T-Minus 24-Hours

 At this time tomorrow morning, I should be called back beyond those doors that block off the waiting area and lead into the workings of the hospital. Nothing I haven't done before (going through the door) for blood draws, CTs, MRIs, consults, and on and on. But this one is a little more involved. I am sure it will be wheelchair to a room, change into a gown, and from then on I am in a bed. Who doesn't want to lay in bed all day? Me ...

The first part of the procedure is going to be a normal routine for me. They will do a paracentesis to drain any excess abdominal ascites prior to the procedure. At some point after that, not sure of the timing, I'll be wheeled into an OR and knocked out. Then they insert a catheter through a vein in my neck, and guide it to the liver. They will create a channel between the Hepatic and Portal veins, with a mesh stent to keep it open. If things go fine, that's generally about it. 24-48 hours observation, then home. Average time of procedure: 2-3 hours. Once home I am on restrictions for lifting. I also have to watch out for further signs of Hepatic Encephalopathy, skin turning yellow (jaundice) and swollen legs. Since I have HE already, the medication I am on may cause it to not worsen.

So, sounds easy-peasy, right? I would think anyone gets a bit nervous though when they have to have a medical procedure done. I know I "accepted" whatever comes with this whole transplant process, and to do my best to meet demands of healthcare staff. But I can feel some anxiety starting already this morning. There will be lots of little prayers today, I am sure.

RM & PT are headed out of town today, through the weekend. With RM's birthday this past Sunday, and their anniversary coming up the 14th, PT *ALWAYS* wants to go somewhere out of town, just to do basically the same thing they do at home. My opinion, and not too far off mark, I am sure. I pray for their safe travels. Rm has asked at least twice about pushing their trip date off to another time, so she is able to be at Mayo for my procedure, and both times I told her no, to go. I do expect her at the actual transplant though.

My Older Sister called me yesterday. She wanted to apologize for not being able to make it for the procedure (she is in NM). I wasn't even expecting that ... even said so. She stated she will be here for my transplant though. She offered up prayers, which I gladly asked her to continue.

RM sent a BIM package home with my Wife yesterday. BIM is Because I'm Mom. She had mentioned something about it in her blog, but I had no idea what to expect. The jar of salsa was for the Youngest. But RM sent a box of some beef jerky (mmmm) and another box. I instantly went on alert. What would she send me that needs to be in a box? Well, I was busy when I got home last night (had Aux meeting) and forgot to even look in the box until this  morning. Now I believe it was last week, RM had sent me home with a study bible to help me work on my getting into the scripture and studying. It was one she had used before, but was not her favorite choice. I honestly have not had a chance to use it. Well, in this box she sent, it has a brand new, leather Jerimiah Study Bible. This one is her current favorite to use. As I read the daily devotional (she had sent that home last week as well) I followed up the verse in this study bible, just to see what it offers. I am impressed! I think this will be a great tool in my walk with God, and I am able to still use the other if I need clarification or something. Of course, RM included a personal, hand-written note, which made me tear up (but not cry!). Thanks Mom!

Well, today will be a bit busier than usual for me. I am getting a haircut, need to fuel up the car, need to wash said car (in and out), and have lunch. I think I am going to go to JTs Gyros over on 35th Ave & Greenway. I love their shwarma. Other than that, I'll just be grabbing a few things to put in a backpack to take. Tablet, phone, chargers, medical journal, note journal. Think I will forego the bibles for this trip.

And that's it...

I'm looking into essential oils. Which one is it that calms other people down? Chloroform? It's Chloroform isn't it?

PeacE

One Of Us Ain't Smart ...

 I am a little tired this morning. Seems like I was up at least five (maybe more) times during the night to go to the potty. No sitting down, but the liquid drainage ... I don't get how sometimes the meds just like kick into overdrive and work. I peed. I peed again. And again, and again. And who knows how many times in all. I remember thinking during one episode of standing there, draining, that the sleep function on this smart ring is going to show my schedule as all mixed up being up so many times during the night. Nope. It says I had a 97% optimal night. On the visual graph, it does show some shifting from deep to light cycles that were frequent and close together. Maybe that was the bathroom trips? Either way, it says I slept good, but here I am feeling tired.

