captive by Phillip Craig and Nancy Garrido, and gave birth to two daughters during her imprisonment. On August 26, 2009, Garrido showed up for a meeting with his parole officer; he brought Jaycee, her daughters, and his wife Nancy with him. Their unusual behavior raised suspicions and an investigation revealed the tent behind the Garridos’ home where Jaycee had been living for nearly two decades.

Day 762

I'm naming today "Take it off my hands Tuesday".

Despite all the fabric piled in the bedroom at our Boise house and the hundreds of sewing patterns at our Marsing house, it's probably hard to believe I'm downsizing. But I am. Things have gone to my daughter, my mom, Idaho Youth Ranch, the garbage, recycling, and eBay. (You can find my eBay stuff HERE if you're interested.)

But now I'm hoping some of the books I'm clearing out might go to you. For free. Well, sorta free. I'll send them your way for just the cost of postage. I'm going to be putting pictures of the books on the blog, and if you see something you want, let me know. I'm more than happy to have you part of "Take it off my hands Tuesday".

You'll want to check back everyday because there will also be:
"Win It Wednesday" - the day I pay for the postage.
"Thank goodness it's yours and not mine Thursday"
"From my house to your house Friday"
"Sending it your way Saturday"
"Something for you Sunday""
"Mailing it to you Monday"

First up, a pack of three books with those who still have teens around. (Glad it's not me!)

And a pack of three books for those who might be thinking about a home business...

If you're interested in either stack, let me know at my debzdays at yahoo.com email and we can work out postage details.

Something else you can take off my hands? A cat on sewing machine watch. Aw, never mind. I think I'll keep her.

Day 761

I felt like the doctor was pulling an April Fool's Day prank on me.

I've been sick. Like down and out, can't get out of bed, can't get in the shower, can't raise my arms, can't focus, can't walk straight without leaning against a wall, can't catch my breath, body aches, joint aches, headaches kind of sick. It's probably the result of the terrible medications I'm taking, including the infusion from a couple weeks back but today's doctor - one I hadn't seen before, one that doesn't know my long medical history, one that didn't even read my multi-inch think file - had a different idea.

Asthma. So let's just add that to the list of things wrong with Debbie.

Thanks a lot, April Fool's Day. At least I had a pretty sunrise to see this morning.