Friday, November 16, 2012

November 15, 2012 - Thursday

My day started very early.  I was up at 6 a.m. so Heather could go to her dental appointment at 8:30  a.m.and get me to my dobutamine IV clinic at 10 a.m.  They took me early at the clinic since they a small break in patient's.  I was on the IV by 9:30 a.m. which meant I would be done at 1:30-1:45 time frame.
I sent a text to Heather to let her know when I was ready to leave.  She was on her way.  She called me to tell me she'd meet me halfway to the patient labs, because I needed to get blood drawn for my INR level.  We were there a little longer than normal due to paperwork.  We left there and swung by Tim Horton's for an iced cappuccino for the both of us and headed home.  Once at home we had salads and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch.  After that I went to bed since I was wiped out and Heather prepared for work and to spend the night at Mark's.

Kent started putting up the Christmas decorations outdoors.  A little early for my liking but it is close to Thanksgiving.  Kent will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner for us now that we have the menu nailed down.

As Thanksgiving is on Thursday (as usual) they had to schedule my dobutamine on Wednesday.

I have a dinner date coming up on this coming Sunday with Charlie.  I am looking forward to this.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

October 30, 2012 - Tuesday

Well...I'm back with the Heart Failure Clinic.  I should have been with them all along, but due to my earlier hospitalization in the first of the year we lost touch with each other.  My appointment today was with Mike.  He was happy with my progress and told me to keep up the good work.  We discussed my PIC line issues and he was aware of them.  He said "When this one fails (which it looks like it is) we will discuss a port."  They like to hold off as much as possible with that because they don't like to cut people if they don't have to and a surgeon needs to do it.  He scheduled my next appointment for Nov. 29 during my dobutamine IV session since he'll be there anyway.

I had a lunch date Saturday with a very nice man.  We went to Bob Evan's and sat there through lunch and afterward talking for two hours.  We plan on getting together again for dinner soon.

The hurricane that hit has gifted us with wind, rain mixed with snow and chilly temperatures.  It's as if winter has arrived early.  Brrrrr.  Fortunately we don't have issues with loss of electricity.   

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Sunday - October 21, 2012

Two weeks ago Heather was ill with dizzyness, nausea, and ringing in her ears.  Her friends, Roberta, Mark, and Em saw to it that she and the car got home okay.  This was a Friday afternoon (Oct. 5).  That evening she was still feeling rough so she called her boyfriend to take her to the ER.  Long story short she was diagnosed with vertigo and prescribed a pill for the verdigo and one for the nausea.  She really didn't start feeling back to normal until early last week.  Needless to say I was more concerned that she was having a heart problem.  It was nice to find out differently.

Working on revising one of my novels to e-book form.  It seems that every publisher that I've dealt with wants a certain format and it is never the same format from one publisher to the other.   Uggg!

I'm feeling pretty good.  The cardiologist gave me a good review.  Thursday at my dobutimine session they had trouble getting it to work, but after flushing it several times it started working.  They called the doctor to let him know.  Hope all goes well next Thursday.

This week I have appointments with the kidney doctor and my primary care doctor.  The primary care doctor will be going over my CT scan, which showed a small hernia....I don't know if its a new one or an existing one acting up, as well as review my blood work up for sugar, cholesterol, and other things.

My life seems to be an endless circle of doctors and tests.  Well that has caught us up here for the time being.    

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Wednesday - October 10, 2012

Heather and I had a lovely time up at Marblehead, Ohio for three days.  It was cold as all get out but we still had fun.  The sky was filled with gray clouds the first two days but we didn't get any rain.  The third day was still cold but filled with beautiful sunshine.  The first day there we drove to the Marblehead lighthouse and it was lovely.  Then we picked up some groceries at WalMart and headed to the cottage we were going to be staying at.

Mark my home nurse's mother-in-law had a place that she lets out for the summer.  She offered it to us free of charge because it was off season and we weren't going to be there long.   The cottage was a five bedroom, two story, home and was appointed quite well.

The next day we booked a round trip ride on the Miller Boat ferry over to Bass Island.  Once on Bass Island we rented a golf cart to get around.  We went to the Perry Monument.  Heather climbed up the inside of the monument while I stayed at the museum and watched a movie about Olive Hazard Perry and why he meritted a monument.  Then we went to the Butterfly House and walked among hundreds of imported butterflies.  Heather got some nice pictures.  Next we went to Mossbacks for dinner.  I wanted to see what a place called Jane's Trail was all about.  By the time we got there it was closed and it was a nature trail that I probably could not navigate.  Then we returned the golf cart and waited for the ferry back to the mainland.

