It's me, Charity

To say I have had a busy summer is putting it lightly. I am not a fan of cold weather or snow, but I was happy when school started and even happier when September 1'st rolled around.  Granted today is the hottest day of the year at 94 degrees and I feel like I am sweating in the ac. Minor Detail. Part of my busy summer were my Allergy Shots. Earlier this year I got tested and discovered the reason I had a sinus and ear infection from Sept- Feb was because of my Allergies. In March I started allergy shots at my former ENT's, with a not nice allergy lady who made me leave crying after my first apt. I learned how to do my own shots and did them at my house once a week. I was not that good at giving myself shots and had huge bruise spots on my arms, and then on my stomach. When I went back to the office to get another batch of medicine, my insurance had changed and they refused to see me. I left the office again in tears and raced home to get on my insurance...

Last year during the Spring I posted a question on facebook, trying to find some information on how others prevented migraines and dealt with them. It ended up being a fairly popular post, and I learned that it's not just me that deals with Migraines frequently. I've learned a few things in the past year, one which has had a HUGE impact on my Migraine activity, so I thought I would do a post to share some tips and tricks I have learned along the way. Initially I was looking at prescription medicine as a way to help prevent my migraines. I tried a popular drug prescribed to me by my Dr. I didn't last 4 days taking it. How such a small pill can make someone feel so dizzy and loopy I don't know. But it did. It was TERRIBLE. I decided I would rather have migraines than feel like that! About mid summer I got a second Chiropractor who gave me the great tip of using ice packs on my back. I started using them on my neck and my face when I was wanting to have a migrai...

Today I learned that if you ever want to be seen quickly at the ER, all you have to do is walk in and tell them your legs and ankles are swollen and you're feeling short of breath. Within three minutes you'll find yourself in a wheel chair being taken back to your own room. Long story short, last night my ankles started swelling to massive proportions. This morning they were still swollen as were my entire legs, part of my back and arms. After discussing it with my Dr, it was decided that I should go to the ER. So I drove myself. Yes, Yes I did! not the first time either, and most likely won't be the last! I spent a lovely 5 ish hours at my favorite hospital. After being taken back to my room I had an EKG, heart checked out great, then blood work. After my blood work things really heated up as My D-Dimer (i think) was off the charts high. The ER Doc nonchalantly came in and told me this and that it meant that I had blood clots in my legs or lungs, or possibly b...

So it's been a GREAT Weekend and Monday around these parts. Sunday I had the stomach flu. I woke up this morning actually feeling better. That is, until I tried to open my eyes. Only one eye opened. Backing up, Thursday my eyes had really itched but it was so warm here I thought my allergies were kicking in. So I started taking Benadryl on top of my normal allergy medicine. Friday I woke up and my eye was swollen (no where near the picture above though) and itchy. I cancelled my hair apt and spent the day putting ice on it. By Stomach flu Sunday my eye was feeling better, albeit still itchy and somewhat swollen. I spent the night putting cold compresses on it everytime I woke up so it would look good for work. And then I woke up to this. I about freaked out! Some of you may remember my last Eye Swelled Shut Dr Visit  a few years ago when I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. However this time I had no rash or hives. Thankfully my dr's office has an online ...

You know you suffer from a Chronic Illness If/When You have a designated puke bucket in every room of your home Bonus points if the ones in your living room and bedroom are courtesy of a Hospital Trip You have an entire crisper drawer in your fridge designated for 7up and Powerade/Gatorade If looking at a can of 7Up when you're not sick makes you just a tad nauseated If the reason you carry such a big purse is because the amount of medicine you need with you at all times If the one perk of taking so many medicines everyday is getting a gas discount from purchasing meds at your Pharmacy-Grocery Store Your Pharmacist know you by your first name Bonus points if you're friends with the Pharmacy Tech who texts you when your meds are ready When you've had 13 surgeries in 12 years When you have no less than 5 Doctors in your cell phone address book When you don't have time to send Christmas cards to your friends, but instead make su...

