Another Week of Catch-Up

 With all the medical appointments, blood draws, doctor appointments, VFW meetings, and all the other goings on for the holiday, I feel like I missed some days. I know I didn't - those were the days I was not feeling well. 

After the first week with the dosage changes on two of my medicines, I started to get hopeful as I had three days I woke up feeling better then normal. I know, it is too early to get my hopes up. I have to do this 'roller coaster' so the Docs can figure what what does my body react to, and able to withstand if we need to increase a bit. So for about 4 days there before Christmas, I was feeling bad, on top of the Santa Run at the top of the list.

So, needless to say, yes, in the last 2 1/2 weeks I have noticed changes I expect to be medicinal in nature, and probably will see more changes after the Liver Specialist appointment around the 15th.

Tomorrow I will be getting dropped off at the ER again. Time for the weekly paracentesis, though this will be the last one I get paid for the year. Deductible resets 1/1. Oh Boy. I was talking with the Wife at our dinner date tonight (Texas Roadhouse as we hadn't eaten here in quite awhile) about how I am nor short of breath like previous weeks, and I don't feel the uncomfortable pressure in the abdomen as badly, do I need to still go tomorrow. Wife says yes. Said Doctor ordered once a week until we control how to figure to get the amount being drained down (I think it supposed to be way under 10L). I'm just going. Even with the Wife at half of my appointments, half of what I hear goes to the wayside anyways.

So, basically, I'm floating. Starting to move in a positive direction, just not as fast as I want to go.

Christmas' went well. Thursday we met at the Middle Son's apartment and did our exchanges. The Oldest Son dot times/dates confused, so was not able to make it, but he made it to RM's yesterday where we finished up exchanges. I had a good time considering I a) was not feeling good and b) had to tolerate PT. I swear, I could have recorded every conversation he had with me, prior to even going to RM's. What he will ask, how he will ask it, how he will respond. Sigh.And it never changes.

I loved all my gifts I got this year. My pickle stuff, my beef jerky stuff, lotsa snack food. Couple shirts, PJs and clothes. Needless to say, I don't think I will finish all the snack food before February like most years. There is a lot! And with my decreased appetite.... Oh hey, that's good news! After the draining last week, my weight is down to 165.8 lbs. That is about 65 pounds since last April. As I found out tonight though, still need to lose more to fit behind them tiny restaurant tables though (that don't move).

All right, well, it is Sunday night, and I am wrapping up stuff and headed to bed. Tomorrow will be spent trying to start my Disability claim. Oh Joy.

PeacE

Oh No ... This Better Not Happen!

 My work project finished yesterday around 1pm. I was able to lay down and take about an hour nap, but was having difficulty getting to sleep due to my allergies. The Wife had been doing quite a bit if cleaning and it has kicked up some much dander, or whatever, that my eyes are watering, nose running, draining down the neck, causing me to cough. Most days this is normal for me the first couple hours, but then my allergy pill kicks in, and I generally will be fine. But not yesterday. By the time I went to bed around 10, tired as heck still, the drainage was bad enough, my coughing was pretty constant, and that led to a much interrupted sleep. Now at 3:30am, my throat is sore, cough is there, and I am starting to worry about it getting bad enough I need to change my appointment. Rubbed some Vick's on the chest, took an allergy pill, a decongestant (to hopefully stop it dropping into my chest) and now the waiting game. Give it half an hour, and see if I feel better enough to get more sleep.

The Company did send me an email yesterday afternoon, asking me to return to work Tuesday for additional work on this project. Nice that they want me to do the next level of review work required, but I wrote back turning it down since I have a medical procedure that would me unavailable for work Weds and Thurs. No way am I going to try to work when I am up and running for the toilet so often! I explained I could return to work next week, but they responded that is fine, and I would be contacted then for placement on a project.

Even feeling as I do right now, I am going to try to make it down to Fry's today. I need to look into some powerade/gatorade type drink for tomorrow, plus some sodas. Maybe find some soup broth that I can heat up (no noodles). I also need to get gift cards. The Wife and I talked over who and what type I was thinking of getting, and we agreed. Hope to get it done by late morning... we will see my motivation if I get to sleep more.

Family plans are made, and the times scheduled in for our Christmas traveling/visiting/exchanging. I verified with RM yesterday, and then blasted our Family Chat with the details so everyone knows the plan. We are mixing things up a bit as the need to accommodate Middle Son. He has to work at some point The evening of Christmas - thanks Wal-Mart! But he will still be able to be a part of things the way we planned them out.

Already feeling a bit better. Gonna rub some more Vick's on in about 20 minutes, then see if I cen get some more sleep.

PeacE