September was a busy month and was full of joyous occasions. I went to the Outer Banks and climbed two lighthouses. I saw Tricia and Nathan again while walking for Cystic Fibrosis. It was also a weird health month with the yeast rash and the wrist sprain. It was a better Lyme month for regular Lyme symptoms though. I am thankful for that.
What's up with me for October 2008? One Friday night, I think I am going to my former high school Football game. Oh, but it's not for the football. It's for the MARCHING BAND. :) Halloween night, there will be a long drive to my other alma mater Western Carolina University. It's annual Alumni Band time. That is always so exciting and it's the one thing I look forward to every year. The first year I marched. I got on the football field and marched for the first time since 1995. I enjoyed myself so much. I did not realize I was getting sick. The second year, I had really bad arthritis. I could barely climb the bleachers so marching was out of the question. The third year (last year) I also was having a lot of troubles with my joints so I did not march again. This year I had really hoped to march, but I have my doubts with the probable picc line.
Healthwise: I'll have 31 heparin shots, possibly up to 6 saline shots, 4 dressing changes, 1 bone specialist appointment, 1 -- possibly 2 Lyme antimicrobial treatment, 2 Glutathione infusions, 2 home IV's and any other weird thing that always comes up because my life is never just that simple. Not to mention 31 days of supplements including yeast killers and an MSA test somewhere in there along with a blood test that I should have already had completed. The wrist sprain kind of threw that blood work off course ... I really need to set that up.
On top of all of that, there is a professional development day at work and a fall festival and an open house and so much other stuff. It's going to be a busy month. I look forward to every day ... good, bad or the ugly.
Have a great October everybody. :)
Showing posts with label Great Strides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Strides. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Our Vacation Part 2
That night I crawled into bed expecting to enjoy a nice night of sleep. I began to doze off when it hit me. I had an itch so I scratched. That led to a night of scratching, Zyrtec, hydrocortisone cream and very little sleep. I got up fairly early and we walked down to check out the free breakfast. Now most of the time, continental breakfast doesn't mean very much. In fact, most of the we see what is served and leave to go somewhere to eat breakfast. We saw waffles, french toast sticks, sausages, hard boiled eggs, pastries, bagels, yogurt, fresh fruit and much much more. I chose two blueberry waffles with maple syrup and lots fresh canteloupe and strawberries with apple juice. Rob chose two sausages, one bowl of cereal and milk. Hmmmm Tasty. We were pleased. So pleased in fact, we didn't eat lunch until nearly 4pm. (of course this could have something to do with the fact that we couldn't find a place we wanted AND we had lots of free donuts and Rita's Ice at the Great Strides Walk).
After this, we got in our car to the Great Strides Walk. I've already written about that, but what I failed to mention is that Rita's Ice is Da Bomb. I've heard about Rita's and I've read about Rita's, but I've never TASTED Rita's. Rita's donated some of their delicious stuff for the Great Strides walk and boy .. I have to find my local one because it rocked my taste buds right off my tongue.
Now even three months ago, the walk itself would have put me in the bed for a day. I would have worn a knee brace afterwards (which I did the Walk in Cary, NC) and I would have needed lots of pain meds. I had asked before we left on the mini vacation whether or not we could do something that I have never done. Rob told me that we could possibly do that particular thing I wanted to do. We were both unsure whether or not I would have the physical capabilities of doing such items especially after the Great Strides Walk. I did not even think of the fact that I would have to deal with one of my greatest fears should we do said item.
I am going to skip around what we may or may not have done and go on with the rest of the day. Because that "said item" deserves its own blog. After all, I haven't even told my mother what I did. Once she finds out, she is going to be SHOCKED.
So after "said item," Rob and I went to this restaurant near MilePost 4ish? Now the thing is that on our way up and down the strip on Friday night, I *know* we must have seen at least 10 pizza place. We left before the pizza was being served at the Great Strides Walk and we were craving pizza. So we decided pizza it was. Of course on our way through Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devils Hill, we could not locate ONE of them. The one place we did see was locked up tighter than (insert your own joke here). So we were going to turn around and try it again when we saw .... The Black Pelican. Now we had no idea what place this was, but we saw the sign .... Pizza till 11pm. So we went in. Now keep in mind, we are southern people. We do things the southern way. SWEET ICED TEA is the only kind of tea there is. We should have walked out when after I said "sweet tea no lemon," the waitress replied, "we only have unsweetened tea here."
