Mood:  on fire

The day after treatment has turned into a day from HELL! I am beyond hungover from the darn Drano with a smashing headache. This treatment of course hit me neurologically. Seems you just can't determine jug to jug what each toxic poison mix contains.

Jingles puppy hasn't been feeling too well and its hard to determine if maybe he might have a separate virus. He is of course a young pup so even if sick they still want to play but his stool smells horrific and he might need a prescription dewormer. Regardless I felt it was best to take him to the vet and get a re-check. So around 3:45pm after playing clean up around the house and working on four loads of wash we took him up to see the vet.

Thankfully the rest of the fur kids at the house are feeling fine although Oreo and Littleblue still want no part of Jingles. The kitty gang take their stance whenever Jingles comes running up to play. You will hear the occasional hiss and then a loud swat! They might not have their back claws but they sure make good use of their front ones Jingle is learning very, very quickly!

Once we got to the vet we didn't have to wait too long and they re-examined Jingles who is still battling kennel cough and a virus. He is slowly getting better but its important to bathe him once they are coming down off their virus. It helps to rid any bacteria on their skin too! Let's just say I am BEAT and now we must go home and bathe him on top of finishing up loads of wash. No pun intended! GEES! Jingles was a little beastly handful on the way to the vet but after getting his second round of puppy shots he was out like a light on the way home laid back down for a nap once we got through the front door.

KEY WORDS: Once we got through the front door...

Within five minutes walking into the house we were greeted by puke everywhere. OH NO! It didn't take long to realize Oreo is now sick. I had a hunch they would all get whatever Jingles brought into the house and I was right! Oreo kept vomiting so guess what we did? Since Oreo is 13 years old and viruses are much harder to fight for him back to the vet we all went! Seems upon examination I was correct in my guessing, Oreo has the same viruses that Jingles has but its hitting him ten times harder. He didn't have a fever then but that sure changed later on in the evening! They gave him a shot for the vomiting and nausea then a strong injection filled with antibiotics.

What a day!!

I thought everything would be OK as me and my friend finished up what seemed to be a never ending game of wash, shampooing and vacuuming the house. I honestly don't know how the heck I did it today being so sick and tired myself but in life sometimes you just have to do what you need to do. Jingles finally laid down to sleep around 10pm but around 12:30am Oreo started having seizures with delayed breathing. I was extremely concerned but didn't want to move him because I personally know first hand what you can do to someone moving them during a seizure so I called the emergency clinic down the street from my house. They had us bring Oreo down asap! I wasn't sure if he would make it but boy was I HOT HOT HOT for someone bringing over a pup so sick knowing it could hurt the other fur kids. Some people are just STUPID! But when people become addicts they can't even take care of themselves whether alone even a plant!

Once we arrived at the clinic they let us in and took Oreo back right away. The veterinarian came back in to explain why Oreo is so sick and declined so quickly. With him being 13 years old he can't fight off infections and viruses like younger fur kids. Its very similar to my fragile immune system and having to be super cautious around anyone who is sick. I catch things super fast and so can Oreo. He was running a 102.5 fever so definitely up from just earlier this afternoon. They had to give us more antibiotics then explained with the tremors, seizures and poor Oreo being so sick its touch and go. My nerves as well my friends were shot! The only good thing is the kitty gang can't get canine viruses so they are in the clear but Littleblue can catch the same viruses since they are airborne so we must watch her very closely. For now they want us to wait 48 hours to see if Oreo's body can bounce back from the virus since it is just now in the active stage. As far as seizures they can't do much because they are very common in older pets.

Like I said and said it a million times before:

I don't do well with stupid people who not only should but DO know better. AMEN.

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:59 PM EST

Updated: December 31, 2011 6:30 PM EST

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Mood:  d'oh

YEAH!! The holidays are almost over as we count down to New Years Eve. So in celebration of this upcoming weekend I thought I would have my very own little party right here at the house! DRANOTINI NIGHT!

WHOAHOA!

