Overdue update

Well hello world!  It's been about two years since I've updated ... shame on me!  However, life has been busy, exciting, and I owe you an update.  Let's see if I can recap all that has happened.

Before I get there though: one of the reasons I stopped blogging was for fear of losing my job due to my "public" notices regarding my health.  That can't be any further from the truth at my job.  Not only is the company I work for supportive and caring, but the office I work in makes sure I am taking care of myself so I can continue to do my job to the best of my ability.  It's also a perk that our campus is 100% non-smoking.  No longer concerned!

Pics at the END of the post, some of them semi-graphic/gross blister pics-- just as a warning!!

HEALTH UPDATES:
Let's get the boring health updates out of the way first.  Then we can move on to life!
-Overall, doing well.

-Hospitalized summer of 2013.  Rashes, blisters, the usual.  I remember my dressing having to be changed multiple times, even in one day. Definitely NOT fun.

-Hospitalized late December of 2014, which of course is always no fun, especially around Christmas time.  Instead of the typical PICC, I got a midline to see if that would prevent the itching/blisters (see HERE for what I'm referencing).  I also prepped ahead of time by working with my father-in-law (what?! I'll get there) who was in contact with a 3M rep and got me samples of different dressings/tapes, etc.  A huge THANK YOU to the rep and 3M because what I did use was much nicer on my skin than what the hospital provides.  They also recently (in the last year or so) changed what PICCs are made out of, but I still went with a Midline.  Result: no major rashes and no blisters at all.  We changed a lot of things from the last visit, but it worked.  I can't say I like the Midline over the PICC though.  My line wouldn't draw blood so they had to set another IV very carefully in that arm to draw levels.  The Midline was much easier to put in though.  I'll have to make a decision for next go-around, whenever that may be.

-My CF doc and primary NP level the clinic.  It wasn't anything major political so everyone parted ways on good terms, but I'm sure going to miss them!  I go back to my clinic in Nov. to meet the interim doctor, so we'll see how that goes.

MAJOR LIFE UPDATES:
This is really what you've been waiting for anyways, right?
-11/9/2013: Andrew proposed to me.  It was as low key and sweet as I could have hoped for.  Long story short, we spent the weekend in our college town with some friends to watch a football game and see our bricks in the Alumni Walkway. Sunday morning before we went back home, we went to a park that we took walks in back in college.  He took me to a bench and proposed.  He was so nervous and it was precious.  Little sister Morgan was there to take pictures, of course, creeping from the bushes.  The whole thing was precious and apparently everyone knew ahead of time except me!  My parents were just waiting for me call at home, watching the clock.  I knew I didn't want the wedding to be far away so we called our wedding planner and set a few temporary dates.  Final date was set a few days later when we found out venue availability: March 29, 2014.

-During the short time between proposal and wedding, it's a blur.  An absolute wedding-planning filled blur.  My mom, who was not working at the time, did so much of the leg-work while I was sitting in the office.  There wasn't a single day that went by that wasn't at least partially dedicated to the wedding.  Without my mom, this wedding would not have been as perfect as it was.

-3/29/14: My wedding day!  It was held In the Round and couldn't have been more beautiful and perfect.  It was exactly what I wanted, dreamed about, and we worked to bring it to life.  So many special people helped pull it off (music, flowers, etc.) and we were surrounded by ~300 friends/family to help us celebrate.  It was wonderful. And most importantly.. I'm married to my best friend and better half.

-Soon after that we had a little one... a FLUFFY ONE! We got a Maltese puppy who we named Zoe
and she is a handful.  She was born 3/13/14 and she is a WILD ONE.  Stubborn, smart, and incredibly agile and athletic, she keeps me on my toes.  Couldn't have asked for a funnier pup with a bigger personality though.. she's a mess!

-Andrew and I lived in a rented townhouse for about a year.  He lived there since Oct 2013 and I moved in after our honeymoon cruise.  On February 27, 2015, we closed on a home!

-Current status: Andrew and a friend are remodeling our hall bathroom.  It's very loud, but I'm going back to work tomorrow (Happy Labor Day!) so I won't be here to listen to it.

RANDOM OTHER UPDATES:
Other things I feel like mentioning
-Andrew shot his finger with a nail gun.  I have a pic (see below) and it was a big deal for a little while.  He's got almost full ROM back now thankfully.  When the cold weather picks back up, we'll see if it still hurts him.

