It's A Brand New Day ...

 Today starts a fresh round of Life. Well, at least that is how I am looking at it. I may share too much on here at times, but when it comes to my liver transplant, maybe someone else going through similar will take inspiration from my words - as if I had any readers.

Tuesday I met with the IR for a consult at Mayo. This was specifically to go over the TIPS procedure, the pros/cons of it. After discussion with the IR doctor, and a few questions, I opted to do the procedure. The Wife and I had talked about this back in November, to look at as possible assistance. Basically, it is a bypass to take the pressure of backed up blood flow that the liver cannot handle and redirect it. It is supposed to reduce, if not eliminate, the build-up of the ascites in the abdomen. In my support groups, I have heard some guys say it greatly decreased the number of times they had to do paracentesis and others said they didn't have to do any at all while they waited for their transplant. I'm not aiming high but I would truly like being able to not do a para every week. If I could get it to once a month or longer, it would be much easier to deal with. Either way, the TIPS stays in until the transplant. I have a CT of the Abdomen, then a couple days later the procedure. Oh, and finally scheduled the colonoscopy for late August (like you wanted to know that crap - see what I did there). Oh! And they drained 10L plus said there was still some fluid in there. Sigh.

Brand new day. Brand new start. It's Day One. I smoked the last cigarette I had last night. No longer are there any here at home, or in my car. All I need to do is not buy them. Today I have nothing on my calendar and told the Wife I was not going ANYWHERE today, to reduce the want to stop and get more. She says she has a couple prescriptions to be picked up. Sigh. I probably have yet another one to get as well. But I can use the drive-thru pick up versus going inside. Even if I went inside, I usually pay at the pharmacy, so do not even have to go to the front counter (and see cigarettes).

Friday is our last VFW Riders dinner for awhile. We voted to go quarterly now, as the same 6 or so people were the ones doing it all, all the time. We are getting burned out. So it will be shredded chicken or pork sandwich, Cole slaw, and I am thinking of getting a couple tubs of southern style potato salad. 

Last night as the Wife and I lay in bed doing our phone/tablet or whatevers, I turned to her and asked, I'm supposed to tell you if I am feeling things (in regards to medical especially). She said of course, so I did. I felt ... off. I know when I have a para done, that for a couple days at least I do go through an adjustment: organs adjusting to where they should be, feeling some fatigue and other tiredness, even sometimes a lack of desire to do anything that involves moving around. But this was different. It started early evening, and went through at least until I fell asleep. Still not sure what it was, but at least she knew about it in case something worse happened. I have got to get better at communicating when I do not feel right, or well. This morning I was up at 5:10a and as far as I can tell, feel normal. Whatever I felt last night is gone. I was going to be a bit worried if it persisted through a sleep cycle. 

Alrighty then. I think I over-shared too much today. Oh well. May it live forever on in the internet universe.

PeacE

Gonna Make 'Em Wait ....

 I know RM is probably waiting to hear how my IR consult went yesterday morning. Well, I will tell you, but not until later this afternoon. I have a paracentesis today at 1pm, and am just going to include all the information into one text versus spawning many more.

That being said, I have nothing of value to add for today. I'm off to read a little from this new book I bought.

Oh. And here is a song for y'all ...

PeacE

Short Stuff Today ...

 Today is Day One again. I think I know part of the problem. I have 8 cigarettes left in the last pack I have. I am going to move Day One to this weekend. I will finish this pack off, and just not buy any more. If it isn't available, I will be able to fight the urges better. 'Just throw them away' one would think, but I got some weird part of me that claims that would be a waste of money. I know, weird, right?

I have the Interventional Radiology consult this morning. It will be about the TIPPS procedure more than anything. I have mixed feelings about it, but at least right now, I am wanting it done. If it can reduce the number of times I have to have a paracentesis, I am all for it. I do not know if we will set a date to do the procedure, or what. Find out later this morning I guess.

Paracentesis scheduled for 1pm tomorrow. I need it. I feel about 8L or so to be drained.

I decided to compete this week with RM. I have several packages coming in over the next week. I did get a couple shirts I ordered already. And a wide mouse pad with Office/Excel/PowerPoint functions so maybe when I need one, I don't have to go hunting on Google. I know Joe gave me a tip on the Miss Excel email, and I have gotten a few things from those. Thanks again, Joe.

