after five days at home with very little improvement, Shane and I went to see my Primary Care Doctor...our biggest concerns was the pain in my arm and shoulder and my overall weakness and sluggishness...
We found out that the "textbook" recovery time for viral meningitis is 4 to 6 weeks, and Dr. Chamberlain said to expect nothing less than 2 weeks. Just having an established timeline for recovery is calming, it takes the mystery out of it...the unknown just causes worry...
Secondly, we found out that the pain in my arm and shoulder is from thrombosis...I don't know if I can explain it exactly, but while I was in the hospital, the veins in my hands, wrists and arms were blown...so now the veins are making little clots to repair themselves, plus blood is flowing through different veins while the usual ones are healing...I'm supposed to keep heating pads on the painful spots until they heal enough and I start to get relief...
Dr. Chamberlain told me to find things I want to eat (I've had very little appetite), so I can get stronger and my mom just ordered a natural vitamin with immune boosters, so I'll start on that as well...
I'm much less anxious tonight after meeting with the doctor...I know the road to recovery is long, but at least I know I'm on the right road...
Funny how two doctors in the last week have asked me if I have to go back to work...the medical community doesn't seem to think that is a part of the recovery plan...luckily Ashley, Lucy and "my Italian Angel" are handling everything just perfectly...
now off to bed with Morgan...
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Greetings from the Hole....
so it's day four...and I just got the news that my reservation has been extended...here's a little recap of the last few days:
Because the steroids delivered with the antibiotics can increase your sugar, I have been getting regular fingerpricks. Each finger has been pricked three times, so forgive the typing... luckily, the steroids are being decreased today, so I can go off of the pricks and insulin shots
The cultures from my spinal tap are not growing - REALLY good sign that the meningitis is viral versus bacterial, but I am still being treated for 4 different strains of bacterial meningitis. so at 6am, 12pm, 6pm and 12am, the iv's start and last for 4 hours, so I get a little break in between rounds
Last night my IV arm gave out. The pain from the meds moving through my arm was unbearable, so they had to start a new line on the opposite arm (hitting a nerve that extended down into my wrist). Much better, but the original arm is sore, swollen and still leaking - so disgusting!!
I just saw the doctor and he is sending the Infectious Disease doctor in for a consult...better to be safe..
There has been some good news from my oncologist...he does not see anything to suggest that the lymphoma has spread to the bone marrow, so we can finally table that concern...That's about all the news i have for now, still Quarantined and I've watched most of the decent movies, but i can usually find something on HGTV or a Law and Order rerun.
Thanks for al of the kind responses. Sometimes they make me cry...I'm more than a little emotional cooped up in here by myself, but your comments, texts and emails are keeping me tuned in...thanks! hopefully my next post will be from home!
Because the steroids delivered with the antibiotics can increase your sugar, I have been getting regular fingerpricks. Each finger has been pricked three times, so forgive the typing... luckily, the steroids are being decreased today, so I can go off of the pricks and insulin shots
The cultures from my spinal tap are not growing - REALLY good sign that the meningitis is viral versus bacterial, but I am still being treated for 4 different strains of bacterial meningitis. so at 6am, 12pm, 6pm and 12am, the iv's start and last for 4 hours, so I get a little break in between rounds
Last night my IV arm gave out. The pain from the meds moving through my arm was unbearable, so they had to start a new line on the opposite arm (hitting a nerve that extended down into my wrist). Much better, but the original arm is sore, swollen and still leaking - so disgusting!!
I just saw the doctor and he is sending the Infectious Disease doctor in for a consult...better to be safe..
There has been some good news from my oncologist...he does not see anything to suggest that the lymphoma has spread to the bone marrow, so we can finally table that concern...That's about all the news i have for now, still Quarantined and I've watched most of the decent movies, but i can usually find something on HGTV or a Law and Order rerun.
Thanks for al of the kind responses. Sometimes they make me cry...I'm more than a little emotional cooped up in here by myself, but your comments, texts and emails are keeping me tuned in...thanks! hopefully my next post will be from home!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Bacterial Meningitis? sure, I'll try it...
So if cancer couldn't kill me, can Bacterial Meningitis??
