Well, I'm still in hospital which is marvelous. Finally got a long line in today after 3 venflons - 1 of which is still in incase the line fails, but it's in my left hand which is just inconvenient. The Drs have been taking huge advantage of the fact that I'm in and have been catching up on things that they've been meaning to do.
Tummy packed up again after 2 days off klean prep so had gastrografin on Monday which seems to be working, but I'm also taking movicol twice a day, so who knows! My OGTT showed that my glucose tolerance is impaired. Bit miffed, but nevermind!! Still waiting to speak to the diabetes team to see what they want to do. I've not been eating much and for the first time in donkeys my weight is falling, but not by a great deal.Down 1.5kg in a week though so if it keeps up I'll be getting into bother. I'm sure once I'm home and eating properly again it'll go back on as my weight's still totally healthy so we're not worried.
Hopefully I'll be out by the weekend but just need to see how the old tum holds up and the IV access. Hate feeling like a pin cushion and the bloody tobramycin is the sorest thing in the world to put through a vein...why do they use it as first choice? :(
No London at the weekend :(:(:( Dr MacG said he's definitely not letting me go which is just poopy, but I can see why he'd say that.
On a positive note, I have an interview next Thursday! Woo!! Basically the same job as I do now but with contracted hours and as a result, sick pay! I've had to cancel 2 weeks of work to come in here and that means I'm losing 2 weeks of wages that I can't afford not to have...god only knows where my rent is coming from. Even if I was on home IVs the full 2 weeks, there's no way I could go into my work with a line/venflon in...even if I had a port I wouldn't go, it's far too dangerous and risky.
Enough is enough! Hope everyone else is doing well :) x
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
hospital
Can't believe it! After 13 years free I have pseudo. I'm not moaning, as I am extremely grateful to have had so much time free of IVs, but it was a major shock to be told. I must've looked like I was gonna cry or fall over cause Dr McG looked a bit worried lol, but he was really nice about it, punted me off to X-ray and then up to the ward. He also gave me a bit of a row cause I didn't phone and let them know I was having chest pains, especially the kind that are worse on inhalation...woops! I just figured it was probs cause I was a blocked up and that I'd just wait a week and tell them at clinic, but he wasn't impressed. I won't be making that mistake again anyway cause the pain is originating where my lung is clogged, so at least now I know it's def lung pain and that it's cause of infection.
I'm on IV tobramycin and ceftazidime...yuck. Then I'm gonna be on 3 months of neb colomycin and an oral, which I can't remember the name of, but hopefully that'll shift it. I've had them all before so at least I know they've worked for me. I'm a bit annoyed that they'd known since May that I had grown pseudo and that nobody had contacted me and I've obviously been feeling worse in the 2 months...nevermind, I'm to blame too cause I didn't bother phoning. I've also finally been started on hypertonic saline neb. About time!! It definitely makes a difference.
I did my own IVs yesterday morning and will be doing them again from Monday so that I can hopefully be home by Thursday *fingers crossed*. I didn't expect that they'd let me do them seen as it's the first time I've had them at the adult service, but I know they're always desperate for beds and it means I can go home! I'm not impressed with the venflon cause it still hurts, but the nurse who checked it reckons it's still ok.
I also had more kleanprep, which was lovely, as always. Hate the stuff, although the taste is kinda growing on me...does that mean I get it too often? lol. I have virtually no appetite which is fun cause the smell of the food makes me wanna boke. Fortunately it tastes like the food at work, and I'm used to eating that crap, so I can manage something. I always make sure I eat anyway cause I know I have to.
Anyway, all that medical nonsense aside, I'm meant to be going to James' sister Ashley's graduation on Friday, in London. That means if I'm out I will need to take sharps etc on a plane...does anybody know the deal with that?
I can't think of anything else to say just now, it's been all go since Thursday and I'm shattered/head's up my bum!!
