Feeling Better Again

 Yesterday, I woke early and felt it. I was extremely tired still, though I had had enough sleep the night before. I could feel the minute changes from having been drained the day before (10.2L) and though it had only been one day, the affect of the medication change from Tuesday. But I just felt 'Blech' as Charlie Brown would say. I held a board meeting of my my sleepy body, and the consensus was to sleep more. So I did. I ended up grabbing a couple more hours of sleep before rising for the day, felling just a smidgen better.

Today is a day of Remembrance for the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers. I got out my VFW Aux shirt several of us had bought months ago for this occasion. There is a flag raising ceremony at the Post this morning at 10a I am going to try to make it to. Afterwards, I need to head up to Banner Hosp. area to SQL to have some labs drawn (per Mayo's orders). There is a pot luck back at the Post this evening about 6p, but am unsure if I will make it back for that.

I was just checking my calendar. After labs today, I have no medical appointments (as of right now) until 9/21 with a Zoom call. Nice. Of course, life still moves on and I have my VFW stuff, my AA meetings, etc. 

... and it seems even I can run out of things to talk about ...

PeacE

Day at the Mayo

 Sounds artsy-fartsy, huh? Like, 'A Day at the Louvre', except it wasn't. Got through my appointments yesterday and had some positive changes and news. My MELD score went to 18 (worsening). They did increase my diuretics back up a little to fight this edema. They also stated that my case will be reviewed in one month, after a similar of appointments!!! We are close!

Today I have a draining at 1pm. Due to my size with all the fluid retention, I have no clue how much they will drain. I am thinking10L and some ... but really can't guess. Just get some of this pressure off!!!

I am totally distracted by my medical stuff right now, this will be short today....

PeacE

It Was A Day ...

 Turning 55 years of age is not a huge mile marker like 30, or 50, and so on. I truly was not expecting any big shin-dig, or some major surprise party (thankfully! I hate those). I pretty much did nothing all day. The birthday posts on social media started coming in. a few family/friends via text. One call from the Daughter and the Granddaughters to sing Happy Birthday to me. One call from my best friend back in Michigan - though I didn't answer it. I was in the process of going to bed (8:30pm? Yeah, I'm over 50). Think about then there was probably around 60-70 posts from HS friends, to current friends, and so many others! I did reply personally to many of them yesterday, but will be doing the final ones this morning. I heard from the Middle Son via text. Never heard from the Oldest Son, and the Youngest, though living at home, never said anything either. Oh well.

Today is Labor Day, and I have nothing planned. The Wife has to work. The Youngest has a friend in town from out of state, so no idea what their plans may be. I'll probably do my Homegroup meeting, then play games the rest of the day - no I won't. I didn't do the minutes yesterday...oops! I just pulled out the laptop so I can start on them next.

The Wife and I were discussing my medical last night. I need to be sure to bring up the edema in my legs. It is worse than when I started a year ago. My legs are so sensitive to touch, yet itch all the time. The swelling is bad, too. Look like two large lumps of meat. Compression socks seem to help a little, but I don't see much difference. I think they should increase my diuretics, but I am not a doctor.

Welp, got other things to get done (minutes) so will end this today.

PeacE

Well, That Didn't Go As Planned ...

 I wasn't planning on making the obligatory post that it is my 55th birthday, and that I was pretty much going to try to NOT do anything productive today ... but 4:38am had a whole 'nother story. When did did get so much control over me? When I began losing track of it, or because I gripe about needing more of it? Either way, though there are several choices of things I could do at this insane hour, I figured I would put a shortie up.

Yesterday was a good day. Tiring, but good. I met up with one of my besties, Jeff, just up the road at a pub we used to go to occasionally. He had invited several mutual friends, his Dad, me ... not sure who else ... to come up and watch opening day for College Football. One of the first games on was Baylor Univ. and Auburn. His nephew plays for Baylor now, and got plenty of play time, as well as his name mentioned on television a few times, just that I saw. That kids is a Hoss!! Huge Defensive End! Well, Baylor lost by one, but I didn't see it. I made it to halftime, and let him know I was taking off. It had been a couple hours already, and I had previously let him know that was my limit before I start getting fatigued. Well, it's part true. That and being the only sober one there at halftime was not much fun. We made tentative plans for lunch soon.

