Fun While Waiting!

Things have been going pretty well here. I have to say that it took me about 6 days after the IV's were discontinued and my PICC was pulled before I started have ANY energy at all. I had never felt this type of fatigue before. My cancer patients at work have talked to me about it all of the time, when the chemo depletes their entire immune systems. It is a fatigue deep down in your bones. It's not that your tired...it's that your body won't perform no matter how hard you will it to. I had no white blood cell count, no immune system and definitely no energy. I experienced bone pain, which was my bone marrow trying hard to restore my blood to normal. It was a bit scary and something I hope I never have to experience again. It also made me appreciate the symptoms that my patients have described to me on a whole different level! In the end, I was glad that the decision was made to pull my PICC and stop the IV Cifoxitin. Even though it means I will be starting over with a new PICC and 4-8 weeks of IV Amikacin soon.

So I have been feeling well, still tired, but OK overall, for the past 5 days. We've been making the most of this little "IV vacation"! Crazy to say that, since I am still on 3 antibiotics, one anti-fungal, a probiotic, a bunch of vitamins, Singulair and nebulized albuterol. However, the IV's are just so intense, that any break from them is reason to celebrate.

We had a blast at my dear friend Elizabeth's Halloween Party on Saturday!

My little guy, Jake, won for the scariest costume in the kids costume contest!

Tonight we went trick-or-treating at my grandmothers nursing home. I made Jake cute, not scary. He passed out in the car before we even started.

Oh, the weekend was great for other reasons too! It was 80 degrees and sunny here in Cleveland, Ohio State won against Purdue on Saturday and the Cleveland Browns won against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday! It doesn't get much better than that!

Basically, I'm enjoying this little reprieve. I've got an appointment with Dr. Dazzle on Thursday. I have a couple little things to discuss with him...like my right eye and left ear acting funky. My sinuses are also really trying to give me trouble. I think they are confused, because they are being blasted with antibiotics. They really want to be infected, but the drugs won't let them... Fun stuff! The Amikacin that I will be starting IV has been out of stock for months. Hospitals are just starting to get it back in stock. However, the home care companies do not have access to it yet. We are working on trying to get some in the hands of a home care company that can work with me. This may take a week or two. When we get it figured out I will go to RB&C to have my PICC placed, then have my first dose on IV's in the Dialysis Center. Then I can go home the same day! No hospital stay this time...Woo Hoo!

That's all for now... Off to enjoy more IV-free days before I'm hooked up again!