I think I mentioned in the past couple days that my calendar this week is pretty open. I only have a birthday on it, and my VFW Aux meeting. I do need to call Mayo here in a bit. Friday late in the day they sent a message through the portal, saying something about needing labs done ( I already did the 'monthly' recently) and I needed to schedule. Usually they just schedule them and I concur. So is this a tox screen (I'm about due this month) where generally they send me the Dr's orders, and I can go to a separate lab facility. I don't know. Replies weren't allowed to that message (idiots) so now I have to call. On a Monday morning. At 8am. Wonder how long I will be on hold ...

Today is Day 5 of no cigarettes. Most of the urge has gone. I did have a slight craving yesterday afternoon, as I felt like having one while taking a quick break from my video game I was playing. But easily distracted from the thoughts. Been coughing a bit more, with phlegm occasionally coming up. I am sure it is the lungs and esophagus getting rid of 'crap' from smoking. It should stop in a few days, according to what I read. It may be early, and I don't want to jinx myself, but I think I got this one beat now as well. 

RM is securing multiple lunch dates with me, it seems. If you read her blog, you'll know she is someone that loves to give. She will go out and buy it (within reason) if she knows you need/want it, just to bring a person some happiness. Sometimes it is stuff one never mentioned. Well, lately, I have been the recipient of some things. There was a 4-pack of shorts with a gym-type adjustable waist, that look like cargo shorts. I don't know why she got them (PT? But he didn't care for them?) but I said I would try them. They fit good, and are wonderful when I go in for my Paras. No suspenders/straps/belts to deal with. She always sends some veggies home with the Wife when she does her Farmer's market thing. Knowing I like to make pickles every now and then, Friday she gifted me a lid sealer for jars. Said she got two of them before asking me if I could use one. I had replied not really, but she already had it. I do have a few jars here, and I admit, I am sort of curious how well it works. So I asked how much it was - I don't know. So I said something like, it must be the price of a lunch date with me then. If so, that'd be like 2-3 lunches I owe her. Now it is just the matter of finding a day to do them.

Welp, it is 8am, and I need to call Mayo, so I am outta here...

PeacE

Feeling Awesome

 I got stuff done yesterday. I placed that call to the MVD about the Son's title issue. They had me send an email to yet another department, explaining the events of the situation, and providing them all the necessary information. Got that email sent out. I got our taxes filed online, finally, since the Wife had finally gotten me the information I needed to complete them. It is nice to know we will be getting a small sum back as a refund - always better than paying more! Then I took a trip out to the Discount Grocery. I was specifically looking for some nutrient drinks (like Ensure) as the Wife likes them for breakfast, and she also asked to keep my eyes open for any caramel-flavored keurig cups of coffee. Neither was to be found there, but I did find some good sales on some items, which I did get, and I did get some sodas for all of us (plus some snack foods I probably should not have gotten).

Since I was further west in the Valley than usual, I went to check out a bar some old friends of mine own. It was just a couple more miles down the road. It was a nice place - average prices. I had a couple beers, contacted my brother, since he lived only about a mile away, but he couldn't meet up as he had an appointment to go to. Then I thought, well RM's isn't that far from here, so I called her up and went over to visit for a bit.

I wasn't expecting presents, but RM presented me with some small packages of jerky, and before I left, a large bag of walnuts. I like walnuts - well, pretty much all nuts except almonds. Was always a Mounds bar guy. I visited a little longer than I meant to, but I think RM & PT enjoyed it. It had been awhile since we had seen each other in person. RM wrote this morning she had enjoyed it, so I must have done something right!

While I was out the store earlier, the Wife had texted about needing to know where she could get a money order, or a cashiers check. The bank was out, as by the time she got off work they would be closed. I mentioned the Circle K's should do them, and I looked up that the popular grocery chain, Fry's Food (Kroger), does them until 10 at the one near our house. Leaving RM's I asked her if it would help if I got it for her, so she sent me the amount and all. I picked one up on the way to my regular pub. I messaged the Wife to let her know I got, she replied thank you, and because I was feeling cheeky, I said " I know you really meant to say Ralph(d00d) you are awesome". And so she did reply I was AMAZINGLY awesome. After reading a bit, and a couple beers, I decided I wanted pizza for dinner, so texted the Wife and asked if that was okay with her, that I picked up pizza - because I am amazing like that - and she agreed (so she wouldn't have to cook).