Yes! Everyone is invited and all you need to do is bring your own favorite chaser and I will provide the rest! You can drink as much as you want! Need to drop a few pants or dress sizes before the holiday weekend? No problem! I have enough jugs for everyone! Hahahahaha!

Thank goodness for another solid night of rest. The new medication knocked me out cold! I didn't even wake up once nor have to get up making a bathroom trip in the middle of the night. I woke up in the same position that I fell asleep! The hard part was dealing with the drug haze but I was able to walk it off later this afternoon. I even got up at 1pm! WOW! Yes, I know! My friend has a three day weekend off so he is looking forward to getting some rest. Jingles puppy is slowly getting used to being at the house however the fur kids aren't too happy with him temporarily staying here. Oreo gives his warning growl and Littleblue stays far, far away from Jingles as possible. If Jingles grabs any of her toys Littleblue is quick to pick them up and place them high out of reach on the couch. I make sure to give the fur kids extra attention now with Jingle's around. Poor guy. Jingles has a vet visit tomorrow for a recheck on his cold and kennel cough as well to get a second round of dewormer. I am hoping to have a low key day tomorrow and just catch up on my Jersey Shore DVDs then later on watch my friend TRY to beat my Asteroids record on the old school Atari game. Hahahaha! This evening I turned over the game three times in a row with a 100,000 score! Am I good or what?! I warned him that back in the day Asteroids was MY GAME!

This evening I got the ole Hell-In-A-Jug together and my chaser glass. I had a few takers over at the house however they passed on any Dranotini's. Maybe next time although I did let them know I had plenty to share! Even some to go! Within three hours I dropped a few pants sizes and brain cells to boot Hahahaha! Just part of the ole Drano side affects. My goal is hoping by Saturday I will be bounced back enough to go out for the New Years Eve festivities if even for a few hours. Until then I just have to play things by ear in my typical GP life. Sunday I have a few more glasses of the nasty stuff to toss back. I split this treatment in half because I don't want my angry insides to feel more like fire than they already have been.

Only time will tell...

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:59 PM EST

Updated: December 30, 2011 2:13 AM EST

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Mood:  surprised

FINALLY! I got some solid sleep!

I might not went to bed until 5am but I was still able to catch a good eight hours of rest. Thank goodness I only got woken up a few times. My friend now sleeps in a different room so he can hear baby Jingles puppy when he needs to go outside. Since the poor little guy is still battling a kennel cough and virus its important he not only gets plenty of rest but as well food, water and medication taken twice a day. Hopefully by the time he returns to his new home he will be 100% better and so far potty trained too! He's so smart! Littleblue was also a very smart puppy but it took much longer than just four days to house break her from having accidents. I tend to think Jingles watches Oreo and Littleblue understanding that you go potty "outside" not inside.

Unfortunately what did wake me up this afternoon was the darn tremors. Luckily they didn't cause me to go into a full blown seizure. I only been getting seizures around once a month now since we don't have that much sunlight during the winter months plus VAMPIRES like myself sleep right through the peak hours of day light. BOO! Hahahaha! Come summertime? FORGET IT! Between the migraines, tremors and seizures I am stuck in the house most of the time. I dread summer anymore! Can't stand it! Thanks to Gastroparesis and my messed up set of central nervous system wiring its been a not so fun nor pleasant GP journey. Amen.

I haven't had too much luck yet taking medication to help cool the stomach fire off so my GI doctor called in a new medicine today hoping maybe to hit a few things at once. Donnatal. The only downside with this medication are the side effects such as knocking you out like a light and slowing things down a bit TOO MUCH. Like I need more slow organs or how about a dependency to barbiturates? UMMMM...NOT! Why in the world with all the billions upon billions of dollars pharma companies can't create medication without tons of side affects? You try to fix one problem but then end up creating ten more. It makes me a bit hesitant to take any new drug but I do need to calm my angry insides down including the waves of nausea and vomiting. I have tried this same medication years ago to no avail and it didn't resolve my problems either. If we are dealing with intestinal ulcers its going to take more than just this medication to fix the problem. I also am on a clear bland diet.

