Let's just say my new year has been... rough.
Both of my dogs had procedures under anesthesia on Jan. 25th.
On Valentine's Day, I had to make the heartbreaking decision to put Oscar to sleep.
I have been to Mayo multiple times, and my body has just not been my friend.
That's not everything, but I don't feel like diving too deep right now.
I will be posting again soon, I promise!
Showing posts with label Mayo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mayo. Show all posts
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Getting A Wheelchair
Apparently I have hit that bump in the road known as, "Time to get a wheelchair".
I have no idea what i'm in for, so if you have any advice/suggestions/recommendations, let me know.
It scares the fudge outta me :/
I have no idea what i'm in for, so if you have any advice/suggestions/recommendations, let me know.
It scares the fudge outta me :/
Thursday, July 7, 2011
A Perfect Girls Night Out (or How We Were Pampered By A Band's Manager, Heard Good Music, And Met One Of The Guys From Twilight)
2 1/2 weeks.
That's how long after Becca's transplant the concert was. I really wanted her to come with me to it, so I devised a scheme to get her there. I told her we'd stay in a hotel (reduce the strain/exhaustion), and sit side stage at the show (since she was still supposed to stay away from crowds), maybe meet the band after. I didn't have any of that put in place when I'd said it. She said if it could be set up that way, she'd love to go.
About a week before the show, and just a few days after she'd been discharged from the hospital, she began having seizures and was readmitted. By that point, I'd emailed the band's manager and gotten us the hotel room. I was disappointed, but more worried about Becca. I began making alternate plans to go with my mom. Then, just a couple days before the show, Becca's doctors gave her the okay to go, as long as I was with her at all times. She was discharged from the hospital.
The day came. I met Becca and her mom at the Mall of America. Becca's mom dropped her off, and we decided to do some shopping before going to our hotel. We bought some clothes, accessories, got hand treatments at Lush, and had sushi for lunch. We finally headed to our hotel, my lovely GPS lead us to the wrong street, and we ended up lost for a bit. When we finally got there (we stayed at the Westin Minneapolis), we were floored by how swanky the place was (we'd gotten a deal on the room through the band's tour discount).
We decided a nap was in order before the show, so we indulged in cozying up in the amazing bedding. When it was time, we got up, spiffed ourselves up, and got a cab to the Triple Rock for the 100 Monkeys/The Kissing Club show. The show was AMAZING and the Monkeys' manager, Lani, was super accommodating to us. She got us a spot side stage, with a chair for Becca to sit on. After the show there was a signing, where we got to meet the band, and after everyone else went through, we got a picture with them. This is that picture:
Us and the band. Oh, and that guy to my right, the one with his arm around me? That's Jackson Rathbone, or as most people know him, the guy who played Jasper Hale (blond vampire that didn't talk much) in the Twilight Saga. Yeah, I know. :)
So after all of that excitement, we took a cab back to our hotel and headed straight to bed. It was a wonderful experience, our first REAL outing, just 2 1/2 weeks after her transplant. It was great.
More posts on the horizon, I just need time to recover from some serious busyness lately!
That's how long after Becca's transplant the concert was. I really wanted her to come with me to it, so I devised a scheme to get her there. I told her we'd stay in a hotel (reduce the strain/exhaustion), and sit side stage at the show (since she was still supposed to stay away from crowds), maybe meet the band after. I didn't have any of that put in place when I'd said it. She said if it could be set up that way, she'd love to go.
About a week before the show, and just a few days after she'd been discharged from the hospital, she began having seizures and was readmitted. By that point, I'd emailed the band's manager and gotten us the hotel room. I was disappointed, but more worried about Becca. I began making alternate plans to go with my mom. Then, just a couple days before the show, Becca's doctors gave her the okay to go, as long as I was with her at all times. She was discharged from the hospital.
