Sick-- first time in forever

I was so excited because I made it through all of winter without getting sick! I knew it had to return sooner or later.

I started a 2 week round of oral antibiotics with a refill if I'm still not feeling better. I'm also already scheduled to go to clinic in 1 week, so pretty good timing there, Mr. Sinus Infection!

However, it has left me pretty drained, making my 8am classes 4-days a week kinda difficult. I'm doing the best I can!

Life has been full lately which is why the blog has, yet again, been put on the back-burner. Sorry 'bout that.

And I hate to call it a day this early, but I've got some studying to do. Just keeping the world updated on my life!

More updates after clinic at least!
-Annie

Gut problems

These last few days have been really rough on my gut. Remember those stomach problems I have? The stricture in my colon? Yeah, well it gives me problems sometimes and these last few days have been rough. Today while I tried to cook dinner (because I needed to eat despite feeling sick), there were times when I had to crumple up on the floor in pain for a few seconds while the worst of it passed. I'm still doing that now, sometimes curling up and sometimes stretching out. I'm really not sure what makes to decide to curl vs. stretch, but neither really help or hurt, but it makes me feel like I'm doing something. I didn't finish my dinner, but I did get about half of it in before calling it quits. I was dreading doing my Vest this evening, with all of the stomach pain/nausea, when I remembered that I did (what I thought was) an extra Vest session this afternoon!! So yay for trying to be a get-ahead patient and ending up solving that problem before I knew I had one.

Mom refills my pill box when I'm home (yay!) and it looks much less intimidating now that we've gotten rid of a few pills. I've also, at the recommendation of one of the CF doctors at clinic, replaced the NeilMed saline sinus rinse with an Ocean Spray. I used the Ocean Spray right after my sinus surgery so I remember it from before, but never thought of using one over the other. I mentioned my nose-bleeds after using the NeilMed and how discouraging that made rinsing and hoped for a solution. We'll see if this is it!

Treatment is done, I'm so tired and maybe a good night's sleep will make my gut feel better... that's sometimes the case.

-Annie

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!

Weekend!!

It's Friday folks and that means the weekend is starting!! I haven't been feeling too great today, but hopefully that will pass in the next hour or so. I have a party tonight!! It's a gi.rls-PJ-game night-party at one of my sorority sister's apartment. It's going to be fun! I can't wait. Hopefully I'll be feeling at the top of my game!

I went swimming on Tuesday! I'm pretty proud of myself. I'm also going tomorrow morning (ugh) and hopefully will start working out with the boyfriend and his friends regularly. They go to the gym MWF and swimming TR. Whew. 5 days of workout, but it's what I need! So, swimming. I started swimming a little bit when I had to quit suddenly thanks to that chlorine burn. And not the usual burn that last a few seconds. Oh no. This was chlorine that decided to explore every nook and cranny of my sinuses. It BURNED. So I stopped swimming for a bit and ran in the water, which is way harder than it sounds. While the guys swam laps, I ran the same distance trying to beat them. In the end, I tried swimming again and it wasn't so bad. Hopefully it will work out.

My gym days will be spent running and either doing weights or machines or both. And then abs. I would love to have the toned body I had last year, and all during my high school soccer seasons. I've lost a significant amount of muscle, and I h.ate that. I also h.ate my lost of lung capacity. I was right about these kines classes getting me motivated. It's just what I needed!

Once I get my routine set and I'm actually sticking to it, I'll update here again on it.

-Annie

Sinuses Vs. Annie

Guess who's winning...

They are kil.ling me right now! Today was initiation and I had a headache the whole time. :[ It was still wonderful though.

Oh, and last night... ooooh last night. 3 or 4 times between 2-4am, I got up and ran to the bathroom because I thought I was going to throw up. Every time I prayed to God to not let me throw up because I h.ate it and I couldn't be sick for initiation. I had to be there. Eventually I drifted back to sleep until I few minutes before my alarm went off so I got up anyway.

My mom brought albuterol!!! About to do a treatment now. I don't feel like I need it (not coughing a bunch, not short of breath) but I know I need it for the long-term affects.

Love,
One of Sigma Kappa's newest Actives. :]

And now I'm sick...

This is just fantastic. I'm sick now, and it's not even what the boyfriend has. I just picked up something completely different at the same time. klasdjalkxf!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not a really bad sick, but it came at the wrong time. I woke up the morning with a raw throat and a stopped up nose. I've been coughing like crazy for the past few days but blamed it not on being sick but on my 60% lung functions. Unfortunately, it came right as I ran out of albuterol. Yep. I'm out. Isn't that great?? Thursday night I realized I only had 3 vials left. I used one for that night, Friday morning, and then Saturday morning, trying to stretch it out. My mom is coming to town on Sunday and I've requested multiple times for her to bring me some, so I'm pretty sure she will. If we have some at home.

Also, I have initiation into my sorority tomorrow (the reason my mom, my aunt, and my grandmother are driving in) which is a whole day event and I *cannot* be sick. Grrr!!!!!!

-Annie

Post-Christmas Update

I keep learning of more and more people who read this blog. Neat. Hi!

Christmas is over and New Years is merely days away. But before that, on Sunday, is the INDEPENDENCE BOWL! (Can you tell I'm pumped?) I'm sure I'll have pictures from that later.

Our soccer team had a captain's practice today. So Alissa and I led a Brazilian run (death) and then we ran steep hills. I did alright. I ran a mile the other day and it's definitely a weakness of mine. I've never been good at distance running. I'll sprint all day long, but distance is my kryptonite.

Oh! But this morning, before practice, started off with a nice breakfast with Alissa. We chatted about everything from my family to dogs and everything in between. And after practice the team all went to lunch. It was a great bonding experience. :]

I have a positive health update!! Finally, I'm getting some relief in my sinuses. FINALLY. The sinuses that are right below my eyes, esp. the one on my right, no longer hurt. They feel empty. I'm so so happy!

That's all for now, I think.

-Andrea

Proof is Bliss

Ahh what a wonderful feeling knowing that all of your sickness truly ISN'T because of your lungs but your sinuses! They knew my sinuses were *horrible* but I was worried that there was something going on with my lungs yesterday. But after 45 minutes of the Vest last night (YES, 45 MINUTES!) I made my diagnoses that my lungs are clear, as usual. Hooray. :]

We announce the soccer teams tomorrow morning! The returning Varsity seniors (all 9 of us) made the posters this evening and will duct tape them to the big wall in the morning. I'm so thrilled. A few people will be very surprised tomorrow!!

So, a game against another local soccer team has been scheduled for Thursday. I am not ok with this. That means I either miss out on the first real game of the season or I play the field instead of being in the goal. I can't play goalie with a PICC line in! However, if I wrap it really well, I can play on the field. If I am out of the hospital by Thursday evening, which I should be, I will go play. Like I said, nothing will stop me!

Alright. I feel Chemistry calling me again. *sigh*

-Andrea