WAIT! HAVEN'T I ALREADY BEEN ON ONE THE PAST EIGHT YEARS?!

Hahahaha! Now THAT WAS FUNNY! Regardless, I am not hungry to start with and even taking in fluids burns all the way down but being the good patient that I am this gal will try things over the next few weeks. I have a follow up to see my Gastroenterologist January 12th. If things don't resolve by then the next step will be going in via endoscope. Sometimes with Gastroparesis you just have to accept that some things can't be fixed and instead pray sooner than later they resolve on their own. I sure don't need to lose any more weight.

With it only being a few days away until my next Hell-In-A-Jug treatment I am keeping close tabs on all the new medication as well existing ones. Everyone has been asking what plans I have for the upcoming New Years Eve. My response is same as any other day, "I have to play things by ear. It all depends on how I am feeling and if my Idiopathic Gastroparesis will let me out of the house to play." Hahahahaha! Well at least I was lucky enough to get out of the house for a bit this afternoon. Two days in a row being house-jailed is enough to drive anyone nuts but at least my fur kids keep me busy. They are the best!

Off to watch Jersey Shore season 1 on DVD. So far I got through disc one and now close to finishing up disc two. WHOAHOA! Things that make a GP gal happy! Hahahaha!

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:59 AM EST

Updated: December 29, 2011 3:32 AM EST

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Mood:  sharp

8am and I FINALLY went to sleep! WHEW! Maybe this is just part of sleeping with the rest of the VAMPIRES...BOO! Hahahaha! I have officially caught up with my friends third shift sleep schedule but not by choice seeing this sure can't be healthy for my tired body. I am still dealing with vomiting but crossing my fingers the new medication will help with the burning and stomach pain. Only time will tell.

Not that I don't have enough on my full plate I also have a temporary fur baby staying at the house through next month. His name is "Jingles" and a cute hand full but smart as a whistle! I LOVE PUPPIES so its not a surprise I do my best to be the best babysitter as possible. He has been here for four days now and is fighting a double infection. Poor little guy. The other fur kids aren't too happy with Jingle staying over the next four weeks but like I said, "Its just on a temporary basis." Call it, "Me and my friend earning our fur wings," heeheeheeheehee! With the end of this week being the final HORRAY of the holidays there isn't much of anything else going on with my GP life so Jingles will at least keep me and my mind busy from going into any depression. Amen.

I read a study that was recently conducted on random acts of kindness. Not only was it fascinating to me but worthy of sharing. Its not what I also believe but what I know.

It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor. What we all need to do is help one another. Sadly our society is too busy screaming, "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! on Facebook and other social networks. We need to instead look at and assist those who are saying, "Help Me! Help Me!" Amen.

Poor People May Be Quicker to Be Kind

TUESDAY, Dec. 27-- Poor people are quicker than middle-class or rich individuals to recognize the suffering of others and to show compassion, according to a new study.

It included more than 300 young adults who were divided into groups that took part in three experiments designed to assess their levels of empathy and compassion.

The findings challenge previous research that concluded lower-class people are more likely to react with anxiety and hostility when faced with adversity, said the researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

"These latest results indicate that there's a culture of compassion and cooperation among lower-class individuals that may be born out of threats to their well-being," study author and social psychologist Jennifer Stellar said in a university news release.

"It's not that the upper classes are cold-hearted. They may just not be as adept at recognizing the cues and signals of suffering because they haven't had to deal with as many obstacles in their lives," she explained.

The findings, published online Dec. 12 in the journal Emotion, suggest a scientific basis for emotional differences between the rich and poor that are depicted in such Charles Dickens classics as "A Christmas Carol" and "A Tale of Two Cities."

The results also indicate that people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may do better in cooperative settings than those who are wealthy.