-I'm coaching soccer!  Last year (Oct 14-May 15) I assisted with a U14 girls team through our local soccer club.  They were also RPL (Regional Premier League) so we traveled a good bit.  This year, I'm assisting with a U17 girls team.

-We did a Spartan Race!  It was held in Austin, TX, in early November 2014.  Our team was me, Andrew, both of my brothers, and one of my sis-in-laws.  It was hard work but a lot of fun!  I posted some before/after pics below.

-I went to Vegas in Aug 2013 with little sister Morgan to celebrate her 21st birthday!  Since then she went a grew up on me.  She just completed her Masters Degree in Dublin, Ireland, and has since found a full-time job over there.  I'm incredibly proud, but miss her TONS. She just came back to visit for a bit.. yay!!



I think that's all for today!  Pictures below... sorry for the major gap!

 2013 Hospital Blister pics

 

Weekend of the Proposal!!

 

Spartan Race Nov. 2013

Wedding!!!

Zoe joins the Family!

Midline

Andrew's Injury

New Home/Car

Morgan comes to visit!!

Construction has begun..

 Thanks for catching up with me!

-A

Home IVs- Night #1

Hello all! I think I'm doing well keeping up with the blog while I have all this "spare time"! Tonight was my first night home on IVs in right about 2 1/2 years. Learning curve! Luckily it did all come back pretty easily. The only curve ball is that one IV that has to be hung from a bag on an IV pole. Honestly, I feel like a nurse having to set up an IV bag, but it's not really bad. I was nervous doing it the first time, just since it was new, but my home-health nurse wrote out step-by-step on how to do it and my sister-in-law, who learned it with me this afternoon, was walking through it with me. We had no problems and I feel confident now in doing it tomorrow morning. Luckily though, it's not my 5:30 dose!!

I'm doing treatment now, so late, because I spend most of my IV time in the den being social. I'm ok with staying up late to do treatment and getting up early to do IVs/treatment. I figure if I need to, I can grab a nap during one of my 2 breaks. But I did notice something: my motivation to take care of myself was reignited 10-fold during my hospital stay. I was reminded how WORTH IT it is to take care of myself every day so I don't have to go back to the hospital any time soon. It flew by, honestly, and I didn't suffer *too* much, so it wasn't a horrible experience. However, I wanted nothing more than to redeem myself, go home, and take care of myself. And it's a good thing I'm rejuvenated with this because right now, my medicines consume almost the entirety of my time awake during the day. From 5:30am-11pm (plus treatment if I do it after the IVs like I'm doing tonight). But my dear friends, hear me loud and clear...: IT IS 100% WORTH IT. I want to have my health and have my life and if I have to devote some time and pain and discomfort and frustration to GET more years added to my life, then so be it. I was blessed and cursed with this disease and I have to take the bad with the good, suck it up, and handle it with a smile. One of the best parts of my hospital stay was the many times I got to tell a nurse/doctor/RT/anyone how I haven't been in a hospital in over 2 years. Their reaction was motivational to me. I want it so much more than that. I want to boast about 5 years or 10 years. It sounds crazy, but I believe it's doable. But only if I don't get down about myself again.

****If you are reading this, and you hear me complain or read about me being down about having to take care of myself, please take this last post and rub it in my face until I remember what these 2 weeks felt like. Thanks!****

I'm also upping my Vest time from once a day for 15min to twice a day for 30min. I really don't like the Vest, so I'm proud of myself for this change. It will take some dedication and a little push from those closest to me, but I know I can stay with it. IT'S WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN.

While in the hospital, BORED, I stumbled upon a website that sends an email to your future self. I don't remember when mine will be delivered, maybe Nov of 2013, but I told myself how much I hated being stuck in the hospital and how I needed to do everything possible to stay out. Maybe I'll get that email at just the right time in my life...

Allergy update: so we're really still not sure what's causing this, but Sarah and I think it might be a combination somehow of the betadine and one of my medicines. We think this because the rash is almost completely only where the betadine was put on my arm, but it only flares/itches when I have IVs flowing. It's so weird. Either way, I have this prescription topical cream that did wonders for the itching this evening.

I think that's all for tonight. I know I still have yet to get pictures up, but I will soon. Just hang tight!