On Wednesday, I started to feel nauseous and i felt feverish. Same thing on Thursday, along with a migraine. Friday and Saturday, same, same. By Sunday the migraine pain was completely unbearable and my neck was really stiff. Off the ER Ashley and I went...
11 hours and a spinal tap later, I bought myself Bacterial Meningitis and probably a 4 day stay at OLOL.
I was concerned after the doctor explained how Bacterial Meningitis is potentially much worse than Viral, but no one prepared me for Quarantine.
I am enclosed behind an extra set of massive heavy doors and all medical staff wear masks, gloves and disposable smocks upon entry - I lost if for a few minutes last night when I saw the nurse, but I'm handling it much better today.
My room package includes Internet and movies...what more could a girl want?
I'm more upset that the school counselor called today because Morgan was upset at school. Luckily Shane met her for lunch and eased some of her anxiety.
Some days we sure get more than we bargained for...
I'll keep you posted...
On Wednesday, I started to feel nauseous and i felt feverish. Same thing on Thursday, along with a migraine. Friday and Saturday, same, same. By Sunday the migraine pain was completely unbearable and my neck was really stiff. Off the ER Ashley and I went...
11 hours and a spinal tap later, I bought myself Bacterial Meningitis and probably a 4 day stay at OLOL.
I was concerned after the doctor explained how Bacterial Meningitis is potentially much worse than Viral, but no one prepared me for Quarantine.
I am enclosed behind an extra set of massive heavy doors and all medical staff wear masks, gloves and disposable smocks upon entry - I lost if for a few minutes last night when I saw the nurse, but I'm handling it much better today.
My room package includes Internet and movies...what more could a girl want?
I'm more upset that the school counselor called today because Morgan was upset at school. Luckily Shane met her for lunch and eased some of her anxiety.
Some days we sure get more than we bargained for...
I'll keep you posted...
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Senior Care
Ironman subscribes to the Business Report magazine in Baton Rouge. Recently he brought home the Books of Lists issue and I was reading the "40 Under 40" article... all of a sudden it hit me that my time is running out to make the list. Turning 37 this year only leaves me 3 years to achieve this feat...
Wait a minute...Did I really just think that??? who am I kidding?? The people on this list are motivated, hard working and extremely successful...I, on the other hand, was all of those things in my twenties...but my thirties....well those little girls came along...and that damn cancer hit...and now I'm just lucky to have clean underwear!
So as I re-examine my place in life, I find myself here....
Imagine my surprise when my newest doctor is located in the "Lake Senior Care Center"...My new doctor is actually a Rheumatologist, but isn't it funny how that is in little print at the bottom of the sign...
Do you know they even give out magnets so that old people can locate the phone number easily...oh don't worry, I have one...
So the pain I have been having has a name which makes me feel much better...It's always nice to have a professional confirm that you aren't making it up...it's called Erythema Nodosum...I didn't say it was easy to pronounce, but it exists...
I'll call it EN for short. See EN can be an indicator of a ton of things from strep throat to a systemic disease (like Lymphoma). The Rheumatologist ruled out through blood work Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and a host of other things I probably wouldn't remember even if she had told me....She was kind and told me with a reassuring smile, "Maybe this is an isolated event and it won't happen again". She drinks the Koolaid...
EN is back in full force and I won't bore you with the details, but when I need assistance getting out of a chair, you'll know why...
So for now I wait....I see the oncologist on Monday for my "in between PET scan" checkup and I'm not sure if the EN combined with the glowing bone marrow is a cause for concern...I mean it concerns me, but I'm an accountant whose medical knowledge ends with bandaids...so I'll just wait and see what he says....
oh, and you should have heard how loud I laughed when I saw the Senior Care sign!
Wait a minute...Did I really just think that??? who am I kidding?? The people on this list are motivated, hard working and extremely successful...I, on the other hand, was all of those things in my twenties...but my thirties....well those little girls came along...and that damn cancer hit...and now I'm just lucky to have clean underwear!
So as I re-examine my place in life, I find myself here....
Imagine my surprise when my newest doctor is located in the "Lake Senior Care Center"...My new doctor is actually a Rheumatologist, but isn't it funny how that is in little print at the bottom of the sign...