We had dinner and watched some TV.  I fell asleep in my chair just like I did the night before.  This night I was ill most of the night with diarrhea and vomiting.  No fun at all.  I finally did get to sleep and Heather let me sleep until one in the afternoon.  We packed up and headed out.  We were headed to the African Safari Park.  Once there we drove through the park and fed the animals from the car, then we walked through the walking zoo.  We left there headed home and looking for a place to eat dinner.  We found Gus's Grill and Grog and had a very down home dinner.

Still have a little diarrhea going on. 

Tomorrow is my dobutamine IV treatment and then when it's over we're off to Pittsburg to pick up Brian for the week-end.  He has something going on in town here with a group (like boy scouts).

Will be back some other day for what news I might have.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday - Swptember 30, 2012

Thursday morning I got up and could barely walk.  My tailbone and both hips ached like crazy.  I went to my dobutamine appointment, then went home, took an Tylenol, and went to bed.  I was still in a lot of pain when I got up and took another Tylenol.  When bedtime rolled around another Tylenol.

Friday morning I was still in pain but it was improving.  Tylenol got me through the day and at bedtime I took half a oxycodine.  Saturday most of the pain was gone.  Only one hip hurt just a little.

I belived that the neuropathy medicine I'm on was the reason I was in pain.  I was told there would be a lot of pain in any spot where the nerves were dying.  This medicine helps restore them.  I have a nerve issue in my lower back for several years.  I had surgery on my back that corrected the issue, but then I bent funny and re-injured it.

This week is filled with dobutimine IV, mammogram, and an eye appointment.

So that's it for now.  

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Wednesday - September 26, 2012

Results of the CT scan are back.  I have a small, fatty, hernia near the belly button.  It is nothing to worry about and as long as I'm not having severe pain I should be okay.  However if the pain gets worse I am to call the doctor and we'll see "what next".

Been working on my novel and making good progress.  Plus I am still looking at e-book publishing.

Heather and I are planning a trip up to Marblehead next week to see the lighthouses.  A friend of mine has offered us the use of their cottage.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I'm working on my bucket list...lol.

Well I'm off now, just wanted to update anyone looking at this blog.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Monday - September 24, 2012

Waiting for the results of a CT scan of my stomach.   The scan was done on Thursday of last week.  I have not heard anything from the doctor so I'm assuming that all is okay.  I am still in pain.

With the exception of my dobutamine infusion on Thursday I have no other doctor appointments until the first of October.  Woohoo!

Still looking into ebook publishing.  Doing more research on the novel I'm currently working on.  Outside of that there is nothing more to talk about.  Hope that everyone reading this is having a good life.                               

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Wesnesday - September 12, 2012

Had a primary care doctor appointment today.  She's concerned about my low blood pressure.  This morning it was 91/52 with a heart beat of 76.  She wants me to monitor it for a week and give her a call with the results.  She wants a series of blood tests ran to check my hemoglobin A1C, BMP, CBC, Lipid Panel and TSH.  I had her check my stomach again because it still hurts and burns.  She felt a small bump which could be a new hernia or an existing one getting bigger.  She wants a CTScan done in a week or two.  Mammogram time is here again so she said get to go ahead and schedule it.  I was told to schedule an opthomogist appointment because of the diabetis.  I had one scheduled at the first of the year and had to cancel it since I was in the hospital.



Tomorrow I have my IV infusion.

Next week I have a cardiology appointment, IV infusion, and a podiatrist appointment.  So things will be busy.



Sunday, September 9, 2012

September 9, 2012

I got a new pic line on Thursday.  My arm has been sore since then, if it doesn't get better soon I'll call the doctor and see what she has to say about.

Last night I renewed my Medical Alert membership and updated all my information.  I will be getting a new ID bracelet reflecting my pacemaker and some new meds.  Unfortunately they have a small space to engrave all that so its really abbreviated.

I chatted with an old friend last night (Paul) and filled him in on all that has happened in the last year.  Naturally he waid he was sorry I was going through all this and that it made him sad.  I told him not to be sad because it was part of life.

