Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving dinner had some alterations to my usual this year. I only cooked a Turkey breast since I can no longer lift a whole turkey. This will actually be good in more ways than one since it means we won't be throwing out a lot of dark meat that no one likes.

We decided not to go to my in-laws after some, let's call them issues, in September. I didn't want to deal with the hassle and well, no offense, but I have always had Thanksgiving at my house and they did it on Friday til this year, I wasn't giving up my tradition cause they wanted a change. I am SO glad I didn't back down this year. I was so sick yesterday and today I didn't feel well most of the day, so being around people and smells would have not gone over well, my family is one thing, they are so used to me being sick, but others, well they don't get it despite saying how much they understand it.

I also made REAL mashed potatoes, Sweet Potato Casserole, Garlic Green Beans, Dressing, and Cranberry Relish. We forgot the rolls, oops, I guess they will be buns for something.

My pain levels have been fairly steady, I am dealing with a lot of insomnia, my CPAP was upped to 15, not much change, but I am still not sleeping much.

My neurologist changed my Lasix at this appointment, we upped it to 40mg in the morning and 20mg at night, keeping all my other meds the same. I have to call her if I up it to 40 am and PM but I am not to do that for at least 2-3 weeks. She also changed my anti-emetic to Phenergan to see if that helps better than the zofran did (it wasn't working very well, the 8mg worked a little better but, not great)

As for the Victoza, I am now on the 1.8mg the injections hurt a bit more, and they make me shaky for a few minutes, but, no other side effects except continued weight loss. It's a SLOW process though, but it came on slowly too, so I am ok with that. The support board said the average was 10lbs in 2 months, so being down over 7lbs in less than 3 weeks I am happy. My appetite has gone down and I am learning to control portions better (today is a little bit different though)

I have counted my blessings over on Facebook, I am so grateful for my friends there, IH and Chiari have been a very big challenge for me, and not going through it alone has made my life so much easier.

An interesting Week…started again

Well, I survived the first week of Physical Therapy, I have to admit Traction REALLY helped A LOT, I was surprised.

When I finished Thursday, I came home feeling pretty positive and encouraged, I felt like I could rule the world. Then Friday happened. I went to see Dr. Kachan, he went over my EMG results, I was a fully prepared for those results, I knew they were normal, or so I thought…The Tarsal Tunnel was normal…but there was NO response at the knee, I have to discuss this with Dr. Rossi since Dr. Young did the EMG I do not understand why I had No response at the knee. She didn't check beyond the foot and ankle for the tibial nerve, so I was not aware of the knee's lack of response. Dr. Kachan ended up doing a corticosteroid shot for Plantar Fasciitis in my heel, I thought I was going to DIE, I have had the steroid shots in my wrist, ankle, and my knee before, but this one was definitely the most painful I have EVER experienced…and unlike the others, it did not get better within hours like the others, this one took ALL day Friday and most of Saturday. I was off of my feet until late Saturday because it hurt so bad, it did give me the ability to wiggle my toes though so it did improve it. Although the relief didn't last long.

I also started the Victoza last week, I took the week of the 0.6mg, then I moved up on Monday to the 1.2mg, I noticed today that I could not finish a burger, I was VERY full and I haven't even taken it yet today. In the first 4 doses I lost 6lbs. I will be weighed again on the 30^th, I wonder what the results will be…The nausea isn't as bad as reviewers seem to say. Probably cause I am used to it from my other meds.

We are looking for a new place to live, Unemployment is officially over, Trusting God to provide for our needs, its not an easy task by any means, my disability is NOT enough to cover our bills. I am still very sick regularly, I get a few good days every now and again, but not enough where I could go back to work, today I noticed how bad my eyes are, and I have to admit, it seriously depressed me. I did see the opthamologist last week too, Dr. Simone shared that the reason I don't have papilledema anymore is because my eyes are atrophied so they can not swell, I almost cried, my vision is becoming PERMANENTLY damaged. Its not fair…and I don't do well with that.

Its affecting Lauren, Chris, and even my cats.

Yesterday after physical therapy, I felt good for about an hour, then I hurt ridiculously bad, I don't think it had anything to do with therapy though, I think it was just a bad pain day…because I felt great AT therapy…except my body didn't like leaving…its so weird.

Tomorrow I have an ultrasound and Thursday is another Therapy day…Then some day this week I should be hearing from Beaumont Home Medical to get my machine reset. I wonder what to, my sleep study last week yielded a reset, but I don't know what to.

And We start Anew

Today was busy, Tomorrow will be BUSIER, Wednesday I will sleep ALL DAY, lol, and Thursday I will be TIRED, Friday will be calm after my doctor's appointment.