Thanks for reading, as always.
-Andrea

Hospital Days- Monday

Well!! This post is a lot different than I expected it to be, in a good way! I'm writing this from my couch at home!!!!!!!! (That sentence can't have enough exclamation points on the end of it) Y'all, I'm so excited to be home. So so so excited!!!! I now have my dog home from prison (boarded at the vet) and my afternoon dose of my IV drugs completed. I'm all over this, no problem.

We think I'm actually allergic to the betadine and iodine, not the dressing. But to be sure, we're going to keep using this new dressing and no use betadine/iodine anymore. I have some prescription cream that will help with the rash/itching thankfully.

I will get pictures of my medicines now that I'm home. 2 of them are the imploding balls and one is a bag I have to hang on an IV pole. I also have an extension on the line that allows me to do all of the IVs myself.

Ok I'll keep you updated since I'm just going to just be watching Netflix and playing cards with friends/family all week. Pictures coming soon!

-Andrea

Hospital- Quick Sunday Update

No real news here. Waiting to see the doctor on the results from the levels test again after they changed the dosage. My rash hasn't improved any. I think it may be getting worse....umm yep it's worse. And now even itchier!! At least I have hydro-cortizone cream to help.

Still hoping/praying I go home on Monday! I'll post updates when I have them, of course.

-Andrea

Hospital Stay- Saturday

I have developed a skin allergy to the clear dressing for the PICC line. So as of late last night and now still into Saturday, my eyes are puffy and my left arm (where the PICC is) is covered in red itchy bumps. They gave me benadryl last night and today but it's not helping too much. They also changed the dressing to a more cloth mesh dressing instead of the clear adhesive.


Allergy


New dressing

My tobra levels came back and they were too low. So instead of getting a tobramyacin does every 24 hours, I'm getting a dose every 8 hours. So now I have 8 antibiotic doses each day instead of only 6. They are going to check my levels again after 3 more doses and if they are good, I *might* be home by Monday afternoon, Tuesday for sure. If the levels still aren't good, I have to wait another 3 doses to try again. Each retry is two more needle sticks in my arm.

I'm getting a little homesick.

I was a specimen for the med students today. It's a learning hospital. I don't like that. It was a serious blow to my self-esteem today. After talking to Mom some, and getting a nice shower, I feel a little better.

I'm standing and walking as much as possible today. For instance, I'm standing up while typing this post. I'm so sick of being in that hospital bed. I know that it's not helping me get better, so I'm up and about now. Standing for about 10 minutes has already helped me feel like I can get through this feeling good about everything. I'm fighting.

-Andrea

Hospital Days- with some pictures!

Well these last few days sure have been eventful! Let's recap:

Wednesday, August 17, 2011
I was admitted on Wednesday and immediately had a peripheral IV put in my left arm. I was later started on the doses of my 3 antibiotics: Tobramyacin, Zyvox, and Fortaz (I'm mostly sure on these spellings!!). They are taken every 24 hours, 12 hours, and 8 hours, respectively. (6am, 8am, 2pm, 6pm, 8pm and 10pm) Oh boy am I going to be busy when I get home taking care of all of this! Other than getting moved in and settled, Wednesday was pretty quiet. Oh, I did have a chest X-ray taken too. I mentioned before that one major difference is the care that the RTs take with each patient doing treatment and hand CPT 3 times a day. So I spent my evening treatment being tag-teamed by two RTs beating me, and while I'm not yet again really used to hand CPT, it went well.


(The peripheral)