"Upper-class individuals appear to be more self-focused, they've grown up with more freedom and autonomy," Stellar said. "They may do better in an individualist, competitive environment."

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:44 PM EST

Updated: December 28, 2011 12:06 AM EST

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Mood:  don't ask

Gastroparesis is scary. Its uncontrollable, unpredictable and for the most part unheard of. Its bad enough trying to juggle the constant symptoms and flair-ups that happen on a daily basis. Now add a few other problems on top of an already full plate. Needless to say most GP patients couldn't begin to list all their symptoms and connected problems because there are just far too many! I am not even sure if I could do so without going through over eight years of medical records. To me, that is the only way I would know for certain I am not leaving anything out. With each new problem I have been wise to hit it head on then find a way to live around the new issue brought on by my Idiopathic Gastroparesis.

When your digestive tract is damaged and nerves slowly die off it can trigger a host of various complex/complicated problems. Most specialists don't have the actual time in their busy schedules to fully explain GP complications to their patients. If one is wise they research on their own then bring their findings to their doctors. My team of amazing specialists learn just as much from me as I do from them. This helps all their future Gastroparesis patients. Call me the "Guinea pig." It all makes sense when you sit down, take a deep breath and connect the dots. It does to me. I do better "KNOWING" than "NOT KNOWING."

With trying to keep up on every little medical thing going on inside my body I clearly forgot about the large cyst I have on my chest. My hospital didn't forget. Friday they sent me a letter reminding me since I had a large cyst that was picked up last year on a mammogram-same time I had the breast cancer scare I now need for them to do a yearly check. GEES! I can't even hardly keep up with treatments and the constant pills I am taking to help boost my damaged immune system. Now I must pencil in another scare into my crazy GP life. So instead I added it to the kitchen cabinet "To Do" list, this way I don't forget. Seems anymore I have numerous "To Do" lists. Hahahahaha!

Second issue is the nausea, vomiting and fiery pain inside my stomach. I am taking Tums and now a prescription medication to help possibly turn off the fire. My GI doctor has a hunch all the juicing, Drano and severe GP might have caused an ulcer or stomach lining inflammation. We are hoping things will calm down within the week so I don't have to endure another endoscopy however it is what is it and if we need to go down that route then so be it. Won't be the first nor the last but treatment is a must with my intestines. I can only let so many days slide by holding off on the ole Hell-In-A-Jug however if there is stomach lining issues going on then that needs to put in front of the line. I started the medication this evening taking half of the pill first in fear the full dose might put me on the ground. So far the only side affect I am feeling is TIRED. That might be a good thing though because I can always use additional sleep.

I am not sure this week on the New Years Eve plans that were made in advance. It really just all depends on what my body decides. My mind says, "WHOAHOA! LET'S GO!" but my body makes the final decision and that won't be happening until the morning of New Years Eve.

So after four hours of house chores and playing holiday clean up I decided to have a Jersey Shore series marathon. Just one of many great gifts I got for Christmas. I already played my old school Atari system last night. WOW! Can we say it sure brought back many fond memories being young again and not having a care in the world! Ahhhh....Those were the days! When I saw the games Asteroids and Centipede I literally LAUGHED OUT LOUD! Hahahahaha!

If I could had looked into a magical crystal ball and foreseen my future living with Gastroparesis I would had surely thought it was a joke! I could have never imagined my life would take such a drastic turn and never be the same again...

Well enough with crying over spilled milk. Its time to get some hairspray out and fist pump! It's JERSEY SHORE MARATHON TIME!

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:01 PM EST

Updated: December 27, 2011 12:04 AM EST

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Mood:  celebratory

FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

"If there is no joyous way to give a festive gift, give love away."

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:59 PM EST

Updated: December 26, 2011 2:45 AM EST

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Mood:  d'oh

Another sleepless night. Chalk it up as the second night in a row of getting less than five hours of sleep. Try also bouncing back from treatment on limited sleep. NOT! Sure...I got to bed on time but was woken up with not just GP problems but loud noise. Need not go there...Once I woke up after the third time at 9:30am it felt as if my heart was beating outside my chest. This time I made sure to check my blood pressure seeing I was having horrible sweats on top it! Seems when your body can't recuperate and is being woken up for various reasons you can get some pretty scary readings. I was wide awake but with a pulse running 59.

