Thanksgiving & Update

It is time for a long overdue update-i do apologize. But first, I want to wish everyone a very wonderful and Blessed Thanksgiving. Give Thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!!!! Remember who to thank-Our God, our one and only Savior. I am thankful for so many things, but most importantly, I am thankful for the Lord giving me a second chance at life, and the opportunity to glorify him in all that I do. Although this road may be difficult, I know he is leading me into this ministry for a reason.

As a short update, I was in the hospital from November 9th through the 19, which started out as chest pain and nausea, and turned in to infection. Thankfully this stay was a tad bit shorter, and i did not miss too much of school. As usual, it will take me awhile to gain my energy and strength back. My school semester is nearing the end. I have some exams coming up in the next few weeks, then I will be officially entering my last semester of nursing school.

So many people have asked lately: How are you doing nursing school. And i've talked a little bit about this on my blog. But my 1st and foremost reason, is because this is the path I believe the Lord is leading me down. This is a ministry for me. I have such a huge passion for children, and a love for the lord, that I cant' wait to put that into practice. There may be difficult times down the road, but I truly believe the Lord will get me through them, because this is my way of serving the Lord. It's very hard now to see this, as i've had many trials through nursing school that question will I be healthy enough to work. Honestly, I've never thought about that in detail. I always assume I will be healthy enough. This year I have had some progression of chronic rejection. I have started back treatment, for the 3rd time as well for it. As I started to ponder, I actually got really scared about what was going to happen. Will I make it through 1 more semester? Will I live to work? What if type of questions. I never thought that the sentence in the newspaper about my transplant in 2004 would be true: "This transplant should give Katey another 5 years of life." (even though I am almost 8 yrs post transplant). Heck....I was actually pretty mad at that statement, because I had plans on living til I was 90 something years old. And I'm not saying that isn't possible. But the possibility that the chronic rejection could progress to the need for a 2nd transplant sooner than later, definitely worries me. I'm not scared of Death, but i just didn't think the possibility of it could come sooner than I thought.

But then after tonight's Thanksgiving service at my church, I realized that God's love endures forever....whether I continue to live on Earth, or not; whether I graduate with my BSN and work in pediatric nursing. Only God has those answers right now. I need to be thankful for God, and for the wonderful and amazing things he has given me and my family. I honestly need to go back to taking it one day at a time. When trouble comes, deal with it, then pick back up on my feet and keep running.

So this Thanksgiving, remember to thank God first and foremost. Be thankful you can breathe. Be thankful you are alive and well. The Lord's love endures forever, despite your pitfalls, failures, or even death. Be thankful for that this Thanksgiving.

Please say a special prayer for my friend, Amy Crews. She and I have a special bond, and she is currently waiting for her 2nd lung transplant. Please lift her up in your prayers over the holidays. Thank you!

Love to you all,

Photo for chronic rejection

I am starting another round of photophoresis tomorrow, October 17th for the progression of my chronic rejection. I've talked about what this is on my blog before and most of you know I have already completed 2 rounds (15 mths each round). My doctors are hoping that somehow this round will stabilize me some like the last rounds (the last rounds did not reverse or improve anything but apparently it stabilized me somewhat...i like to call it remission). I don't have my hopes up...but I do trust my doctors. More importantly, whatever happens, is God's doing, and is always for his glory. I am having a hard time actually grasping the situation that my chronic rejection status is not good and prognosis isn't good. I believe that everything will work out...that I will graduate in May, and start working as a nurse and go on to live a long and fulfilled life. I am taking it day by day. I'm not at peace with doing another round of photo, as no one at UAB has done that, let alone Duke I think. So it's any iffy chance. But please pray for me and that this photo will work, but more importantly, for me to feel peace from the Lord about whatever plan lies ahead. Thanks :)

Questions for those @ Duke/update

I have a question for my fellow bloggers that go to Duke-that have been transplanted, currently thinking or evaluating for transplant there.

But first-quick update: I was discharged from the hospital Aug 15th-1 day before classes began. I spent 3 weeks in the hospital-the most I've ever spent since my transplant. I completed 7 days of thmyoglobulin. My low grade fevers ended up being due to C-Diff infection which completely wiped me out. I have now completed almost 5 weeks of oral Flagyl and 2 weeks of oral Vancoymcin. After returning home, the effects from the thymo were horrible, and still remain somewhat. I am slowly getting better. My oxygen saturations have been much better-upper 90s at rest and 88-90 with exertion (with no oxygen) which is better than 82-83 with exertion before the hospital and around 85-88 at rest before the hospital.