Now if that wasn't to warn me off, once we did get our drinks it took an act of congress to get refills. We both ordered a little pizza. And boy was it little. I don't know how many pieces were there .. *7 or 9 or so* but I ate all but two and was still going for them when I realized that my husband was bout to chew off his own arm b/c he was starving and he had finished his pizza. So I offered him a peace offering of my two slices saying that once mine settled I would be fine. (heck no I wouldn't be fine .. I was STARVING, but I love my husband so ... the pizza slices were his).
After the act of congress to get the refills, it took another act of congress to get our check. (it was easier for the CFF to raise 46 grand in one walk than it was for us to get our refills and checks that night). Maybe they were having an off night and maybe they were better known for their .. *um you think they actually serve pelican?* other food, but we weren't too impressed.
After our visit to the Black Pelican, we went shopping. AGAIN. I had to find something special. You see I have this very special nurse. If it weren't for this nurse, I would not be able to do the stuff I did this weekend. So I had to find something and I had in mind what I wanted to give her. I just had to find it. After all how hard it is to find a starfish ... um ... rather difficult to find just the right starfish. In any case, we went from store to store to store trying to find the perfect one. Finally, we found it. :) (I had to get two too b/c there's another nurse there and I didn't want her to get jealous).
We went back to the hotel and opened up our presents to ourself ... two huge blocks of FUDGE. :) Then we went down to the beach for a walk and shell gathering session.
Stay Tuned next time for: Part Three
After this, we got in our car to the Great Strides Walk. I've already written about that, but what I failed to mention is that Rita's Ice is Da Bomb. I've heard about Rita's and I've read about Rita's, but I've never TASTED Rita's. Rita's donated some of their delicious stuff for the Great Strides walk and boy .. I have to find my local one because it rocked my taste buds right off my tongue.
Now even three months ago, the walk itself would have put me in the bed for a day. I would have worn a knee brace afterwards (which I did the Walk in Cary, NC) and I would have needed lots of pain meds. I had asked before we left on the mini vacation whether or not we could do something that I have never done. Rob told me that we could possibly do that particular thing I wanted to do. We were both unsure whether or not I would have the physical capabilities of doing such items especially after the Great Strides Walk. I did not even think of the fact that I would have to deal with one of my greatest fears should we do said item.
I am going to skip around what we may or may not have done and go on with the rest of the day. Because that "said item" deserves its own blog. After all, I haven't even told my mother what I did. Once she finds out, she is going to be SHOCKED.
So after "said item," Rob and I went to this restaurant near MilePost 4ish? Now the thing is that on our way up and down the strip on Friday night, I *know* we must have seen at least 10 pizza place. We left before the pizza was being served at the Great Strides Walk and we were craving pizza. So we decided pizza it was. Of course on our way through Nags Head, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devils Hill, we could not locate ONE of them. The one place we did see was locked up tighter than (insert your own joke here). So we were going to turn around and try it again when we saw .... The Black Pelican. Now we had no idea what place this was, but we saw the sign .... Pizza till 11pm. So we went in. Now keep in mind, we are southern people. We do things the southern way. SWEET ICED TEA is the only kind of tea there is. We should have walked out when after I said "sweet tea no lemon," the waitress replied, "we only have unsweetened tea here."
Now if that wasn't to warn me off, once we did get our drinks it took an act of congress to get refills. We both ordered a little pizza. And boy was it little. I don't know how many pieces were there .. *7 or 9 or so* but I ate all but two and was still going for them when I realized that my husband was bout to chew off his own arm b/c he was starving and he had finished his pizza. So I offered him a peace offering of my two slices saying that once mine settled I would be fine. (heck no I wouldn't be fine .. I was STARVING, but I love my husband so ... the pizza slices were his).
After the act of congress to get the refills, it took another act of congress to get our check. (it was easier for the CFF to raise 46 grand in one walk than it was for us to get our refills and checks that night). Maybe they were having an off night and maybe they were better known for their .. *um you think they actually serve pelican?* other food, but we weren't too impressed.
After our visit to the Black Pelican, we went shopping. AGAIN. I had to find something special. You see I have this very special nurse. If it weren't for this nurse, I would not be able to do the stuff I did this weekend. So I had to find something and I had in mind what I wanted to give her. I just had to find it. After all how hard it is to find a starfish ... um ... rather difficult to find just the right starfish. In any case, we went from store to store to store trying to find the perfect one. Finally, we found it. :) (I had to get two too b/c there's another nurse there and I didn't want her to get jealous).
We went back to the hotel and opened up our presents to ourself ... two huge blocks of FUDGE. :) Then we went down to the beach for a walk and shell gathering session.
