When I started this blog I committed to being totally honest about what was going on in my life and how I felt about people and things. Well, that got me in trouble once...the being honest about how I felt about people...
I have "edited" myself from time to time about my feelings, but never about what was going on with me. Today was the first time I hesitated about being "completely truthful" and I will explain why later.
Yesterday I passed out, or almost passed out, or something suspiciously like passing out and Sandy came home just in the nick of time to find me and get me "fixed" again. We learned something important in the process.
I don't remember completely what happened, but Sandy came home and saw me sitting on the deck with my head down on the table. She asked me if I was all right and I didn't answer, so she talked louder, asking me if I was all right. I yelled "I'm FINE" and she got pissed and let the dogs out....then she looked at me again and saw I didn't look right, I guess I raised my head and blinked a few times or something...then put my head back down.
She asked me if I had a stroke, "no" I said. "Do I have to call 9-1-1 and get an ambulance to take you?" "No" She felt me and found me to be cold and clammy...I was sweating like crazy.
She got me a G2....my magic medicine...I drank about 3/4 of it and felt a lot better. She took my blood pressure...it was low, but coming up.
She got me in the house and turned the A/C on...I had shut it off and had opened the windows to air it out and to save $$ on the A/C....it was 79 in the house.
I couldn't remember for quite some time why I was outside in the first place, what had happened...nothing.
Carol came over and brought soup as soon as she got the message on the phone about me passing out. So sweet....we had just decided that I should have soup for supper and bingo...there she was with the soup!
I realized later that I had not been feeling well for sometime yesterday, even though I had taken it easy all day. My electolytes were down, probably from the heat the day before and from all the diarrhea I've been having. I need to drink G2 when that happens...I had been drinking, but ice tea and coffee, stuff like that.
So now I know that when I see the "whirly gigs in my eyes" and I feel weird in the head like I did just before this happened, I need to drink my G2 and get my electrolytes in line where they should be.
I also realize I was close to passing out at the Sox game on Sunday too. I had the same feeling and I responded so fast to the G2 Sandy got me.
Now the reason I was reluctant to be forthcoming about this incident. I know that Maria and Birgitta are going to worry like crazy about me when we are in Sweden together. I don't want them to worry. I'm going to find out if they have Gatorade/G2 in Sweden and I will stock up and drink it when I'm there.
I also didn't want to hear about how I'm "doing too much" etc., the one day I do nothing is the day I pass out! Go figure!
It's all over now, I know what to look for and I know what I have to do to keep from getting in that condition in the first place, as I sit in my recliner and sip G2!
Later, after all that excitement...Sandy got to play nurse again (she misses it so...now that she's in IT instead of nursing...ha ha) and flushed my power port. It has to be done every six to eight weeks. She has supplies to flush me four more times to save me trips to the doctor's to get it done. She said she got good blood return and a good flush...so everything is working fine there. I have to keep the port in for at least a year after finishing chemo...to make sure I don't need it again. The day I get my port out will be another milestone for me. We'll really celebrate then!
All the excitement is over folks, no more to see here! I am so glad that I married a nurse, one who comes home at the right time to find me unconscious on our deck!
Later!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
HEY-OOOOOOooooo
Busy busy busy!
Saturday was hot hot hot, so we putzed around, took the dogs for a swim in the pool and then I went over to Mark and Carol's to float in their pool. First time I've been in our pool this summer, it was nice. First time I've ever been in the Cote's pool...it's beautiful! The only problem with floating in the Cote's pool is that Porter, who is a 100lb+ black lab, wants to float on the lounge with me! And when I tell him he can't...he gives me such a sad look....
Sunday we were up early and on the road to Framingham to get the train to Fenway. I didn't realize that the train deposits you right there...it was so convenient. We got there a bit early..had time to watch the teams warm up and enjoy the pregame ceremonies.
The weather was unbearably hot and we were seated on the third base side, up under the roof, so we were in the shade, but the air doesn't move as good there as it does on the first base side. We were way up there in the stands but it was very convenient as you could just go up a few rows and you were on a concourse with restrooms and concession stands.
About the eighth inning I got super heated and felt quite ill. Sandy was out hitting the ladies room and when she came back she immediately recognized that I was in some distress. She wanted to get me up and out to where I could get some air but I told her I'd stay there and be quiet for awhile...actually I knew at that point that I COULDN'T get up and move....I was afraid I'd need to be carried out. I did sit quietly and we put water on my head and pulse points and that helped. I was sweating profusely, which is actually a good sign. I got tunnel vision and thought I was going to pass out, but that passed and soon the game was over and we sat and let people all around us leave.
After awhile I did feel better and we got up to go...my legs were quite wobbly. I was right, I wouldn't have been able to walk earlier. We walked to the train station, missing the train by about five minutes....too bad. Sandy left me sitting at the station and went back and got us drinks. She found a G2 for me and that helped me immensely...she went and got a second one for me to sip on the train...by the time we got to the car I was feeling very good.
I think we will take the train if we ever go up to Fenway again. It was so convenient and cheaper than parking.
Yesterday I went to work at UConn...it was only to take an online training session on HIPPA, the state code of ethics, etc....but it was great to be back on the road, going to work and getting paid for it. I got to see only two co-workers up there, Anna and Rosalinda...it was my luck that everyone else is on vacation!