I am scheduled to begin photophoresis within the next week or two. I am thinking about getting a 2nd opinion regarding my chronic rejection and history this last year. Although I don't doubt I have chronic rejection, part of me feels like there is something the docs are missing. I am not 100% positive that I need photophoresis or that is the right treatment protocol for me right now, considering I've already done it twice in years past. I'm not in complete agreement with my docs on how much the chronic rejection has progressed. Although I only have 30-40% lung function, I'm not convinced some of that is due to only having lobes and not full lungs. I know Duke is familiar with living donor transplants.

If I do precede with getting a 2nd opinion, I will travel to Duke, as I feel its the best center that is the closest to me. So if you have any experience with chronic rejection or transplant at Duke-i would love some info. Even just general info about the docs and transplant team. Or-if any of you have had different treatments for chronic rejection at another center-please feel free to discuss as well as my options are open right now. I want the best for me, and my lungs have definitely deteriorated over the last year or so.

I am managing to make it through classes, but still get really wiped out. I started my 1st IV on my patient last Friday. Off to clinicals again tomorrow and again Monday.

Sorry-Here is an update

Sorry for the long time lapse since last posting. It's been a little busy around here. I'll give more details and catch you up on what's going on throughout the week.

But just briefly: I finished IV abx April 15. Luckily, i have not had to go back on IVs since then. I am though currently taking oral Cipro antibiotic.

I finished up the spring semester with B's. I actually start summer semester classes today-Monday the 23rd. I had a two week break.

Last Wed i went to the beach with some family. I got back yesterday (Sunday). The weather was beautiful, but very hot Saturday; no rain (which was nice), so i was able to enjoy being outside for 5 days. Definitely a relaxing trip. And i think the beach air really perked me up and i felt so much better. I'm still on Cipro for another week, and still using oxygen, Xopenex nebulizer and oxygen at night. However, my oxygen saturations have been a good bit better and I've been able to decrease the amount of oxygen i wear at night. So praying that i feel great this summer, since i have an extremely heavy load of classes.

Our local CF Great Strides Walk went extremely well! I will post about that later.

Hopefully you haven't given up on me blogging :) I still read your blogs, but hopefully I'll be more consistent with updating and posting interesting, fun things that are going on with me :)

More updates to come!

Neverending

Crazy. I can't think of a better word to describe my life right now. Some of its a "good crazy" but not all of it.

To update: I had my bronch last Monday, the 4th. All went well. I did require more sedation than last time, but for some odd reason it didn't take me as long to sleep it off. Once I got home, I slept for about 4 hours. When I awoke, I was sort of in a panicky-agitated mode. I couldn't breathe. I was extremely nauseated, shaky. I couldn't move. These are common side effects after a bronch, but the extent to which i was experiencing these was much more than I had in the past. However, I just told myself it would go away, and I spent the next 5 hours trying to overcome these adverse effects. At about 9:30 or 10:00, clearly things were getting better and I was having an extremely difficult time breathing. I called my doc (the doc on call was the one who happened to do my bronch-and my fav); he was concerned and told me to come to the ER. One of the concerns after a bronch is a pneumothorax. I was having pain on the side they did the biopsy, so it was definitely a possibility.

(on a side note: I did notice that my WBC count had increased that morning to 10,000 from 6,000 the week before. That is very unusual for me, and it actually pretty high, as I normally run around 3-4,000. Also, I had felt ok prior to the bronch, and even went to take a Psych Exam at school prior to the bronch)

So on arrival at the ER, my Dad signed me in, and I sat down. Then he told them about how i was transplant, and had a bronch that morning. My ER does a really good job about taking transplant patients right back-even skipping triage area. So once they signed me into the computer and took baseline vitals, everything went extremely fast. I did have a fever when i arrived, a high heart rate, and O2 sat of 85% on room air. Once I got back to the room, they did blood work, stat xray, EKG...the works. After about an hour or so, things finally calmed down. I was on 4 liters of oxygen, hooked up to all sorts of lines. They wouldnt even let me get out of the bed too pee without my oxygen (even thought I knew i would be ok-UGH). My lab work came back and it was all out of whack. My WBC count was now 16,000. My xray was also suspicious of pneumonia. UGH!

