Update soon

I have a few updates, but I'm really really REALLY busy right now with everything, so an official update must wait. On the bright side, Easter break starts Thursday after class so I'll have time to write around that time.

On a side note, I'm really addicted to the map -------------->

that shows where my visitors are from. It's pretty cool!

Crawfish, Interviews, and Bunnies... Oh my!

This morning, I went and supported a fellow sorority, Kappa Delta, in one of their national philanthropies. They host a 5k/Mile Fun Run to raise money for a local Children's home and for the Prevent Child Abuse America. The 5k is a serious 5k because it's very hilly. Not my style. I also haven't run in a while, and I didn't want to attempt something so.... legit. So I ran the 1 mile fun run! It's actually 1.25 miles. I'm not sure how fast I ran it, but I did well for not having run in a while. I was really proud of myself. I had a little motivation on the last 1/2 mile...

Before I continue, you need a little history. You know those Easter Bunnies that sit in the malls to let little kids take their picture with them? Or the mascots that run around at football games and hug you even if you don't want to hug them? Or the clowns? Or the Santas in the mall? Well, I'm scared of all of them. I'm less wary of my own college mascot, but I still won't run up to him or anything. Also, know that my favourite branch of the military is the Marines. Ok, moving on.

The 1 mile run was around a lake, so it was somewhat curvy. I came around a curve a little over half way done and I saw him: the Easter Bunny. Walking against the runner's direction clapping for people and giving high fives. I had no choice but to pass him. I picked up the pace and ran past him, giving him a slight smile and a nod. Sigh of relief. Until I heard it: footsteps running behind me. I turned and looked, praying it was just another runner, but no... it was the Easter Bunny and he was chasing me!!!!!! I kept going and he caught up pretty quickly, unfortunately. I pretended to play it cool, smiling at him again. I can't even begin to tell you how creepy it was. I took another good look and I noticed something new: showing through the white/pink skin was a USMC (United States Marine Corps) shirt. My brain didn't know how to process that. Was it a Marine in the costume? Did the Bunny eat a Marine? Should I fear Marines now or love Easter Bunnies?? I let my mind wander to thinking about how heavy the head part of the costume must be. So I said something, "That's impressive." The bunny just looks at me. So I clarify. "That's impressive running with the costume on. Especially with the head part." The bunny looks at me again (remember we're still running!!). Then, the Marine inside pulled the head off!!!!! And it was Jon, my Big Sis's boyfriend!! My mind/heart could rest at ease knowing that I was safe. He ran the rest of the race with me, with the bunny head on, and every person with a camera took a picture of us at the end of the race. So there's proof! I'll find one of those pictures and put it on here later.

Yesterday, I went to a charity crawfish boil. (Look at me and my philanthropic self) The March of Dimes was having a crawfish boil where for $20, you get 5lbs, corn, potatoes, and a drink. The boyfriend and I bought 10lbs. We ate 5 at the event and 5 back in my apartment. We waited around, eating the first 5, to see some friends of mine I knew were coming.

Also, yesterday was the day that the Union Board list for interviews got put up! My name was on the list and I'm pretty excited about it. I have an interview this Thursday (April 1st) and we'll see if I make Union Board.

That's all for now!

-Annie

EDITED to add the picture of PROOF!!!

Quick Update

I have been feeling sick off and on since Thursday. Let me just say that this is getting old pretty quickly. I'm taking all of my medicines, eating lots, drinking both water and Dr. Pepper, getting sleep, etc.... and yet, I feel sick daily. I called Mom and she thinks it's probably a sinus infection and the nausea is from sinus drainage, which is common for me. But another sinus infection? Ok sinusitis, I know you're there! No need to keep causing me problems! lol The only reason it doesn't feel like a normal sinus infection is that my nose isn't stuffy/runny. Maybe the headaches replaced the gross nose stuff. Not sure. All I know is it's bothersome. But there's no time to stop and go to the doctor yet. If it persists and/or gets worse, then I'll make time. But right now, I'm busy with school, social, sorority, spiritual, and sleep. The 5 S's.

I'll keep you posted.

-Annie

Post-Sinus Surgery annoyance

So after my sinus surgery (which was almost exactly a year ago), my sinuses were empty, happy, and not painful.

Now the headaches have returned. With a new annoyance- nose bleeds.

My first thought was that I had a growth spurt and I was in the nose-bleed range of height.... haha just kidding. But seriously...

...after surgery, I was told to do the sinus rinse twice a day plus Asteline and Veramyst. And I did for a while, but it got to the point where every time I would do the sinus rinse, I would get a nose bleed. Like, I would blow into a tissue after the rinse and where there should be green/clear stuff, it's all red, and a lot of it. This bothered me, so I stopped. I still do the rinse from time-to-time and I still get nose bleeds. I now also get nose bleeds randomly, like a few minutes ago when I coughed too hard. I'll wake up with them sometimes too. The sinus rinse produces pretty lengthy bleeds while coughing and other "random" ones are short lived.

I'm not sure what to do about this. Ignore the bleeds and keep going? I usually don't get anything else out of my sinuses because I get so freaked out, so I can't blow as hard. Do I stop and let my sinuses fill up again? I really don't want surgery again... I go to the doctor in about a month (already??!) so I'll ask then too, but if anyone has any advice, I'll gladly take it.

I still do the Veramyst regularly, and the Asteline "as needed" (which is what my doc told me to do last visit. It makes me really drowsy and dizzy for a minute or two.) but it doesn't feel like it's doing anything anymore. I'm using the Asteline more regularly in hopes that it will do something to help!

Leaky Nebs?!!

Is it just me or do all you CFers out there deal with the frustration of leaky nebulizers??! Seriously, it's driving me nuts. I can't tell you how many times I've been embarrassed to turn in homework because of the "water" droplets. Albuterol and TOBI are the worst with this. Time to discuss each one:

First, I want to start with the really cool travel compressor. It's not bad about leaking, but I just wanted to point out how awesome it is. Ta-da!

TOBI. Ugh, my least favourite . When it does the condensation thing, it drips from the blue flap. Otherwise, it leaks from the crease where the mouthpiece meets the "body", no matter HOW tight you make it.

So this one is a little different than the one I have, but not by much. It leaks where the top and bottom screw on. Sometimes, really badly. Like tonight. My other complaint is that they didn't make the piece where the tubing attaches long enough. Very vulnerable to the hosing popping off. Scares my puppy every time.

Not terrible, I don't think. I only have one of these. Seems pretty standard amount of leakage I guess, where the top screws on to the bottom.

This one is the WORST!! And I have a ton of them. But at the connection point of the top and bottom, it's a river of albuterol flowing out.

Sorry the picture is so small on this one. It's an older and the only picture I could find was this size! This neb, by far, is my favourite. It leaks very little, if at all, but is so much larger than the rest, it probably wasn't money-efficient to keep making them. And they take up a lot of room in my drawer of nebs. But it's a good 'un.

I wonder if it has something to do with the method of cleaning the clinic has told us to follow (based on what they said is CF regulations). Or if the manufacturer's have gotten lazy in design and figured a drop or two of medicine leaked isn't much? Or if the compressors we use now are too strong for the nebs? Who knows, but I will continue to set down a sheet of paper to catch the drips of medicine so I don't have to get a paper towel later....

-Annie