Thursday, August 18, 2011
Rise and shine at 4am thanks to a youngin' across the hall very unhappy about something. Did I mention I love being on the ped's floor?? No I really do, but that's the one downside... screaming babies!! Oh well. It's a small price to pay. I slept poorly until 5:30 when a familiar face walks in my door for morning CPT! Remember Gaelin, my friend from middle school, high school, and my freshman year roommate? Her brother-in-law is an RT up at this hospital so he came to visit/beat on me! It was quite a nice surprise and I was glad to see him. Around 9am, I was asked to move rooms! Turns out I was placed in the only available room that day and it has special equipment, so they like to keep that room open when possible. Mom had to work out of town on Thursday, so I thought I was going to be alone most of the day... boy was I wrong! Visitor after visitor after visitor! It was a ton of fun. Bad part of the day? Getting my PICC placed. It was so much simpler at the other hospital that I was spoiled! Here, I was a wreck. And post-PICC placement, I had to have a chest X-Ray again to check the placement. I was sick in that room due to stress, anxiety from the PICC procedure, and not eating enough that day. Luckily, I had one of my best friends waiting for me in my room when I got back. The right visitor will do wonders.... I also had a 3rd year med student drop by, an old friend too! He just happened to be doing his ped's rotation this week.
We were hoping that by my evening antibiotic doses, the radiology department would have been able to review my x-rays and I could have used the PICC, but the server was down (ahh, the digital age...) and so I had to use the peripheral again. It hurt, a lot. My veins were screaming, but with a little help from a friend, I made it through another dose. The late evening brought good news of using the PICC, so they flushed it and pulled my peripheral (YES!). I slept much better last night.


(the PICC)


Friday, August 19, 2011
I was awakened at 5:30 again by my same friend RT for my morning treatment. 6am meant antibiotics, but since I was using the PICC, it didn't hurt very much. Today has been very lazy and quiet, I've actually enjoyed it. After mom and I chatted with the case worker about getting home IVs set up, she went to work. I've spent the afternoon/early evening so far catching up on TV shows, writing this post (which is probably as long as my last several posts put together!), and veggin' out until my aunt gets here with my Buffalo Wild Wings dinner! No hospital food for me!!

My PICC pull date is set for Sept. 1 assuming my Tobra levels are good. They took the trough level at 2 and the peak level will be taken at 9. Prayers for the right numbers so I can go home on Monday! I miss my puppy and my house, even though I'll do there what I've been doing here: nothing. I'd rather do nothing at my house than at a hospital. Although I will say, as hospital experiences have gone, this one has been pretty smooth, and I'm so grateful.

Have any of you had the PICC with the two ports before? What's the point? Everyone I've asked just tells me "It's the exact same as the single one" so why the extra hardware? Just curious.

I'll keep you updated!
-Andrea

We have WiFi!

I knew there wouldn't be a surviving hospital without WiFi. Ta-da! An evening post.

I'm on 3 IV antibiotics this time instead of two and the current one is making my face tingle. Weird. I just looked it up and that is a side-effect, so I'm not worried. lol

This is a new hospital for me but it's working out really well. So far so good. They even have, get this, HAND CPT 3 times a day. I'm floored. I'm used to RTs dropping off a Vest and leaving. This is much better, medically. And the people have all been really nice.

My arm still hurts from my peripheral (I'll get a PICC later) so I don't want to type much.

Although I'll leave you with this: Fancy Jello


-Andrea

"When"

The "when" of my hospitalization has been decided: today! I'm glad to finally have a plan in place, it helps with my stress levels. Also, due to some already set plans, I will be more in charge of my home IVs than ever before. I know I can do this, so I'm not nervous.

I'm going to a different hospital than ever before, and I don't think this one has wifi (booo...) so plan A is not to take my computer with me. If they do have wifi, then Mom will bring it later. Either way, it's time to restart my "No IVs" stats from the 2 1/2 years I went without back to zero. I had a good run and planning this next run to be even longer than the last.

So if there is no wifi in my room, farewell for several days! If not, I'll post tonight probably!

Keep me in your thoughts/prayers if you don't mind. I need all the help I can get!

-Annie

First update-

Hospital and IVs are for sure. "When" is the question. Family meeting tonight. I'll let you know when I know when I'm going in for sure.

Thanks for everything dear friends.

-A

2 Years!

Dear friends,

It has been right about 2 years since I've been in the hospital. My last IVs (at this time) were for my sinus surgery/post-surgery pneumonia if you want to even count that as IV treatment. If not, then the last time for IVs was in NOVEMBER of 2008. WOW!!!

I just wanted to post that because it dawned on me today that the end of March was that milestone. How exciting!

Thought I would share in my excitement!

-Andrea

My trip to Austin,TX

The ride to Austin was a solid 6ish hours of reading. It was amazing. I have been reading The Lovely Bones, loaned to me by the roomie, and finally finished it a few days into my Austin stay. I highly recommend it. From page one, it held my attention. Since then, I picked up Vonnegut's The Cat's Cradle. I'm a Vonnegut fan, and it's very very Vonnegut. So I'm enjoying it too.