So I got admitted...finally arrived in a room about 2:45 AM. LONG day/night. My doc thinks it was just a reaction to the bronch. He said since they stir a lot of things up down in your lungs, you can have increased WBC counts. However, he said they never see them that high. I did receive 2 doses of IV Vanomycin, Tobra, and Ceftaz while admitted. So my doc thought it was safe for me to be discharged. I told him i had to be at clinicals Thursday anyway...and i was already doing IV Ceftaz at home. My NP, however, was concerned, and didn't want me to go. But i guess the doc wins in that situation. When I left, my WBC count had actually increased to 18,000. So she just told me to have a really low threshold and report any minor/little thing.

I ended up feeling fine on about Friday last week. I felt pretty good over the weekend too, and soaked up a lot of sun. However, yesterday I felt horrible and had a really high resting HR. Today was some better, and I'm hoping yesterday and today were just off days. I finish my IV antibiotics Friday, and return to clinic next week. My oxygen levels are still struggling, as several days that have been below 90% at rest. They are 86% and below with excertion (even saw an 82% today-UGH). But then i've had days where they are in the mid 90s...so it's really a confusing cycle here. Still sleeping with oxygen. I'm praying that this infection will be rid of for a very very LONG TIME as it's been really hard keeping up with school.

Tomorrow is our last day of Psych clinicals. We have 2 more weeks of classes until the end of the semester..YAY. Definitely ready for my 2 week break.

7 YEARS!!!!!

Wow! On this day, February 25th, 7 years ago (2004), God gave me the most wonderful gift of all: a miracle; a second chance at life. WOW!!I can't believe it's been 7 years...time flies!!

A special thanks to my donors: my Mom and Jeff (family friend). I know some of you are new to my blog, so I've decided to re-post my "About Me"/Intro posts when i started my blog, that recaps my story. I have been blessed beyond bless and are so excited to see what life has in store for me. I know I have my ups and downs (getting sick), but I always seem to bounce back and jump right back into my normal, daily (sometimes stressful, but wonderful) life. I'm getting closer and closer to pursuing my career dreams!


I've had a lot of close friends pass away recently, some that are really sick (post and pre-transplant) and some waiting for their 2nd chance as well. I am praying for these people every day and for God to touch their life in an amazing way. I'm sure most, if not all, of my followers are organ donors (those that can be-medical-wise)...but if you aren't...i strongly encourage you to be one. It's a wonderful gift that you can give to someone else.


We've had exciting news in the CF world as well, with the VX-770 drug getting astounding results. We are looking forward to it being approved by the FDA and get on the market, so it can start saving lives as well. We are definitely making Great Strides in the world of CF!! And i really encourage you to be a part of that.


I'm ecstatic to be celebrating a special anniversary today! God is good; and a special thanks to all my family, friends, and medical team members that have cared for me pre-transplant and now post-transplant..for allowing me to live my dreams and pursue my goals, for taking such great care of me, and for being a wonderful support system!! Thank you!

BOMBARDED!!!

You think things are going well....but then they just go backwards. I have been having migraine headaches for about 8 days now (since last Monday evening). I had been unable to identify the underlying cause, and nothing was really relieving the pain. I'm not one to get headaches period, so to have migraines is a pretty big deal....especially when unresponsive to Advil, Tylenol, Excedrin Migraine, etc. So I finally called my transplant coordinator who had a call into the doc to call me in a specific drug to treat migraine headaches. While waiting for her to call me back, My mom asked me to check my oxygen saturation....which i feel kind of dumb to have not thought of that myself, considering I did that all the time before my transplant. After transplant, you tend to not check those things as frequently, and I don't normally have issues with my O2 sats anyway.

So when I checked them they were in the 80s (87-88%). Crap! So I called my coordinator back and she had me come to clinic today. After checking my O2 sats yesterday, i started putting some pieces together. First of all, I have been extremely fatigued/tired...probably 90% worse than normal. Last week I did start coughing junk up, but it subsided with the initiation of TOBI and Xopenex aerosol. I just haven't felt great the last week or so, but didn't really think anything about it. This morning before I left my house, my oxygen saturation was 88%.

