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

Birthdays and Life Changes

 Whew! Since this weekend, there has been quite a bit going on in my Life. I usually gripe about how boring things are for me, and how nothing exciting happens. Well, I am not saying this was exciting, but it was still a lot to take in.

My friend from Florida, My Ginny, flew in as she does every year for my birthday. At one point during her visit, someone had asked how long we had known each other, and we came up with in our calculations, that it has to have been about 25 years. Already at our Silver Anniversary (I joked to her about it). Either way, we were able to have some one on one time Friday night. Saturday arrived, and I was at the Post by about 11:30am to start the afternoon of my get-together. Overall it went well. Quite a few friends from some of the pubs I attend showed up for a bit. I was a bit more surprised at the number of Post and Aux members that showed up, just for my event. I guess I am liked at the Post more than I thought I was. I didn't get drunk, and kept all the drinks to just shots. Friday night, after a couple beers, I decided beer just wasn't tasting right and decided to get quit drinking beer for a bit. Saturday I had about 10 shots over the course of 12 hours.

Now we need to backstory a bit. Back around early July, my bellybutton decided to become an 'outie' versus his status of years as an 'innie'. It wasn't fully projecting outwards, but was making a transition was very obvious. There was no pain, and I did a quick Google search of what it could be. Obviously, an umbilical hernia, that carried the chance of one of the intestines getting clotted into the 'hole in the muscle wall, etc. For the time being I ignored it, as, well, no pain. Follow through to August, and I start noticing some abdominal pain occurring infrequently. Enough that I couldn't pin point where exactly the issue was. I decided to kind of keep watch and see what happens. By the end of August, I knew something was going on, but no clue. No pain around the bellybutton. I was having bowel issues, as in not having any BMs, except with the use of a laxative, and it was never solid. My abdomen was becoming more projected, and under pressure, literally, to the touch. By my birthday, I couldn't bend over to put on my shoes, the abdomen was so extended and tight, there was no lee way. I also started having quite a bit of pain flashes through the area.

Sunday morning I slept. When I woke, I felt like some of that pressure had lessened, and knowing I had a Dr appointment in November, I wondered if I could hold out that long to get things evaluated. Monday came. By evening, I was worse. Full pressure, shortness of breath, still no BMs, very little urine, no appetite or thirst for the past 2 days. I began to worry. The Wife looked up symptoms, and of course, liver failure was one of the major ones. I refused to believe it was that bad. She offered to take me to the ER if I felt bad enough, but I said no, come morning if it was bad still, I would get an emergency appointment with my Dr and go from there. I made it to about 7am. Woke the Wife, said let's go to the ER.

To cut out the short boring stuff, six hours in at the ER, a CT scan, and blood for labs, they agreed to do a paracentesis, as the abdomen issue was fluid build-up in my body cavity. So they inserted a tube into the side of my abdomen, and proceeded to pump out the fluid. And pump. And pump. All said and done, they removed 11.7 LITERS (that's 25.7 pounds) of fluid from the abdomen area, that was freely floating in there amongst all my organs. Then it was decided they needed to keep me over night to see a GI doctor, as well as monitor me. So, my first time EVER staying in a hospital as a patient, and now that I am home, it sucks. Never recommend. So, still Saturday, the Doctor assigned at the time to me came and explained that I have a decompressed liver. Here's and explanation:

* "Decompressed liver" refers to decompensated cirrhosis, a severe stage of cirrhosis where liver scarring is so extensive that the liver can no longer perform its vital functions properly. This advanced liver disease is marked by symptoms such as jaundice (yellow skin), ascites (abdominal fluid), confusion (hepatic encephalopathy), and bleeding from varices. Causes include viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Treatment focuses on managing complications, addressing the underlying cause of the liver damage, and often involves a liver transplant.

So, yeah. The liver is failing on me. I decided right then that I quit drinking. The Dr asked if I was having the shakes, since it had been about three days since my last drink, and I was like, no. I'm fine. I have been weaning the alcohol back for some time due to the diabetes anyways. Come Wednesday, another Dr assigned to me. Decided I could be discharged allowing that I contact a liver specialist and a GI doctor within the next 4-5 days, as well as my PCP. They gave me 5 new prescriptions temporarily to help, and maybe longer deciding on what these other doctors want to do. At least it cancels out a couple of the ones I currently take. I was able to eat the nasty hospital food Saturday night (first meal in like two plus days) but breakfast and lunch on Wednesday... I couldn't even swallow the first bite. They just tasted to wrong and bad. Wife was there for lunch, had her try the bacon from the BLT wrap I ordered, and she said it as fine. SO I know it was me. Finally got discharged about 4pm, grabbed my papers, stopped at the hospital pharmacy and got the meds, and headed home. Wife stopped at Arbys, as she needed something to eat. I got a regular, plain roast beef, and a vanilla milkshake, both of which went down fine. I crashed when we got home, having not slept much since Sunday morning. Which explains why I am awake at 2:30am.

