MONDAY, MONDAY

Especially after we've moved the clocks forward.  I feel as if I've lived three days today.  And it's still going.

This morning I woke up with my cell phone going off and a message that the repairman was on his way.  I threw on some clothes, left Joe sleeping and went downstairs thinking I could clean off a couple of tables before he showed up.  Do your tables become collectors of all things paper?  Mail, newspaper, ads, etc.  Mine do and they are always a mess.  Before I could do anything there was a knock at the door and he was here.

He was here less than five minutes.  I told him what happened and had him look at the jack.  He pulled off the splitter and filter, plugged the phone directly into the jack and it worked!  I said, "But what about the internet?  Don't I need to have that plugged into the jack?"  Well, it turns out our new internet runs off of a cable, not the phone line.  In fact what I thought was the internet line wasn't plugged into anything.  It was just laying on the floor.  *sigh*  I could have done that myself days ago.  Why, oh why didn't I figure it out?  I guess because I didn't know the internet wasn't running off of the phone line.  I don't feel too dumb because Joe didn't figure it out either.  But we have our phone back!

Then I got ready to go to the doctor.  He was really nice.  He agrees that it sounds like esophageal spasms.  I have to have an endoscopy done.  He said there may be scar tissue from my surgery and if there is, he can use the scope to open it up and straighten out the bends in the esopagus.  In the meantime he gave me a medication that he feels will help me.  My brother takes the same medication and it helps him.  It would be nice to eat or even drink water without feeling like it's going to come right back up and without the pounding in my chest.  So I have scope done on the 20th.  I've had it done before and there's nothing to it.

Then I came home and made lunch for Joe (I didn't want any) and took a nap.  My afternoon naps are great.  I feel so much better in the evening if I take a nap.  Can't wait till I retire and I can do that every day.

I got my Bible studies and Joe's Bible studies all typed out for the next month.  All I have to do is print it out each week.  That's a good place to be.

I made pork chops and zucchini with mushrooms for supper.  It turned out so good.  Joe even complimented me on it.

I have so much more to do, but it's very late and it's going to have to wait until the morning.  And so the week moves forward.

Kathy
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Monday's weather
Sunny
High:  57 degrees
Low:  33 degrees
It was a beautiful day!
Sunrise:  7:21 a.m.
Sunset:  7:00 p.m.
Length of visible light:  12 hours and 32 minutes
I'm loving it!

A QUICK POST ABOUT MY DOCTOR VISIT

I'm getting ready for work in a few minutes, so this will be a quick post.  Just wanted to let you all know how I made out at the doctor's yesterday morning.  Yes, I was going to post last night, but fell right to sleep.  I was really tired.  (Still am for that matter.)

I went because of my high blood pressure that I've been having all week.  Of course when I went in and the nurse took my pressure it was 120/70.  Yeah, that's how it goes.  The doctor said he couldn't treat me for something that I no longer had.  But then he started asking me questions about did I ever have chest pains (yes), shortness of breath (yes), pain in my left arm and neck (yes), nausea (yes).  So he insisted on giving me an EKG.

The girl that did the EKG was so nice and pleasant.  I had no idea that in one of the back rooms they have a whole lab set up.  Cool.
Well, the EKG came back "abnormal".  I could tell something was wrong when she took it twice and then said, "Stay here and I'll show it to the doctor."

He came back in, told me it was abnormal, but hadn't changed any from the one I had two years ago.  It had picked up my heart murmur which I've had since I was a baby.  So he said my medication was working, not to worry, just follow up with my heart specialist in February (my next scheduled visit) and if the blood pressure went up again, to call him.

In a way I felt like it was a wasted visit, but in another way I was pleased that I have a doctor that listens to me and is on the ball enough to pick up on things and order immediate tests.  

A lot of the symptoms that appear to be "heart attack related" are actually left from when I had my stomach surgery.  I now have gas pockets in my chest that mimic heart attacks.  Not fun, but at least I know what they are, am able to take something to break up the gas, and they go away.

Enough of this medical post.  I am off to get ready for work.  I am working today at the Fishtown Branch.  This is the first week I am there in this new season.  Wonder how it's going to be.

GROUNDHOG DAY

Another really busy day at work yesterday and I ended up falling asleep before I could write my blog. 