No wonder I felt dizzy!

My friend was awake too seeing they couldn't sleep. They were also concerned with my blood pressure. That made two of us. We both decided something sure has to give and soon because I have yet to rebound and get much strength back since my last treatment. Its also important to get rest and lots of it! I don't see that happening for quite awhile but regardless if I have to check myself into a hospital for exhaustion and get some "FORCED SLEEP" it will be happening. Happening soon folks!

Forget any Christmas Eve plans. They went out the door at 10am along with getting any additional sleep. So much for seeing my extended family whom I only get to see once a year. Its sad but even more sad when things in life are out of your control. There was no need for getting upset or angry because all that does is make my condition a million times worse. Thanks but no thanks I have enough stomach pain, burning and intestinal pain with nausea/vomiting. I made a few phone calls once I finally could get my tired body up, that was at 2:30pm. I was able to get a shower at least so that was a good start but sadly I couldn't attend church where I go every year for candlelight service. Instead I had to settle for another church which is located right behind my home. Their service wasn't until 5pm. This at least gave me time to take a shower and throw on some clothes.

Can anyone have a QUIET Christmas Eve church service this evening? One that is filled with relaxing holiday music, not much talking and where everyone can leave me alone? Horrible when your body is that exhausted that you need to ask for peace and quiet isn't it? Luckily both me and my friend's wishes were granted. This church service was quiet, peaceful and had lots of relaxing music. It was the only thing I was able to gather enough energy to do today. Once we got back to the house which we could had walked back seeing its that close the fur kids were waiting to be walked outside and fed. They were also waiting next to their stockings for SantaPaws. The fur gang were EXTRA good this year so I just know SantaPaws will be EXTRA NICE to them! Littleblue likes to take charge and guard all the stockings while BearKitty just enjoys laying on the stockings and teasing everyone. Hahahahaha! Hey! animals are just like kids. They are far from dumb! My gang are super smart kids and each Christmas they get lots of toys, treats and gifts.

So what did I ask for this year from Santa? Nothing really because Santa still has yet to find a cure for Gastroparesis. Until then I can only ask for peace and rest for my tired body that way I can enjoy the beginnings of a better New Year. Amen.

Here's wishing you and yours a very blessed Christmas. May all your wishes and dreams come true!

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:59 PM EST

Updated: December 25, 2011 1:18 AM EST

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Mood:  irritated

WHEW! Another horrible treatment aftermath! Does this stuff ever get any easier? Will I ever become a pro? I think NOT!

I was smart enough to start my treatment yesterday around 5pm but not smart enough to remember each Hell-In-A-Jug can hit you totally differently! Although this time around it was rather quicker than most it still gave me some horrible cardiac side affects which made it impossible to get any sleep! GRRRR! Around 6am it felt as if my heart was literally beating outside my own body. SCARY! Smart is knowing when not to hit the panic button and freak out...Kinda like this time. Forget taking my blood pressure, I would rather not know. Instead I stumbled my way back into the bathroom and sat there for around 15 minutes. By 10:30am I was back up again. This time vomiting. Not good! Most people would had woken someone up but my friend was sleeping so soundly and since its his day off I figured if things get worse within the next hour I would then wake him up. Luckily the vomiting subsided and I fell back asleep due to exhaustion. Around 11:30am I was right back up again. This time with horrific intestinal pressure and pain. If ever a time to hit the emergency room I was darn close to it but instead I took as much as my tired body could handle. By now my friend was up and a bit worried but we worked though the hellish Drano aftermath and here I am, ALIVE!