Hope everybody else is well :) x
I'm on IV tobramycin and ceftazidime...yuck. Then I'm gonna be on 3 months of neb colomycin and an oral, which I can't remember the name of, but hopefully that'll shift it. I've had them all before so at least I know they've worked for me. I'm a bit annoyed that they'd known since May that I had grown pseudo and that nobody had contacted me and I've obviously been feeling worse in the 2 months...nevermind, I'm to blame too cause I didn't bother phoning. I've also finally been started on hypertonic saline neb. About time!! It definitely makes a difference.
I did my own IVs yesterday morning and will be doing them again from Monday so that I can hopefully be home by Thursday *fingers crossed*. I didn't expect that they'd let me do them seen as it's the first time I've had them at the adult service, but I know they're always desperate for beds and it means I can go home! I'm not impressed with the venflon cause it still hurts, but the nurse who checked it reckons it's still ok.
I also had more kleanprep, which was lovely, as always. Hate the stuff, although the taste is kinda growing on me...does that mean I get it too often? lol. I have virtually no appetite which is fun cause the smell of the food makes me wanna boke. Fortunately it tastes like the food at work, and I'm used to eating that crap, so I can manage something. I always make sure I eat anyway cause I know I have to.
Anyway, all that medical nonsense aside, I'm meant to be going to James' sister Ashley's graduation on Friday, in London. That means if I'm out I will need to take sharps etc on a plane...does anybody know the deal with that?
I can't think of anything else to say just now, it's been all go since Thursday and I'm shattered/head's up my bum!!
Hope everybody else is well :) x
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
6 week update
Today I went to see my CHIP (East Ayrshire Council health scheme) person, Jack, who took various readings to assess how I'm getting on since I started at the gym. It was all positive, but thought I'd put my figures down in writing so I can look back at them next time:
weight - down from 56kg to 55.4kg, still gives me a BMI of 25.3, so no worries there!
blood pressure - down to 109/79, can't remember what it was last time, but it was 131/?
body fat - down from 26.1% to 24%, which is good apparently
"metabolic age" - down from 17 to 15.
He mentioned that my visceral fat (fat on the abdomen) is good too, but I got a bit lost and didn't end up with a figure for that. At least I know it's good. And apparently I'm very well hydrated for a female. Nice.
All in all, a positive visit, but my trip to the gym afterwards wasn't so hot. I pushed myself on the treadmill, and then burned out lol. I did 3.5k on the treadmill, doing 5 minutes jog/run then 5 minutes walking etc, then only managed 10 minutes on the cross-trainer before deciding I couldn't do anymore and had a stretch then a shower (BLISS!). I went to Asda after that to get stuff for dinner and had to go back to the car to have a bit of a lung clearout, which must've been why I tired so quickly at the gym, cause normally I can manage a lot more than what I did.
Anyway, can't complain, I still did well :)
weight - down from 56kg to 55.4kg, still gives me a BMI of 25.3, so no worries there!
blood pressure - down to 109/79, can't remember what it was last time, but it was 131/?
body fat - down from 26.1% to 24%, which is good apparently
"metabolic age" - down from 17 to 15.
He mentioned that my visceral fat (fat on the abdomen) is good too, but I got a bit lost and didn't end up with a figure for that. At least I know it's good. And apparently I'm very well hydrated for a female. Nice.
All in all, a positive visit, but my trip to the gym afterwards wasn't so hot. I pushed myself on the treadmill, and then burned out lol. I did 3.5k on the treadmill, doing 5 minutes jog/run then 5 minutes walking etc, then only managed 10 minutes on the cross-trainer before deciding I couldn't do anymore and had a stretch then a shower (BLISS!). I went to Asda after that to get stuff for dinner and had to go back to the car to have a bit of a lung clearout, which must've been why I tired so quickly at the gym, cause normally I can manage a lot more than what I did.
Anyway, can't complain, I still did well :)
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
best workout!