Stay Tuned next time for: Part Three
Monday, September 15, 2008
The CF Walk
So the first reason that I wanted to go to the Outer Banks the weekend of the 13th was that there was a Great Strides Walk being held at a park in Dare County. This was pretty much the only reason I wanted to go to Nags Head, North Carolina. I have been there before and though I am fond of the beach with my new addition of the PICC line I wasn't sure how it would go over. I convinced myself that I needed to go for a couple reasons. First ... I thought Tricia has had a PICC line before and she lives at the beach. So surely I can go just to vacation for a weekend. Second .. I would be helping a great cause that touches the lives of so many. Thirdly, I needed a break and to put some things into perspective.
My husband and I arrived way early. (45 minutes to be exact) I tried to convince him that we should go help set up, but I just couldn't convince him to go help out people that neither one of us knew so we rode on the swing set for a bit. :) That was fun. ;) Then we drove back out to the main strip and went to the one stop shop for all your beach time needs: WINGS. If you've been to one Wings, you've been to them all. But for some odd reason, we have this fascination of going into all of them (well most of them anyways). So promptly at 9 o'clock, we returned to the park for registration.
I took charge and went right over to the table and filled out a little piece of paper with my name, address, phone number and all that good stuff. Then there was a spot that meant what group was I walking with. I had no idea there were so many groups, but I knew which group I would put down. Team PattySue. :) I was walking for Tricia. I made out my beautiful check and passed it over to one of the many volunteers. My husband and I made our way over to what I figured was the central hang out. I wish I had taken a picture of it, but Nathan's mom made the most beautiful arrangement on a table. It had the ducky and a huge thing of roses with a beautiful picture of Gwyneth Rose. With the picture and roses (and little tubes of water for the roses) was a sign saying that we should buy a rose to take on the walk with us b/c we would be walking for Gwyneth's mommy. It was beautiful.
My husband and I spoke with Nathan & Tricia several times. I even posed for a picture with my new friend. :) My husband and I walked the walk bringing up the rear. Shortly after we returned, I met Megan and Janet. But the biggest thing for me ... I got to meet Gwyneth Rose. It was all I could do not to beg to hold that little precious baby. I just wanted to touch her little baby feet. Rest assured even though it was a hot and sunny day, Tricia covered that baby from head to toe with Sunblock. What a fun crew Tricia has as family. :) That is a day that I will cherish for a long long time. Not only did I get to visit with Nathan and Tricia again, I did something that even shocked me after the Great Strides Walk.
Oh I failed to mention the biggest thing. Last year, they raised 30,000 dollars for CFF. This year, over 46,000 dollars was raised and money is still being counted. :)
Look forward to tomorrow's blog (maybe tomorrow .. maybe a few days from now) when I post pictures that will shock the world. (ok at least those who really know me)
Friday, September 12, 2008
PICC line Part 1
This post is scheduled to be posted on the night that I will be in the Outer Banks. I am so stoked about that. I will post after I return about how the trip went and how the Great Strides Walk went that Nathan and Tricia did (whether I was able to go or not shortly after returning from the mini vacation).
I had known for some time that I would probably be needing a PICC Line.
What's this got to do with the PLC you ask? Well July 17th was supposed to be an ordinary day for me. There had been talks of me getting a PL, but we weren't really going to discuss it until the end of July. For some reason that day that I don't remember, my father dropped me off at my IV appointment instead of my husband. I guess maybe he had to work and couldn't be late. I waited for my nurse. She then proceeded to look for a vein. I got a bunch of "Oh honey" and "I'm so sorry" and "I just can't find one." Still she stuck that needle into my arm trying to find a vein. The first one she prodded for what seemed like 15 minutes, but it probably was only about 2. That one hurt, but it wasn't any more painful than usual. The second vein she prodded we both thought she got. It was painful, but once I got the heating pad on it I knew it would be fine. UNTIL, she turned on the IV itself. I screamed out "OH MEREDITH." "OH MEREDITH" isn't exactly the best thing to scream out. She stopped the IV quickly and pulled it out. She grabbed my other arm gently and said "what about here?" she touched on a spot that almost made me jump out of my seat. So she tried one more spot and at this point I am full of tears. The pain of the three tries and three failures was more than I could take. So she sent me over to drink more water and heating pad my arm some more. She went away in private to talk to my doctor.
They immediately went to the PL discussion because that's what we were going to set up at my next appointment at the end of July. He comes out and looks at my arms. His eyes are filled with compassion and he asks me how I'm doing. That's a loaded question there. I fill him in with all the details of the last couple weeks and he decides he's going to set up the appointment for next week.