The day came. I met Becca and her mom at the Mall of America. Becca's mom dropped her off, and we decided to do some shopping before going to our hotel. We bought some clothes, accessories, got hand treatments at Lush, and had sushi for lunch. We finally headed to our hotel, my lovely GPS lead us to the wrong street, and we ended up lost for a bit. When we finally got there (we stayed at the Westin Minneapolis), we were floored by how swanky the place was (we'd gotten a deal on the room through the band's tour discount).
We decided a nap was in order before the show, so we indulged in cozying up in the amazing bedding. When it was time, we got up, spiffed ourselves up, and got a cab to the Triple Rock for the 100 Monkeys/The Kissing Club show. The show was AMAZING and the Monkeys' manager, Lani, was super accommodating to us. She got us a spot side stage, with a chair for Becca to sit on. After the show there was a signing, where we got to meet the band, and after everyone else went through, we got a picture with them. This is that picture:
Us and the band. Oh, and that guy to my right, the one with his arm around me? That's Jackson Rathbone, or as most people know him, the guy who played Jasper Hale (blond vampire that didn't talk much) in the Twilight Saga. Yeah, I know. :)
So after all of that excitement, we took a cab back to our hotel and headed straight to bed. It was a wonderful experience, our first REAL outing, just 2 1/2 weeks after her transplant. It was great.
More posts on the horizon, I just need time to recover from some serious busyness lately!
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Outdoors Love to Find New and Inventive Ways to Hurt Me.
Today I decided i'd had enough of laying in bed doing nothing, so I got up and prepped to go outside. I changed into more appropriate clothing and slathered on the sunscreen, then headed out the door with my net and bucket.
You see, even at 22, I still love to play in the muck. Two days ago I took my little brother tadpole hunting, and we'd started a little mini pond in a kiddie pool in our backyard. Today I wanted to go by myself so I would get to do it my way. We have at least four ponds and a river down the path by our house, so I headed out. I left my shoes home, as I didn't want to get them wet. This is where I screwed up. You see, it was 73 and sunny today, and the blacktop was extremely hot. I walked down to the river, caught soom minnows, then stopped at a couple of spots by the closest pond to catch tadpoles before heading home. I'd noticed my feet kind of hurt on my way TO the river, and by the time I was headed back home, I knew how big of a mistake i'd made.
I am now the proud owner of 2nd degree burns on both feet. I have 3 blisters that are larger than a half-dollar, and 5 more that are dime sized or less. I can't really walk and I'm attempting to use blister bandaids to cushion them. Did I mention that Becca and I will be attending a concert on July 1st? I hope these heal fast!
You see, even at 22, I still love to play in the muck. Two days ago I took my little brother tadpole hunting, and we'd started a little mini pond in a kiddie pool in our backyard. Today I wanted to go by myself so I would get to do it my way. We have at least four ponds and a river down the path by our house, so I headed out. I left my shoes home, as I didn't want to get them wet. This is where I screwed up. You see, it was 73 and sunny today, and the blacktop was extremely hot. I walked down to the river, caught soom minnows, then stopped at a couple of spots by the closest pond to catch tadpoles before heading home. I'd noticed my feet kind of hurt on my way TO the river, and by the time I was headed back home, I knew how big of a mistake i'd made.
I am now the proud owner of 2nd degree burns on both feet. I have 3 blisters that are larger than a half-dollar, and 5 more that are dime sized or less. I can't really walk and I'm attempting to use blister bandaids to cushion them. Did I mention that Becca and I will be attending a concert on July 1st? I hope these heal fast!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Life Is Looking Up :)
It really is.
Oscar is almost 100% back to normal, acting like a total spaz.
I visited Becca on Thursday, she looks amazing, but don't take my word for it, here's a picture!
Oh, and I went from being unemployed to having 2 jobs, woo!
Oscar is almost 100% back to normal, acting like a total spaz.
I visited Becca on Thursday, she looks amazing, but don't take my word for it, here's a picture!
Oh, and I went from being unemployed to having 2 jobs, woo!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Miracles do happen. Organ donors are true angels.
The liver was a match.
