Clinic's Today

Today was spent at Duke clinics. I had two appointments and had to get an xray. The xray was to SEE if the fluid has decided to return AGAIN. It better not. I haven't heard anything from it yet, but I'm sure I will, good or bad. I had a follow up with the doc that did my stomach wrap. I'm done seeing him unless I have problems, whew, one less doc to see! The other doc was deciding when to stop the anti-fungal meds and the anti-viral meds. I've been on them both since tx and I am so ready to be iv free! Even though I'm not struggling for air anymore, I can't help but think of CF antibiotics everytime I hook up an iv med now. I am happy to be alive and I don't want to waste any of it complaining about things that can't be changed. Things that are to my benefit. I know I received a miracle and I am thankful everyday that I am here today. I am on the downhill slide and I will get home soon. I'm keeping the faith!

Getting out of The Joint

I am definately getting out of the hospital today. It'll be this afernoon before they get the paperwork done, fgures! Some good news is I'll get to sleep in peace and I haven't had a pain pill in over 12hrs. It seems like I always get a room across from the nursing station. Last night it wasn't the nurses making noise, it was the person in the next to me, well it was the family that was in the room with him. I don't think they had ever been in a hospital setting or they would know to BE QUIET. It wasn't late so my sleep wasn't disturbed, but other patients may have been asleep. They were laughing and talking loud like it was a family reunion.

More good news, I may get to go home by mid October. It isn't for certain, in case something else happns ;). I have faith in God and so far everything has run smooth. I'm still taking it one day at a time. Love To All!

Surgery Sucess

I'm stil here and doing great after my stomach wrap surgery. I haven't been in too much pain like I thought I would be. I'll have five more scars when the latest holes heal. It'll be worth it if it keeps acid reflux from contaminating my lungs. I'm so thankful that I'm alive an able to breathe!

A downfall to this surgery is I'll be on a liquid diet for a week, then soft foods for a few days. The doc said after that I could slowly incorporate regular foods into my diet. Here's a question, if anyone has been on a clear liquid diet, what types of things did you eat. I know things like broth, protein drinks, etc. I'm wondering if anyone invented something that tasted good and gave nececcary calories and energy.

I'll have more to update later. I haven't seen any doctors this morning, of course it is only 8:00ish. I'm hoping to go home today. I'll update again when I find out for sure. Love To All!

I'm A Pulmonary Rehab Graduate!!

Woo Hoo! I finished my 23 sessions of rehab today. I will still go to the center until I leave for home, but I will be on my own more without the instructors guiding me what to do next. I'm excited because Philip can go with me too. The only bummer to it all is after my surgery tomorrow I won't be able to lift more than 10lbs with my arms and legs. I've worked my way up to 75lbs on some of the leg exercises. That irritates me because the rehab center said it would be that way for six weeks.

Sooo, EARLY in the morning I have to get up to be at the hospital by 5:30am for the stomach wrap surgery. It isn't scheduled until 7:30am. At least I won't have to wait too long and I'll get to go back to sleep ;) I'm not looking forward to staying in the hospital overnight, but this too shall pass. Then I'll spend a week on a liquid diet. Next I'll slowly ease back into regular food starting out with soft foods. It'll probably take a few weeks for my tummy to get back to normal.

I went to clinic today and everything looks good except I have fluid around my left lung AGAIN. I don't feel like I'm breathing worse, but my PFT's (breathing test) show my numbers have dropped. I feel like it is the fluid. It was actually there last week too and doc said it was a little better this week so she isn't going to do anything for now. I go back to clinic Tues., so I'll find out what she wants to do next.

That's all the news I have for now. I probably won't feel like blogging, so I hope everyone has a Great Weekend. Love To All!

Keep Thinking Positive Thoughts

I haven't had anything really interesting to post lately. I've just been going through the motions, dr appts., rehab, grocery store, etc. same ole same ole. Well, this past Saturday me and hubby decided we were going to go to the movies Sunday afternoon (when there are less people in order to avoid a crowded theatre). Great Idea! I was looking forward to it. At 7:30 Sunday morning the front desk called, but I didn't answer. I checked the message when I got up about 9:00 that informed me I needed to contact the front desk. Turned out my car had gotten broken into early Sunday morning about 4am. They broke out the front passenger window and stole the Gps. They also rummaged through the glove box and the console, but didn't get anything else, thankfully. I've had an experience as a child with our car getting stolen and I'm very thankful they weren't interested in Grand Larceny. We weren't the only vehicle that was hit. There were three others in the appt. complex and one in the hotel right beside this place. They only took the Gps from each vehicle. It won't happen again! We bought another Gps and it will go inside when we go inside, whether it be at home, the mall, the grocery store, walmart, whereever! It won't be left in the car for sure. Luckily we are located close to an automotive shop that is going to have a replacement window tomorrow morning. About the movie, I wasn't in the mood after seeing my car violated and dealing with the police and filing a report. We ended up going to walmart for a gps and groceries, then hung out in the apt. the rest of the day. Bummer of a day, but it could be worse!

On another note, I enjoyed having dinner with my transplant family this evening. Three nights a week the apt. serves dinner and we all get together and have a great social. It's great having people to talk to that know what you are talking about and are going through. I also went today to see the doctor that is going to be doing my stomach wrap or Nissen Wrap. This is a surgery Duke is doing based on research that shows people with acid reflux could easily aspirate into their new lungs causing rejection. This surgery will prevent that from happening. I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm ready to get it over with. Surgery is scheduled for Friday. One more step on the road to getting back home!!!