I took Joe to the VA Hospital and he went to see if his doctor could see him to evaluate what is going on with his wrist.  He doesn't know what he did to his right wrist, but the bone is sticking out and his hand and part of his arm are swollen.  He says it is very painful.  The doctor would not see him because he didn't have an appointment.  He was told to go see the nurse.  We went to the place to make an appointment to see the nurse.  They took his information then told us to have a seat.  We waited and waited.  A guy came in from seeing the nurse and was all upset because he was there thinking he had pneumonia and she wanted to give him a shot for Hepititis B.   He didn't have hepititis.  Joe looked at me and said "We're out of here."

We went home and Joe called our primary doctor.  He was told the doctor did not have time to see him and just go to the emergency room.  Joe said that it cost $200 on our insurance to go there and asked if he could just have a referral to get an x-ray.  The nurse said no, he couldn't do that.  So Joe hung up.

I was angry.  I went to work, but was still upset about this.  So I called my insurance company and told them what happened and asked to change doctors.  We are now going to go to a doctor who is two blocks from our house.  I won't have to take time off from work to drive Joe there, he can walk it.  He has been to this doctor before and says he is good.  He is calling to make an appointment to see him this morning.  I am not staying with a doctor who won't even see you when you are sick or injured.

Enough of my ranting.  Just had to get that out.

So yesterday was Groundhog Day and Phil saw his shadow.  Six more weeks of winter, even though it's been feeling like spring around these parts.  Cold today though.  Here is the link to Phil's exploits.  The poor groundhog looks so scared with all those cameras flashing at him.  How could he help but see his shadow with those bright lights?

Have a good day everyone.  I'll be posting a Friday View when I get home from work.

Anniversary

Time flies.  It's hard to imagine, but today is the one year anniversary of the death of Joe's dad and the six year anniversary of the death of his mom.  I remember what a terrible time it was a year ago.  All of the fighting.  All of the tears.  All of the name calling and hard feelings.  (Take a look back at last year's entries if you don't know what I am talking about.)  At that time I thought it would never end. That it would always be bad.  But time heals a lot of things.  Even so, it was a sad day.  And a hard one.

I had such a nice long sleep last night.  I really needed it after having almost nothing the night before.  I felt so good when I got up this morning, but I missed the sunrise.  Oh well.  By the way, here is the sunrise I wanted to show you yesterday.  I found my camera in my bed.  How did it get there?

I went into work late today because I took Joe to the doctor's for his regular visit.  With all his ailments he has to see several specialists on a regular basis.  Sometimes someone else will take him, but other times I just want to be the one to go with him.  It's according which doctor he is seeing.  But I especially wanted to be with him today.


His appointment was for 11:00 a.m. but the doctor was running late and he didn't get in until 11:30.  The doctor took a lot of time with him, so we didn't get out until noon.  Then we had to get something to eat.  So I didn't get in to work until 2:00 p.m.  I worked until 5:00 p.m. so I had a 3 hour day.  I could get used to 3 hour days.  Ha, ha.  

Because Diane had been on the front desk for four hours, I took the next two hours and then Marquita came in for the last hour.  Even so, I got an awful lot accomplished.  I finally finished the filing that I've been doing for the last 6 months, ever since I took over Donna's job.  I can actually see my desk now!  I still have some more sorting to do of some paperwork, but the worst is over with.  Hooray!


We went food shopping tonight.  We were out of everything so it was a little expensive.  But we haven't been in three weeks, so I guess it's not that bad.  Joe had gone to Bible Study.  I picked him up at 8:30 p.m. and we headed to the store.  I was surprised.  The parking lot was pretty empty and we were able to park pretty close to the front door.  The store was pretty empty too.  And there were no lines to check out.  We even got a bagger.  So we have decided to go every Wednesday night after Joe's study.


Enough of my ramblings for tonight.  More tomorrow.

GOOD NEWS!

This was a day like no other!  It began with me going to see the surgeon for my 6 month check-up.  My appointment was for 9:15.  We were making really good time getting there and suddenly all the traffic stopped.  They were doing construction on 10th Street.  Three lanes went into one.  It was only a block long, but what a tie-up it made.

When we got there, we had trouble finding parking, and then got lost in the hospital.  This place is huge!  So when we finally got there we were 15 minutes late.  It didn't matter though because my doctor had emergency surgery this morning and I didn't even get to see her until 10:45.  I never get in and out of there fast.