I have an ultrasound on my kidneys a week today. Checking for kidney stones as far as I'm aware. If there's nothing there then goodness only knows what the deal is with the UTIs, but I've started taking cranberry tablets on the advice of the urologist, so maybe that'll help :)
I had the best workout today! I couldn't run as I'm unsure what I've done with my ankle supports, so I took to the cross-trainer again instead. Cue 40 minutes on an aerobics programme followed by a scarlet face and me collapsing onto a chair with dead legs and struggling to breathe...it was well worth it though, and what's more is I really enjoyed the programme. Normally I find the cross-trainer quite boring and only do 10 minutes, if anything, on it, so I was highly impressed. All I'll add to that is that going backwards on it is KILLER. I don't think I've ever had such a serious burning pain in my thighs and calves...I'll admit that I had to swear my way through that part of the programme ha.
The weekend is shaping up to the quite good. James and I have go karting on Saturday for a friends birthday, and maybe a couple of drinks or something afterwards, then Sunday is world cup final day which means a BBQ at another friends house. That will inevitably turn into a party but I have to drive to thatas I'm working 11 - 7 on Monday, so no drinking. I can't do the whole "going to work with a hangover" thing...doesn't work for me.
Last week I spent a lot of time at my friend Claire's house as she just had a baby. Little Molly is just so cute! James managed to hold her without dropping her haha. Apart from that, things are just going on as normal, nothing exciting to talk about. As always, I hope everybody else is well and sending you all some love x
I had the best workout today! I couldn't run as I'm unsure what I've done with my ankle supports, so I took to the cross-trainer again instead. Cue 40 minutes on an aerobics programme followed by a scarlet face and me collapsing onto a chair with dead legs and struggling to breathe...it was well worth it though, and what's more is I really enjoyed the programme. Normally I find the cross-trainer quite boring and only do 10 minutes, if anything, on it, so I was highly impressed. All I'll add to that is that going backwards on it is KILLER. I don't think I've ever had such a serious burning pain in my thighs and calves...I'll admit that I had to swear my way through that part of the programme ha.
The weekend is shaping up to the quite good. James and I have go karting on Saturday for a friends birthday, and maybe a couple of drinks or something afterwards, then Sunday is world cup final day which means a BBQ at another friends house. That will inevitably turn into a party but I have to drive to thatas I'm working 11 - 7 on Monday, so no drinking. I can't do the whole "going to work with a hangover" thing...doesn't work for me.
Last week I spent a lot of time at my friend Claire's house as she just had a baby. Little Molly is just so cute! James managed to hold her without dropping her haha. Apart from that, things are just going on as normal, nothing exciting to talk about. As always, I hope everybody else is well and sending you all some love x
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
fitness
Just a small update, not a great deal to say if I'm honest.
I'm still working on trying to get my fitness up, but combinations of bloating, not being able to go to the toilet and painful joints are making it harder work than it needs to be! Today I went to the gym as normal, but my ankles have been sore for a few days, and it was absolutely impossible to run through it, so that plan was dashed in an instant and I resorted to walking on an incline and using the cross-trainer. Thought I had a chest infection coming on the other day, was really productive at work (which never happens) and absolutely exhausted with a pounding headache, but the 12 hour sleep I had seems to have made it disappear...fingers crossed lol. It was entertaining trying to bring stuff up in a discreet manner...the boaking and stuff kinda gave it away though...lovely!
My appetite and eating habits are a bit shot to pieces...seem to be managing to miss breakfast every day, and either eat lunch or dinner, not both...ARGH!
I just have to blow my own trumpet for a minute, forgive me, but I made an amazing pot of chicken and rice soup, I'm so proud.
Anyway, keeping it short and sweet, and I'm not feeling moany or anything of that manner, so I'll leave it at that.
I'm still working on trying to get my fitness up, but combinations of bloating, not being able to go to the toilet and painful joints are making it harder work than it needs to be! Today I went to the gym as normal, but my ankles have been sore for a few days, and it was absolutely impossible to run through it, so that plan was dashed in an instant and I resorted to walking on an incline and using the cross-trainer. Thought I had a chest infection coming on the other day, was really productive at work (which never happens) and absolutely exhausted with a pounding headache, but the 12 hour sleep I had seems to have made it disappear...fingers crossed lol. It was entertaining trying to bring stuff up in a discreet manner...the boaking and stuff kinda gave it away though...lovely!