Let's talk about job-shadowing! I followed around people at the Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, TX, from Mon-Thurs and I saw many different types of physical therapy/occupational therapy (PT/OT). I will not be giving out details about what I saw, patient privacy, but I will just note that this is a trauma hospital: I saw some crazy stuff.

On Monday, I followed Jeff 2 as he was on the floater shift. That means I saw neuro patients (with spinal cord/brain injuries), wound care, and mobility PT.

On Tuesday, I followed Laura as she did her PT rounds in the ICU. At a trauma hospital, you can only imagine the things I saw. It was the most exciting day for sure.

On Wednesday, I followed Shannon in the morning and Sheila in the afternoon. Shannon does outpatient PT. So if you've ever broken a leg or something, you've seen a PT like Shannon. Sheila was an inpatient PT who did similar stuff like Shannon, but for those people still in the hospital.

On Thursday, I following Sara/Gina/Missy in the morning and Lisa in the afternoon. Sara/Gina/Missy are hand therapy OT. So if you injury your hand or have surgery on the elbow or lower, that's what these ladies specialize in. Lisa is an OT. Her job is to work with your injury/limitation/whatever and make it possible for you to once again function on day-to-day tasks. Brushing your teeth, putting on clothes, showering, etc.

One part of working in a safety net hospital in Texas is that a high percentage of the people they see speak Spanish as their first language. I loved listening to the translators or the broken English/Spanish mix in a conversation that people work around to get the job done. I worked with 2 translators (which was awesome) and then most of the other therapists knew broken Spanish to get points across.

I really enjoyed the ICU work, but I don't think I could do it as a career. It takes patience, a strong stomach, a cheery personality, the ability to remain calm in INSANE situations, and being okay with a lack of structure to your daily responsibilities and never know what's coming next. I really really really enjoying spending a day there, and I could spend a long time there, but as a career, maybe not. Who knows!

So far, I still would like to do outpatient PT (like Shannon). It's a calmer environment, for sure, and more structured with the "ok, this is my 9 o'clock person, she is my 10 o'clock, no one is scheduled for an 11 o'clock" etc.. However, I would still like to shadow a Sports Medicine PT if I have the opportunity. That's has the potential to be amazing.

Aside from work, I spent time with the family. One of the most fun parts was trivia night at Pluckers. The food wasn't bad, but the company/trivia was awesome. Sure helps my opinion that we WON! lol. Here is a picture of the trophy:

Yes, that is a picture of a "Baby Sith". The winner takes it home and adds on to it.

On a final note, I wanted to give thanks/kudos to Jeff, Leah, Spencer, Laura, Chase, Shannon, Georgina, Sheila, Edgar, Sara, Missy, Gina, Lisa, Eric, Brian, Frank, Patty, Dayne, Anjea, Amy and anyone else in the therapy department I missed who was so kind to me and allowed me to tag along, ask questions, and interrupt the normal flow of things. And the kudos is because you do amazing work and I applaud you.

-Annie

Good Friday

I'm up so early on a Friday off because I learned that I have an ENT appointment today to "finish the job." Uh oh. I know what means and I'm honestly a bit afraid. He's going to numb the inside of my nose (it's a WEIRD feeling, trust me) and then clean out all the gel packing and any dried . Oh yay. Not.

I mean, yes, it's good but I'm not looking forward to it at all. He said it would not take very long, a few minutes, but that's a few minutes toooooo looooooong!!! I'll let ya know how that goes.

The rest of Good Friday is up in the air, aside from the Good Friday service at my church. My whole Spring Break is up in the air. I mean, I've got a book to finish, some work to do in the lab, and a lab to write, but other than preparing for state science fair, my week is free. :]

I know I already posted this, but I'm so glad to be home... so glad to be back. I've never enjoyed school more than those last two days. I was so happy to just be back to my "normal" because being in the hospital is NOT my normal. And I missed normal.

-Andrea

Hello, setback.

QUOTE FROM LAST BLOG ENTRY:
"Parents and doctors both worried that I would catch pneumonia from just lying there all the time."

Dun dun duuuuuuuuun. Is that foreshadowing or WHAT? Guess who did end up getting pneumonia? Yep. Me.

Last Friday, the day after posting about how great I was feeling, seriously, 12 hours after I had posted that, I returned all the food I had eaten on Thursday to the porcelain shrine. It was a bad, bad day.

