Mood:
d'ohNow Playing: Day 585-The Final Road To Survival
No matter how you slice it (if only us GP patients could eat more things that are sliced-amen!) here comes the holiday season! Its the crazy time of the year full of hustle and bustle. The time of the year when everyone goes broke then POOF! it is gone!
What happened to the days when Christmas was about visiting family, friends and loved ones? More so "FAMILY." What happened to the days when being around family was something you looked forward to? What happened to sitting at the table with family and catching up on each others lives? Seems those days have been replaced by cell phones, Ipods, computers and Wii systems.
AHHHH....THE GOOD OLE DAYS....WHERE HAVE THEY SADLY GONE?
It all got somehow lost. Now we push the holiday season with a huge serving of retail mumble jumble. Who really cares if you can get started on Black Friday at 12am instead of 6am? Did we forget about those employees who are now forced to work earlier due to a poor economy? Remember these faces who are now having to give up additional precious time with their families so society can find something else to fight about like HD TVs and video games on sale. Did we all somehow forget the true meaning behind the holidays? What about Thanksgiving? Did we all forget it is a day to pray and say thanks for the blessings we have in our lives? To say thank you to God for waking up and breathing in life another day?
I have many things to be thankful for. Don't you?
It makes me sad to hear from so many who dread the holidays due to confrontation with family. Family who very seldom even see each other whether alone communicate during the year with even so much as a simple phone call to say, "Hi! How are you doing? Are you still alive?" Now you have to either be a member of Facebook or Myspace to know if your relatives even exist.
Such a sad society we have all become.
This Thanksgiving I am thankful for defying the odds that will always be against me. I can reflect back on a life full of triumph! I continue to prove miracles do exist and sometimes people can overcome great odds because maybe they are still needed on earth before they can continue their work in Heaven. I send my blessings to you and yours that maybe you too can find things in your life to be thankful for. Maybe you can take the time to put down those electronic devices that seem anymore to define the very heart and soul of us as human beings. Find time for family and never take life for granted. Never take family for granted either because when the day comes you want to be surrounded by those who supported you and cared. Not surrounded by people called family who have become strangers because they didn't take the time to genuinely care. Sure, you will always have those who would rather find things wrong or to complain about but not to fret seeing I personally have learned over the years those same individuals just haven't gone through enough tough battles to truly appreciate life. Sometimes you have to just let others be happy with their own behavior and move on.
Keep lessons learned closely by your side and become a better person for the hardship.
This is the first year I have learned to put differences with others behind me. You can't change people but you can change how you react. Close the door and never look back. I have now made the holidays a time for "me" to enjoy whether it be by putting up a few trees, listening to my favorite holiday collection or placing loose change in a donation box. I now look forward to the holiday season. In this day and age I guess you can consider me a "rarity." Anyone who has overcome great odds can always find a reason to celebrate life even around those who are not listening. "TURN OFF THE FLIPPIN CELL PHONE FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!"
Hahahahaha! Amen.
down
Since last treatment didn't work I am hoping to get things moving by drinking a bit more liquid dynamite than last time. Darn if I didn't realize I was out of Hawaiian punch and forgot to pick up some this weekend! I guess I will just have to use Gatorade-Strawberry flavor to chase the foul salt water mix. Me and my friend didn't wake up until 2:30pm. Actually my cell phone alarm woke me up letting me know today was Drano day. Good thing though seeing I would had slept all afternoon. I am still drained and not feeling well. My doctor called this afternoon to let me know the news that I had figured all along which is the Golytely/Trilyte is causing my kidneys to not work properly. What isn't making my organs act up anymore? If its not the ole Hell-In-A-Jug then its the extensive nerve damage from my Idiopathic Gastroparesis. Luckily I have learned over the years to become a pro of accepting bad news.
incredulous
Another great debate we have going on is the fact that the Bungals, OOPS! I mean Bengals stink. This is my opinion seeing every time they do really well in their division people in my city go extreme and get wayyyy too cocky. What happens next is the Bengals fumble and lose. I have called it plenty of times before over the years. Ask my friend Kevin whom we also get into this same debate. So...I told my friend I am getting a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey or coat and wearing it every Sunday out in public. Hahahahaha! That will teach em! GO STEELERS! Not only that but when I was researching team sportswear online for the Steelers I found this hilarious Steelers fan face for your tree! YES! Now you can decorate your tree! I told my friend I am going to buy it and place it on the tree next to the driveway. He said, "I will cut the tree down." I told him if he does so I will just buy one and put a Steelers face on every tree in the yard, hahahaha!