So the verdict from clinic today: No pneumonia (which is good)..probably bronchitis or other respiratory infection. My lungs actually sounded ok. My PFTs, however, dropped 15% from 3 weeks ago (today it was 34/32%, compared to the first of February being around 49%). My oxygen saturation was initially 94% when checked. However, my coordinator had one of the nurses "walk me" around clinic and monitor my sats while doing so. They ranged between 88-89%. So based on my signs/symptoms, oxygen levels and PFTs.....this is what my doc prescribed:

Oxygen 2 liters at night (during the day if I feel like I need it)
IV antibiotics (home version)
Steroid boost
Finish round of inhaled TOBI

So not exactly happy with the outcome, considering I haven't had the best record of staying well the last 6 months. This is the 3rd round of IV abx since October..plus the GI hospital stay. And...I haven't had to use oxygen really since my transplant (with the exception of temporarily during 2 hospital stays with pneumonia). Doc said the oxygen should be temporary. I'll go back to clinic in 1 month to be re-evaluated.

So...with all said, hopefully these "scripts" will knock this infection out for good. Psych clinicals start next week....tests galore...crazy!!! Busy week this week with other stuff too....what the heck...every week is busy...LOL!

I did manage to get a B on my Pharmacology test last week...however, after studying for 2 straight weeks, I had high hopes of making a "high B" or better yet an "A." Maybe next exam.

Speaking of transplant, this Friday, February 25th, I will be celebrating God's wonderful gift given to me 7 years ago....the 2nd chance at life. 
 

Wow!

I can't believe it's mid-February, and I haven't posted since January. My apologies. I'm guessing most of you don't get your hopes up anymore for me to post. Nursing School has control of my life right now :)

But I wanted to write a quick update. Picking up from where I left off...being discharged from the hospital...everything is going well. No more stomach issues. Things seem to be back to normal. I had lost about 10.5 pounds from this hospital stay. I have managed to gain back about 3-4 pounds (depending on the day). I've also switched to Creon Enzymes, due to Ultrase not being manufactured anymore. So I'm also trying to adjust that to where it needs to be. So far so good. For the most part, the lungs are doing well...just a minor cold here and there.

School is good, but extremely stressful. Being out for 2 weeks at the beginning of the semester through me back, especially with having to take an exam the day after I was discharged, and another exam the following week. Needless to say, I didn't do too well on those 2 exams. I had my 2nd Pharmacology Exam today, which I made a B on. While I'm happy, I had my hopes on making a high B or an A, considering I had been studying non-stop for 2 weeks.

In other school news, I had to medically withdraw from my OB class/clinical at the suggestion of the professors. I had missed a couple of labs while in the hospital, and upon meeting with the professor, I was told I couldn't make those labs up. So 2 classes were knocked off my schedule for this semester. I will take the OB lecture and clinical this summer. Thankfully, it won't put me behind, I'll just have those extra 2 classes this summer on top of the other 3 classes. So I'll have 5 classes and 16 hours in about a 10 week period...YIKES!! But again, I would have hated to have to drop back and lose my great friends I've met in nursing school. So I thought this semester would be much lighter, which is still is, compared to what it would be, but it's still extremely busy and stressful! My Psych Clinicals start March 3rd. I have to say, that out of all the Nursing Classes, this is the one that I'm NOT looking forward to!!

Other Miscellaneous news...I had a Birthday on February 4th....26 years old. I feel old. I wish I could go back a few years!! My 7 yr transplant anniversary is coming up on February 25th (next week), which I am extremely thankful for.

I need to start on my stuff for our upcoming CF Great Strides Walk. Our Young Professionals Board is going well. I am Co-Chair of our board this year, which means I will be Chair of the board for 2012. I'm really excited.

I'm trying to keep up with everyone's blogs, but my time is limited. For those of you on facebook, I'm able to keep track more often :) I hope everyone is having a great week. I'm about to go out for the night...get my mind off school. Tomorrow and Friday will be spent doing a Pharmacology Assignment.

Until next time.....

HOME~

I'm finally home after two grueling weeks in the hospital...this stay was extremely hard. My stomach is working normally now...but I am on a full-liquid diet for about 10 more days. I return to transplant clinic next Wednesday for follow-up.

I am attempting to attend a clinical orientation class tomorrow and hopefully class and an exam on Wednesday. I'm extremely weak, so not sure how much I will be able to endure. Please pray for strength and endurance over these next few weeks.

I hope everyone is doing well. I miss blogging!