I spent from 9..ish until 4ish in the bed, crying, miserable, nauseated (or throwing up) with no relief. We even got some medicine for nausea, but it didn't work. Around 4 we realized I needed help so my parents rushed me up to the ER at Schumpert, where they had assured us there would be no wait. They lied. I sat in a chair for a good 15 or 20 minutes feeling like I was about to die. I was also denied at the children's ER, which had no wait. Once I was finally seen, it was discovered they my heart rate was 171, my blood pressure on the floor, I was EXTREMELY dehydrated, and I had a fever. Hmmm... thanks for making me sit and wait. I get wheelchaired to the triage where they were surprised to see I had a PICC line. "I was here 2 days ago, on peds." The nurses were glad to not have to try to find a vein on me!

After a few nurses come by and they got some fluids running through me, we finally see a familiar face: a guy we know from church is one of the ER doctors. He was as shocked as we were.

Five hours later, we are admitted into a hospital room. I had gotten an armband that said "511" so I knew I was going to be back on the pediatric floor again. YES. As I'm being wheeled away, someone asked what room I was going to. "511" "Oh no you're not. You're too old. 688 for you." What?! 2 days later I'm too old for the pedatric floor where I just WAS?? So I can't get continual care from the people who just took care of me? K.........

6th floor medical tower is no where near as comforting as the peds floor. But I guess that's more incentive to NOT return.... lol

As a side-note, a nurse on the peds floor is also the mom of a teammate, and one of my biggest fans. She printed out the "policy" on age limits for the peds floor. I am allowed to stay through my "entire eighteenth year." So technically, I really should have been on peds again..... but "change is hard, isn't it?" (rude receptionist told that to my mom on this floor)

I've enjoyed my company ranging from family members, to friends, to 4 grown men in tiaras and tulle skirts rapping to me, one of whom I'm proud to say is my father. :]

I just went and did PFTs (pulmonary function tests) and if they are stable still, and my chest X-ray shows improvement, I'm having my PICC line pulled and being shipped home tomorrow morning!!!! I hope that's the case because I'm really, really, REALLY tired of being here. Sad to say, but I'd rather be at school.

That's all for now. Signing off.

Recovery

Wow. Surgery Friday and here it is the Thursday after. Seeing as I slept most of this week away, I don't remember much. And what I do remember, mostly isn't pleasant. Thursday night, my arm was hurting from the PICC line so I took some Dilaudid. Little did I know I was allergic. Worst night of my life but glad I found out then instead of after surgery when they would have given me a much greater dose!!

Up until the last day or so, I've been dru.gged up on pain meds and nausea meds trying to manage both. I hardly ate, moved, or enjoyed my day. Basically, recovery was 100000x harder than I thought it would be. Because of all the meds, I didn't eat. Because I didn't eat, I felt sick. Because I felt sick, I wouldn't move nor eat. Etc etc etc. Parents and doctors both worried that I would catch pneumonia from just lying there all the time. But I would be very dizzy when I sat up, so I felt discouraged to move. It was a HORRIBLE recovery filled with pain, sickness, dizziness, overheating, and night sweats. One evening I even spiked a fever but sweated it out by the next hour.

But now I'm home after a week in the hospital. Here, I'm more inclined to walk around and eat, which in-turn quickens my recovery. I go back to the doctor on Monday to get the PICC taken out and then for my surgeon to "finish the job"...... Oh boy.

So far, the only difference I've noticed is my lack of tolerance for spicy foods. :[ That was my claim to fame! I won't feel 100% better until I go see my ENT again on Monday. I'll let ya know how that one goes...

Today I ate my first FULL meal since last Thursday (before surgery). YAY!

I'll keep updating as exciting things happen.

-Andrea

Oh the Irony

I go into the hospital feeling fine. I leave feeling like crap. Ooooh the irony. Is this something I picked up from the hospital? There were very ill children in the rooms surrounding me. All it took was one germ crawling across the hall, under my door, and onto ANYTHING that I drank, ate, or took via IVs. Or is this something I picked up from the boyfriend? He's been sick too. Or did he get it from me? Or did HE get it from the hospital when he visited me? OR is it my sinus infection gone bad? The world may never know.

