October 22, 2007

• Monday Update

  I have to pick up Luci from daycare, soon.  I keep intending to stay with my blogging daily, but life gets in the way.  I will type very fast to try to get-in all the news and then pray my spell check catches my errors!

  I spent all of this morning in a "new" doctor's office.  I really liked him.  His office is literally around the corner from me, and his charges are extremely reasonable.

  I still haven't been feeling (in my opinion) "well enough" and, after my doctor suddenly raised his rate (doubled it) at my last visit, I felt it was time to seek another physician's opinion.  I've had some scary thoughts (mainly along the lines of something being fatally wrong with me) and decided to seek the advice of Stephanie's doctor. 

  I got there at 9:30am today and left his office a little after noon.  Nice reception staff, nice doctor, nice nurse, nice lab tech, and NICE prices.  He looked at the x-rays I brought with me and the copies of the doctor's notes from this past illness (starting back in July).  I told him I realized I was "getting old" but had always been so vibrant and active and, I felt, this "lung thing" had hung on way too long.  My energy is still very low, at times, and I feel like it (my energy or "life force") leaves my body through my toes.  I told him (truthfully, without exaggeration) that there are times when I'm alone that I cry because I feel like I'm dying.  Like something is slowly killing me.  I said, "I don't believe on April 12th I turned 54 years old and on October 12th I hit 54 1/2 years old and turned into an "old" person.  Old age creeps up gradually.

  He explained (after reviewing my x-ray, lab, and history) that "old age" CAN set in quickly after a major surgery or illness.  He told me the seriousness of the lung infection I've had is the equivalent of a heart attack or major surgery.  My body had taken a beating and it DID age me - but only temporarily.  Then I got the talk about "not overdoing things" and letting time heal.  He said if I didn't listen to my body warning me, my body would override my brain and shut down - thus, the sudden exhaustion I experience at times.  Instead of waiting for my body to say, "Don't unload the top rack of the dishwasher, go sit down NOW!" - I should be hearing it say, "I don't have the energy to tackle the dishwasher right now, at all.  Don't do it!"

  These "attacks" seem to happen without warning and I HAVE felt like I was being careful.  I still have help with the housework and stay away from cleaning chemicals and am trying to remember to be a germopbobic!   He told me, everything I'm doing is right and correct, but to give recovery another couple of months.  Months???!!!!   Meanwhile, he ran a lot of lab tests to be sure I'm doing okay, including a test to rule out thyroid problems.  I got a flu shot for the first time in my life.  I've scheduled a pelvic and pap with a female P.A. in the same clinic in mid-November.

  Tomorrow afternoon, I'm having the first part of my crown started at the dentist.  Then, November 6th, I go back for the 2nd half of the crown.

  This has been a VERY expensive year medically and dentally, us having no insurance.  After my lab results come back, my pelvic/pap, and my crown is completed, I'm hoping my body "holds" together for a while.

  I've already given consideration to Thanksgiving and Stephanie has offered to do the majority of work.  I'm just not up to thinking about the preparations, much less physically doing more than sticking a turkey in the oven.  I considered going out to eat or getting one of those meals from the grocery store, but I don't feel that desperate, just now.

  I probably won't write tomorrow since I'll be drugged for my dental appointment.  This time a LOT of Halcion.  I checked with the doctor today to be sure taking 2 pills 2 hours before and 2 more pills one hour before the appointment was safe for me, and he felt I'd be fine.  Sounds like a scary amount of medication.  But then, last time . . . yackity yack!!!!

  I must go.  Will probably write again on Wednesday or Thursday. 

  P.S.  Spell check said, "okay" - I hope I don't sound like a babbling idiot, today!

  • 6:37 pm
  • 8 Comments