Later this evening once we started on the last tree I told my friend it would only take around thirty minutes. I might had wanted to add another three hours onto it because the last tree he forgot to put put down the base pole. He said and I "'QUOTE", "The tree looks fine..." The almost five foot tree looked more like it lost a few feet. Maybe it didn't take in enough calcium over the year, hahahaha! I should had taken a photo because it was HILARIOUS!!!! So needless to say we had a bit of assistance then finished the final decorations as well the other three smaller trees. They are the fur kids trees. Fur kids also need their own tree too so Santa Paws can visit them on Christmas. 
happy
All good things come to those who wait and patience is a virtue. I am not just a firm believer of that quote but also a lucky percipient. 
I woke up at 11am this morning by the sounds of a happy hammer and saw. I didn't wait one second but instead took my pillows and blankets then made my way to the new chair in the back bedroom. I was still very tired so in no time flat I fell right back asleep. 
With all the weekend hustle and bustle around the house I guess Littleblue and the gang were so tired even hammering didn't wake them up. Oreo made his way back in the room to wake me up at 5pm. Let's just say I caught up on all the sleep I needed! With taking the new medication to fight infection it also makes me very tired. I won't be able to do my next Drano aka Hell-In-A-Jug treatment until Monday. My doctor wants to give my body at least a few days to possibly help the medication start working this way I am not instantly flushing it out with the liquid-toxic poison.
Littleblue must be having a lazy day too because once I started my second round of holiday decorating she took her stuffed animal friend and went back to sleep. 
celebratory
It must had been the decorations that set the tone for one tired Supervisor. The kittygang enjoyed finding tinsel that fell off a few decorations and played till they all passed out then fell asleep, hahahaha! Fur kids are just like children. They too get excited when the holiday decorations start coming out. 
Its not easy but its life and at least the peppermint oil I place on a piece of toilet paper or paper towel seems to help a bit at night. I place it right next to me on the cart so when you walk into the house my friend says, "It smells like one huge candy cane!" Hahahaha! 
Once I finished up the first day of holiday decorating my friend thought it would be a great time to start working out. He has to work his normal job this evening-third shift so why not? Although every time I attempt to get back into the swing of working out I get sick so I don't expect anything less but if it helps him to get motivated then he can continue on his new work out routine. I chose to just walk on my treadmill as he braved the thirty minute 'AbTwister' machine. It was a bit funny watching him work out with the video. I couldn't help but to chuckle however he did make it through the work out with flying colors! I also made it through the treadmill although I must admit it did make my nausea a bit worse so I took my Zofran and called it an evening. My friend said he felt great after working out and hopes to keep up with the routine. I told him I will do my best to be his new work out partner but I couldn't make any promises with me being sick and having two lumbar fractures. He agreed.
don't ask
Hmmmm....Sure seems like its Wednesday all over again...Set cell phone alarm last night, wake up to Littleblue howling to go outside, feed the fur kids, tidy up a little bit then get ready to head to my doctor's appointment.
Once we walked into the office it was the same routine of signing in, going over my medical insurance, handing them my copay then taking a seat in the waiting area. Since it was already the start of a lucky day I was also the last patient being seen since they were nice enough to work me into their schedule. I only waited a few minutes then was called back into a room. My weight isn't the best it could be but my doctors totally understand when you can't digest food and you are always having to do Drano treatments it will be impossible to gain weight. I do the best I can but looks like Santa might need to bring me a few new pairs of jeans this holiday season because my size 2 are getting to be a bit too big. 
I wouldn't be lying by saying after awhile you start to get used to the never ending problems. Lately I have been putting a lid on discussing my medical battle keeping it to under a select few except my friend who lives with me. I don't get into the full story or all the details seeing I feel its now best to keep things on the low. I am not getting any better but I also refuse to give up so I keep fighting each and every day. 
So I chalk up today as just another battle to overcome. Including this evening as I once again have to bring out Mr. Puke pan, UGGGG! Things don't get better with Gastroparesis. Things progress over time. There are no answers. There are no cures. There are though people out in the world who do care and you don't have to go on your GP journey alone. 
"THE SAME OLE SONG & DANCE"
All was not a loss.
I went today with an open mind expecting the worst but also hoping for the best. Instead I left today putting my lab coat back on playing my own best doctor minus the six digit salary, hahahaha!
It was a productive day yesterday and one darn CRAZY DAY today! WHEW! Just call it a little bit of everything all rolled up into one. At least with the rain and dreary weather there was less sun seeing it finally gave my head a break! It's been sunny enough the past week. The downside is with all this rain over the next few days it means the wheelchair ramp most likely won't be finished until this weekend. I guess if anything I can be glad for much needed rest and no loud hammers or saws waking me up. Same goes for my friend who had to work mandatory overtime this morning at the county jail and didn't get home from work until 12pm. He was BEAT! since he went to work yesterday at 10pm. 