Sunday morning was a bit of Dejavu from Weds as Emboz and I found ourselves back at a Hospital/ Different Hospital than Weds, but a Hospital nonetheless! I woke up at 4 am Sunday feeling like I had the flu and was in horrible pain. It went on for several hours and I knew something was wrong with me. Totally different than my normal IBS/Colon Spasms pain and sickness. Thankfully Emboz was able to leave church and come and pick me up and take me to the er. (where we had the most unfriendly and rude nurse I've ever encountered-the blonde in the picture above) I am very thankful for Emboz being so willing to put up with me and join me on this week of Hospital tours. I wonder which Hospital we shall visit next week????!! My arm. The male nurse was not so successful with the IV. I am thankful the female nurse that hated me didn't do my IV, however she DID give me a SHOT in my FLANK and I swear she threw it in there like she was playing darts. Merciful heavens it really hurt! I yelpe...

So Wednesday I had Surgery #13! I know, My life is pretty thrilling!! My Mom had come down with a horrible cold and couldn't be around me or at the hospital to give germs to other patients, so Emboz gracious stepped in and took me to my surgery. I thought I would be alot more nervous than I usually am without my Momma, but I think I was the most calm before a surgery than I have been previously! I literally could feel everyone praying for me, I knew what the term "Covered in Prayer" felt like that morning for sure. However there was one little stitch in the whole morning. We almost didn't make it to the hospital. As it was we almost didn't make it out of Lafayette! You see, Emily didn't have caffeine that morning. And we realized that Emboz without Caffeine is pretty detrimental to life! She picked me up and we had to drive back through town to get on the interstate. We were at a 4-way stop near my apartment and we were just chatting away. Suddenly I realize t...

I have been at home alternating puking and trying not to puke since Tuesday. No need to get excited It's merely the time for my Pylorus Botox Surgery which will happen next Weds the 19'th. Until then I am regulated to drinks and ice cream because that is apparently all that will pass through my poor closed up pylorus. If this is making no sense to you or you've never heard of a Pylorus (what planet are you on??!!) you can check out my Explanation by clicking RIGHT HERE! Ok now that we have that out of the way. Goodness I'm tired now!! I have discovered a few things from this week that I would like to share. Because I haven't seen or spoken to a human since my Mom stopped by Weds. There is really nothing on TV. I quickly went through the shows I'd dvr at night while In bed and after that I realized there is nothing on tv day or night. You can run out of websites to go to. Interesting ones at least. After being cooped up for 4 days it seems acceptable to go to Wal...

So today has been a SUPER FUN!! day!! Let's back up for a second, 2 weeks ago I went to UC and found out I had a kidney infection. Did 7 days of antibiotics and trucked along. This weekend I started not feeling like myself again so I decided that I would rather be safe than sorry and go back to UC after work on Monday (also the first day of classes). Surprise Surprise I still have a kidney infection. The dr gave me more meds and some pain meds for my kidneys, bless her!!! And we talked about if this doesn't clear up me needing to see an Urologist. I will withhold my comments about that. for now. I dropped off my scripts at my pharmacy and there was an hour wait so i went home, made dinner, got stuff ready for Piano Lessons Tues pm, and then went and picked up my meds. Took them with my dinner and all was fine. For about an hour. Than my left eyelid started to itch. I thought that was weird but then I realized the allergens, pollen, ect had been bothering me alot ...

I know this will come as a complete and total shock to everyone, but I'm sick! Yes, yes I know. Somehow I contacted a Kidney Infection!! I had a great Saturday with my parents and I ran around doing all kinds of stuff, and you know, having a life! Sunday I woke up before my church alarm went off and I felt drugged tired. I knew I wouldn't make it through church so I stayed home and slept until 3:30 pm!!! Got up, emailed Mom, and slept until 8 pm. Got up, emailed Mom, and went to bed. I should have known that my body was trying to fight off something. I woke up Monday morning and felt miserable. So pukey feeling and my body hurt. But I had no choice but to go to work so I took as many medicines I could and headed in! I felt like death! And then my lower back (kidneys) started hurting sooo bad. It was stabbing pain. I half doubled over a few times, but I was trying not to worry Sherita. Made it through work and charged through Piano lessons and then went home and just...