Today I feel meh.  Sad in many respects.  This afternoon my body (face and arms actually) felt numb as well as my brain.  (Stop laughing now and remember I've not always been brain dead.  :)  ).  I took a Tylinol and a nap.  Still feel sad and lackadaisical.

BLAH!  

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

What I'm doing.

September 5, 2012 - Wednesday.

I'm looking into e-book publishing.  I'm really excited about this.  Right now I'm just checking out many different e-book publishers.  I need to thank my daughter Dawn for telling me about her experiences with books she's reading on her Kindle.  My daughter Heather also needs a big thank you.  She knows someone who has published an e-book who sent me the information to look at her publisher.  Heather is also my sounding board (because she's here and I like to torture her...lol).

I'm adding the first chapters to my published book on my author website.  http://www.lbmunn.webs.com/

I still don't know if I will still have a pic line or get a port.  

Outside of doing dishes and collecting the trash my home nurse should be here today.  Otherwise, all else is serene.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Friday - August 31, 2012

Having a bout of Montezuma's Revenge.  It started at 5 a.m. this morning.  At 6 a.m. I took a Gelusil, at 11 a.m. I took my protonic (a med I take for my stomach every day), then at 1 p.m.. I took an Imodian.  Still have a touch of the Revenge.

So far today I've only eaten cottage cheese.  Right now Kent is making dinner.  He's making cinnamon struessel muffins, bacon, scrambled eggs, and hash browns.  Hope this doesn't make things worse, because I'm really hungry.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

August 30, 2012 - Thursday

At my dobutamine IV treatment today my PIC line wouldn't work.  This is the second time this has happened.  PIC lines are supposed to be usable for a year.  I've had two PIC lines since April, a 5 month period.  They removed the non-working PIC line.  Now they are discussing whether to put in another PIC line or put a "port" in the right hand side of my upper chest.    That is out-patient surgery that needs to be done by a doctor, if they decide to go that route they will schedule me for that.  Otherwise I will be given my dobutamine next Thursday with or without a PIC line, it will be a regular IV like they did today.  They x-rayed my chest and the PIC line had moved to up under my clavicle.  Plus my blood was clotting rapidly.  Not a real good thing.

I called my primary care doctor to see if she had the results back from my blood drawn on Saturday.  I left a message with the receptionist to have her call me back with the results if she had them.  Dr. Kwong called me back and my INR was 1.6 and they want it at 3.0, but since I've had more than two salads (because of vitamin K) it made my INR low.  I was instructed to take 3 4mg warfarins (blood thinner) on Friday (tomorrow) and on Monday then the following Saturday have my blood drawn again.

Guess we see what happens on both of those issues listed above.

Now something that I'm really excited about.  I'm looking into publishing some of my finished books via e-books.  Plus I am still writing the third novel in my "Flickertail Saga".   I have a facebook account for my books that are in print.  It is Linda B. Munn.

I have a website for my books which is:  http://lbmunn.webs.com/  (which is listed at the end of this blog)

That's it for now.  Have a great and safe Labor Day!

    

Sunday, August 12, 2012

August 12, 2012

Once again I am remiss in keeping this up-to-date.

I'm still doing my dobutamine IV's every Thursday.

My second appointment with my new primary care doctor, Dr. Kwong was July 13th.  She believes that I have neuropathy and gave me samples of Cymbalta in 60 mg and a prescription for Cymbalta in 30 mg.  Plus she wrote me a prescription for my ferrous sulfate and emailed it to my pharmacy.  Next she set me up with an appointment with a podiatrist.

I took the Cymbalta 60 mg then saw that the prescription was for 30 mg.  I needed to call her to see what she wanted me to do.  My pharmacy couldn't fill my prescription for the ferrous sulfate either.  Naturally this was a Saturday.  I called the doctor's office on Monday only to get voicemail.  I left a message.  Her office called me the next day and told me she was out of the office for a week but her partner who was covering for her told me to take the 60 mg everyother day then call back in a week.  The Cymbalta and lack of ferrous sulfate made me exceptionally tired.  I slept a lot.

The next week I spoke to Dr. Kwong.  She told me to stop the 60 mg and she's call in the 30 mg to my pharmacy.  I told her that the pharmacy had a question about the ferrous sulfate.  The script she wrote was for capsels and I needed tablets.  She corrected that script and re-sent it to the pharmacy.

The pharmacy called the next day and said that my insurance would not pay for the Cymbalta.  Yippee!

