Mood:
happyNow Playing: Day 1165-Gastroparesis Life-A New Road For Me
Lately this is what I have been waking up to-A HUGE LITTLEBLUE laying almost across me with Lucky kitty by her side. Hey, this might be a really large new sectional but regardless it still isn't big enough for the three of us. Hahahaha! Eric and Oreo of course have the other side of the large sectional, the side with the most room. GO FIGURE!! Hahahaha!
We didn't get as much rain as they predicted but it was enough to make things mighty humid outside. This is the start of the wicked summer heat and nasty humidity. Thank goodness only 2.5 more months to go before fall season is here, WOOHOO!!
My specialist/surgeon still hasn't gotten back all my blood work-labs yet but we are hopeful they will come back by tomorrow or possibly Thursday. I will definitely get an accurate "maybe" or "no" by then regarding either experimental injections or implant. Sure, I know the odds are stacked against me but even a 10% chance to me is still a 10% chance. After such a crazy past few days it was nice to attend our first of my two specialist appointments today. Its nice having a professional really sit down and explain the negative actions brought on by others. Sure, sometimes hearing the truth isn't easy but I am the type of gal who does far better with my specialists being brutally honest than beating around the bush. My medical mystery isn't such a medical mystery anymore with the large stack of past medical reports that were acquired by my attorney. At least we are finally on the last part of closure regarding why those who have caused us troubles continue to do so and in the process did some really unforgettable and unforgivable things. By the end of the day I finally felt that last sense of relief and now have 100% peace within. The last puppet string will be cut tomorrow morning and I can finally take that second and final step moving forward with a new fresh lease and outlook on life. Medically things haven't changed and will continue to progress, only as expected. I might not be able to control that part of my life regarding my health but I can control eliminating and ridding of those who have created nothing but mere negative energy and trouble for not just us but others.
What a GREAT & LIBERATING day!
We were told by a professional to always expect a few set backs and bumps in the road because you can't predict how people react when they are hurt and doing things out of spite. "It is what it is." At least when we finalize things and make the big move out west all of my specialists can transfer my files over to my new team of doctors. There isn't any mysteries anymore to be solved so my care will only consist of follow up symptom management, pain management and any other new symptoms or problems that are connected with my unique set of medical circumstances. We both feel so much better knowing everyone is 110% behind us on all the new life changes! Most of my specialists felt it was extremely important to do a legal name change due to losing any sense of self and identity that I had left caused by negative actions brought on by others. It took a long time and a lot of thought before making my final decision on the name change. I also didn't want to just choose some random name, it had to have significant meaning. I don't take doing a legal name change very lightly because I never thought in my wildest dreams those who I was raised with would do so much damage to any sense of self with my prior name I had left.
It's life. It happened. Today is a new day God has given me and I am blessed to be able to start over again. AMEN.
This evening we ended a great Tuesday with a walk at the park to watch the beautiful sunset. Within ten minutes the most amazing thing happened, OREO TOOK HIS FIRST STEPS! ALL FOUR LEGS, ALL ON HIS OWN! It was not only a huge surprise to us but a bigger surprise to a few of our neighbors who were outside talking as they also saw Oreo walk on his own. We predict Oreo will walk again before the upcoming winter holidays. Its been one amazing journey! One can certainly say you can't stop the will to live by fighting to overcome the odds. Even the impossible ones. Humans and animals.
d'oh
Eric said, "I don't think its the prescription vitamins. I think its just because you have gone through more than one person could ever handle in a lifetime and you have finally become immune to others stress and drama. Even your specialist told you the exact same thing last month. It doesn't faze you anymore in the slight bit." 
Eric got tickets to go see the Reds play this week against the Pirates HOWEVER it also falls on the same day as my specialist appointment. For some reason I had the wrong date wrote down on the calendar and only realized this after my specialists assistant called Eric reminding me to bring my last lab reports. DANG IT!! I even bought us new Red's shirts but looks like they will have to wait awhile longer. What is fun anymore? Specialist appointments!? SIKE!! Sure seems that way doesn't it?.. Hopefully it will rain as they are predicting so we don't miss out on anything. Hey! its that wishful silver lining of the clouds wish! Actually...there was a small silver lining after selling the tickets this evening which will help pay for this weeks insurance co-pays. 
WOOHOO!
celebratory
What a great photo of an amazing family! Love the photos sent from my dear friends as they celebrate Father's & Fur-Father's day. Golf and a day at the beach sure does look like a very relaxing time! We cant wait to celebrate Father's day next year out west as we now take another step closer to the big move! I can't wait to continue this new lease on life. Things have been a million times better and I can honestly say since letting go of the past, I have been able to move forward to the future.
S I G H...as I watch the tumbleweed blow by...
Eric got some really nice Father's day gifts from his Son and the fur gang. Home made cards, gift certificates to his favorite restaurant, new summer shirts and a few good books! Everyone had a really great day and the weather was perfect! Even Terminix paid us another visit to recheck on our not so wonderful-a bit annoying springtail bugs. Terminix was already in the area since those who live in large mansions down the street with lots of old land and trees to boot are also having one heck of a time trying to put the springtail bugs back to sleep for the season. At least the only thing we will have to put up with in Nevada is hissing cockroaches. YIKES! Well, at least we can see where they will be coming from. Desert sand. 
bright
chillin'
All good things must come to an end. That includes my friend Kev and his families east coast vacation. Thank goodness the tropical storm didn't ruin their trip and they were all able to have an amazing time and fun in the sun! Look at these tans and happy smiles! LOVE IT! I bet the fur gang will be so excited to have them back home this weekend!!