Becca went in to surgery around 7pm CDT, and should be out of surgery and transferred to the ICU within the next hour or so.
She still needs all the prayers and healing thoughts she can get, as she's not out of the woods yet, but we're all extremely hopeful!
UPDATE 8:33am CDT 06/15/11: She is awake and feeling good this morning! :)
Becca went in to surgery around 7pm CDT, and should be out of surgery and transferred to the ICU within the next hour or so.
She still needs all the prayers and healing thoughts she can get, as she's not out of the woods yet, but we're all extremely hopeful!
UPDATE 8:33am CDT 06/15/11: She is awake and feeling good this morning! :)
The Call.
Just got a text from Becca.
She got "the call".
Mayo Clinic may have found her a matching liver.
I am beyond excited, and so hopeful that it is truly a match.
Please send thoughts, prayers, and all the positive vibes you can her way, she'll be needing them.
She got "the call".
Mayo Clinic may have found her a matching liver.
I am beyond excited, and so hopeful that it is truly a match.
Please send thoughts, prayers, and all the positive vibes you can her way, she'll be needing them.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
An Update, and A Call For Prayers
First, let's talk about me. It's been almost two weeks since I posted about the Cymbalta incident, and I am still feeling the effects of that. Thankfully they are almost non-existent, but every once in a while, I notice.
I went through a very rough period after the Cymbalta incident. It seemed as if all of my medications had stopped working, and the pain was impossible to ignore, and I was not able to cope. I saw my PCP about it, and he went through his ideas for treatment with me. Most of them were medications I had previously tried that had no effect. Then he suggested raising my prednisone dose, which I told him the Mayo Rheumatologist did NOT want happening, so that was out. Finally he suggested that maybe my issues were from lack of sleep, as I hadn't slept well in months. He prescribed Valium to try and help me sleep (I can't do most actual sleep meds) and hoped that would help, otherwise we'd be back at square one.
The first couple of nights didn't work, I was taking the Valium, plus Unisom and Melatonin to try to get sleep. No dice. The third night I discont'd the Melatonin, and switched from Unisom SleepGels (diphenhydramine) to Unisom SleepTabs (doxylamine). That night I slept like a rock, had multiple dreams, and woke up the next day in complete awe of what a good night sleep could do. I hadn't felt that good in YEARS. I had energy, felt like doing things, and though I had some minor aches, they weren't even bad enough to warrant an ibuprofen. I have been feeling pretty good since, and I really hope it continues.
Now for the prayer request.
I've written about my friend Becca a few times, I met her last summer in pain rehab at the Mayo Clinic. She was diagnosed at 4 with Primary Sclerosing Colangitis. She's had two liver transplants, but is currently in need of a third. I went to visit her at the beginning of April. The first day and a half of my visit she was doing okay, and we enjoyed a wonderful warm day out. On my third day, her nausea was so overwhelming that I took her to the hospital. She was admitted, and has basically been in ever since. She was released for a day or so, only to transfer from one hospital to another that has a liver transplant clinic. She is not doing very well. Her nausea is such that she can barely eat, and they are considering putting in a feeding tube. Her quality of life right now is not so great, and I worry about her quite a bit. She is only 23 years old, and one of the most genuinely kind, caring people I have ever met. Even as sick as she is, she makes origami for other patients, and talks with them. So if you could spare a prayer, a thought, or even just some healing vibes and send them her way, that would be great.
Hope you are all well.
-Jess
I went through a very rough period after the Cymbalta incident. It seemed as if all of my medications had stopped working, and the pain was impossible to ignore, and I was not able to cope. I saw my PCP about it, and he went through his ideas for treatment with me. Most of them were medications I had previously tried that had no effect. Then he suggested raising my prednisone dose, which I told him the Mayo Rheumatologist did NOT want happening, so that was out. Finally he suggested that maybe my issues were from lack of sleep, as I hadn't slept well in months. He prescribed Valium to try and help me sleep (I can't do most actual sleep meds) and hoped that would help, otherwise we'd be back at square one.