My appetite and eating habits are a bit shot to pieces...seem to be managing to miss breakfast every day, and either eat lunch or dinner, not both...ARGH!
I just have to blow my own trumpet for a minute, forgive me, but I made an amazing pot of chicken and rice soup, I'm so proud.
Anyway, keeping it short and sweet, and I'm not feeling moany or anything of that manner, so I'll leave it at that.
Friday, 18 June 2010
running etc.
Or should I change that to "trying to run etc"
I'm no good at running. I can walk well but often get breathless when trying to talk, so you can imagine me trying to jog never mind run lol. I think it's mainly because I've become rather unfit over the last couple of years as opposed to lung function cause my FEV1 was over 100% at last visit. Either way, I can't run!! I'm getting better each time I try but it's gonna take a long time. On my first solo excursion to the gym I managed 2 minutes at 7.5km/h and I was DYING! I could not have felt less fit lol. Next time I got up to 3 minutes and felt a lot better, and then I made it up to 5 minutes but by that stage I was really pushing it and I thought I was gonna have a youtube moment and collapse on the treadmill lol. I forced myself through the last minute, which maybe wasn't a good idea, cause my legs were like jelly and my heart rate was over 170...but hey ho, gotta get there somehow. I'm making up for it today cause my legs are in absolute agony and I'm knackered. Lets hope that the last 3 visits haven't been in vain and I can get to the 4/5 minute mark again on Monday.
I've been getting palpitations again a few hours after each gym session, but no point in worrying about them cause apparently my heart is fine. I also read something today which suggested that a lot of nasal drainage can cause palpitations cause it drains into the lungs and they have a little spasm which knocks the heart, which then has it's own little spasm...who knew! If it's true, that is. I do have a stupid amount of nasal drainage.
I went to my old school's summer concert tonight. It was my sisters last one, and she's the last in the family! My mum has been a proud parent and supporter for 13 years, I think she's more upset about it than Sarah is lol. Anyway, how times change! It's nothing like what it was when I was in the band/choir. We had spotlights and PA systems and it was on for 2 nights and you couldn't get tickets they sold so quickly...tonight the hall wasn't even half full and there was only 1 singer and she never even got a mic. I was seriously shocked cause they were all brilliant and the wind band sounded great. They've started doing school shows again though so everyone goes to see them instead and the band concert is just a last minute thing. I feel bad for the kids, not getting the utterly amazing experience that I had. I lived and breathed the band throughout my whole time in school, and loved every concert. I loved singing solos and playing solo piano pieces and being in the wind band was awesome! We went to Florida and I sang in the 3 choirs. We played in the Royal Concert Hall and travelled all over playing in competitions and festivals. I just think it's a shame for all the kids who are talented and could get somewhere with music...they are missing out on so much! Needless to say, big Nige, our conductor, isn't at the school any more, and the head teacher always hated the band. Nige was a scary man, but he was amazing at his job and I cried when I left the band lol...but then I was always a total music geek!
It occurred to me the other day that no matter what I eat, or how much I eat, I bloat after it. I'm sick of this bloated, gassy tummy and want it to stop!! I'm also wantin to cut out my tongue so that I don't have to feel it all coated and drying up on me all the time lol. I can't really complain about those silly little things though, there are much worse things in this world than a fat belly and dry tongue.
I'm no good at running. I can walk well but often get breathless when trying to talk, so you can imagine me trying to jog never mind run lol. I think it's mainly because I've become rather unfit over the last couple of years as opposed to lung function cause my FEV1 was over 100% at last visit. Either way, I can't run!! I'm getting better each time I try but it's gonna take a long time. On my first solo excursion to the gym I managed 2 minutes at 7.5km/h and I was DYING! I could not have felt less fit lol. Next time I got up to 3 minutes and felt a lot better, and then I made it up to 5 minutes but by that stage I was really pushing it and I thought I was gonna have a youtube moment and collapse on the treadmill lol. I forced myself through the last minute, which maybe wasn't a good idea, cause my legs were like jelly and my heart rate was over 170...but hey ho, gotta get there somehow. I'm making up for it today cause my legs are in absolute agony and I'm knackered. Lets hope that the last 3 visits haven't been in vain and I can get to the 4/5 minute mark again on Monday.