I did get my ferrous sulfate (iron pill) and I was less tired.

I went to my podiatry appointment with ABC Podiatry.  Filled out all the paperwork only to find out that the referring physican (Dr. Kwong) forgot to put a reference number on the referral.  I had to reschedule that appointment.

August 9 - I woke up during the night of the 8th to a pain in my stomach.  I got up in the morning and I still had the pain.  When I went to put my shoes on the pain was agonizing.  I was going to my dobutamine IV appointment at 9:00 a.m.  I told the nurse what was going on and she advised me to call my doctor.  So while I was doing my 4 hours IV I called my doctor.  They asked if I had a fever - no; was I nauseated - no, did I have diarreha - no.  I ended up with an appointment with Dr. Kwong at 4:20 p.m.  This may be an issue since Heather goes to work at 4:30.  When I got a hold of Heather she said she'd see if she could get off for the office visit.  She was able to get off.






At the doctor's office she asked the same questions and the only one that was different was the diarreha question - I had a bout of it just before we left for her office.  She pressed on my stomach and said that she didn't feel any bumps or lumps.  It could be a virus.  I was told to eat light, no fried foods, drink lots of fluid, if I'm not feeling better by Monday I'm to give her a call.  Well it still hurts every once in a while...like when I cough.  We discussed the Cymbalta issue and she prescribed a different drug.  The generic name is gabapentin.

August 10 - Podiatry appointment.  I definitely have neuropathy.  He approved of the gabapentin and prescribed a food vitamin for vitamin B6, B12, and folic acid.  (The pharmacy wanted $105. for it.  I cannot afford that every month.)  The food vitamin helps the nerves regenerate sensitivity, but it will take 3-4 months to feel the benefits.  He said it would be painful.  I call his office and they are hooking me up with the manufacturer that can sell it for a lesser amount.  They should call me on Monday.

I have a "blue" toenail (my Smurf-ness is showing).  That is caused by the lack of oxygenated blood getting to my toe and toenail.  (Neuropathy).

I'm also checking my blood sugar on Wednesday and Sunday to see if I need meds.  I do a fasting sugar and a non-fasting sugar.  I had been on a diabetic med (Metformin) and it messed up my kidney function so I'm no longer a candidate for it.

That's it for now.           


Sunday, July 1, 2012

July 1, 2012 - Sunday

Friday night, June 28, we had a nasty storm and lots of wind.  I was concerned about the tree behind me falling onto the north end of my mobile home.  It didn't happen, but we did lose our cable and internet until late Saturday evening.

At Thursday's dobutimine IV my IV decided not to work.  When they installed a regular IV into my other arm the drip was started.  As to the PIC line in my right arm, they needed to check with the cardiologist to see what he wanted them to do and they took a chest xray.  The xray showed that the PIC line had moved from a straight line to where it needed to be to have doubled back on itself.  Before I was done with the IV drip the doctor called back.  They removed the PIC line and have scheduled early next Thursday to put one back in, while my dobutimine drip will be started in my left arm.

I'm still losing weight.  I lost another three pounds.  Been spending some time in my office and that is such a good feeling.  I've had the energy to make a meal or two for the family here.  I've even done some dishes.  At this point I don't have the stamina to do both on the same day.  Hopefully that will change.

Going to be spending the 4th of July with an osmosis daughter for a cookout.  Hopefully this hot, hot, weather will be over and done with making it a little more comfortable for one and all.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!         


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Just a little catching up.  Not a lot has changed.  I've lost 27 pounds thanks to a med called metolazone.  I had been taking one every day but I began to dehydrate, so I was told to take one a week on Mondays.  I located a primary care physican closer to me and made an appointment for June 19th.  I seen to be gaining more energy again I guess we'll see if it continues.  Doctor Lee had been happy with my progress.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Well this week I got additional medicine changes.  I was put back on coreg at 1.35 mg and metolazone at 5 mg.  Both are diaretics (water pill) plus the coreg is a beta blocker.  I was told to take the metolazone in the morning and the coreg in the evening.  I have spent a lot of time in the bathroom...lol.  My water retention is bad, my legs are so swollen they ache and feel tight.  Then today I was told to increase my potassium pill by one more in the evening.  Still doing the dobutamine IV treatments.  I officially have a new (different) cardiologist....Dr. Lee the doctor that did my pacemaker/defibilator.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Just checking in.  Shingles are just about gone.  I had my fifth infusion today.  I get so tired afterward and end up taking a nap when I get home.  Hopefully tomorrow I will feel peppy.  I have been so tired since Tuesday, which makes me wonder if the infusion is wearing off sooner and sooner.  I still have edema in my legs and feet and still have shortness of breath, especially on the days that I am tired.  My appetite seems to be dwindling again.  I'm so discouraged and tired about all of this.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