I broke down saying that my husband had off that day and that I was missing a lot of work and that I needed something that day because I was going downhill fast and I just did not want to get back to where I was because that spot wasn't pretty. I did not even enjoy life 2 months ago (now that was May 08). I was fed up with everything and I just was done. If waiting another week for a treatment was going to bring me back to where I was 2 months ago, I felt like screaming "put a fork in me I'm done."
He left the IV room again saying he was going to see what he could do. So he called over to the hospital and came back. Once he returned, he said something about doing a miracle. I had to get over to the hospital right then and the doctor over there would do it immediately. Then after it was inserted for me to come back for my treatment.
This was the time to heal, build, embrace, mend and love all in one moment.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Sunday, September 7, 2008
What's up with me?
This month is going to be a very busy month for me. Plans have been made and I am so excited about all that is going to happen in September. I am going to ignore all the medical stuff that is going to happen and just tell you all the fun stuff I have planned. :) My husband and I are going on a mini vacation. Now before you all go and get excited, I said "Mini." It begins Friday afternoon and ends Sunday afternoon. However, I am super thrilled to be staying at a hotel in Nags Head North Carolina. This vacation serves two purposes. The first, which is the least important in the scheme of things, is for me to have a relaxing weekend with my husband. The second, which I am way excited about, is to attend this.
For those of you that don't want to click on that link, this is a charity event that is being hosted by Nathan and Tricia Lawrenson. Nathan and Tricia are amazing people that I have had the privilege of meeting twice. The first was at a Great Strides walk in Cary, NC and the second was at the church I attend C3. The "short" version is that Tricia has Cystic Fibrosis. If memory serves correctly, the day before Tricia was to leave her home to go to Duke Hospital to prepare for a double lung transplant ... she found out she was pregnant. This took them on a journey this last year of many miracles.
In January, Tricia had her miracle baby named Gwyneth Rose (a micropreemie) and on her husband's birthday in April ... she was granted her second miracle of the year. She received her lungs. Last year, Tricia and Nate started a Great Strides walk in the OBX (Outer Banks). So when I heard about this couple in December of 2007, I knew that my life would be changed forever. So, I am going to the Great Strides walk this year in the OBX. So between relaxing with my husband on the beach (sans Hurrican Ike) and the Great Strides walk, I am super thrilled about this upcoming weekend.
There are a bunch of small things that I have planned, but the other huge thing does not happen until the end of the month. The North Carolina Lyme Disease Foundation is presenting this documentary on Lyme Disease called Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease.
I have purchased two tickets to see this wonderful documentary and prior to the beginning of the movie, there is going to be a rally for patients, doctors, and supporters of those with Lyme Disease and other illnesses (such as Autism) to help support those doctors that treat these illnesses. It's going to be a long day for me so my prayers are that I will be able to stand with the great Lyme Literate Physicians and show my support as they have supported me over the last year and half and countless others over their lifetime. I also get to meet others facing this illness and rumor has it that there is going to be a new website announced at this rally as well.
I'm so psyched. :)
For those of you that don't want to click on that link, this is a charity event that is being hosted by Nathan and Tricia Lawrenson. Nathan and Tricia are amazing people that I have had the privilege of meeting twice. The first was at a Great Strides walk in Cary, NC and the second was at the church I attend C3. The "short" version is that Tricia has Cystic Fibrosis. If memory serves correctly, the day before Tricia was to leave her home to go to Duke Hospital to prepare for a double lung transplant ... she found out she was pregnant. This took them on a journey this last year of many miracles.
In January, Tricia had her miracle baby named Gwyneth Rose (a micropreemie) and on her husband's birthday in April ... she was granted her second miracle of the year. She received her lungs. Last year, Tricia and Nate started a Great Strides walk in the OBX (Outer Banks). So when I heard about this couple in December of 2007, I knew that my life would be changed forever. So, I am going to the Great Strides walk this year in the OBX. So between relaxing with my husband on the beach (sans Hurrican Ike) and the Great Strides walk, I am super thrilled about this upcoming weekend.
There are a bunch of small things that I have planned, but the other huge thing does not happen until the end of the month. The North Carolina Lyme Disease Foundation is presenting this documentary on Lyme Disease called Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease.
I have purchased two tickets to see this wonderful documentary and prior to the beginning of the movie, there is going to be a rally for patients, doctors, and supporters of those with Lyme Disease and other illnesses (such as Autism) to help support those doctors that treat these illnesses. It's going to be a long day for me so my prayers are that I will be able to stand with the great Lyme Literate Physicians and show my support as they have supported me over the last year and half and countless others over their lifetime. I also get to meet others facing this illness and rumor has it that there is going to be a new website announced at this rally as well.
I'm so psyched. :)
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