I got the wonderful privilege of dealing with another medical bill error today that started December last year after getting a CT scan at a facility that told me it was in network. A month later I get a bill saying I owe $1,750. NOT! Once I spoke to the head administrator on the error seeing my insurance company was never even contracted with the facility he clearly stated to me, "This is our error and go ahead, disregard the bill." Now almost a year later I get a statement from a collection agency saying I owe that same facility $345.00! WHAT?!!! I tried my best to remember my new resolutions for this new decade in my life and kept my cool but I have never had anything in collections so this was new to me. I tried contacting that same individual at the imaging facility where obviously they have some sort of miscommunication among themselves but of course they don't contact me. I was instead told by a billing representative that they did me a favor and wrote most of it off and was only charging me the remainder of the balance. MMMM....This was wrote off last year so there wasn't any balance to be remaining but I might as well been talking to a wall because the wall wasn't listening. My family agreed with me that this error on their end continuing for a year now just isn't worth the unnecessary stress so we paid the bill but not without me explaining the full situation with the collection agency. Not only did they listen but also told me, "Please write us a letter on everything you just told me as well a copy of the letter to the facility who wrote this bill off a year ago only in turn to charge it back to you again. We will investigate the matter with the imaging facility and get back to you. If it appears this is a situation that clearly as you stated was wrote off last year and there is a line of miscommunication within the facility we will credit you the money back on the bill." FINALLY SOMEONE LISTENED AND UNDERSTOOD! So lesson learned is this: Make sure you check and double check before getting any test done at any facility as well your insurance company that the facility is contracted with them. Never let anyone tell you it is or that they checked already because things like this can happen and no one terminally ill needs this type of unnecessary and additional stress. AMEN! Also if you are dealing with a mean, nasty and hateful spouse/ex who feels they don't need to help you with any bills and refuse to pay for any to put their name down as the responsible party with your medical professionals or any imaging facility, hospital, etc. ANOTHER LESSON LEARNED.
There is a new show that me and my friend were wanting to watch and it finally aired late last night. The show is called, "MonsterInLaws" and boy was it FUNNY!! Kinda scary too seeing I could relate a bit with both new episodes that aired back to back. My friend sadly said they could relate too! It is a reality show if you want to call it but I say its more like "REAL LIFE." Just shows you once again what I always believed which is blood isn't always thicker than water. Maybe back in the day when family truly stuck together through the good times and the bad. Now in days families barely even communicate or know each other. Strangers now become more like family doing heart felt things reaching out to help one another. HMMMMM....Kinda like the concrete ground work that lead to the making of 'The Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign' over five years ago. A way for patients and their family, friends and loved ones to find support and not be alone nor feel alone. I guess you can say I would had rather been born back in the 1930's or 1940's. Maybe we all could take some of the lessons back then on how to treat family and apply them to our every day lives now. Amen.
sharp
My friend thought it was a good idea to head to the store which is right down the street by my house before the huge storm and cold front comes through this evening. At least with the store being so close to home I can make a quick run to the bathroom if need be but that as well was wishful thinking because the ole Hell-In-A-Jug continued the remainder of the afternoon to do absolutely nothing. Zip. Zilch. It was also a fast run through the store because when the nightmare poison lingers in my body it makes me sick, nauseated and BEYOND MOODY! WATCH OUT! Hahahaha!
I didn't need to say anything to my friend because they have taken a few glasses for the team on a few occasions. Once we got home we rolled up our sleeves and brought back out the cleaning supplies. By 6pm we finished up the rest of the house which included two bedrooms, the upstairs hallway, upstairs bedroom and second bathroom. 
Let's just say too much of a good thing is too much of a good thing and if my back could just separate and walk away this evening it would had done so because I was on fire with pain! I see my Neurosurgeon in a few days and know I am in for a good scolding. I won't deny being a bad patient but gees cut a gal some slack after years of going through nothing but pure hell. Amen! Once we finished up cleaning I figured it was a good time to take a shower and clean up while my friend cooked his dinner and finished the laundry. I got the PacMan World game on Wii as one of my birthday gifts so while I gave my body a much needed break and read the paper my friend got his Wii game-face on and enjoyed the remainder of the evening.
Nothing quite like starting the first week turning 40 with a jug of ocean tasting saltwater!
Cleaning is a million times easier when you have help and it wasn't so scary like it used to be before I had my friend to assist. The Drano also went down a bit faster but not without a few times gagging and then getting things hung up. Sadly that sensation lasted for four hours and this treatment just didn't work, DANG IT! Typically a normal person would be in the bathroom within the first hour and making over 30 trips by now but not my UFO paralyzed intestines. Oh no! that would be too easy because instead by the time it was 11pm I only made two bathroom trips. I also didn't get any further relief the remainder of the evening so looks like another Hell-In-A-Jug treatment is in my very near future.