With Christmas Eve less than twenty-four hours away I am already exhausted thinking about all the running around. It used to be something I looked forward to but this was before becoming sick. Each year it gets harder and harder because my body just can't take all the traveling and stress. I don't do stress anymore. In fact I am finding myself quickly running away from it. AMEN. At this point a nice QUIET church service would be perfectly fine to me. QUIET is the key word because when your body is at the point of rebounding from weekly trauma it can't handle any excess loud noise or stress. I respect my treatments and take them very seriously so its a strategic game over the next four days when my body is at its worse. So far I figure I will just take things one day and one hour at a time.

Even during the holidays.

I do have plans but I always make sure not to make any promises I can't keep. Heck! I can't even think hour to hour anymore whether alone what time I will be at church or so and so's house. Seems I am not alone in the pre-stress moment of Christmas. Many other fellow GP'ers are feeling the exact same way. Its exhausting living with a condition that takes away one important part of living which is food but worse when you are juggling a million other things at the same time. Like trying to fit in with the rest of society and just being normal when you honestly just feel like pitching a tent and sleeping.

So this evening after a very long and tiring past 24 hours I decided to sit back on my couchbed, plug in my heating blanket, heating pad, grab my Pedialyte, Gatorade, SmartWater and Dannon yogurt shot and enjoy the holidays the most relaxing and best way I can! Watching Frosty, Rudolph and other fellow friends at the Land of Misfit Toys. Hahahaha! OK, so that did sound funny didn't it?

Here's to a better day and peaceful Christmas!

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:30 PM EST

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Mood:  don't ask

Nothing quite like knocking three inches off your waist and the rest of important fluids out of your body a few days before Xmas! At least my holiday "To Do" list is slowly being crossed off one activity and chore at a time. Even though I have treatment today I still have things that need to be done. Of course things that can be accomplished while being stuck in the house. Same goes for tomorrow because anymore after doing treatments it takes me a full 48 hours to start rebounding. Some say I might be crossing a fine line since Xmas Eve is Saturday and today is Thursday. Although that might be true you still can't predict Gastroparesis. I could be feeling fine one hour then get knocked back down again the next.

I am still re-thinking strategy when it comes to my never ending hair loss. When I took a shower today I had to once again clean the shower out, shower drain and then vacuum the floor. Once I used some leave in condition I found myself vacuuming again. Sigh...Needless to say I might be literally ringing in the New Year minus my hair.

Thank goodness my friend has the next two days off of work. At least I don't have to worry about the dizzy spells I get after doing treatment nor the endless bathroom trips using my cane because I am too unstable without it. I don't care what anyone says but being an independent gal is nice but being sick and alone just doesn't work. There is nothing more reassuring than knowing you have help. Amen.

The only thing left on my holiday list to do is making a second batch of Buckeyes that I finished up this evening and going to our local Zoo festival of lights display. Maybe after this weekend the weather will finally cooperate enough to go but until then at least I have some rolled Buckeyes to finish up occupying my time being home-bound again.

CHEERS! TO ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:31 PM EST

Updated: December 22, 2011 11:54 PM EST

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Mood:  irritated

So here I sit...Upper right pain that just likes to keep on coming back wave after wave after wave after wave after wave...This same darn pain usually is a clear sign of bad things to come. It also means my fused intestines are becoming blocked. Luckily I only have less than twenty-four hours left before getting a bit of relief from the almighty Drano. AHHHHH!

I think I broke an all time staying up record! I literally couldn't get to sleep until 6:40am this morning. Between back pressure, pain down my legs, nausea, vomiting and the darn upper right pressure pain I was just glad I stayed out of the ER! AMEN! Looks like a few days of clear fluids with a yummy diet consisting of chicken broth, popsicles, Gatorade and SmartWater. Speaking of SmartWater....Since my water level was low this afternoon after stepping on the scale I better take in more fluids before I get 'STUPID.' Hahahaha! Get it? "SMARTWATER" not drinking enough equals becoming 'STUPID.' Hahahaha! OK, nevermind.