She said that everything looks good.  Sometime in September I am to get an upper GI test to make sure that everything is in place and is working the way it should.  GOOD NEWS!

We then went to the cashier and I finished paying for my hospital bill.  I no longer have that hanging over my head.  MORE GOOD NEWS!

Joe took me to the hospital's gift shop.  Being sick in the hospital I had never seen it.  It was nice.  I mean really nice.  They had some 3-D bookmarks and Joe bought me one with planets on it that I fell in love with.  He's a sweetie!


Joe and I went home, ate lunch, and then I went to work two hours late.  When I got in I was told to call the Area Administrator.  I knew this was something either very good or very bad because you just don't get calls from her for nothing.  I called and found that I was being offered the Library Assistant 2 job!  Very few people take the test and are offered a promotion the first time around, so I was surprised and very happy.  EVEN MORE GOOD NEWS!

So now for the not so good news.  Because there is no opening anywhere near me, I am being sent to the Haddington Branch which is a 30-45 minute drive away.  BUT, it's a little more complicated.  You see, I have been picked to be the new LA2 at the Richmond Branch where I am now as soon as my current supervisor retires on August 5th.  So until then, I have to spend my time across the city.  Basically it's for about a month, then I get to come back.  But you never know with the Free Library.  They often tell you one thing, and do another.

I told the Administrator that I had to talk to Joe and would give her a definite answer tomorrow.  Joe and I prayed and talked about it and have decided I should take the job.  The people downtown have really done their best to give me what I want and to promote me quickly.  If I work with them, they will remember it and work with me.  Also it's only for a month and one week of that month I will be on vacation, so it's really only three weeks.  Not many people get handpicked for a place.  All this seems to be working in my favor.  And when I prayed I had a peace about going to this branch.

So here's the next stage in my journey.  Let's see where this part of my trip through life takes me.

DOCTORS, DOCTORS AND MORE DOCTORS

Yesterday was a doctor day.  I got to see not one, but two doctors.  Lucky me.

I went to see my family doctor, Dr. Skobinsky, in the morning.  He wanted to see me a week after I cut down on my high blood pressure medication to see how I was doing.  While I was there I got my blood taken for a cholesterol test.  Before the surgery my cholesterol was high.  I couldn't start any medication or change my eating habits until after the surgery and in meals I was back where I should be.  So that is about now.  My pressure in his office was 120/70.  He told me that since I lost so much weight I probably did not need the extra lisinopril and to keep it at the cut down status. 

Then in the afternoon I saw the gastroenterologist, Dr. Resnick.  He was following up on that awful stomach virus I had.  All of my tests came back perfect.  I do not have any bacterial infection, parasites, salmonella or anything like that.  So it was just a virus that would not let go.  He also checked my blood pressure and it was 97/73.  Both doctors said my pressure would go up and down for about 6 weeks until my body got used to the new dosage of lisinopril.

I went to work 4 hours late.  It was tough and I was very tired.  I slept well last night until about 3 a.m. when I woke up with a massive headache that would not go away.   It was so bad I was even dreaming that I had a headache.  Two Tylenol and two hours  later it was still there.  I finally got back to sleep around 6 a.m. and got up for work at 7 a.m.  I'm glad I'm at the Fishtown Branch today and it's an easy day.

Tomorrow is the last day of the Winter CSA.  I forget the theme -- something about Spring being here at last.  I'll let you know tomorrow and show you what we got.  I know I am getting lettuce which is a good thing since something ate all my lettuce plants.  They were big and doing so well too.  I didn't even get to taste it.  I'm going to try to dig them up and plant them in something high and see if I can save some of them.

A TRIP THROUGH TIME AND AN EYE DOCTOR

Blogger has done it to me again.  I had this post all written last night and now it is gone.  I will try to recreate it.  (sigh)

I was feeling better and went back to work today.  It was not as bad as I thought it would be.  I haven't been nauseous at all and hardly went to the bathroom all day.  Pains are mostly gone.  Thank you, Lord.

I got a call from the surgeon's assistant at work today.  She wanted to know how I was feeling.  Also she said the doctor wanted me to go back into the hospital and have a CT scan, upper GI and MRI.  I told her I was getting better, it probably was a stomach virus and I was not going to get all those tests.  I am seeing the gastroenterologist on Thursday and would let her know what was going on next week.  So that's how we left it.

