Mood:
brightNow Playing: Day 540-The Final Road To Survival
So after a long day yesterday with another new battle on my hands I find out this morning things are connected. My gut was right on target believing my spine just giving out so to speak has to be connected to years with my Idiopathic Gastroparesis. Not only that but the lack of calcium and other important nutrients has my specialists scrambling me to the store buying this and that hoping to make some swift changes. Whether they work or not who the heck knows seeing wouldn't I need my digestive system to work first? DUH!
Someone made a comment to me that they wouldn't blame me for, "Being Mad At The World." Hahaha! I am not sure what that is suppose to mean or where that came from seeing why would I be mad at the world for being dealt such a CRUEL medical condition? Its not the worlds fault my deck of cards were given to me by David Copperfield full of mostly Jokers. NO WAY! Honestly I don't know of one individual who could handle the full plate in front of me but one person. ME. I love the world and I love living. If not I would had used the 'exit button' years ago. God loves a good fighter and with me he broke the mold. Amen! What I don't love is lack of help and support. What I do need is help and support.
Enough said. Topic closed.
Luckily this morning I was able to get into the Orthopedic surgeon group down the street from my house. The group has at least ten doctors and surgeons. What they don't have is the expertise to treat my 'rare situation.' Not only was I crabby from getting up early but had to go home only to make another phone call. This time to my current Neurologist. At least the ball went back into my court seeing he has a few Neuro surgeons in the group and was able to schedule me in on October 20th. The downside of things: This is a 'new problem.' I guess what they thought they were watching pulled a OOPSIE! and now I went from 0 to 10 in a matter of months. We did discuss problems with having any surgical procedure. I kinda knew that conversation was going to happen so I checked my attitude at the door this morning.
Keep the mind open at all times and expect the WORST CASE SCENARIO TIMES 100! I did and I got just what I expected which is risks vs benefits of any surgery no matter how bad things are stacked way against me. It seems my L-4, 5 and 6 discs are gone. They collapsed on each other and now are bone to bone also pinching my sciatica nerve with it. This explains they said the limited mobility and the fracture I suffered. I can name the day that happened when my friend was over spending the night after one of many Hell-In-A-Jug aka Drano treatments. All I did was try to move but I couldn't move. It scared the heck out of me and honestly it took almost an hour to get me up and to the bathroom using the cane as well the wheelchair. So now I must face the music and deal with another quick blow to my poor body. It just never ends with Gastroparesis.
Gastroparesis is one of the WORST and most CRUEL medical conditions I have ever seen as it slowly destroys each organ one by one.
God surely knows his Angels on earth as they go through many battles in order to one day earn their wings in Heaven. Maybe that is what its all about and maybe what I am going through will one day help pave the way for the new generation of GP patients? I tend to think it surely has to be so bring it on Mr. GP Monster! I have far more fight still left and this gal isn't backing down so easily! My heart goes out to the young and newly diagnosed patients. Those also born with this poorly researched and understood GI dysmotility disorder. I stand up and applaud those who are proactive! Those who don't sit back but instead stand up and make a difference in the lives of others. 
Thank you Andrea for putting a smile on my face today and for your passion helping parents who have children newly diagnosed with Gastroparesis.
Well back to my couchbed. Get it? "BACK?!" Hahahahaha! I sure hope God loves a comedian and has a comedy club in Heaven too!
surprised
JUST when I was 'trying' to get on some sort or routine...It never fails the unexpected happens.
I tried my best to first run some errands with my friend once they picked me up but the pain just got to be a bit too much. I did get checked out at my local urgent care facility thinking maybe, just maybe its the spine pain from nerve damage firing up again and I might need another spinal injection. They did run x-rays then the doctor asked me to come into his office so he could explain what is going on and show me the x-rays. I quickly decided to bring my friend with me seeing two sets of eyes and ears are better than one! The doctor began showing us photos of my lower spine in which I have a compressed fracture. I also don't have any space in between four lower areas of my back so the bones collapsed and are stuck on top of each other like pancakes. This is where all the pain is coming from as well referring to my neck. My spinal situation in an instant just got much, much worse. My specialists were treating me for intestinal and spinal pain but they didn't follow through too closely and over the last few days I had suffered another collapse. I am lucky as heck they said it didn't paralyze me seeing the sciatica nerve runs in the same area and is getting trapped. I assumed this would be a 'quick' fix but instead was referred to an Orthopedic surgeon because they will have to put a few plates and spacers between the damaged spine and bones. 
on fire
Finally finishing up on some much needed and long overdue painting projects. Thank goodness for my friend helping! NO WAY could I even attempted doing this alone! Honestly my back was on FIRE by the time I got up and once again it took me awhile before I could even get up off my couchbed. The fur kids didn't mind though seeing they are enjoying catching up on some much needed rest. I was bound to get some sleep last night so I took my pain medication which works wonders but if you allow it you could sleep for days.