Hospital

I know this is way over do. I have been in the hospital pretty sick since last Monday-Jan. 10th. I developed a very very sudden and severe small bowel obstruction and have been fighting it since. I had an NG tube up until this past Tuesday. But after that, things turned the wrong way again, and another tube was put back in. The tube came out again this afternnon, so I'm hoping it can stay out. We are still working on resolving the obstruction. I had hoped to be home by now, but things are just moving a lot slower. Upon admission, i was extremely sick and very acidotic. i had no bicarbonate in my blood. In addition, i had been in extreme, extreme pain. Luckily the pain is better.

THey have started me on clear liquids right now. I will have to remain on a full-liquid diet for about 2 weeks before resuming a solid-food diet. THis will be hard, but know it is necesarry. Please pray the obstruction will clear itself very quickly. Pray that the NG tube can stay out. Pray for improved strength, and energy. Also, just as importantly, pray i will be able to catch up on schoool stuff. I have missed a lot of stuff.

I'll try and update again soon!
Thanks!!!

Happy New Year/Back to School

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!! I Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! I know this year is going to be awesome...and I can't wait to see what is in store for 2011!!
I start back classes tomorrow-Tuesday...wow...time flies by! I'll do my best to keep up with blogging. Hopefully it won't be as busy or stressful as last semester :)


I started getting sick again at the middle of last week. So, I started on another round of oral antibiotics (Cipro) for 2-3 weeks. I've only been off the IV antibiotics about 2 1/2 weeks...so praying the Cipro knocks whatever this out and i can start the new semester off feeling good!

A Couple of New Year's resolutions:
1.     To be a better Christ follower. To make more of an effort to attend church and Sunday School more often (I did a horrible job of this last year....using excuses of school and health...although a lot of times it was legit). I attended Sunday School yesterday-Sunday-and joined a new life group, which is sort of like a small bible study and accountability group. I think that will be great and help keep me connected during the school year. I get caught up so much with school and other stresses of life, that I forget and don't make time to spend with God.

2.     Another resolution...to be on time!! I used to always be on time or even early. Now I find myself rushing everywhere...either arriving just on time or a little late.

3.     I also want to decrease the procrastination I have in me when it comes to studying...lol!! I don't wait til the night before, but I really need to start studying every day so i don't have to cram before exams :)

4.     EXERCISE!! I say this every year. It's more of a time conflict than a motivation issue. I am motivated and want to do it. But with nursing school, there is literally zero free time, and if you have free time, it's spent studying. So I'm going to try to at least do the exercise bike we have at home a few nights a week. I do get a lot of exercise (more than before) in with nursing school, and I think it has helped me feel better and increased my breathing capacity (although i feel like i can't breathe..lol) as well as my O2 saturation. So we'll see where this leads too!.

5.    And last, but not least: be a better sister. My brother and I get in so so many fights (verbally) when he comes home for holidays. I always tell myself that it's not going to happen and I'm just going to ignore things he says that makes me mad, and try to watch what i do as well. But it seems like it never happens. So I am really, seriously, going to make an actual effort to get along with my wonderful brother...always :)

Ok...I'm up late...need to go to bed. Lots of stuff to do today (Monday) before class tomorrow! For all of my fellow CF and Transplant Blog Followers...I will be praying that 2011 will be an awesome year for you and that you will feel amazing and be able to do amazing things. Hang in there! Love you all!!


Happy 2011!!!

Christmas Vacation

I can't believe I've already been off from school for 2 weeks. I only have 2 more weeks to go...yikes. Somewhere in the amidst of chaos, I agreed to work last week and this week. Same place I've worked the last 3 Fall semesters. They needed help....i love the place, people, and i could use a little extra $$. So today was my last day. I plan on sleeping a LOT, and resting as much as possible the rest of this week and next week. It's really hard to rest over the Christmas Holidays. I do have a few errands to run and meeting a friend for lunch on Thursday.

My last dose of IV antibiotics is tomorrow morning...yay! I actually don't feel tons better, but for right now...we are just going with the flow. I need some days where I've really rested and allowed my body to recover. So I'll readdress that after Christmas. I'm ready to de-access my port...driving me crazy :)

Grades for the semester were posted yesterday....2 A's and a B..yay!
My brother graduated successfully last Monday, the 13th. I'm so proud of him :)

And that's really all the news I have. Nothing too important. I have some pics i want to post in the next few days. Sorry :) I hope everyone is ready for Christmas and has finished all their shopping...LOL!!!!