Speaking of stupid...Sadly my friend got a wake up called "stress" this afternoon. Nothing quite like starting your day with four hours of senseless stress. You can never win any arguments with a concrete wall. Sadly I used to be like that but now I hit the ole turn off switch and conserve that fire cracker energy for better things such as days when I have rebounded from Drano. I also use that energy for taking a walk on my treadmill or washing the gray and my hair literally out of my hair, hahahaha! There isn't anything worth stressing about and if you have to go into hours at a time with the same topic over and over again then maybe you just need to end the topic. I felt horrible for him seeing he always goes out of his way to help so many people including myself. Honestly he deserves nothing but happiness in life not sadness.

My friend John down south has a little motto that goes something like this, "When you surround yourself with nothing but stupid people you in turn start to become stupid so don't fill your life with stupidity."

John has seen his fair share over the years of some very heartless people. His beloved Mother lost her battle with breast cancer and his Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and now spends his days in a nursing home. John has no siblings nor any other extended family. I always tell John, "You have me and if you ever need me don't hesitate to call." He recently moved down south to pursue a better contractor job for the Army and has been doing great! Holidays for John are the worst kind because he says, "No one cares when you are alone. People are so focused on their own needs that they become oblivious to others around them." I sent John and his fur kid-Mr. OrangeKitty a Christmas card last week with a note thanking him for being such a dear friend. I got a reply back the other day saying, "Just wanted to say thanks for being you. You're kinder and show me more appreciation than people I have know for years. And everyone wonders why I don't like people. Hmmmm?...

After doing my best this evening to walk down the pressure pain from my intestines I got home and read the second part of my GP friend AnnMarie's story in the Florida newspaper. I guess we can also chalk up that so called, "Christian Hospital" as part of the stupid people. Shame on them! Here's praying AnnMarie has an Angel out there that can help her and her dear Father. Its tough being sick but worse when you want to live and you have to jump through a million hoops at the same time. AMEN!

Tavares woman's case underscores issues with Florida Hospital Waterman's
'charity care'

December 21, 2011
Second of two parts.

Hounded by collection agencies and getting increasingly sicker from a strange incurable disease, a 40-year-old registered nurse from Tavares turned to Florida Hospital Waterman for help paying her medical bills. AnnMarie Riehm hasn't worked for two years, so the hospital approved her to receive "charity care," which is paid by taxes collected from Lake County property owners. But it's not that simple. It never is.

Sunday's column pointed out the weird kicker in AnnMarie's situation: She has good insurance — at least for now — that pays for 100 percent of her treatment after co-payments that range from $15 to $250, depending on the procedure. So, this is all about co-pays. The hospital has been vigorously pursuing AnnMarie, who holds a master's degree in health-systems administration, through a collection agency, for the portion of her treatment that her insurance company doesn't cover.

Never mind that the amount Waterman collects from her insurance is far more than it would be if she were a Medicaid patient, for example, which she may be soon. Never mind that the insurance payment almost certainly covers the cost of the
procedures — and more.
So, how does "charity care" work? Prepare for a stroll down a twisting path.

Most folks think their taxes are going to pay for the care of desperately ill Lake County residents who have no insurance and are too poor to pay anything themselves. While that's often the case, Waterman also counts in its annual reckoning of "charity care" the co-payments that folks like AnnMarie couldn't make, even though she has insurance. That unjustly inflates the amount of
"charity" care the hospital provides the community.

What is 'medically necessary'?

The hospital says that it uses 100 percent of the tax money for charity care, so theoretically, tax money goes to make up for AnnMarie's co-pays. Of course, as hospital officials quickly pointed out, none of the hospital tax money paid by
Lake property owners is applied to any individual account. The hospital without question takes care of everyone who must have "nonelective" treatment that would "cause harm" if it were put off, Chief Operating Officer Carrie Fish said.

