Where I've Been

I have been absent from the online scene for a good deal of time.

Why, do you ask?

CAUSE THIS GIRL IS BACK TO WORK!

Check out the pics.  No sweats, no pj's, I'm pretty sharp looking, eh?

I'm even playing with hair styles and makeup!

I'm back doing my secretary job.  My official title is Minion.  I started out a few hours at a time, and now I'm up to working all afternoon. 

My body is playing nicely; I credit my physical therapist, my cranial-sacral therapist, they are both amazing and have worked hard to get me to this point.  Since I started feeling better, I also began to eat better since I didn't "need" comfort food all the time.  I've been dairy free for a few weeks now.  I do think it's helping.  Tho I miss cheese.  I never realized how much cheese is in EVERYTHING.

Alex doesn't like me being gone.  It's taking her a while to adjust to me being gone.  Today I left MPR on and she seemed to like that.  She is such her parents' child. 

Tim and I are approaching our one year mark.  Now that I'm working, that means paychecks, so that means I can go visit him!  Yay!  No plans yet but it's gonna happen now that a) I'm feeling better and b) I have an income.

Just a quick update.  I'm tired and I have a kitty girl ready to snuggle!

Endometriosis Awareness Month 2013

Tim and I did today's Technical Difficulties on Endometriosis Awareness Month. 

Click here to listen to the show.

Wordless Weds: Alex's 9th Birthday

 Alex turned nine on Monday!  Here's some pictures from her birthday:

CT Scan Normal

My infectious disease doctor called to say that my CT Scan was normal.  No sign of infection.  But since I'm still having symptoms, he's going to get another couple opinions and then will get back to me with what he recommends.

My face and head still hurt.  I find Excedrin Headache helps, as does not being vertical.

So I've been doing my nails and playing "Dead Space 3."

In PT we've started working on my fibro along with my pelvic pain/scar tissue.  We think that fibro is also contributing to my pelvic pain so we're expanding the treatment.  Leg lunges?  They suck.  I got a list of stretches to do at home and I'm slowly getting to the point where I'm not dead after doing them.  The first day I did them at home I couldn't get off the floor for a while, and Alex was weirded out.  It's all good.  When I finally get this headache stuff figured out, I have plans to join the Y again and swim, and I also have a friend who will be a workout partner.  So I need to get better NOW.

Infectious Dr Appt Post

I saw the infectious disease doctor today for my chronic sinusitis. I really like him and was worth getting up before 8 am (who knew there was such a thing as 8 am) and braving the weather (felt like -30something out).   I took this picture to send to my brother in Miami.  Where it was 90 degrees warmer.

Here's what happened at my appointment:


Oral antibiotics (clindamycin) 300mg 3x a day for 21 days.  I'm to call him with any side effects that I might have. 
 
If that doesn't work, they'll put in an IV PICC line and administer antibiotics that way. 

The reason we're trying the oral antibiotics first is that there's a *chance* it might work and take out this damned infection, and secondly is that if we jumped right to the IV, any future infections would have to be treated that way. 

I have a follow up appointment the day after I finish my antibiotics.











So that's the plan.

Sinus and Endo Update

I haven't posted for a while, so it's time to let you guys know what's been going on.

Sinuses

I've still having sinus issues.  Background:  My ENT gave me a prescription of gentamicin saline solution to use.  I've been using it since Tim was here, with a little break.  But for the past month I've been on it steadily. 

I began to feel worse and worse.  My head was constantly hurting, I was sleeping over 15 hours a day, I had no energy, my mouth and eyes went dry, and ached all over (different than my fibro ache).  I was miserable and it went on for weeks.  I went to my PCP and she suspected I was developing another autoimmune disease.  She ordered blood tests.

A couple days later I finished the antibiotic nasal rinse.  A couple of days after that, I felt better.  Soon I was shoveling snow and cleaning and back to my normal self.  I put two and two together when I texted Tim telling him that "oh, I finished the nasal rinse."  Lightbulb! 

So yeah, gonna have a talk with the infectious disease doctor on Monday about how I'm never doing that nasal rinse again. 

My blood work all came back normal.

Endo

I saw my new endo doctor yesterday (Wednesday).  He was pleased with how things were going, and I'm to keep doing what I'm doing--the Danazol, the PT.  The tenderness I do feel around my zombie ovary and other areas he thinks is scar tissue, which of course is what happens after surgery and with endo itself.  He refilled my Vicodin rx, just so I had some on hand for bad pain days, but I haven't had to use any in months.  I am to see him again in six months. 

So things are looking up, and I'm anxious to see what the infectious disease doctor has to say on Monday.

Stupid Sinuses

Sorry I haven't been around; I've been battling a sinus infection.  One that I had that started before Tim's visit.  It won't go away and I'm allergic to too many antibiotics so my ENT isn't comfortable prescribing stuff for me anymore so I'm being sent to infectious disease on the 21st.

I'm so miserable.  I spend my time either sleeping or curled up in a ball trying to not move my head. 

So to entertain you whilst I am away, here's a video of Alex opening up her present (a stick of catnip) from Tim and me on Christmas.  Tim watched on Skype.

Tom Petty Tuesday: No Reason to Cry

Tim went back to the UK on Saturday.  His visit here was amazing, fantastic, and better than either of us had hoped.   There is no doubt about our future together--the only thing is that it's gonna take time and money.

Both Alex and I are adjusting to not having him here.  I spent most of the day brooding under my blankets watching "Quantum Leap" with Alex sleeping on me.  I did do some productive stuff, but meh.

I try to remember the phrase, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."  This is Tim's mindset as well.  I have plenty to smile about.  And I do.  But adjusting to him not being here is rough. 

When I was doing some dishes, I had Tom Petty & the Heartbreaker's "Mojo" album on.  I usually skip the song, "No Reason to Cry" because it's a bit too country for me and I thought it sounded sad.  But my hands were wet and I didn't get to my cd player in time, so I listened to the song.   Really listened to it for the first time.

"All I’m wanting is to see you
And to hold you once again...

Overcome me bitter sweetness
Put me under a magic spell
Overcome me all my sadness
Lead me on and wish me well
There’s no reason to cry...

It's alright."

Technical Difficulties--from Alex's Place

Tim and I broadcast from Alex’s Place, here in Minnesota.

On the fourth anniversary of my hysterectomy (11/20), we talk about the loss afterward, especially on the day of the anniversary itself.

The day after Thanksgiving, we also look at coping with family occasions as a spoonie and managing medication when you want to still have fun.

Click here to listen.

Wordless Weds: Photo Booth Fun