Just Checking In.....

I apologize for not having posted in a few days. Things have been busy! I made it through three long days of my internship this past week. We had our Electronic Record Management System vendor (MedPlus) on site, so we were constantly in meetings all three days. (the meetings for the most part were well over my head). Yesterday we finished up a little early, thank goodness. I will be at my internship 4 days next week, off the next week, then back to 4 days the last two weeks of February. The plan for March is to go 3 days a week, including the last two days of the month. And hopefully, by that time, I will have completed the required hours and assignments. I do like my clinical preceptor and the facility, but I would like to eventually have a routine.

My stomach continues to give me major problems. The intestinal abx is still causing that horrific side effect (diarrhea--at least 6 times a day-sometime as much as 10). Only 2.5 more days of it...yay. I'm still nauseated 24/7 and are taking anti-nausea meds multiple times a day. I am not able to eat much at all, therefore, my energy level is WAY LOW. I barely have any energy...seriously, and are just so exhausted and tired of being nauseated and sick. I've managed to drink some Carnation Instant Breakfast in the mornings, and by some miracle, I can keep it down. However, I'm not able to eat any meals, and when I do eat, it's a minute amount, and only about 2 times during the day. It's extremely hard to eat...and I desperately need some energy. The odd thing is I haven't lost much weight. Which is good on one end...but a little worrisome on the other. I have a follow up GI appointment on February 10th. I had to wait until I finished the H-Pylori meds, before following back up. I know something is wrong, it's just a matter of getting it figured out and getting someone to actually pay attention and take the matter seriously. But enough complaining.....

I've got a lot of school work to complete this weekend and next week! And on another note...my birthday is this coming Wednesday!!! YAY! I'm starting to feel old :)

I'm also working on some Great Strides stuff for our local walk as well as some stuff for my personal team. It's a lot of work being a team leader, and trying to exceed the previous year's goals.

It is extremely cold here in Alabama (although I'm guessing not as cold as some places)...but cold for us. So I've been staying inside for the most part.

I'll update more later...I have a couple of posts I need to do!!

Internship and Update

Well, I started my internship today..finally!! It went really well (I think). The instructor was running late, so another sweet lady gave me a tour of the department and then some busy work until the director arrived. Once she arrived, it was basically a day full of meetings. I basically just shadowed her all day, which was fine with me! She was very sweet, and I think I'm going to learn a lot. My intention was to work 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Well, after talking with her, I don't think she wants me there that much...bummer. She doesn't want me to come back til next Wednesday. I will shadow her once again next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I'm supposed to email her what I want my schedule to be. I'm going to suggest no less than 3 days a week (it will take me 2.5 months to complete 240 hrs if I do 3 days a week). I REALLY REALLY want all of April and May free to concentrate on graduating, and my licensing exam and finals! So we'll see!

The upside to this, is, I really need some rest this week. After Monday's events, I feel exhausted (still), and my body could use a few more low-key days. I'm gonna make sure I study really hard for my other 2 classes in the meantime!

For those of you that are new to my blog and don't know what my major is or what it involves, I have a post that is scheduled for later this week that will inform you of that! But for starters, my major is HIM (Health Information Management) and basically involves everything to do with Medical Records. I am doing my internship at our local Children's Hospital (which is recognized world wide and my former pediatric CF center). They are in the process of implementing an electronic medical record...which if your hospital hasn't yet, it will be in the VERY NEAR FUTURE!! (and on a side note: I saw one of my former CF docs today...so very nice. I knew I would see people I knew, since I basically spent 19 yrs of my life at this hospital. I plan on visiting people while I'm here too).

So...update from Monday: I talked with the GI nurse yesterday afternoon. I really didn't get much info. All she did was call in the 3 medications for the H-Pylori bacteria. So we are hoping and praying that this will take care of whatever is going on. I'm on a bacterial abx, an intestinal abx, and Pepto-Bismol (already taking Nexium). The ER doctor also started me on Potassium and Priolsec. So I just went from taking 8 pills a day to 16 pills a day (and that doesn't include vitamins/minerals like: ADEK, calcium, mag, and iron AND my PRN meds (like sleep meds, and pain meds). It's sad that my stomach is bothering me....and taking all these medications doesn't quite please it :) Oh well. I am also taking some Zofran twice a day to help prevent the nausea! So far so good...not too much nausea today! But I'm still tired and weak feeling.