Today I got up early again, to get ready to kayaking. Shirley came over and we headed over to Denise's. Bob, Denise's husband, was nice enough to take down two kayaks for us to use and launched us into the water...sliding down the boat ramp they have for the kayaks! It was so cool! Shirley got acclimated to the kayak and we paddled around for a little while, then her back started bothering her, so we called it a day kayaking-wise and went for a swim.
After Shirley dropped me back home I got changed into my working clothes and mowed the lawn. Sandy has been "letting me" mow the lawn lately. She told me that I didn't have to do the edges, which we do with the regular lawn mower...I was allowed to just run the lawn tractor. YAY! It takes me a little over an hour to do the whole lawn.
Yesterday and today I made it through the whole day without the use of the Five Hour Energy drink. Tomorrow I am going to weed out front, maybe trim bushes in the small yard out back (inside the fence area behind the garage) and then take the dogs to Colchester in the afternoon for PT. Sandy will meet me there and take over. Then I'm going to head to Seaside to meet Maggie McDermott. We are going to picnic down there tour around the place and go for a swim. Maggie is up here from Delaware, visiting her family. She and I usually hook-up when she comes up this way...it's always so good to see her and spend some time together.
This will be the first time in YEARS that I have been to Seaside. Same for Maggie. We both have lots of memories of the place. It's going to be very bittersweet to be there together again.
Sun have taken the Liberty to OT on a last second Renee Montgomery three pointer. I have to stop now and watch the rest of the game.
Nighty night!
Saturday was hot hot hot, so we putzed around, took the dogs for a swim in the pool and then I went over to Mark and Carol's to float in their pool. First time I've been in our pool this summer, it was nice. First time I've ever been in the Cote's pool...it's beautiful! The only problem with floating in the Cote's pool is that Porter, who is a 100lb+ black lab, wants to float on the lounge with me! And when I tell him he can't...he gives me such a sad look....
Sunday we were up early and on the road to Framingham to get the train to Fenway. I didn't realize that the train deposits you right there...it was so convenient. We got there a bit early..had time to watch the teams warm up and enjoy the pregame ceremonies.
The weather was unbearably hot and we were seated on the third base side, up under the roof, so we were in the shade, but the air doesn't move as good there as it does on the first base side. We were way up there in the stands but it was very convenient as you could just go up a few rows and you were on a concourse with restrooms and concession stands.
About the eighth inning I got super heated and felt quite ill. Sandy was out hitting the ladies room and when she came back she immediately recognized that I was in some distress. She wanted to get me up and out to where I could get some air but I told her I'd stay there and be quiet for awhile...actually I knew at that point that I COULDN'T get up and move....I was afraid I'd need to be carried out. I did sit quietly and we put water on my head and pulse points and that helped. I was sweating profusely, which is actually a good sign. I got tunnel vision and thought I was going to pass out, but that passed and soon the game was over and we sat and let people all around us leave.
After awhile I did feel better and we got up to go...my legs were quite wobbly. I was right, I wouldn't have been able to walk earlier. We walked to the train station, missing the train by about five minutes....too bad. Sandy left me sitting at the station and went back and got us drinks. She found a G2 for me and that helped me immensely...she went and got a second one for me to sip on the train...by the time we got to the car I was feeling very good.
I think we will take the train if we ever go up to Fenway again. It was so convenient and cheaper than parking.
Yesterday I went to work at UConn...it was only to take an online training session on HIPPA, the state code of ethics, etc....but it was great to be back on the road, going to work and getting paid for it. I got to see only two co-workers up there, Anna and Rosalinda...it was my luck that everyone else is on vacation!
Today I got up early again, to get ready to kayaking. Shirley came over and we headed over to Denise's. Bob, Denise's husband, was nice enough to take down two kayaks for us to use and launched us into the water...sliding down the boat ramp they have for the kayaks! It was so cool! Shirley got acclimated to the kayak and we paddled around for a little while, then her back started bothering her, so we called it a day kayaking-wise and went for a swim.
After Shirley dropped me back home I got changed into my working clothes and mowed the lawn. Sandy has been "letting me" mow the lawn lately. She told me that I didn't have to do the edges, which we do with the regular lawn mower...I was allowed to just run the lawn tractor. YAY! It takes me a little over an hour to do the whole lawn.
Yesterday and today I made it through the whole day without the use of the Five Hour Energy drink. Tomorrow I am going to weed out front, maybe trim bushes in the small yard out back (inside the fence area behind the garage) and then take the dogs to Colchester in the afternoon for PT. Sandy will meet me there and take over. Then I'm going to head to Seaside to meet Maggie McDermott. We are going to picnic down there tour around the place and go for a swim. Maggie is up here from Delaware, visiting her family. She and I usually hook-up when she comes up this way...it's always so good to see her and spend some time together.
This will be the first time in YEARS that I have been to Seaside. Same for Maggie. We both have lots of memories of the place. It's going to be very bittersweet to be there together again.
Sun have taken the Liberty to OT on a last second Renee Montgomery three pointer. I have to stop now and watch the rest of the game.
Nighty night!
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