I had mentioned mutual friends ... I personally had not told any of them except my buddy my medical stuff (he's my bestie, c'mon!) but I guess he had mentioned it to some of the guys. As I was telling Jeff bye, they kinda gathered round and would shake my hand, give me a hug, and say something like 'Hope everything goes well'. All of them. It was kind of a weird feeling having these guess that I know, but are more his old HS buddies, take an interest in me because of a liver transplant. It was touching, don't get me wrong. Just felt weird.

I was tired. I had nodded off for a few seconds a couple times near the half, but that could have been boredom as well. I sat there in the car (waiting on the a/c to get it cool - it was like 104 out) and decided to get moving. I had told the Wife my tentative plans for the day, and if they were to get done, I needed to get going. I went and got some hairs cut. I feel so much better now. Though, I had not seen this stylist at my location before, and if I do, I'm not going to use her. She took seemingly forever to just do a "0" on the sides and back. I am usually in and out in about 10 minutes ... this dragged into a half hour. They aren't paid for the time, but for the customer ... so no idea why she was so slow about such an easy trim. From there I headed to the VFW. Tuesday I had been told they were doing an impromptu birthday thing for one of the ladies that helps out a lot. I was told about 5pm. So I am there early (my normal) and playing games on my tablet. The Post had their dinner starting at 5pm (pulled pork sandwich, Slaw, ranch beans, dessert - $10) and I was famished. I bought and ate, all while still waiting for this shindig to happen. By 6:30p I told my friend Stacey (who was doing it) that I had to head home. I was beat. The gal's husband hadn't even left to get his Wife yet, and knew it was going to be even longer. So I was home say ...6:30'ish? Maybe 7pm at latest.

Crud. I just remembered I need to do the Minutes from Tuesday's meeting today. Guess I will work on that at some point. Needs to be done and emailed in today.

I played a video game I have been working on for awhile. In bed by 10p, and up too early. Refilled my pill boxes for the week. I had confirmed yesterday the 5 appointments I have on Tuesday. And now? I am off to check the mail, etc. before playing some more games.

Thanks in advance for the birthday wishes.

PeacE

Holiday Weekends and Posting

 In the past several years, around mid-August I would throw out the "big invite" for my Birthday celebration. Always on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, usually 12p-4p (which led into later times as well). Come by, have a drink with me, catch-up, share memories, or just say hi. How long have I been doing this? Five years? Six? And before that it was by word of mouth. Either way, my Birthday coinciding with Labor Day weekend was nothing more than another excuse to drink, get wasted, do stupid things (like drive home). That Era has ended and falls to memories and recounting of experiences to share.

So no 'shin-dig' for my Birthday. This year, I am fine with that. I'm not really in the mood for any crowd (more than 8-10 people) anyways. My medical stuff would turn into the main topic that everyone one wants to know about, as so many people do NOT know. I've kept that circle down to close family and friends, and I don't post anything publicly on social media about it. Here? Ha! All two of you running to the News station yet to get a reporter here? Thought not.

Today I am doing two meetings (AA/Live support) and my Home Group. In both I get to announce that tomorrow (my birthday) is also my 1 year of sobriety. And yes, I am going to ask for a coin! A year ...wow. That's the start of all this liver stuff. The start of making new friends. The start of learning how to take better care of myself through diet, exercise, and mental exercise. The start of learning to fall in love with God again, and improve relationships. So many good things in just one year. 

No post tomorrow. I am enjoying the Day!

PeacE

Grading Complete!

 Welp, only one person physically replied to taking the test, but I am sure the hordes all read it and made the same decision. It wasn't that hard. I skipped posting yesterday. I woke feeling sort of blah, and decided that a nap was in order, so back to bed it was! Last night I didn't sleep well, and I feel like am lagging a bit this morning, but I will get through the day - with maybe an afternoon nap.