A glimpse into my week?

Nah, you don't really want that lol.

Ok, well today I started Physical therapy, my poor Physical therapist looked at my script and said BUT there are SIX body parts listed here…uhm yeah….I have a lot going on…we are starting with the neck and working our way down, kinda hoping the neck will fix some of the lower ones by itself.

She agreed.

We started with just heat today, and a list of exercises to do at home, we will probably do traction and massage J I am A wee bit excited about that it felt so good when she found some muscles that HURT all the way down by back and a few that when she pulled on the traction felt GOOD all the way up.

Today also started the Victoza, I was seriously surprised the injection didn't hurt. I was totally prepared for it to hurt, but it didn't. I have 7 days on 0.6, then 7 days at 1.2 then I have to call the office, I will call them to verify this week to reverify his dose anyhow, but I will call AFTER I get the call from the doctors office tomorrow.

Today while I was in PT I got a call from my PCPs office to call and schedule a follow up (I have one set for February, so I am a bit confused, or to return her call, so I returned her call, I have NO clue what is going on, I was JUST there a couple weeks ago, and just in my endocrinologists Nov 2nd)

Needless to say I was a bit confused about this call. I had a hard time with my prescription transfer today too, so I have had a rough day.

Tomorrow I have Physical Therapy at 4:30pm, Sleep Study at 8:30pm Chris will have dinner ready when I get home, THANK you Crock POT. Lauren will do school in the MORNING but she will have all afternoon FREE

Wednesday, I am NAPPING…LOL, Lauren will do school in the afternoon, but she will have the morning free, totally opposite of our NORMAL schedule

Thursday, I have an Eye appointment at 8am, and Lauren will have school MID day, lol then I have Physical Therapy at 4:30…

Thank God for HOMESCHOOLING

Friday, I have an 8:45am Podiatry appointment and am CLEAR sailing for the rest of the day, Lauren is off school, if she has completed all of her weeks assignments. I love teaching through the summer for 4 day weeks and having the rare 5 day week…and so does she.

Saturday and Sunday…I am planning on having a GOOD weekend, and praying to feel well enough to get to church again it felt so nice to be there this past week…its been so long.

 

Well what do we have here?

Well lets see…yesterday I had my EMG, it was NORMAL, Can we say HAPPY? I can. It was an interesting day. I drove out to Rochester to the doctor's office, signed in, was asked which doctor, answer, Dr. Rossi, receptionist says, but you aren't seeing the doctor RIGHT? She isn't here today…Hmm, No she is PERFORMING the EMG… HA, Uhm, She isn't here..Uhm, Uhm…they look it up, I am scheduled with Dr. Young, who do you normally see…Dr. Rossi…I think I just said that…I am growing a cross between concerned, angry and frustrated. I just drove 45 minutes to get here, I have waited 6 weeks for this appointment. The other receptionist that I usually deal with says USUALLY we would have you reschedule but asks me if I mind if Dr. Young does it…I shrug my shoulders, I have seen them both, I met them both in the hospital, I have actually seen MORE of Dr. Young than Dr. Rossi, since I Spent 4 days in the Hospital, and I saw Dr. Young Thursday AND Friday, and Dr. Rossi Just on Wednesday. Now I can officially say I have seen Dr. Young more, lol, again. Dr. Young didn't mind doing the EMG so long as I was ok with her doing it… She gave me the results (she wasn't supposed to…since she isn't my doc…but I AM NOT COMPLAINING)

THEY WERE NORMAL, I will shout it from the rooftops…Its not Tarsal Tunnel So my foot and ankle pain isn't due to Tibial nerve damage!!!!!

Today I was researching the Victoza…Its an interesting medicine. I haven't started it yet, I did get 10 days worth of 1500 calorie meal plans made up so I now know WHEN I am goin to take it, I will have to call the office when I get to the last of the 3 does, or if I have any questions on the med, I will be calling the office next week to find out exactly how long before he wants me to change doses because I don't see more directions in the box, and my memory isn't that great, I know there isn't enough to make it to the next appointment either…so I will definitely have to call and ask.

ARG…

Diabetes STINKS!!! I have been dealing with this since Last February, but today it hit me really hard. After seeing the endocringologst this morning I was expecting to get my meds cut, my sugars have been really good, I haven't had a high number in a long time, they have been staying in the low 100's but now he is concerned about my liver enzymes and is putting me on Victoza as well as doubling my Metformin dose, I was so not happy about the injectables… That was NOT what I had anticipated. God must have bigger plans.