IV Abx/Semester over

As I mentioned in the post before last, I haven't been feeling so well. The Cipro did get me through last weekend and the last few days of school this week. I called my transplant coordinator to get the final results of my sputum culture. Unfortunately, it grew moderate amount of pseudomonas. So this is definitely why I wasn't feeling good. I always have pseuodomona in my sinuses, but we try to keep it from going down into the lungs...and that's what it did.

Unfortunately, I'm not fully sensitive to any oral antibiotics that can kill this bug (or really any bugs). So I had to start IV abx. Luckily, she let me start them at home first and see how I feel. If I start feeling better, then i'll continue doing them at home. If I don't feel a whole lot better by Monday, then they will probably admit me.

I really didn't expect my culture to grow anything...but at least I was able to do a culture and get the right abx to kill the infection.

We had our CFF YPB Christmas Party last night. It was a lot of fun!!

I finished out the 1st semester of nursing school with 2 "A's" and one "B." Not too bad. I'm so proud of myself for being able to complete it. It wasn't the easiest thing with my health acting up towards the end and one hospitalization. But the Lord got me through it and I am so thankful. I can't wait til next semester!!!

In other news: My aunt passed away last weekend, so we have a service for her tomorrow. Please keep her family (she has a daughter and a son), as well as my Mom and her other 2 sisters in your prayers. This was definitely unexpected. She was only in her early 60s (i think she just turned 60) and died of a hemorrhagic stroke.

Also, my brother graduates college on Monday. I'm so proud of him. He has also already secured a job, which is great! I love him so much!

Well, that's all for now! I'll update you later! I hope everyone had a great week!

Almost done!!

I never would have thought that my blogging days would be so few....who knew?

Anywho...the semester is almost over. I have a final exam Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and then I will be done!!

YAY!! I made it through the 1st semester of nursing school....i can't believe it!!! I'm so proud of myself!!

So i promise more blogging time now that i'll have a break from school. I really haven't had a break from school since last Christmas since i only had 1 week in between spring and summer semester and then in between summer and fall semester. So i'm really looking forward to it.

In the health world...things aren't so hot. I starting "dragging" last weekend. Then Monday and Tuesday i got sick....real sick. I missed class Tuesday morning and had to suck it up and go to clinic on Wednesday, which caused me to miss class then too (which was the last week of school--so that sort of sucked). I went to clinic and labs and xray were ok...but i definitely had some sort of respiratory infection because i had been running low grade fevers and had coughing, wheezing, fatigue, and "all of the above." So I got an oral antibiotic to add to my inhaled TOBI. I started feeling a little better yesterday and feel a little better today. If for some reason I don't keep getting better or backtrack, then they said they will do a bronch and restart IV abx. So I'm just praying i make it through next Wednesday. My PFT's had dropped a good bit (but I also haven't done them since June)

So dinner and movie at a friend's house tonight. I've really enjoyed hanging out with my friends i've met this first semester of nursing school! I really hope that some of them are in my clinical groups next semester!

Off for now...but promise i'll be back SOON!!

Home, Sweet, Home

I'm home!! I'll be doing IV antibiotics until Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm off to bed. Busy day tomorrow...then rest over the weekend (along with studying and school work).

Going Home

So...the plan is for me to go home tomorrow (Thursday) on home IV antibiotics. YAY!! At least I can go home and rest there. Although there is a lot of stuff I have to do this weekend. I should be back at class Monday. Hopefully my abx schedule will work with my class schedule so I don't have to miss any classes or a part of a class.

I do have a Pathophysiology test Tuesday. So I've got to really study for that this weekend. There is a review session Friday and Monday. I'm going to try to go to both of them, as I'm really behind in this class. It's the only class that doesn't take attendance and it doesn't "kill" you to miss it. I have the notes from friends of mine, but still need to study.

I also have a research paper due next Friday. Guess I better work on that this weekend too :)

So the results of the ECHO...my heart is fine...thank goodness. Nothing to be concerned about right now. My nurse practitioner said I have a healthy and beautiful heart :) My doc said that we will monitor it and if things got worse, I can get a heart cath done to check for the pulmonary hypertension. Evidently, the results from an ECHO aren't all that accurate and you really need other tests to confirm it. But there is nothing that indicates I would have pulmonary hypertension or that I needed other tests. So that is good news.

