November 7, 2021 Sunday--2:30pm

Good afternoon!

I decided to post a day early since I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.  Was an eventful week...but first...I forgot to show you how McFamily had arranged the yard for the trick or treaters.  A skeleton to greet them...

...all the pumpkins...

...and glow lights strung for the plucking.

Quite a few people are doing the "self-service" type of dispersal during covid.

A good idea but a lot less personal, of course.

My week...my week.

Monday

I did get scheduled for an hydration infusion on Tuesday at 1pm.

Tuesday

I was so weak that I actually had trouble standing waiting while the lady called to the infusion center to ask if it was okay if I came in with a cough and sore throat (probably from all the barfing).  I had to go sit down and the lady brought me a wheelchair.  Yup--used a wheelchair to get around that day.  Not exactly getting better or stronger.

Used the Lidocaine prescription that day and the needle hurt a lot less...so that was nice to find out.  

Dr. Kobrossy wanted me to see the GI/gut lady ASAP so I was set up with an appointment for Wednesday at 2:30pm.

Wednesday

The GI doctor was really nice, but she wanted me admitted to the hospital--right away.  She called Kobrossy and they agreed.  I was just wheeled across the building to the hospital side and admitted for dehydration and the vomiting.  The gut doctor was wanting a possible examination of my esophagus to see if it was inflamed or damaged from the month of vomiting.  But first they wanted that CTScan I had to cancel because that would show some of the throuat issues and Kobrossy wanted to know the size of the cancer tumors in my liver for a baseline for the immunotherapy.  

I was continually pumped full of saline and anti-nausea medication. 

 

Door to the room covered by curtain and my bathroom.

Leah went to my place to feed Annie and bring me my laptop and a few things.

The blue round plastic thing is a barf bag...my constatn companion--lol!

My biggest accomplishment was eating dinner that night.  Fish, meatballs...

...and wild rice soup.

I thought I'd try the french vanilla cappuccino but after having nothing sweet really for a couple of years--OMG!  I couldn't even drink it. Like syrup! 

But I finished the soup...

...and all but one meatball.

Was really pretty good--even though things still don't taste quite right.  (I took the photos to show Dagan and Leah I had actually eaten more than I had in a month!)

I have a terrible time sleeping in hospitals.  I was so tired, though, that I did sleep for a few hours early in the evening but then I was up till almost dawn.  Slept again for a couple of hours.  I was on no food or drink from midnight on because they didn't know if I was going to have that endoscopy of my throat and they had scheduled me for a CTScan first. 

Thursday

Since I was being worked in for the CTScan I was told it could be afternoon before mine could be done.  Empty stomach not good for my nausea, of course.  *sigh*  But they came in really early and asked if I wanted to go right now--YES!  The girl wheeling me down said she had never seen someone go down that early--must have been like 7am?  Was really quick and easy.  Back to my room to await results to find out if I could drink or have to go through another procedure.

Leah came later in the morning.  Then she left and Dagan came by in the afternoon for a couple hours.  (Different role for Dagan to be visiting me in the hospital.)  His wound is healing really nicely!!  So amazing!  

Waited for hours.  Finally they said--no endoscopy!  Hurray!  I was so thirsty.  I ate lunch but couldn't eat nearly as much as I had the night before.  Got too nauseous from all those hours on an empty stomach.  BUT--I kept lunch down.  Had only thrown up once since I got into the hospital.  If I kept down some dinner I could go home.  They wanted me to go home since there was nothing more they could do and I had been switched over to being classified as being there for observation only.  (I was very concerned as to what would be covered by Medicare/Medicaid also.)  

I managed to eat a small amount for an early dinner and kept it down. Leah came back for my discharge and she had stopped at the pharmacy on her way to pick me up.  All I wanted was to get into my comfy chair!  Could hardly keep my eyes open.  By the time I was leaving the hospital I was finally back to peeing like normal again, thank goodness!  

I don't know what I would do without Dagan and Leah.  

And I do miss the boys...who sent me letters while I was in the hospital.  Liam (on the right) insisted on writing everything himself--LOL!

Can click on to enlarge.

Since I have been home I have been sleeping a lot, managing to keep a little food down and drinking as much water as I can manage.  I am still throwing up maybe once or twice a day--but not after I eat.  Usually when I wake up...which I still think is due to a night of sinus crud running down the back of my throat, to be honest.  So, an improvement.

Since yesterday I have been tackling a month's worth of laundry--little by little.  Nothing has even be put away yet, but I am halfway done cleaning them, anyways.  Clothing and towels are layered in stacks, hanging from doorknobs and dresser knobs--draped all over--LOL!  I run out of steam--LOL!  But at least I have a tiny bit of steam.  That's an improvement, too.  

This coming week I have follow-up hospital visits on Monday and Thursday.  I don't see the usual appointment for Friday for Kobrossy/infusion so I sent a message through My Chart asking about that.  I would imagine I have a Friday visit, too.  Too many appointments--awk!  

But I think I am doing better...finally.  On the mend...finally.  Turned the corner...finally.  I really do.  Even though I am notorious for always thinking I am doing better than I am...I do think maybe things have finally changed for the better.  I am hopeful that pretty soon I can start immunotherapy.  :)

Meanwhile--the weather has cooled considerably.  The partridges are flocking up.  They're here right now chowing down.

So happy to see them forming their coveys for the winter.

Anyways, there's snail movement over here again.  Less barfing.  More food and water consumption.  Lots of sleeping going on.  I'll know more after the dr visits this week.  Haven't gotten the results from the CTScan from oncology yet.  Just have been glad to be home with Miss Annie for a few days.  But tomorrow afternoon it is off to another new doctor.  Can't remember--I think it is the oncology follow-up?  Whatever.  I just go where I am told--LOL!

So, an early blog this week.  Thanks to all of you for your kind wishes and support.  I keep saying it but it is the truth--you are the best!  Till next week...