There have been constant visitors looking at the Halloween decorations and classic horror movie characters outside. After the first few days you tend to get used to having cars outside and groups of people in the yard taking photos. Littleblue even enjoys scaring a few visitors by laying on top of the displays, hahaha! Shes so silly! Oreo has gotten a bit into the spirit of the season with his new sporty sweater. Although the weather isn't sure once again if it is fall or summer. Temperatures are starting to climb once again into the 80's which makes for more viruses to pop up making everyone sick. I am now being extra cautious when out in public!
My butterfly friends have been few and far between this year but to much surprise I am starting to see quite a few lately. I assume the last warm dose of air are bringing them out now. They sure are beautiful and I have seen a few already today. I haven't been able to sit back and enjoy my backyard beach just yet but plan on doing so this weekend.
d'oh
With fall being my favorite season and time of the year what I don't look forward to is all the nasty viruses that are now going around including a few different types of flu. If I make it through the remainder of this week without catching it I will be SHOCKED! This gal won't be knocking on any wood nearby you can trust me on that one!
No sleep. Headache. Drained. Fever. Chills. Inflammation. Nauseated. Dizzy. This is all part of dealing with the ole Hell-In-A-Jug aka Drano weekly treatments. 
At least I can think about the fun we had at the 2nd annual 'Hot Sauce Festival' this past weekend. I am so glad I pushed myself and got out! I went to it last year and learned from prior experience what not to touch which is pretty much about 90% of the vendors samples. Although everyone else was bold and I even talked them into trying the really blazing HOT stuff! There was a hot chocolate sauce and hot lollipop eating contest and although I do love chocolate Gastroparesis & spicey foods just don't mix but it was sure fun to watch! We couldn't had asked for a more perfect fall day for the festivities! It was different and fun! Key word is FUN! What I am doing my best to add more of in my life. Amen! The best part was being able to dress up and blend in with the rest of society. Being a girly girl! 
So back to reality and back to the bathroom. Its all part of the Drano fun! WHOAHOA!
It's the day from Hell! Its Drano day aka Hell-In-A-Jug AGAIN! You know its the start of a bad weekend when I lifted my car floor mat Friday only to find a frown guy looking back at me. OK, it was funny at the time! Hahahaha!
Once we got back to my house my friend dropped me off so I could get my jug mixture ready and start treatment this way they could go home for a few hours and catch up on some cleaning, etc. I made it through my jug treatment but lets just say holding off for a bit wasn't wise. The salt feeling in my eyes and the burning was horrible! The fog feeling and not making any sense was annoying. The worst part was the cardiac side effects it gives you so let's just say Mr. Drano wasn't too kind to this gal. 
happy
celebratory
After almost a decade now living with Idiopathic Gastroparesis I have finally realized after many life lessons the one person whom you can always rely on is, "YOU/YOURSELF."
So I 'WAS' down to only 5% stress until around 1am this morning when things took a strange turn. Needless to say it was a very interesting morning into early this afternoon. I have come to realize not only did this gal keep her backbone in check but have decided its finally time for some serious changes in my life. Its time to cut all unnecessary stress or drama and keep it there. Time to set not just one bottle out to sea but an entire case of them! 
So this evening as I finally got my couchbed together and laid down I smiled the first smile I had all day because my stress level was finally back down. All the way down. It feels GREAT! GOOD FOR ME BOUNCING BACK! Always remember, "You CAN'T KEEP A GOOD GAL down. No matter how tough life can get!" AMEN!
When I walked in the front door I found a very bored pup named Littleblue who once again decided to unstuff her stuffed animal. A huge mess awaited me, same as the other unstuffing projects she does while I am gone. They always say, "Never leave a Husky home alone." Hahahaha!
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.............