Entertainment and House meeting tonight. I did get the agenda out yesterday, as I worked on it first thing. Riders Dinner is Friday, then we are going to quarterly dinners. Pulled Pork/Chicken sandwiches and a side this week.

Supposed to have a Chapter ride on August 1st called 'Burn Your Buns'. It's basically a ride around the Valley on the 202 freeway system. And it will be hot. I know nothing else about it. I told them at the last meeting to get the info together. I'm a Secretary - I just note the stuff, not plan it.

Another of yesterday's packages was one of the books I ordered. "Demolishing Doubt" by Cliffe and Stuart Knechtle. It was the one that caught my eye when I was at the site. I was thinking it was more on self-doubts, but it is about doubts that affect our faith. It's about doubts we have of 'Is God real', is the Bible true? Kind of more for a starting Christian. But will still be an interesting read. And it is a hardback. And it smells new (yes I am weird, I smell books.

And I think that concludes this morning's focus. I am already off and thinking about the consult.

PeacE

I *WILL* Overcome Difficulties

 When it comes to the cessation of smoking cigarettes (approximately 35 years) I am back to Day One. I truly am having a harder time with this than I do with sobriety. I get frustrated at myself when I fail to get through the day with out smoking, and that just starts the circle of wanting one even more. Heck, last week when I got the news I was deferred another three months, it was the first time I thought of even drinking since September. Why is it good habits are easy to break, and bad habits are hard? Well, that doesn't matter because today is Day One and I WILL make it through.

I slept sooo good last night. I had mentioned to the Wife in the afternoon that I was feeling pretty tired, and even upon waking that morning had felt a little groggy and just kind of dragging through the day. Told her I may go to bed early. By about 5pm, I had caught myself, dozing in the office chair while watching a movie. After dinner, I think I ended up in bed around 7-8pm. Not sure but about then. I played 2 rounds on my tablet game, and was falling asleep while playing. I shut down. Slept clear through to the alarm for the most part. I feel well rested today.

Outside of the morning routine, the first thing I did today was get the Agenda for tomorrow's meeting out. Now I need to do a letter for the Riders - supper this Friday. I need to take that chair up to Staples today to find out what can be done. I also need to get to the store for some more soda. I have been craving soda a bit lately. But I do have to watch how much I drink due to sugar amounts and weight gain.

Tomorrow morning I have a consult at Mayo with Interventional Radiology. We are going to discuss the TIPPS procedure, which hopefully would help reduce the ascites build-up in the abdomen, and possibly make a paracentesis less needed as often, if at all. I heard some good stories from past transplants about how well it worked for them. It would be removed at the time of transplant (as well as them fixing the umbilical hernia). I do have another Para this Wednesday.

That's it for now. Nothing too exciting going on for now.

PeacE

Day One

 I have been trying to quit smoking cigarettes the past few days. Today it is Day one, as the last two days I ended up having part of one, but it still counts. I made it to about 6pm yesterday, so my hopes are today that I will go all day. I read somewhere that it only takes three days to get over any nicotine addiction, but can take "forever" to change the habits that make us smoke. I had done it before years ago and lasted just over a year. The problem back then was friends smoked, and the bar was allowed smoking inside. Dating my self, but it is what it is...

I didn't really do much yesterday. I did go to my Support/AA group (big book study) and my Home group (welcome newcomers). I had meant to attend another one in the evening where one of the guys from my home group was going to share his story as a speaker, but I lost track of time playing video games and missed it.

Today, nothing on the calendar but I know I need to get the Agenda for Tuesday's House/Entertainment meeting completed and sent. I need to get an email out to the Riders as the Riders dinner is Friday, plus the info from the Convention. Plus play video games.

Okay, I admit it. I still need to chop up veggies as well. Make a quart (or two) of pickles and chill/freeze the others. Good healthy snack food. Gotta keep that weight down!