The first couple of nights didn't work, I was taking the Valium, plus Unisom and Melatonin to try to get sleep. No dice. The third night I discont'd the Melatonin, and switched from Unisom SleepGels (diphenhydramine) to Unisom SleepTabs (doxylamine). That night I slept like a rock, had multiple dreams, and woke up the next day in complete awe of what a good night sleep could do. I hadn't felt that good in YEARS. I had energy, felt like doing things, and though I had some minor aches, they weren't even bad enough to warrant an ibuprofen. I have been feeling pretty good since, and I really hope it continues.
Now for the prayer request.
I've written about my friend Becca a few times, I met her last summer in pain rehab at the Mayo Clinic. She was diagnosed at 4 with Primary Sclerosing Colangitis. She's had two liver transplants, but is currently in need of a third. I went to visit her at the beginning of April. The first day and a half of my visit she was doing okay, and we enjoyed a wonderful warm day out. On my third day, her nausea was so overwhelming that I took her to the hospital. She was admitted, and has basically been in ever since. She was released for a day or so, only to transfer from one hospital to another that has a liver transplant clinic. She is not doing very well. Her nausea is such that she can barely eat, and they are considering putting in a feeding tube. Her quality of life right now is not so great, and I worry about her quite a bit. She is only 23 years old, and one of the most genuinely kind, caring people I have ever met. Even as sick as she is, she makes origami for other patients, and talks with them. So if you could spare a prayer, a thought, or even just some healing vibes and send them her way, that would be great.
Hope you are all well.
-Jess
Thursday, April 7, 2011
In the hospital, but this time it's not for me.
On Monday I made the 7 hour drive to visit my friend B from PRC in Nebraska. I love coming out here because I get to spend time with B and it's really amazing having a friend that fully understands your limitations.
Monday was generally just relaxing, seeing as it was 6pm when I got there, and I drove almost non-stop. Tuesday was a beautiful day, 73 degrees and sunny with a breeze. We went to Misty's for lunch, Mondays and Tuesdays are half off any of their prime rib dishes, so I got an 8oz. slab of pure heaven. Afterwards we browsed through the haymarket area, got some ice cream, sat in the sun. It was a wonderful day. Wednesday is where the problems began. I woke up realizing we'd overdone things the day before. Becca was much worse than I was, extremely nauseated. By evening, it was apparent that the only thing that would fix it was a hospital admission for anti-nausea meds and fluids.
So that's where we are today. She was only supposed to be in overnight, but obviously things didn't go as planned. Please keep her in your thoughts, she could use 'em.
And if you find yourself in Nebraska, they are holding a fundraiser for B and her family on April 16th, info can be found here. Please pass this on to all your friends, they could use the money.
Monday was generally just relaxing, seeing as it was 6pm when I got there, and I drove almost non-stop. Tuesday was a beautiful day, 73 degrees and sunny with a breeze. We went to Misty's for lunch, Mondays and Tuesdays are half off any of their prime rib dishes, so I got an 8oz. slab of pure heaven. Afterwards we browsed through the haymarket area, got some ice cream, sat in the sun. It was a wonderful day. Wednesday is where the problems began. I woke up realizing we'd overdone things the day before. Becca was much worse than I was, extremely nauseated. By evening, it was apparent that the only thing that would fix it was a hospital admission for anti-nausea meds and fluids.
So that's where we are today. She was only supposed to be in overnight, but obviously things didn't go as planned. Please keep her in your thoughts, she could use 'em.
And if you find yourself in Nebraska, they are holding a fundraiser for B and her family on April 16th, info can be found here. Please pass this on to all your friends, they could use the money.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
A Request For Prayers And Healing Thoughts For A Friend
Last night, my friend that I visited just a couple weeks ago posted that she was having a difficult night. She said she just felt "wrong" and was weak, tired, barely able to move, having trouble breathing, and in pain. She said there was nothing going on that her doctors could do anything about.