Being out for two weeks I did not know we were having a program and didn't bring my camera to work.  There were three fifth grade classes that came in to see a program put on by the National Constitution Center.  Joe and I have been wanting to go there for some time, but have never made it.  After seeing this program I really want to go now.  The man who did the program was so interesting.  The kids were so well behaved and really got into the program.  It was about children from colonial times until the early 20th century and how they lived and dressed.  He brought costumes and had the kids dress up and talked about their lifestyles.  I found some pictures on google images that are sort of like the costumes he brought.

The first boy was from colonial times.  He looked something like this:

At age 11 or 12 he would be apprenticed to learn a trade and was actually almost a slave to the master worker until age 18.  The boy chose to be apprenticed to Benjamin Franklin to learn to be a printer.

The second student was a Victorian girl.  She looked something like this:

She was from a wealthy family so she had servants and went to school rather than working in a factory to support her family.  The kids wanted to know how she could sit down in a hoop skirt and how she went to the bathroom with a long skirt.  Ha, ha.

The last child was a boy from the early 20th century.

By this time manufacturing had started with the Industrial Revolution.  More children were working in factories and living in cities rather than on farms.

Really great program.  Peggy (our children's librarian) was really pleased with how well it turned out.

Tonight Joe and I had an eye doctor's appointment.

 We both need new glasses.  My eyes have changed just a little, but Joe's have changed drastically.  At least it is not a change because of his diabetes.  The last test was having our pupils dilated and a bright light shone in them.  It was not pleasant but only the last part of the test hurt.  Joe found it really hard to take, but got through it.  We didn't realize how hard it would be to drive home, even with dark glasses.  All the lights we encountered looked like this.

 I prayed my way home and God brought us through safely.  Unfortunately the test was too much for Joe and after we got home he ended up having an epileptic seizure.  Bright lights do that to epileptics.  So I got him to bed and there he is now.  

I am going to wake him up now and get breakfast for us so we can start the day.  I hope this post doesn't get lost in cyberspace.

THE LATEST

I stayed home from work yesterday and went to the doctor's office in the morning.  Wrong thing to do.  Because he had been out yesterday, everyone was in there.  I had 18 people ahead of me.  There were no seats left.  An older woman with a cane came in.  She was standing and not one person would get up to give her a seat.  She finally had to leave.  I ended up leaving too.  The pain in my stomach was so bad I couldn't stand there.

Joe and I went back for his afternoon hours and it was much better.  Only 3 people ahead of me.  Dr. Skobinsky does not think I have C. diff.  Like Dr. Chojnacki he thinks it is too far removed from the surgery date, but he is sending me for a test anyway.  The only problem is it is a bowel test and until that settles down there is no way I can take it.  He is also sending me to a gastroenterologist on an emergency basis.  I have an appointment for 9:30 this morning.

The bowels and stomach are starting to settle down, but are still upset.  I told Joe that even if everything was perfect I was still going to go.  Two weeks is two weeks too long.

When I called work and told my boss I would be out the rest of the week he was not happy.  I can't help it.  I told him this was not fun for me.  I didn't do this on purpose.  We are having an all-day all-staff meeting tomorrow that is mandatory for us to attend.  No one wants to go.  But I would rather be feeling great and go to the meeting than have what I have.

I will post later when I find out what is going on.

CITY DOCTOR

I went to the city doctor yesterday.  Because of all the snow and bad weather I left really early to get down there.  It's a good thing I did because there were streets blocked off and no parking anywhere.  Joe was with me.  We drove around and around and parked someplace only to find the snow was so deep we couldn't open the doors to get out of the car.  So we drove around some more and finally found a place about a block and a half way.  That wasn't too bad.  But people, really, CLEAN YOUR SIDEWALKS!  It was so dangerous trying to walk that block and a half back to the clinic.  All ice!


We were surprised when we got inside because it is always crowded with people and there was only one lady ahead of us.  I have never seen the clinic so empty or gotten taken care of so quickly.  

The doctor really did not want to let me go back to work.  She said it was too soon.  She didn't think I could lift 50-100 lbs. at this point.  She didn't like it that I wasn't eating everything.  She even said she didn't think it was wise to rush things.  But I finally talked her into letting me go back when she looked at my incisions and saw they were almost completely healed and a couple were already starting to fade.  So she checked "approved" and sent me back to Human Resources.


