New Inventions

When it comes to food today was not a good day. Rita came by with the completed “bag” that she made for my PAC machine. It is attached to a belt and hangs down by my right leg. It is great because I don’t forget to grab it when I need to get up.  This is a great move toward my being more comfortable with my machinery. 

I am very grateful for the modern marvels that have allowed me to come home instead of living in the hospital or a nursing home. I have no idea when the medical world developed the feeding tube, and then made it possible for the patient to go home with it and feeding themselves. Without the feeding tube I would have already died. Then when you think of the PCA machine for my pain medicine, how much more comfortable I am. The pain that I would have had to suffer a few years ago just frightens me to think of. 

I also was blessed with a visit from a very nice young man, an honorary son. He has been trying to get up to visit me for months and today he did. The visit was short but it was good to see him. This young man has surprised me with his interest in my health. It is so nice to know that other people care about you. I hope he knows that I truly care about him also.

I have noticed that in the last couple of days I am having more pain in my left lower flank. I have needed to take more extra doses of medicine. I told my nurse when she called me this morning and she offered to alter the machine so that I get more on the regular plan.

Good Health

Just another Monday

Today started out rocky but it did get better has the day moved along.  

I had a visit from a dear friend and we figured out a way to make me a special “bag” to carry my medicine machine. The bag that was provided just doesn’t work for me. First of all it has to go over one of my shoulders. That is a problem, my left shoulder has a mass that the weight of the machine pulls on and causes pain. Then on my right side I have a “port” for the IV where the medication goes into me, again the pull on that side also causes pain. Then there is the fact the strap slips and the machine will slide from behind me to in front of me, knocking whatever is in my hands.

I look forward to this new “bag” so that I can carry the machine and have it stay where I want it. It will be on my right hip and not move around my waist. Another problem that I have is remembering to pick up the machine every time I go to get up. I have started walking away from where I was seated without the machine a lot of times, then it pulls on the needle in my chest, ouch! We also had to put it below my stomach so that it does not interfere with my feeding tube. 

I had no idea just how these tubes and machines were going to complicate just walking around my house. Although these things have made crazy changes to my everyday life they are not stopping me from living my life.

Lately there has been a lot more pain in my left flank area then there was just a couple months ago. That makes me think that the tumor has grown again. I am not surprised about this; I think it is to be expected when you have an incurable form of cancer.

I am back to reading uplifting talks to start my day. With that last hospital stay and getting readjusted to being home I had dropped that practice. But it really helps me to look at the day ahead of me with hope when I feel my mind with good things. It makes it a bit easier for me to face the daily problems of my life. 

I am also waiting to hear from the VNA about my formula. There is some question about just which formula I should be on. They have to check with my doctors before they send me out more cans. I am very glad that they do all that research about what I should have for me. 

I hope that many of you while you read this blog about how complicated my medical life seems to be are counting your blessing for your good health. Don’t take being healthy for granted. Oh how I wish I didn’t have to think so hard about what I CAN eat, not what I want to eat. I am very grateful for the 60 years of great health I have had.

Uplifting Sunday

Life in the Rain

This afternoon was another rainy day. But we need the rain; we are still in a drought. I was able to go to Church today. It not only great to get to Church but the talks were great and very uplifting. Being spiritually feed is a really great way to start my day. I honestly think that next week I could stay longer. I am feeling much stronger than I did last Sunday. I sure hope that I can continue to build on my strength.

Food wise today was doing fine until just before dinner. Four hours after eating lunch I lost it. I have no idea why I got sick. This is very disappointing to me. I want to be able to live a “normal” life when it comes to eating food. Why is this so hard for me to do? I was good for 2 ½ days, I was hoping for a full week. I just had some broth and crackers for my dinner.

I was having a great day until I got sick. This only changes my day from great to good. I won’t let this get me too far down. But I am normal; at least I think I am, of course this does bring me down a bit.

Smiling even when it rains

Singing in the Rain

Here in Springfield we are happy to see the soaking rain that we are getting. I wish more of the nation was getting this rain. The entire country needs this type of rain. We need it to put out huge forest fires and to end a major drought.

Again today my stomach and food have decided that they like each other. That makes me very happy. It is such a dark day that I could spend the entire day sleeping. I did take a nap, but I could go right back to sleep. What is really nice is that I don’t have to stay awake.

I am very pleased with my visiting nursing company. The main office called early this afternoon to double check on me and my supply of pain medication. They did not have it on record that the cassette in my machine had been changed yesterday. So I have a full weeks’ worth of medicine. It is comforting knowing that I can’t give myself an over dose of the stuff. I think it really comforts my Mom to know this. I have no desire to over dose myself. I am not done living.

I have decided to read up on the young ladies of our gymnastic team. I want to follow how they do in the Games. Although I don’t know how to do any of the moves these gals can do I have always enjoyed watching them. Maybe be knowing a little more about the girls and their sport I can enjoy watching even more.

Although I have had a good night sleep last night and even took a nap this afternoon I am having trouble keeping my eyes open. I have this problem every day. I wish I knew what I can do to change this.

"Let them Eat Cake", I don't think so! I want a burger!

Food Wonderful Food

I am not going to give up on eating food like the rest of society. In the middle of the night I got up and tried something different. I had ½ of a peanut butter sandwich with a glass of grape juice. It stayed down. So for lunch today I did almost the same thing I just had lemon aide to drink instead.  The nurses also had the doctors give me a script for a medication that would fight the vomiting and I take that ½ hour before I eat. So I tried both today, in just a couple of minutes I am going to go lay down, I think that will help. Opps, the nurse has come and gone and I forgot to ask about the speech therapist. I will do it next week. Food and I have agreed with each other today and that makes me very happy. My dinner has agreed with me tonight so I am extremely happy. I really think the medication that I now have must have made a big difference.

I am grateful for that. I am now watching the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympics. I did not find the history of England that interesting. But I really liked the fake out they did of the Queen sky diving. That was really a neat move.

Thursday & stormy life

Stormy Thursday

We have been told to watch for bad weather, but so far nothing in our part of town. I am very happy to hear that. We had enough bad weather last year to last a decade.

One of my sons noticed my comment about only having 1 balloon left and showed up today with 3, but the wise guy made sure one had writing on it. He got me a black balloon with “Over The Hill” on it.  Then we talked about some Tai Chi moves I could do to strengthen my lungs. He is big into the martial arts and knows others that are very much into Tai Chi, his friend suggested a few simple moves. They both feel that this will help me be able to go places without being winded so easily. I have nothing to lose so I am going to give them a try.

I fear that there is still some sort of blockage in my digestive system. Today when my lunch didn’t stay down, I could tell it hadn’t even started to be digested. This was over an hour and half after eating. Something seems to be very wrong. I will call the doctor tomorrow and leave a message. I don’t know if there is anything else they can do. But they can’t do anything if I don’t talk to them. This is a rotten blow, food being my only vice in life. But then life is supposed to be a test. This will be a tough test to take.

Other than that I am doing well, the soreness in my throat is almost gone. The site where the G Tube was placed is almost completely healed and it has been less than a month since it was placed.

After I get my nutrition under greater control I will be able to work on building some strength and getting back to living. I need to be able to walk farther than I now am able to do. I want to be able to go to Church on Sunday’s and stay for the entire 3 hours. I would like to be able to go out and attend other social functions of all kinds. I know that many of you may think of me has being a bit of a home body. But I do like to get out. Going to work and getting out of the house that way was nice, but I don’t have that.  In fact right now I can’t get out to see my friends, and half of them don’t drive so they can’t get here to visit me. That is a real downer. Phone visits are nice but I like face to face visits better.