Do you know they even give out magnets so that old people can locate the phone number easily...oh don't worry, I have one...
So the pain I have been having has a name which makes me feel much better...It's always nice to have a professional confirm that you aren't making it up...it's called Erythema Nodosum...I didn't say it was easy to pronounce, but it exists...
I'll call it EN for short. See EN can be an indicator of a ton of things from strep throat to a systemic disease (like Lymphoma). The Rheumatologist ruled out through blood work Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and a host of other things I probably wouldn't remember even if she had told me....She was kind and told me with a reassuring smile, "Maybe this is an isolated event and it won't happen again". She drinks the Koolaid...
EN is back in full force and I won't bore you with the details, but when I need assistance getting out of a chair, you'll know why...
So for now I wait....I see the oncologist on Monday for my "in between PET scan" checkup and I'm not sure if the EN combined with the glowing bone marrow is a cause for concern...I mean it concerns me, but I'm an accountant whose medical knowledge ends with bandaids...so I'll just wait and see what he says....
oh, and you should have heard how loud I laughed when I saw the Senior Care sign!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
I'm here...
My laptop was shipped off to Dell...so I'm not blogging...but I'm still here...making lists of fantastic blog post ideas...not really...
I did start a post last week, but then I had to surrender the laptop...and since I work sporadically already, I really try to focus when I'm actually at the office...
Ashley won't be too happy when she realizes I was blogging at work...oh hell...Bama won the National Championship...she doesn't care what I'm doing!
be back soon... Keep on laughing!
I did start a post last week, but then I had to surrender the laptop...and since I work sporadically already, I really try to focus when I'm actually at the office...
Ashley won't be too happy when she realizes I was blogging at work...oh hell...Bama won the National Championship...she doesn't care what I'm doing!
be back soon... Keep on laughing!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Mini Tree
For two or three years I have been collecting ornaments for a "vintage" style tree...ornaments with mercury glass, glass glitter, old book paper, all in silver and cream or white...a very neutral palatte...
And one day when I had "enough" ornaments or when the girls were "older", I planned to decorate an entire tree this way...then all of a sudden last week - it kind of hit me...I'm not exactly winning the "Most Likely to Succeed to Next Christmas" race...I don't mean this in a doom and gloom sort of way, but I have a few more losses than wins than other people...
So at 9pm last Friday, I ran into Walmart (and when I say "ran", I mean hobbled in an arthritic state) and bought a cute little 3 foot tree...and both of my girls LOVE the little tree...they aren't at all impressed with my beautiful ornament collection, but they love the littleness...they've already asked for "little trees" for their rooms next year...I've created a monster...but a good monster, because I can't really see how a bunch of little pre-lit trees are bad...
and this little tree just reminds me to read "just one more book mommy", play one more game of Cranium, and give a few more kisses...because the laundry can wait, we can eat on paper plates, and the kitchen counters will ALWAYS be messy...but everyone is in charge of making their own happy life...and that's something that shouldn't be put off until tomorrow...
And one day when I had "enough" ornaments or when the girls were "older", I planned to decorate an entire tree this way...then all of a sudden last week - it kind of hit me...I'm not exactly winning the "Most Likely to Succeed to Next Christmas" race...I don't mean this in a doom and gloom sort of way, but I have a few more losses than wins than other people...
So at 9pm last Friday, I ran into Walmart (and when I say "ran", I mean hobbled in an arthritic state) and bought a cute little 3 foot tree...and both of my girls LOVE the little tree...they aren't at all impressed with my beautiful ornament collection, but they love the littleness...they've already asked for "little trees" for their rooms next year...I've created a monster...but a good monster, because I can't really see how a bunch of little pre-lit trees are bad...
and this little tree just reminds me to read "just one more book mommy", play one more game of Cranium, and give a few more kisses...because the laundry can wait, we can eat on paper plates, and the kitchen counters will ALWAYS be messy...but everyone is in charge of making their own happy life...and that's something that shouldn't be put off until tomorrow...
and this little tree makes me really happy...
Happy New Year...I hope you laugh out loud everyday this year!
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