Eight More Treatments in THIS Cycle To Go... Plus Playing Catch Up

Today's treatment, as well as the ones I have not gotten to blog about have been very non-eventful. I have been absolutely worn out and am feeling a tad bit sick... the nurses tell me that this is to be expected from the Rocephin. The guess among the neurologist and nurses is that the treatment will continue another round. Or, at least that is what they are hinting. Yesterday, a very long morning indeed, saw Jane and I traveling to Towson, MD (had to be there at 7 am - took almost an hour to get there from here) - luckily the doctor took us early (at 6:40). Our next stop was to go to Greenbelt, MD (which is on the total opposite side of Laurel) by 8:45 to see the Neurologist. We JUST made it because it took almost an hour and 20 minutes to get there from Towson. After that, we had to rush to make it to Laurel Regional. It was 9:45 by the time we got there and we got "chided" by the office manager for not making it to infusion sooner. But, she backed off as we explained we'd been all over the greater metro area already this morning. Anyway... after about 35 minutes of treatment, we left to get a birthday cake for his birthday boy-ness, Stephen and picked up some steak for me to grill for dinner. I was thinking... ahhhh... now I can rest. No such luck. At 11:30, I get a phone call to tell me that the "Home" improvement place has offered me a full time job (plus benefits). So, they required forms to be filled out immediately (ran over there after lunch) and a drug screening to be accomplished YESTERDAY. So, we got into the car to GO BACK to Greenbelt (where the Drug Screening Lab was), which -round trip plus lab time- took approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes! About 60-70 minutes of that was driving time. Then we came home and I could relax for about three hours before grilling dinner for the birthday dinner. We enjoyed dinner and then I finally got to crash. Cake was eaten around 7:45 and then I could honestly say I don't remember the rest of the evening because I just could not concentrate with my head acting up and I might as well have gone to bed. BUSY, BUSY day!

Today?

Today was a rather non-eventful day. I went with Jane to Ikea where I had their 99 cent breakfast of eggs, bacon, and potatoes. It was quite good... but I hate having to pay 1.35 for a drink. Oh, well.

I got Stephen's birthday gift while we were there. I got him a CD stand and I hope he likes it. He really needs a secure place to put his CDs.

When we got home, I worked on databasing my briefs and typed my lecture notes from last Sunday. Boooooooooooooring.

Ewwww.... OUCH! Day 17

Ok, this title could lead you to this is not my proudest day on the IV infusion route. When I got there this morning, the nurse who was on duty today was a little "out of the loop". He attempted to pull back my dressing to find the "lock" on the PICC line. If he'd asked, I would have told him, this is a PICC line with an internal lock and doesn't have an external locking mechanism. In the process, he pretty much made the dressing useless and would have to replace the dressing entirely... bringing the total of dressing changes this week to a grand total of 4! While removing the rest of this dressing, however, he ripped about a 1/2 by 1/5 inch gash across my arm (bye-bye skin layer!!!). IMMEDIATELY, blood and pus start rushing to the ripped place and start running down my arm. What does this guy do about it. Tells me to wash it off with water when I get home because he doesn't want to deal with it. About the same time as he finishes re-gauzing the PICC line, my drip finishes. Stephen got to read a grand total of 2 pages during the half hour session instead of our normal 10. Guess what? After SIX hours, it IS STILL dripping and oozing pus. SIGH!

Day 16 ended yesterday with a BANG. For my upcoming classes, my computer really doesn't fit the requirements. However, I was hoping to make it last through the first class (since we won't be doing a lot of the extra requirement work this class) and into January before getting a new computer. ESPECIALLY since ALU recommends the purchase of an IPOD for listening to audio versions of classes. My laptop had different ideas last evening. The power pack decided to completely die and make itself electrically unstable to the point electrical tape wouldn't even fix it. I had to decide whether to sink $70 into the sinking ship or purchase new laptop now. In the end, I decided to sink $70 into it. The laptop itself, although 4 years old, is in great shape and work fairly well and will be of use after I get a new one for class. I also purchased my IPOD at the same time I purchased the new power pack (at 8:20 yesterday night from Circuit City). So, after purchasing a $125 law dictionary today (along with the pocket version at an additional $33) and a 16 month calender, I'm ready to start classes. Hopefully I will hear back from the "Home" Improvement place because I think the interview went well.

Leaking Power PICC user out!

Let's See... Is This Day 16?

Yes... I believe today IS number 16 of 28. Today's IV medication hook up was less than eventful. We got there. They hooked me up three minutes after arriving. They took vital signs while I was dripping. And, I was out of there in less than 45 minutes... from the time we hit the door to the time we went back out the door. They asked how I was feeling. I had to admit, for the first time in a long time, I felt "a little" better today headache wise (is about a 6.5 out of 10 instead of the 7 it has been) and that the vision is a "little less blurry" (but still having problems reading out of the textbooks). The nurses seemed a little pleased to hear of the improvement and encouraged me to keep "thinking positively". I am hoping this might mean they are positively thinking that I might start feeling better very soon. Better than they are positive that I feel like roadkill.

Today, since I was unceremoniously fired from UPS, I have an interview with a "Home" improvement center (and recent Olympic sponsor) at 12:30. I am hoping they like me because I really would like to work. I think, as long as I don't have to do any lifting right now, I would be fine. So, I really have my fingers crossed that they may want me. Then, after the interview, I have to "run" over to White Oak and have an MRI for the neurologist so he can rule out some damage caused by the Lyme as to the reason I am still having major head pain. This is scheduled for 2:45. I hope that this all works out well. I have a feeling this is going to be a LONG day.

What Day Is This Again?

Today is who knows what day of IV treatment. I've lost count. (Actually, I think that I have 14 days left, which would make today Day 14.) Anyways, this was a rather non-eventful day at IV treatment *unlike yesterday* where I had to go upstairs to the ward floors to get my treatments and they really acted like they were inconvenienced by my being upstairs. Oh, well. At least I got my treatment yesterday anyway.

Today is also the first day of new student orientation for Law School. It starts at 9:30a. pacific time (12:30 Eastern) and ends at 5:30 pacific (8:30 Eastern). I am not looking forward to it as much as I am looking forward to it. I really have no desire to sit in front of my computer screen all day today and all day tomorrow. But, I have been looking forward to this for a long time (starting law school), so today is "THE DAY". I'll write tomorrow about how it went.

By the way... want to say congrats to the Welsh family on their recent addition. I'm sure she is totally adorable, Ash!

Wednesday... What A Wonderful Day In My Neighborhood

Today, so far, has been very uneventful. Got up early to be at IV infusion center by 8:30. Had treatment and got my dressing changed again (OUCH! It took off skin, too). Other than that... has been a very non-eventful day.

The tree branch is still hanging from our telephone line. Verizon has been out and hasn't fixed it. The county has been back and hasn't fixed it. I swear they are going to leave it there until the line fails completely. SIGH!

I am completely exhausted again today. You will have to forgive me for not writing more. But, I have no energy and am existing on very little sleep. I'll write more tomorrow... promise!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Hope it was a happy one!!!!