In the heart rate world...it is still high. It may just be that this is my baseline and have been hanging around this # for awhile. I don't really monitor it that much at home, except when I do an occasional BP check (which is usually at rest). And hopefully my heart rate will get better with another week of IV abx. My O2 sats are hanging around 90% when exercising...which is better. And these #'s should also get better with another week of abx.

So please pray that all goes well with doing home IV's and getting back into a normal routine, especially with school.

Hospital Day #6

Going on day #6 in the hospital. I have cabin fever really bad. As I mentioned before, I had hoped to be back in class yesterday (Monday) or at the latest by today for clinicals. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Hopefully Thursday will be the day. I will still be going home on Home IV's though. I have several things on Friday, including a Nursing School Luncheon that i'm working at and a CFF Young Professionals Board Fundraising Event. I also have a Pathophysiology test Monday.

My Heart rate over the weekend was higher than it had been earlier in the week. On Sunday, my doctor decided to walk me around the nurse's station and monitor my O2 saturation while walking (since my Heart Rate had been higher). He got a reading of 83% (which wasn't good). I'm not entirely sure it was accurate. I re-walked myself, while monitoring it later that night, and it ranged from 87-90%. So it's still too low. I also am having some really low BP readings (one day is was 80/38). They held my BP med yesterday and today. And tomorrow they are starting it back but at a much lower dose.

So the doctor on call this past weekend, suspected that maybe something was up with my heart. So I had an ultrasound to check for DVTs (deep vein thrombosis...blood clots). I also had an ECHO today. The ECHO technicians kept talking (which I hate when I can't see the screen or they "talk behind my back." However, one of the techs asked me if I knew I had pulmonary hypertension. I said no....no one has ever said that and I never have had it. So I'm guessing I might have some now? A little worried about that.

So..my heart rate is still really high...but other than that, everything is going ok. Still need my O2 sats to get better as well. I can tell that they are low, because i'm getting these massive headaches.

I did have a rough day yesterday morning with nausea and throwing up. And then that sent me into tons of pain. So yesterday was definitely not a good day. No sleep at all. And plus I was drugged with so many meds yesterday including pain meds, that today I've been really sleepy.

My clinical instructor from school came by and saw me today on her way to our unit where we do our clinicals. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be with her coming by. She was really sweet. And it looks like that missing clinicals this week is not going to affect me passing the semester, because I had been doing really well so far. We'll see.

Ok...so I'll update again soon!

Hospital

Ok, so I totally thought I posted Wednesday morning after my doctor's appointment. But I guess not. Needless to say, I got admitted Wed to the hospital (HTICU) after my appointment. I did go home and pack a bag, then came back. So going on day 4 being in the hospital.


The main reason I was admitted is because I wasn't responding to the oral antibiotics with this infection. I'm only sensitive to 1 oral abx (Cipro) and it wasn't doing the trick. So IV abx was really my only option. I really didn't expect to be admitted...seriously..and was kind of surprised that is what they wanted to do.

The original plan discussed during clinic was to come in for a few days, then go home on home IV antibiotics. Plans change all the time, and honestly, I don't know when they are going to let me go home. I have clinicals this week for school (pre-clinical Tuesday then clinical Wed and Thurs) so I really want to be out by Tuesday morning. I'd like to be home by Monday. I thought I would be going home tomorrow, but that's out of the question.

Nothing really different to report other than the same ole stuff. I'm getting IV antibiotics, and just being watched carefully. I had been having these episodes of chest pain, which know one has identified the cause to yet. In some respect, they are monitoring this, but the main doc said I could come for some tests as an outpatient that he didn't want me doing them with an acute infection.

I'm trying to walk as much as possible. Today I've been much more SOB and have had a much higher heart rate while walking. But hopefully that will get better.

I told myself I would study today. Did that happen...NO!! I'm watching the Alabama Football game now. Maybe study tomorrow. I'm so behind :(

I'd appreciate your prayers for a speedy recovery and for everything to work out with school. I'm stressing big time about school.

I hope everyone has been having a good weekend

Random

This is a very random comment....

I figured out a way to make me take a quick shower and not linger.....have a cockroach on the celing above you :)

I HATE bugs...especially cockroaches. I spent the whole time talking to the cockroach while in the shower making sure he wasn't moving any closer to me.