I did not call my coordinator like I was supposed to....remember me saying I needed time and distance...well, if transplant is not going to deal with GI issues, then I'm not sure if I'm going to call them with every little thing??? Haven't decided yet.

Despite the frustration of all that's gone on the last few weeks....I know God is in control. He's trying to show us or teach us something here...just not sure what quite yet. Monday it felt like Satan was interfering with everything. Last week I finally motivated myself to exercise...i did my exercise bike 3 days (last day being Sunday). Unfortunately, I can't just jump back on it, because my body doesn't work that way. But I've gotta have faith and trust GOD to do his work!

I've read all of your blog updates (most of them)...but are headed to rest for the remainder of the evening!

Wait...one question: Do any of you know (I need facts or experience here...not just thoughts) if Prilosec and Nexium are the same (or basically have the same job)? My Mom was going to call the pharmacist today, but didn't get around to it. And frankly, neither the GI clinic or transplant team are working with me here.

Happy 1st B'day Gwyneth

While I didn't take a picture, I did wear pink today in honor of Gwyneth's 1st b'day. She is such a miracle baby! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!

H-Pylori

So my blood test results came back last week, which tested positive for the H-Pylori bacteria in the stomach. So apparently, or more than likely, this bacteria inhibiting my insides has caused stomach ulcers. This is common and can be treated with multiple medications. I'm glad that I now have something they can treat and that will hopefully help some of my stomach issues and nausea. So for 14 days- I will take 13 pills to treat the H-Pylori...13!!! (that's in addition to all my transplant med....not too thrilled). My GI doctor started me on 2 antibiotics, continued me on nexium (which is not counted in the 13 pills) and started me on Pepto-Bismol caplets three times a day. One abx is twice a day, and the other is three times a day. I hope I can keep up :) Nevertheless, I'm glad that I have something that can be treated. The plan is to still move forward with the other tests to make sure nothing else is going on. This bacteria could have been inhabiting my body for months, or even years, since routine blood tests don't test for this bacteria, and I haven't seen a GI doctor since 2006.

On the lung side of things....I'm still feeling pretty crappy. I talked with my coordinator today. I am trying to avoid having to come to clinic this week. I really want to wait until my scheduled appt next week. However, I don't mind coming to get lab work and maybe chest-xray. However, the doctor on call this week does not like that and either wants you to come to clinic or through the ER...ugh!! Why does he have to be on call??? I guess he thinks if you are sick enough to labs and xray, you are sick enough to do clinic??? Not completely sure on his thinking there. Anyways, I'm supposed to call my coordinator tomorrow and touch base. I do have to go in for a port flush, probably Wednesday, and are hoping I can just get some lab work done during the flush (trying to avoid needle sticks). One of the antibiotics the GI doctor started me on is a common one for respiratory infections too. However, this particular one, I am quite immune to from being on it so much. However, my coordinator's hope it that when the GI symptoms go away and with the help of the antibiotics, I will feel better.

My concern is this: I've been fighting this cold/virus/infection (whatever it may be) for quite some time now, and it's NOT going away, and most of the time seems to be getting worse. I don't want to get stuck over Thanksgiving and have to go to the E.R. I'm just trying to play it safe and still take care of myself.

I'll post again tomorrow with an update. As of right now, I have not thought of a song for my "Music Mondays" post. I'm sure one will come along soon, and when it does, I'll be sure to post! My mind has been in so many places lately with work and school and feeling sick, that it has not spent much time thinking about the blogging world.

I hope everyone that is traveling this week and are leaving in the next few days, have a very safe trip! We have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Back to school work...and getting some sleep (only slept about 2 hrs last night).

Later!