So my week last week SUCKED. I was SO sick and ended up having surgery on Friday. My Mom took pics of me before (and after!!YIKES!) but they are no bueno cute, so all you're getting is my sad and pained little arm. Of course they blew the first vein they tried to get the iv in. I cried. It hurt so.bad. Thankfully they got another nurse and she was successful, but I think it was still alittle weird because when the meds went in it burned HORRIBLE. If there hadn't been the promise that the meds were going to make me feel good I would have cried! But I was a big girl (for that part at least!) I still seem to have to have enough meds to knock out a small elephant. They gave me the first shot and I was still awake looking around. They were surprised I was still awake. I felt fine so I decided to look around the or since i'm always knocked out as soon as i get in there. However not having my glasses on kind of killed that. Thankfully they gave me a second shot and I went out...

So this morning I got up at the un-Godly hour of 5:45 which I really preferred not to know came twice a day, and got myself ready and hauled my half awake bottom to the hospital for my 4 hour Delayed Stomach Emptying test. One of my many issues is that I have gastroparesis (which I totally had to google how to spell!) which is basically that the bottom stomach muscle does not contract and open and close to let your food through. Instead mine has an opening about the size of a pencil eraser on a #2 pencil. It should be the size of the top of a coke can. Very big difference! Anywho, point being I have this and I have had it since 2005, when I did a 90 minute test. I am on medicine for it, but now they are finding out the long term affects of this med is not great, so we're looking to find a different medicine that will hopefully work better as on top of taking this medicine twice a day- once a year I actually have to have this stomach muscle Botox'd open. Yes, you read that c...

1. Having my sweet bible study friend Michelle, as my nurse at Urgent Care this week! I was so sick and depressed, seeing her face really made me feel better! 2. And knowing God had sent her to be my nurse at that moment just for that made me want to cry! 3. My friend Nicki D who just happens to work at my pharmacy. When i had a reaction to my meds and a new one had to be called in an hour before the pharmacy closed she was able to get it filled and then texted me as soon as it was ready so i could come pick it up. SO thankful for that!! 4. The fact that I am starting to see the light , no, not THAT LIGHT, but the light at the end of this sickness tunnel. 5. Friends that care about me being sick despite the fact that I spent 98% of my life sick. They still care and listen and ask questions and want to know and help.

Some of you may have been thinking this very question and wondering how my nephew was doing and what was going on. Well, Cherrybear was in the Hospital. Nope not the NICU in Iowa visiting Benjamin. Good ol St E East here in L-town. I decided to check out first hand the quality of the facility that our students do some of their clinical work in, you know, just to make sure it was up to par and all.. or maybe not. ... Well I have been in the Hospital. It all started almost a week ago last Sunday morning. I woke up not feeling good and thought it was just my normal stomach issues. Untill I found myself in the bathroom throwing up and doing other things we shall not speak of. 17 times. 17 times in 11 hours. I did not know that was possible. I did not want to know that was possible. I'm here to tell you that sadly for my sake, it was possible. Apes and Steve came over to check on me in the afternoon after I had texted her I was so sick and kept passing out and couldn't keep anything...

So if you know me, shoot, if you've read my blog in 2009 you probably have guessed that I am not the healthiest person in America. Thats putting it lightly. While I don't have any serious life threatening problems I do have alot of health issues that I struggle with. I take a good amount of medicine on a daily basis and even that doesn't keep me well so I got in touch with a woman from my old church who is very healthy and into healthy things and has an extensive knowledge of herbal thingies. :) Friday night before heading to Katie's I ventured into Nature's Pharm and was overwhelmed by all of the choices!! Thankfully I got help, and came out with the above purchases. After my body gets used to taking these supplements I'm going to add some more to the mix and try and get as healthy as I possibly can. GO HEALTHY!!!