Now, since pain rehab, and especially since I visited, I have felt extremely lucky to have her as a friend. I consider her and her mom part of my family, and they treated me as part of theirs. She is an inspiration, and even as ill as she is, she always tries to encourage others to keep going. So please, keep her in your thoughts and prayers, because it would be devastating for the world to lose such a wonderful young woman.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Rehab Friend Reunion!
Tomorrow I start the new year by driving down to Nebraska to visit a friend from pain rehab. The trip is gonna take 7+ hours, which I am really not looking forward to. At least I get to use my mom's awesome car.
Wish me luck!
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Mayo Clinic Pain Rehab Center 3 week program, Unofficial Day 3, Official First Day
Thursday
Day 1: Evaluation
Friday
Day 2: More eval, then testing the waters by going to group.
-Weekend spent at home-
Monday
Day 3 (Official Day 1): Day starts with team meeting. We set our goals for the day. After only 2 1/2 hours of sleep the night before, my goal for the day was to stay awake. Follow meeting by morning stretching. OT afterwards. At 10am I had my Biofeedback appointment, it went well. 11am was group again, the topic was okay. Lunch was at 12, had a pretty good time just sitting around talking with everyone. After lunch was group 2. After group 2 was group therapy. Last event of the day was hearing from some program graduates.
Honestly, so far, my favorite part of this program is being completely understood. Not having to explain everything. Being in a room full of people who know what I'm going through.
Still recovering from my crash, not 100%, but getting there.
Thank you all for your well wishes and support!
Day 1: Evaluation
Friday
Day 2: More eval, then testing the waters by going to group.
-Weekend spent at home-
Monday
Day 3 (Official Day 1): Day starts with team meeting. We set our goals for the day. After only 2 1/2 hours of sleep the night before, my goal for the day was to stay awake. Follow meeting by morning stretching. OT afterwards. At 10am I had my Biofeedback appointment, it went well. 11am was group again, the topic was okay. Lunch was at 12, had a pretty good time just sitting around talking with everyone. After lunch was group 2. After group 2 was group therapy. Last event of the day was hearing from some program graduates.
Honestly, so far, my favorite part of this program is being completely understood. Not having to explain everything. Being in a room full of people who know what I'm going through.
Still recovering from my crash, not 100%, but getting there.
Thank you all for your well wishes and support!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
When Mayo doesn't refer to a sandwich topping, or, how I'm moving to another city for a month.
After countless exams, poking, prodding, new diagnoses, and doctors, I finally got the referral I was looking for. After going in for an eval and countless phone calls, I was in, and the date was set. What does this all mean?
Next month, I will be moving down to Rochester (MN) to spend three weeks in the Mayo Clinic's outpatient pain rehab. This program can be really difficult to get in to, but thanks to our close proximity (we're only an hour or so from Rochester) I was able to be put on the short notice list, which meant if they had a cancellation, I could be down there immediately.
I'm kind of scared, as I really don't know what to expect, and this is a very intense program that starts at 7:30am and goes until evening. As a kid, my family lived in Rochester for a few years, and I can tell you now, it's not the most fun place to live. I will be living in a long term hotel room, by myself, with no family or friends in the area. I'll miss my little brother's 7th birthday, and several events I wanted to attend, but hopefully in the end it will all be worth it.
Next month, I will be moving down to Rochester (MN) to spend three weeks in the Mayo Clinic's outpatient pain rehab. This program can be really difficult to get in to, but thanks to our close proximity (we're only an hour or so from Rochester) I was able to be put on the short notice list, which meant if they had a cancellation, I could be down there immediately.
I'm kind of scared, as I really don't know what to expect, and this is a very intense program that starts at 7:30am and goes until evening. As a kid, my family lived in Rochester for a few years, and I can tell you now, it's not the most fun place to live. I will be living in a long term hotel room, by myself, with no family or friends in the area. I'll miss my little brother's 7th birthday, and several events I wanted to attend, but hopefully in the end it will all be worth it.
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