Bulk trash is tomorrow. The Wife and Youngest got most of the stuff ready and part of it to the curb yesterday. Wife had reached out to the Boys (they live in town) to see if either of the two older ones could help out. Oldest said he would be here this morning, but no sign of him yet and she isn't going to call him. He offered to help at her request and she feels like it would be placing him on a guilt trip. Which, in away, it would be - or a shaming. Today it is mostly hauling the large bags of grass, etc. from the back yard. I tried, but honestly ... I could hardly lift a bag, let alone carry it to the street. I miss my muscles.

Guess I should close this out today. I need to do some quiet time with God and there's a meeting at 11am I'll end up at.

PeacE

Happy Birthday America

 Today is Day One ... again. I'm starting to feel like it is 'Groundhog Day', well, maybe not quite like that, but you know what I mean. Fresh start on quitting the smoking. I can do this. I WILL do this. It's a matter of my health and life.

Wow, that was heavy for starting this off. It'll be short today. as I am short on time before my first meeting today. The Post is doing a flag raising at 9am, but that is when my Liver transplant/AA group meets, and honestly, I don't feel like going there this morning (the Post).

Yep pretty short. Nothing else that is on my mind that I want to share.

PeacE

Imbibing A Pirate's Drink ...

 ... no I didn't fall off the sobriety wagon. I am three days short of 10 months. But I do feel 'grog'gy ... see what I did there? I don't know why, I usually only feel this way when I wake after taking one of the sleeping pills, but haven't had one in awhile. Plus, I slept an extra 50 minutes after the alarm. Maybe I just woke from a deep sleep too fast? Eh, doesn't matter, it is slowly fading away, and I am almost back to normal (for me).

Today is Day One, again. I made it to about mid-morning yesterday before I had a cigarette. SO starting over again today. So far, so good.

Mayo IR called and scheduled the consult for the TIPPS. It is Tuesday morning at Mayo. I think I am going to opt for it. It should help with the large amounts of ascites I am having to drain every week again. Supposedly, it reduces the number of times I would need to have a paracentesis, if any, to hold me over until the transplant, where it would be removed. It is a an outpatient procedure. More to come after the consult.

Still waiting for the GI at Mayo to contact me regarding my appointment, as in setting one up, for the colonoscopy. I asked yesterday about it, and was told again that someone would call me. Maybe today ...

I am done being mad and irritated about the latest deferment. I have had wonderful doctors, nurses, and staff at Mayo, and the access to information, etc. has been phenomenal. But there are a couple things I would have thought they could have done better. Like the smoking. Why not tell me back in February to stop? They said it shouldn't be an issue as I am a light smoker. Maybe it was the results of the angiogram. I don't know. What's done is done, and I need to move forward and keep the eyes on the prize - my health.

I don't think I mentioned it, but a few days ago RM had gotten one of them Farmer's Market-type boxes of mixed veggies/fruits. She had ordered 2 by mistake, and had a large amount of cucumbers and sweet peppers. Of course, she thought of me (I *AM* the favorite, after all) and sent quite a bit with the Wife. As she said in her blog this morning, she needs to cut-up, or whatever, and freeze her supply. I need to figure out something here as well. I'm thinking do some cukes for snacking on, and peppers, too. Maybe freeze some of the peppers diced, ready for adding to a meal prep. Pickles ... I do have a gallon of vinegar currently... I sense some Zesty Italian pickles being made. But I should address that today, or by tomorrow.

We scheduled a bulk trash pick-up for Monday. The Wife has been working on the backyard removing limbs, etc. I feel bad because I cannot get out there and help much. Between being weaker now and my balance issues, I think we would worry more about me getting hurt than what needs to be done. This weekend we will take the bags and other debris out to the street. I can help with that at least, as long as it isn't too heavy.

Quite awhile back RM had mentioned a website she orders physical books from. ThriftBooks.com and they have used books for good prices (hardback and paperback, but one never knows which they have in stock). I spent about $30 the other day and got the book RM has been reading as it sounded interesting. Plus I picked up another self-help that I felt would be a good read for me. Real books. Outside of my author signed copies, I don't really have any physical books anymore. I prefer ebooks now. But I made an exception for these. Other than that, the only books I have are my Bible, the AA Big Book, AA's 12 Steps/Traditions, and some of my journals. I started a wishlist at that site, too, so RM has ideas for Christmas...

And I think that will wrap it up for me today. Happy Birthday tomorrow America!

PeacE