So no more drinking alcohol. Nobody has modified my diet (as of yet) but I have been good about monitoring with the diabetes. I was told my sodium intake needs to increase (after years of saying to decrease it) mainly because I am on a water pill now and it will drain a lot of sodium and potassium. I think I am sticking to water for now, no tea, no soda, until the doctors are able to determine how bad things are. Who knew turning 54 would be such a life changer.

Today is 9/11 and a day of remembrance for those lost on the airline flights, and buildings the crashes were involved in. The Post is doing a flag raising at 10am I am going to try to be at. Afterwards I need to get to work on the agenda for next week Riders meeting, as well as contact the doctors to get appointments scheduled. Let's see how day one on new pills goes...

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

PeacE

It's Almost Here!

 Here it is the 2nd of September already, and just days away from my birthday. I still have no clue of how many will be stopping by on Saturday, as I pretty much invited all the "friends" on FB, plus several others via phone. I know most being family back in Indiana, or other places, will not be here. I know I have one out of town friend that said she will be here (as she does every year) and that's my Ginny. 

Tonight is also the 1st Tuesday of the month, so I have the Entertainment Committee meeting, the NYE Party Council, and the VFW House Committee meetings tonight. The first two aren't hard - I really don't do much, but help confirm calendar dates for conflicts (set-up, raffles, etc.) and maybe ask a question or two. The House, boy. Last night I was up at the Post, and was speaking to A, another House member, and he had a bunch of issues he wanted to bring up at the meeting. Most of which, has to do with revising/amending the House Comm. Policy. But it is all over the place, and not just specific to what I am already to work on. Sigh. I hope he doesn't get his notes in order for tonight.

Next Thursday (9/11) I am sure the Post will do a flag ceremony, and bell rings at the time of the attacks. We had discussed it last month at our House meeting, but no feedback was given. Guess I will force the issue tonight. On 9/12 is the VFWRG Monthly dinner, so we are serving the classic hamburgers/2 hot dogs, smoked baked beans, and a homemade dessert. I asked RM to make the dessert this month, as she had mentioned a couple months ago, she would be willing to help out where needed, since this is a group I am actively involved in. I also feel it gives her a goal/need to do what she does best: cook, and give. Thanks in advance Mom!

Yeah, I still have a meeting next Tuesday (Aux) and the following Tuesday (VFWRG - which I still need to create the agenda for) before the meetings are done this month. Oh, I forgot, on 9/21 (Sunday) the VFWRG is sponsoring breakfast 9a-11a, followed with 'Harley Races' at noon. Don't ask about the races. I think they said some places call them frog races. I find it boring. Other than all that above, my month is actually fairly free.

To be fair, you probably won't hear from me now until Tuesday of next week....lol. Saturday is going to be fun!

PeacE

Three-Quarters of a Century

 I think back to my grandparents, on Dad's side, and if they had not passed these recent years, they were -near 75 years of being married. I think they made about   years before Grandma passed away. But truly, the title today is more about RM, as she turns 75 years today. As my (cheap) gift for her birthday, I was able to take her out the the Black Bear Diner (good eatin's) for breakfast, and I truly ate too much. OR I feel that way. We spent a good hour and a half just chit-chattin' about whatever. She said some possible plans of how she is spending her day, and I hope she has an enjoyable time.

I think I will head up to the Post for a bit this afternoon. Tomorrow, RM had shared that someone we had known several years ago (not seen recently) had passed away, and a celebration of Life was scheduled for the afternoon. I mentioned it to the Wife, but not sure if she is wanting to go. I don't feel like I would like to attend. It had been years and I particularly was not close the this person. Will see what the Wife wants to do, I guess. If I don't go, probably end up at the Post for my regular Saturday thing.

After today, I guess the next birthday coming up in my family (not counting nieces, etc) is my own birthday. RM had asked what I would want for my birthday, and I told her nothing. I could not think of one thing that I particularly needed/wanted off the top of my head. On the drive home from breakfast though, I realized what would be nice.... If all of my kids would get together and take me out for supper. Yeah, all four of them, spouses, girlfriends, any kids (the one granddaughter), the Wife and I. This happened a few years ago, but hasn't really happened (with everyone) but has been close, a couple times.

Welp, I suppose I have wasted enough time sitting here trying to think what else to share.

PeacE

Happy Birthday to Me

 Another trip around Sol. Another notch to add to the aging tree (if there were such a thing. Happy Birthday to me.

I celebrated, yet again, yesterday with my friend from Florida. It was good to have a couple hours to catch up in person. It is back to work today, and I started early today due to one of the cats woke me at around 4:30 this morning. At least I will be done early, and have the afternoon to do something for the birthday, like read some more of the book I am on... or something.

Either way, thigns to do, things to celebrate before I am too old.

PeacE