After looking for another parking spot, I got into the department. They took my paperwork, gave me a bunch of forms to fill out (pension, life insurance, W-4, etc.) and gave me the paperwork to take back to work on Monday.  So my sick time is over.


I'm sort of looking forward to going back, but in another way I have really liked being home taking care of my house and taking care of Joe.  This time off and almost dying has made me look at life in a different way.  "Things" are not as important to me anymore.  Yes, I like a nice place to live and pretty things around me, but that is not important.  My perspective on life has changed.  My faith in God's care and protection has grown.  Whether people like me or not doesn't matter so much.  So this was good for me.


Romans 8:28 -- We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose.  (CEB)

GOOD NEWS

I had my surgeon's post-op follow-up appointment today.  Fortunately my appointment took place in between the two storms so I was able to get down there without too much trouble.  Once I got to center city all the streets were clear and dry.  Guess it's all the traffic and businesses around there.

My appointment was for 1:15 p.m.  I got there at 12:45 p.m.  I was seen by the doctor at 2:20 p.m.  She saw me for a total of 3 minutes.  She should be paying me for my time!

But the good news is she said I am healing beautifully.  I can start eating anything I want as long as it doesn't get stuck in my throat.  If it does, let it alone for a couple of weeks and then try again.  I can have red meat again.  I can go back to work.  I have the letter saying I can return with no restrictions.  So now I just have to go to Human Resources and then the City Doctor and get all the paperwork done for my return.  I probably will be able to start back the middle of next week.

It was so good to have some good news for a change.  Joe and I celebrated by stopping in Wendy's on the way home.  He got a grilled chicken wrap and I got chicken nuggets.  We both tried their new fries with sea salt.  Yum, yum!

A VISIT TO THE DOCTOR

Yesterday I went to see my oncologist for my regular checkup. It is the first time I've seen him since the surgery. He brought me in a month early because he wanted to make sure everything was OK with me. Dr. Bryansmith is such a good doctor and really keeps on top of all his patients. I am very fortunate to have such good doctors to take care of me.

He was very pleased with what he saw. He says the incisions are healing right on target. He told Joe and me that he also has scars from the adhesive from his surgery. He didn't know he was allergic to adhesive until he had to have bandages. So he was very sympathetic with what was going on with my skin. He also thought I was ahead of schedule with what I can eat. Probably in another 2 months I will be able to eat just about everything.

The only problem was that my iron level was low. The normal hemoglobin count is 11 to 15. I was right on 11.0. I feel my best at 13.0 and above. This is why I am so tired and still take naps during the day. He told me that this is normal after surgery, that the body puts all its energy to healing and not to getting the blood up to par. I see him again May 5th and he expects everything to be back to normal by then. I sure hope so.

Good News from the Doctor

The tree at the Steamboat Inn in Paradise, PA Christmas 2009.

Who would have guessed that at 56 years old I would be a poster child?  That is what the doctor said to me today -- that I was the poster child for hiatal hernia surgery.  She said it was one of the easiest she had ever done and I am recovering remarkably well.


The first doctor I saw was one of the residents -- a Doctor Richards -- who removed the final two steri-strips.  The skin on my stomach is in bad shape, but hurts a lot less now.  I think a lot of the pain was coming from my adhesive allergy.  There is still some pain left, but it's better.


Dr. Chojnacki was very pleased with my progress.  I asked if I could up my diet a bit from pureed food.  She said that I should avoid crusty bread, things like chips and popcorn (crispy things) and meat.  Other than that, if I could tolerate it and it didn't get stuck in my esophagus I could eat it.  My throat and stomach are still swollen and it will take about another 9 weeks to go back to normal size.  She even said I could have a piece of cake for my birthday.  In fact she said I deserved it.  That's nice.  She thinks a lot of the progress I've made is because I followed their instructions exactly.  I guess a lot of people cheat.  All right I cheated only once, but was very sorry afterwards.  I guess once in three weeks is better than most.


So Christmas, my birthday and New Year's Eve is looking a little brighter for me food wise.  I never thought much about food until I couldn't have it.  Now I look up new recipes and think up new ideas for things that I can eat.  We always want what we can't have.  Human beings are a strange entity.