Today was Mr. Bear kitties chemo treatment day. I feel horrible for the poor little guy because he gets so darn sick the day after chemo. If anything I am happy for my decision against any type of chemo or radiation anytime in my future. Its hard enough on Bear who didn't have any pre-existing conditions. Bear kitty lost a pound since his last chemo only a week ago so they had to give him more fluids, another injection of antibiotics, injection of steroids and an appetite stimulant today. Thank goodness he only has two more chemo treatments left before they run another ultrasound, crossing our fingers his cancer has finally gone into remission. Oreo has still been pulling his MacGyver stunts around the house. You can lay him on the floor in one part of the house, then later find him on the opposite side of the house. Heeheeheehee! He has the Oreo-scoot down to a science now! His Veterinarian specialists have been super excited for Oreo and all his amazing progress.
With all this crazy weather and rain my fruit trees have really been taking off this year. The apple trees that were just planted last summer already have fruit blossoms and tiny apples growing. There might only be a dozen but what do you expect with a tree that is only a year old? The plum and peach trees are just the opposite and FULL of fruit! That is until the deer sneak into the yard later next month. Hahahaha! At least the groundhog family have been enjoying the ripe wildberries that keep falling off the trees. It also keeps them away from the other fruit trees. WHOA!
rushed
Today was the day. Time to find out the possibility of trying either the experimental injections or implant. At least I had the mental outlook of expecting the "unexpected." That included the dreaded words of possibly being let down. Again. The word; "NO."
My first appointment was with my specialist/surgeon in regards to the possible bio-chemical injections or implant. A 40 minute visit turned into almost an hour and 30 minute visit in regards to my prior history, current history and present symptoms. The big aim was focused on my prior blood disorder-clotting history and current symptoms. That included the rashes and bruises-clotting issue. Since now my specialists have all my medical history-prior records it isn't rocket science anymore figuring out what is going on internally with my body. At least my specialist/surgeon is very educated with my unique medical history however and a BIG "HOWEVER" my auto immune problems, severe Gastroparesis, generalized seizures and connected issues were extremely alarming and quite concerning to him. So concerning that we went from discussing the injections and implant to quickly ordering additional tests/blood work. The problem with the lab made bio chemical mix-via-injections or implant is that his prior patients didn't have the same complicated medical history or multitude of problems. In fact I was told, the other patients only had a "few" medical issues in which none were serious or life threatening. After a thorough examination he explained that all the symptoms I have going on are due to the progression of my medical conditions. Although the injections and implant are quite promising, he didn't feel I would gain any benefits due to the extent of my medical issues. Having blood clotting issues was alarming enough that he didn't feel comfortable at this time on either possibility of injections or implant. I wasn't too terribly surprised with the news or honestly very let down seeing I expected the worst, "NO" but was still hoping for the best. 
I was still in thinking mode heading off to my last appointment of the day which included a treatment and a few prescriptions to go! I also got the date of my next nightmare procedure. Mid August. That's enough to scare me straight to Nevada! At least I was a few weeks off seeing I thought I would have to deal with the next procedure and set of biopsies the end of July. Other than my normal health issues and big "C" problems, it was a typical specialist appointment. The only TRUMP card I played was asking my specialist if there was any possibility I could try working again. His reply with a stern look was, "With your seizures, weekly treatments, hearing issues and multitude of other symptoms it is safe to say you are far better off not working and doing your body a favor by resting. We can't have you working when we can't control your seizures nor progression of other medical issues because it not only places you in danger but also the public. It becomes a liability." 
After a long double specialist day we headed back home so I could start a late day 1 of treatment aka Hell-In-A-Jug. I didn't go for the flavor packets because I don't feel the need when a few glasses don't go down to come back up flavored via orange, cherry, lemon-lime or scrumptious summertime PINEAPPLE (The worst of them all) UGGG! Something to think about while ending this blog...If the directions/warnings on the outside have to tell the patient this clear plastic jug is a colorless-liquid when mixed with water then certainly instead of Drano you might be needing glasses. Also if you are that crazy to attempt snorting, inhaling or spooning down Drano crystals via treatment then you definitely need glasses! Hahahaha! Some of the things these pharmaceutical companies have pharmacies print on their drug packaging is just down right F U N N Y!! I needed a good laugh, I just didn't think it would come via Drano today. Hahahahaha! 
If having Gastroparesis isn't scary enough just imagine when us-patients decide to consume liquids/foods that otherwise wouldn't be such a problem for the normal-average person. The time it takes for these liquids/foods-listed below to leave the stomach you can pretty much times 10 for the average Gastroparesis patient. I suffer from Idiopathic Gastroparesis. My stomach only functions at 1.5%. For those like myself who suffer from severe Gastroparesis most of the liquids/foods listed can actually take days (up to a week) to leave the stomach. It's no wonder in the beginning I learned the hard way about cheese and oatmeal! YIKES!!
Juices 
It was another day of just wanting to sleep however I had an appointment to see my specialist in regards to my blood. Things are still "off" and this evening I started getting a lot of swelling and deep body aches. They wanted me to head up to the local emergency room but lets be honest by saying when you have a $200.00 out of pocket insurance co-pay going to the ER isn't that easy. Honestly I believe there should be a mandated law capping the out of pocket insurance costs for emergency room visits to be maximum $100.00. This would help people like myself who live with chronic/terminal conditions and unfortunately will deal with many unexpected emergency room visits due to medical necessity when least expected. For now I am doing my best to possibly rest my blood back to where it should be and hopefully start feeling a bit better. Soon. If things continue getting worse I assume it will be another $200.00 out of pocket expense which will most likely end up being just more bad news.
"You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated." -Suzi
sharp
So much for treatment day aka Drano. S I G H...