I've been getting palpitations again a few hours after each gym session, but no point in worrying about them cause apparently my heart is fine. I also read something today which suggested that a lot of nasal drainage can cause palpitations cause it drains into the lungs and they have a little spasm which knocks the heart, which then has it's own little spasm...who knew! If it's true, that is. I do have a stupid amount of nasal drainage.
I went to my old school's summer concert tonight. It was my sisters last one, and she's the last in the family! My mum has been a proud parent and supporter for 13 years, I think she's more upset about it than Sarah is lol. Anyway, how times change! It's nothing like what it was when I was in the band/choir. We had spotlights and PA systems and it was on for 2 nights and you couldn't get tickets they sold so quickly...tonight the hall wasn't even half full and there was only 1 singer and she never even got a mic. I was seriously shocked cause they were all brilliant and the wind band sounded great. They've started doing school shows again though so everyone goes to see them instead and the band concert is just a last minute thing. I feel bad for the kids, not getting the utterly amazing experience that I had. I lived and breathed the band throughout my whole time in school, and loved every concert. I loved singing solos and playing solo piano pieces and being in the wind band was awesome! We went to Florida and I sang in the 3 choirs. We played in the Royal Concert Hall and travelled all over playing in competitions and festivals. I just think it's a shame for all the kids who are talented and could get somewhere with music...they are missing out on so much! Needless to say, big Nige, our conductor, isn't at the school any more, and the head teacher always hated the band. Nige was a scary man, but he was amazing at his job and I cried when I left the band lol...but then I was always a total music geek!
It occurred to me the other day that no matter what I eat, or how much I eat, I bloat after it. I'm sick of this bloated, gassy tummy and want it to stop!! I'm also wantin to cut out my tongue so that I don't have to feel it all coated and drying up on me all the time lol. I can't really complain about those silly little things though, there are much worse things in this world than a fat belly and dry tongue.
Monday, 14 June 2010
10k and then some
I signed up for the Great Scottish Run 10k. Feel slightly more insane every time I say it lol, but I really need a goal to motivate me into the gym. I'm sure I would go to the gym anyway, I'm gonna be writing it into my diary each week, but having a proper goal and raising money at the same time will make it even more worthwhile.
I also started the hypertonic saline sinus neb again today cause my sinuses are like a non stop stream of grossness. Had a little bit of blood but I think it might be more to do with it making me blow my nose more and it putting pressure on the blood vessels, as opposed to the saline causing irritation...but I could be wrong. Lisa (physio) said it should be ok to go ahead with it again but I've stayed off the nasonex. It's rubbish anyway.
I have the dentist today too. I've been trying to get there since February so didn't hesitate to cancel todays shift when I got the appointment through lol. A wee day off is nice too, but having said that, after tomorrow I'm off (Daldorch) for a week, but I'll need to phone Moorpark and try for weekend nights I think. The money and the fact that James is nights there at the weekend will make it easier to force myself to do it. Hate nights though :(
I also started the hypertonic saline sinus neb again today cause my sinuses are like a non stop stream of grossness. Had a little bit of blood but I think it might be more to do with it making me blow my nose more and it putting pressure on the blood vessels, as opposed to the saline causing irritation...but I could be wrong. Lisa (physio) said it should be ok to go ahead with it again but I've stayed off the nasonex. It's rubbish anyway.
I have the dentist today too. I've been trying to get there since February so didn't hesitate to cancel todays shift when I got the appointment through lol. A wee day off is nice too, but having said that, after tomorrow I'm off (Daldorch) for a week, but I'll need to phone Moorpark and try for weekend nights I think. The money and the fact that James is nights there at the weekend will make it easier to force myself to do it. Hate nights though :(
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