Sorry...I know that was completely random :)

On another note...we have fall Break this week. We get a whopping 1 day off of school. It's technically 2 days, but we are always off on Fridays. This doesn't mean no studying...just no classes. And my Thursday is already booked with appointments. I have my mid-term evaluation with my clinical instructor. I also have a CFF Meeting.

I travel to transplant clinic tomorrow. My health has been holding up, but over the last week or so, I feel like I'm going downhill. I've also started to spike low grade fevers over the last few days. I'm also extremely SOB and more tired than usual. So I'm leaving class early tomorrow (which is a 1st) so I can get to clinic in time. They only have transplant clinic Wednesdays and most of the time they are done by 12 noon. I have to go at 6:00 am to get labwork and chest xray. Then I'm going back to class at 8am until about 10:00 am then hopefully be over at the hospital/clinic by 10:15. Thankfully campus is right next to UAB Hospital, where my transplant center is. And thankfully our instructors are not teaching us anything new tomorrow in skills lab since we are off on Fridays. We are just reviewing what we learned last time. So...I'm hanging on by a string, and I still think it's awesome and feel blessed that I have not been in the hospital since January. I plan to keep that going...but may need a boost of something. I never knew how stressful and exhausting this would be!

I still have the 3 fractures in my foot. They discovered at my last appointment that I have 2 stress fractures instead of 1. I don't really have any pain, but my ortho doc said it would take 6-8 more weeks to heal (and that was 3 weeks ago).

I'm sorry I'm lacking on blogging. Today is the 1st day I've sat and watched TV for a few hours...and that's only because I skipped my morning class and they let us leave early from our afternoon class.

I started watching the news coverage of the Chilean (is that spelled right?) Mine Rescue. I had no earthly idea this had happened. I told my Mom that I need a current event review every few weeks because I never get to watch the news...lol! Isn't this rescue amazing!!

I will post a report from my clinic appointment tomorrow!!

Oops!

Obviously I haven't kept my promise about blogging. As I've gotten more into the school year (a month in)....I can tell you that there won't be much time for blogging this semester (maybe on holidays). It's so time-consuming, exhausting and just crazy all over. No time for sleep....just class, clinicals and studying. And with my body.....I really need extra sleep, but it just isn't happening. So blogging is definitely not a priority right now.

I'm still "well" but have definitely been dragging this week. I had a low grade fever Thursday and barely any energy all this week, SOB, etc. I got labwork and chest-xray yesterday. Everything turned out ok (with the exception of being dehydrated). My coordinator wants me to rest as much as possible (haha) and call her Monday. Nursing school is 24/7. It's what I asked for, but I don't think I knew how exhausting it was going to be. When healthy people are complaining about being tired, stressed, etc., you know mine is much worse. But praise the Lord, I've been able to handle it. At least the "stress" part isn't anything new, since I've already been through round 1 of a college degree and used to juggling my health with school. This time it's just much worse!

We learned how to give injections this week :) I had my 1st big test this past Monday and I made a "B" which is awesome!! Another test (in a different subject) this Tuesday, along with LONG clinical days and much much more! Boy will I be glad when the semester is over :) But through all of the hard part, it is fun, and exciting! (so don't think I hate it). UAB is one of the toughest nursing schools there is, but they "produce" some of the best nurses!

Not sure where I left off with my foot...but it did end up being a stress fracture. The doc in the box said it wasn't broken, but the pain was too much for it not to be. So I sought out a really good orthopedist and indeed, it was a stress fracture. I've been using a bone stimulator to help along the healing process. It's amazing how much of the pain is gone and how much I can tolerate walking on it. It's a really cool device that you just strap on your foot for 20 minutes twice a day (or sometimes once a day in my case). It almost feels like it's not broken any more. I get it xrayed again on Monday...so I'll find out then how it's healing!

I've also been busy with our CFF Young Professionals Board. I am chairing a committee for our upcoming signature event, "Dodge CF" (Dodge ball event). More details to come later! Lots of stuff going on in the CF World...transplants, events, etc.

I might (hence, the word might) try and write more this weekend. But I have tons of studying to do...and sleeping :) So don't be upset if I don't update again. Next week is busy solid...all week, so next blog update probably won't be for a few weeks! But don't give up on me...I still get time every now and then to read your blogs! We have a fall break coming up, and Thanksgiving before you know it. So I know I will get some blogging time in then!

Please continue to pray for strength, energy and just an overall "healthy" body!

Oh...and Roll Tide :)