Its policy is to charge a co-payment of $50 for outpatient procedures or $200 for inpatient stays if the treatment isn't "medically necessary" for life. All that would change if a bill being filed by state Rep. Larry Metz, R-Yalaha, passes in this year's legislative session, which starts in early January. His measure would prevent both Waterman and Leesburg Regional Medical Center from supplementing payments from insurance, Medicare or Medicaid with tax dollars. It also would require them to apply for tax money in each individual case so that the money is accounted for and not just dumped into hospital coffers.

How would this affect AnnMarie? Probably not much. Already, the hospital considers her multitude of procedures as "not medically necessary" and charges her the amount the hospital established as a co-pay, which are similar to her own insurance's co-pays. What the hospital sees as nonelective also differs from what her doctors think she needs. The hospital view is far shorter. It thinks: Will this person die
this afternoon or perhaps tomorrow or early next week if we don't administer this test? Is it "medically necessary" to keep living? Her docs think like this: AnnMarie's condition is deteriorating. Her heart might be enlarging. We need to find out because that might kill her.

Unemployment has run out

That's how AnnMarie got into a little spat with a financial representative of Waterman over $15 for a test she ultimately had on Dec. 6. Sick and weary, she told a Waterman representative that her credit cards are maxed out, and her father, who shells out $800 a month to keep up her insurance, cannot pay more. The representative threatened not to schedule the test.

Frustrated and sick at heart, AnnMarie blurted, "When someone tells you might be dying, and you need this test, then it's 'medically necessary.' My doctors are trying to figure out what is going on with my body. I'm not coming in to have my cholesterol checked." Indeed, AnnMarie's financial situation is dire and she isn't being tested for fun. Already, she is sending $25 a month (from her dad) to whittle down a bill of roughly $600 from last winter's trips to the Waterman emergency room. Even though she is paying, the hospital turned the account over to a collection agency, which ceaselessly calls her home.

AnnMarie lost her job with the county's health department in 2009 and spent about 18 months collecting unemployment and trying to improve her health enough to go back to work. She moved in with her father. As soon as she cashed her unemployment check, she turned around and wrote one for her health insurance, but her unemployment benefits ended in June.

AnnMarie has a condition called gastroparesis, which causes her throat, stomach, small intestine and large intestine to work sporadically or not at all. Her condition worsened last winter, and she began suffering almost continual
bowel blockages, which can be fatal. Doctors thought removing her large intestine would ease the pain and allow food to move more easily through her system. She hoped to be back to work within months of the surgery. It didn't
work. They tried putting a pacemaker in her stomach that electrically stimulates nerves to open a valve between her stomach and small intestine. It is designed to be a kickstart to the digestive process. That didn't do much either.

Milestone birthday
At 5 feet 9, she dropped to 95 pounds and doctors began feeding her through a vein in her upper right arm. She is up to 102 pounds today.
Still, she has to eat a little solid food once a week to prevent liver and gallbladder damage. Usually, liquids just slosh around in her stomach while solids sit there and rot. She'll either vomit or begin what seems like endless trips to the bathroom for several days. Since her April surgery, it has become clear that AnnMarie will not work again, and she has started the paperwork to apply for a disability income from Social Security. If she were to receive disability benefits from Social Security, she could also receive Medicaid, which pays for medical care of people who are deemed disabled. If that happens, Waterman will be reimbursed for only 40 to 60 percent of the cost of her care.

The woman who played sports her whole life and ran marathons now spends her days in a recliner in her father's house, where she naps on and off and worries continually about how she'll pay for the solution that nourishes her. She is focused on beating her condition but is realistic about the enemy. Her trips out of the house are mostly once-a-week excursions to the grocery store or doctor visits. AnnMarie was always a happy person, and she reminds herself of that. Like most of us, she dreaded turning 40, an event that occurred Nov. 22.

"I always said, 'I'm going to hate turning 40,' " AnnMarie said. "When it happened, I said, 'Yea! I made it to 40!'

Posted by GastroparesisAwarenessCampaignOrg. at 11:40 PM EST

Updated: December 22, 2011 3:09 AM EST

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