I've been wearing a pair of compression socks I had lurking in a drawer, for the past three days ( I know, they need to be washed). The fluid in my legs has decreased a bit (maybe almost half?) though it feels like there is fluid still built up in my thighs, and I have pitting up and down the whole leg. Side effect of the TIPS, I'm told. My abdomen is still distended as well. After draining the 12.5L this week, it didn't go down like before. The Wife says it feels like there is fluid between the skin and all that, but I don't know. I'll hopefully have someone look at it Tuesday.

The Youngest came home the other day and said his check engine light had come on. I thought about giving him a dead-pan look and saying "So?" but I didn't. We are headed to Autozone here in a bit to see what they find on the OED device (codes) and hoping it only a maintenance type issue, or need new air filter. Youngest said he thought he felt a small decrease in power, but otherwise didn't notice anything. Maybe the O2 sensor needs a good 'blow out' on the freeway.

Other than that, I gotta go. Busy morning for me today.

PeacE

Pop Quiz!

 Didn't think there would be a test today, huh? Well ... SURPRISE! I will make it a bit easier for you and make it a multiple choice question. There is only one right answer. Write in answers may get extra attention if it is really good. If you are correct, you don't get anything except the satisfaction of being right.

This morning, about 6:45am, an incident occurred in my home. The bedroom, and narrowing that down, my bedroom. Whilst in the stage of blissful sleep (took a pill last night) I ended up doing a nosedive off the bed. Why?

A. I just rolled off the bed.

B. I was dreaming of sky-diving, and adjusting my angle of descent prior to pulling the cord.

C. The chow bell was ringing and I didn't want to be last, but lost my balance.

D. I had to use the bathroom desperately and hurried from the bed, only to slip and fall.

E. I wanted to show my Wife how I've fallen for her.

F. Other (Write-in answers welcome.

I'll answer at the end of the Post, and tomorrow post the scores. Might have to grade these on a curve...

Finished my quiet time this morning. I feel fresh and renewed with the Spirit! I think my regular AA group has a Big Book study today, so that will be good. Nothing else planned for the rest of the week, just the medical appointments on Monday. I need to write Mayo this morning about the two diuretics that they slashed down once I had the TIPS. Also, the PA at AZ Liver won't renew either of them, so need Mayo to take that over as well. I found and wore one of the pairs of compression socks yesterday. Allegedly you are to sleep with them on as well, but sleeping with socks on has never been my thing, so by 10pm they were off. I noticed this morning (as I was checking for any cuts) that the swelling has gone down a good bit in both legs - Magically overnight it seems. Now yesterday, the draining  was 12.5L and they said they got it all. But my weight, after only one small pitcher of tea, was 281lbs. Now last dry weight was a couple weeks ago and was 251lbs. Where is this 30lbs at? Fluid in my legs? So I checked my weight this morning, and I am up to 284lbs. But I know for sure the fluid in my legs went somewhere overnight, well, a portion of it did. I might wait a day or two and see what happens before reporting it to the doctors.

Yesterday's paracentesis was late enough (1pm) that I didn't finish the 4 bags of albumin until about 3:30pm. I debated getting something to eat, but wanted a dry weight check when I got home. Also I had the House Comm. meeting at 5:30pm about 4 miles from the hospital. So I just went to the Post. We finished up the meeting early, and I booked it out of there. RM had texted at one point (I had the phone on quiet) asking if I was ok and didn't I have the para that day. I told her yes, and would get the regular family update out when I got home. Which I did do. Before I left the VFW, I checked in with the Secretary of the AUX (I'm Asst.) and asked if she needed anything from me. She said not then, but would be cc'ing me probably this week sharing information and other records for me to hang on to or help with. Joy. I also need to do the minutes ASAP as they need them prior to Tuesday. And my Youngest attends his first meeting on Tuesday! I'm excited.

Today is National VJ (Victory over Japan) Day from WWII. Also coming up is on 9/11 the 25th Anniversary of the event, and 9/18 is POW/MIA Day. The Auxiliary has a birthday later this month as well, but I don't have the day in front of me.

Welp, I'm shared out this morning. Talk at ya next time!

Oh, and the answer was "A"

PeacE