April 8, 2012 - Easter Sunday. To make my life even more complete and happy I broke out in a small rash that turn's out to be Shingles. Woohoo! They burn, itch, and seep goop. The doctor called me in a prescription that will help with all that. It's five days worth of meds. I take two pills three times a day. Already started treatment. I will be seeing the doctor on Wednesday this coming week for this and for my escape from the hospital. I live such a busy life....lol.

Friday, April 6, 2012

April 6, 2012 - More big changes. I went into heart failure Friday afternoon (by ambulance), March 23. They did a procedure called an ablation where they burn the nerves that squeeze the heart. Now my rythm is controlled by my pacemaker/defiliator. My heart contractions are now controlled by a drug called Dobutamine. I have to get an IV of Dobutamine once a week for four hours. I now use a walker to get around. They will be ordering me a wheelchair for longer excursions.

This made me think about things. 1.) I'm tired of being sick and in the hospital. 2.) I have a DNR 02 in place (n0 cpr, n0 entubation, no artifical feeding. 3.) I've got pallative care in place when the drug no longer works. Followed by hospice if I make it that far. 4.) My funeral and burial are pre-planned and had been for several years. 5.) I still need to make a will.

Two doctors have told me that I am on the last leg of my journey. Each time I get out of the hospital I migrate from one stage to another: legs, cane, walker, wheelchair, and casket?

I have two goals in place right now. 1.) Make it to my 70th birthday, April 29. 2.) Make it to my brother's birthday October 29 (6 months).

Services are still in the processing of being put into place. I will have a home nurse, a physical therapist, occupational therapist, and a home care aid. I have IV appointments in place for every Thursday from now to May 17. Then we will see how things are going. As always they
took me off some of my meds and added a new one or two.

I am at peace with this.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Tuesday - March 13, 2012.

It's been a long, long, time but a lot has happened.

In November (November 10, to be exact) I was hospitalized so I could get a pacemaker/defibalator implanted. Per my new normal...my health was slightly less after this procedure. Around Thanksgiving I was back in the hospital due to shortness of breath and very low blood pressure.

Just before Christmas I began passing black stools. This is an indication of blood in my stool...not a good thing. I was sent to the hospital on December 26. They ran all kinds of tests on me. They got blood out of my stomach, but could find no reason for it to be bleeding. They gave me a colonoscopy and told us there was some irritation there but not enough to cause black stool. Because of the pacemaker they couldn't test my upper colon in the normal manner. They got the job done and still couldn't find anything more than a little irritation. I was told I had colitis, but that is nothing new to me, I've had it since 1968. While I was still in the hospital all the prep stuff that I had to take for the tests wore my body down. I was moved to the Cardiac Care Unit and told I needed three days of bed rest. Once that was done I went back to a normal room. While there I had a bowel movement that was nothing but blood. It filled the toilet and ran down my legs onto the floor. The on-staff doctor happened to stop in as I was leaving the bathroom and saw the mess. "This should not happen!" He proclaimed He was going to get a proctologist to check me out. Before that happened I did the same thing all over the floor, on the next day. The proctologist said I had three hemmorhoids and he would remove them. I asked that it be done in the hospital. I felt with my track record that was the best place to have it done.

The next day I was discharged, January 8, 2012, and I went to Pickerington Rehabilitation Facility. I was there two weeks. The first three days I couldn't urinate so they straight line catherized me three times a day. I was eventually able to get back on track with that, thank God! I had physical therapy and occupational therapy each day. I came home from that stay with a walker. I still use my cane in the house and the walked out in public. I got home from here February 2, 2012.

I came home and got a home physical therapist and a home nurse. At this point in time I only have the home nurse who visits twice a week. My health is not improving at the rate I think it should. I am so tired that I just want to go to bed and never wake up. Every task is a chore and I am no longer interested in the things that I used to love to do. Its been at least four months since I've written anything or worked on a book.

Well that's it for now. Later.