Regardless, the end result: I'm sick. How can someone on IV antibiotics get sick?? Not sure, but I did. lol. Naturally. :P

Stuffy nose, hacky and chesty cough, tired, and dizzy on occasions. Everyone says that sleep is the key but with these IVs, sleep is still inevitable. Sure, I get more sleep at home than I did in the hospital, seeing as no one is checking my vitals every hour, but sleep is still interrupted. And I'm REALLY tired of being couped up in the house, which isn't helping anything. Getting anxious. asdkjhgakldkjf.

I know it sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm not trying to. More of just commenting to myself on my blog. Keeping a personal record of my health and noting the inevitability and irony of my staying sick until my IV comes out. But, to make things EVEN more interesting, if my PFTs are worse than before I got the PICC put in, then the PICC stays in. That would not be optimum in my personal opinion. We shall see.

We shall see.

-Andrea

This was the PICC when I had it put in. It look a little different now but the same idea.

Homeward-Bound

Finally! I'm on the afternoon dosage of my antibiotics right now and then I'm going home! :D I'll miss the nurses here, but I'll be glad to be home. No more Room 521!

-Annie

The Adventures of Room 521

Day 1:

I had to wait until 2:40 to get my PICC line put in, but it's in. And I did it without any mind-altering to calm me down. I'm *really* proud of myself. I just took my iPod with me to the radiology room and listened to the guys jokes while putting it in. It went well.

I had quite a number of visitors today. That always makes me happy. And I got 2 of the IV treatments in yesterday. My arm was pretty sore but that was expected. I took some ibuprofen and went on with my day.

Overall, everything was fine. My day was a little stressful and nerve-racking, but we're ok now! :]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 2:
How is ANYONE suppose to get better in a hospital if they can't get any sleep?? lol I mean really. People in all through the night checking oxygen levels and temperatures. Really people, I'm fine. I promise. I came into the hospital feeling fine and I'll leave that way too.

Chris has a fever so he won't be back today. :[ I appreciate his efforts on not getting me sick, but I'll still miss him.

The word is that I'll be out Wednesday afternoon. YAY! That means back to school on Thursday and Friday.

Today has been pretty mellow. Oh! But my arm doesn't really hurt anymore. It did when I used it a lot to pull my hair back and when I dried it after my shower, but in general, it doesn't hurt at all. That's more good news. :]

Lunch is here. The food here isn't bad. Yay Sutton's!

-Andrea

:]

Silver Lining and a Frustration

I like to think there is a silver lining to all situations. To mine at the moment? I get *2* weeks for Thanksgiving break, not just 1. :]

Soccer started today. While we may have had little (or no...) competition, I am glad to be BACK!

Ah, so I went to an Eagle Scout ceremony today for two guys, Alex and Kendall. Late into the reception, I had a panic attack. These things hit me when I think too much. I was hit with the reality that I was about to be admitted into the hospital again in 2 days. WHAT? No way. I was just running with my team this morning. There has got to be a mistake. Are we sure we have the right Andrea? Yep. No mistake.
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On the car ride home from the ceremony (Chris drove me) I ranted a bit. First time I went into the hospital was because I kinda gave up on life and just didn't take care of myself. These last two times I have more trouble accepting... it's just very upsetting when it feels like I'm being *punished* for something I didn't do. I didn't do this to myself. I didn't give myself this disease. I have taken care of myself. But it's not good enough. It's just frustrating when even when I'm doing everything right, stuff still goes wrong.
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Other than that, I'm growing more nervous by the day. Worry does nothing good for you, but I can't seem to calm down. Seriously, what am I so afraid of?! I honestly believe I'm more worried about the emotional stress than actual pain. There is a great deal of both, but I have a harder time handling emotional stress. And then the stress of making up a weeks worth of homework... and the stress of not being there to run with my team because I'm couped up in a hospital room. And the fact that people feel sorry for me!! I don't handle that well either! Don't pity me. That is the LAST thing I want. It makes me feel worse, actually. Empathy is fine, but support is better. Looking PAST the fact that I've got a PICC line in or an illness and seeing *ME*. Yes, I'm in a hospital getting antibiotics. No, I'm not those kids you see in the biology text book where I'm hooked up to 20 machines and passed out like I'm about to die. I'M STILL ME.

Oh there I go ranting again. That's just me being nervous... :/

-Andrea