So, aside from the fact that I am awesome, it was a pretty good day. I don't think I will be able to do better today. My to-do list has been shortened to a smaller size, mostly of things I can set aside for now. I think maybe I'll play some Warcraft for a bit, and see if Netflix has anything I feel like watching movie-wise.

PeacE

Another Late Night

 Going on about 1:45am here, and I find myself fairly wide awake once again. I have tried sleeping and gotten back up (so I would not keep the Wife awake). I have been messing around on the computer for the past hour or so, trying to tire myself out with anything that will make me tired. So far, nothing has really worked, though my eyes 'feel tired' my mind is wide awake. I even took some over the counter melotonin, as it is supposed to help make you feel a little more sleepy. Thos pills haven't worked any of the other times I have tried them either. Maybe I just need something stronger, but then I'd argue I don't want to be be so 'knocked out' I can't easily awake at a cerftain early hour if I need to, for work or whatever. Pros and cons, I guess.

That being griped about now, it is Thursday, and that means ... well, not a whole lot. The Project has continued into the week, and my estimate is it may go up to half a day tomorrow, if it doesn't wrap up today. Still no word if they will transfer to a current project, or just tell us to watch our emails for th start of a new one. I almost want to say wait for a new one, but I never know how long I may have to wait. Wouldn't mind a couple extra days off to clear my head from this project.

RM had sent home some stuff with my Wife the other day. It was some sugar-free cookies she had picked up - a few packages with 3-4 cookies of different flavors. aLso a book she had picked up when she and PT were on vacation up north last month. Seems the BnB they rented was this author's house she rented out, and the author had left a few signed copies there to purchase if interested. On the honor system I am sure. Well, RM loves to read, just doesn't seem to have the time for as much as she wants to read...anyways, she picked it up and read it while there and bought all the copies (I think she said it was like 4-5 copies) so she could give out to certain people. I am one of them.

So the cookies, made from a 'mom and pop' bakery called Shut My Mouth Bakery, I was a little leery of trying. I have in the past, and somewhat a little more recently, been trying some of the so-called sugar-free foods/drinks. The drinks are mostly water mixes, and aren't bad. The foods on the other hand ... seems many of those I have tried, leave a weird after-taste. Like a saccharine taste I remember from the old Tab sodas (remember those?). Well, I opened the White chocolate macadamian nut package (I love those from Subway) and they had that weird after taste. I gave the Snickerdoodles to the Youngest this afternoon (I don't care for that flavor) and he said they tasted fine to him. So maybe it is just the way they use ingredients, or something. I'll know in a few days after I open one of the other packs and try them.

Now this book, I got some really mixed up feelings on. I know RM reads here, so RM, know there are no hard/bad feelings about what I am going to say. I don't really like RM's selections of books for me. She knows I like different types of fiction ... fantasy or sci-fi more than others mostly. The only thing is I had asked her years ago to not buy me boooks anymore (for birthday or Christmas, etc). The reason being, was they were from the Christian book store, and always had a religious theme the author wanted to get across in some kind of made-up story. It was tiresome to read each book, even from different authors, that told the same basic story. Sometimes I swear it was like theonly thing changed were the character names, everything else was the same. Now I ain't blaming RM, she was making choices that she knew it was a better book to read than many on the market today, I am sure. And she always wants the best for her kids, especially about religion. Anyways, so this book is a maybe a bit different. According to the synopsis, it's about these two EMTs have some contact with a teen that survived a near-death incident and describes it to them. Then it goes into the whole 'spiuritual awakening' and 'why does God allow this type questions. Bonus .. the book is signed by the author, and you know how I like to collect books signed by the author. And because it is a real book, I'll have to figure out a time to sit and read it carefully to not crack the binding, get it dirty, etc - as it is a soft-bound book.

Welp, I managed to waste another twenty minutes or so with this post. Guess I will try to go lay back down and see if anything happens. MAy be back shortly. Who knows?

PeacE