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

I'm Messed Up

 I know many would agree to that statement, just because you know me, and have seen me do some weird stuff. Honestly, I think my body is just off-balance with all the changes in the dosage amounts, add this, stop that - I'll get there - then add in my body changing due to health, weight loss, and the meds. All I know is that last night, I realized I was a "Chatty Cathy" and just did not seem able to be quiet without blurting stuff (thoughts in my head) out loud to myself even. By the time I laid down, I felt somewhat like my body was on meth again. It's hard to explain, but just believe me. Had many, many cramps last night, but still managed around three hours. Cramps and bladder woke me at 3:30am, and I am just not tired enough to lay back down.

So some updates for you, as if my medical drama that is going on out here truly entertain you.... Yesterday was the weekly paracentesis, and 10.7 liters were drained. Was hoping this was decreasing each week, but not now. I do need to call today and set the appointments for each week in Feb. I met RM for lunch afterwards. We went to Black Bear Diner, and I had a BLT with fries, a side House salad w/Italian, and an iced tea. As usual, I really enjoyed the time with Mom one-on-one, and I know she does as well. Then on the way home, I decided I was going to make dinner using one of the crock pot recipes I had come across and saved. I swung over to Walmart to get the supplies (I didn't have all of them at home). Like most of us, I ended up spending more than I meant too, but they had long-sleeved, moisture-wicking tees marked down from $8 to $2 and wouldn't that look good on me under my Riders vest? Oh, and just some extra foods in general. The Wife needed her nutrition drinks, so that case was a bigger purchase. Looked at PS5 controllers, but at $80/each I'm not getting one for Youngest to use with the computer. Happened to walk through Jewelry walking through the store, and looked at watches. Found a nice one marked down from $23 to $11. Eventually I made the check-out, forgot to tell the clerk I had a watch up at Cust. Svc. on hold while I finished shopping so no watch. Might swing by today and try again - just for the watch. Got home, Son helped unload and I split up the spoils - that's dinner, that's other supplies I think we needed (or I know I did), here's you some soda and tea. Then I started on dinner, since it was nearing5pm or later.

The main ingredients for the dinner were summer sausages, cut  bite-sized, string hashbrowns, red peppers, green peppers, white onion then the mixers: Campbell's Cheddar Cheese, whipping cream, sour cream and shredded cheeses. I did a fiesta blend of the shredded, and also added some seasoning (basil, Italian seasoning, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and some ground black pepper. Cooking said 2 hours high, but ended up being about 3 hours, just in time for the Wife to get home. Wife and Son said they enjoyed it, but it isn't a super wonderful food to ask for all the time.

Pickled up some Grill-o's Pickle salsa. Oh so good. I only had a bout 5 chips worth to try it, and I like it. Good - enough leftovers for a couple bowls. Might be lunch today (dinner from last night - and maybe the salsa, too). I do need to call for the weekly para appointments. Need to call Hyundai as I received an anti-theft warranty from them (for Youngest's car). Supposed to be a software update, and an ignition cylinder protector. I just need to find a dealer and time to take it in.

Hmm, seems my mind is drawing some blanks right now - or is that part of my issues with short-term memory loss, or other parts of the encephalopathy. Hopefully will get tired in the next hour and lay back down.

Other good news: PCP called about my bloodwork. Since my Rybelsus is not going to be happening according to my insurance, my PCP decided to stop the Farxiga (diabetes med). Makes sense since I am not taking any diabetic meds now, to get a better true non-medicated status of my A1C in 3 months. She also said my cholesterol was good enough that to stop taking the Atorvastatin. So now I am down to like 7 meds daily now. Talk about chemical body changes - take this, stop that. Sigh.

That's all I got for now. I am sure there was more to share, I just cannot get it to the top of the mind to write.

PeacE

PeacE