I have decided this is the easiest way to update. We are not good at answering the phone or making/returning phone calls. I even been too lazy (or tired) to answer emails.
It's been a rough week. I lost my
picc line last week (it broke) so I got a new one last Friday. Since (last) Saturday I have been in a lot of pain. My arm has swelled and throbbed, clear down to my finger tips. And I have been
soooo tired! Not a little, "I need a nap" tired but a "I cannot keep my eyes open even though I just woke up", tired. I talked to the doc on Tuesday and she told me to take
meds and I would be fine. Went to SF with Kellen's class on Wednesday and truly thought I was going to die by the time we got home.
Called the doctor Thursday morning and she finally decided she was concerned. She scheduled labs, a CT scan, and an ultrasound for right then. I left work, drove to
UCDavis, did my labs, then to ultrasound. My ultrasound was PAINFUL and she briskly walked around the curtain (very private) to call my doc and tell her that I had a blood clot. I asked if I could go grab a drink and her comment was, "
Hunny they are gonna send you home to get a toothbrush and come back. You can't go get a drink." That made me feel good, or not. After talking to the doctor for a bit she sent me to her office (it is hooked to the hospital). I was not happy to see she was an hour behind. Did you know if you have a blood clot you don't even have to wait two minutes, let alone an hour? We talked and she decided she was going to have them pull my new
picc line with ultrasound to see what the blood clot does. Then insert a new
picc line. Have I mentioned
picc lines HURT! I am not a fan. They hurt when they do them and then a few days after..... The give you a shot or two of
lidocane to numb the spot insert a metal wire from your elbow, past your shoulder, and into the major vein running to your heart (that is how I understand it). Then they insert a dilator, or a hurts like nothing you've ever felt, into your arm. Then they insert the
picc. They claim that I have to skin of a elephant and have to use a scalpel to make a small incision to get it in, they run it up my arm, around my elbow, up my neck (until the flush it and realize it is in the wrong spot) then down my neck. After all that you wait for
xray, then wait for someone to read it only to tell you it is in too far. They then remove the 6 rolls of tape they have put on your arm (maybe only 5 :) to pull it out and tape it up again, only to have it
untaped and checked again in 24 hours.
After my
picc we were sent back to the doctors office to have a "pow-wow". Again if you were just
torchered they don't make you wait too long. We talked about the fact I am actually doing better then they expected and that I should still feel like crap (an understatement at this point) and that it might be time to take a look and run some tests to see what is going on. The doctor also decided that he might try to go in and cut out the spot but not until December. I have to get healthier and there has to be less swelling (it needs to be smaller so he can cut out a safe portion). I left miserable. In pain, frustrated, and I think getting sick.
We were home about 20 minutes and the doctor called (I think she missed me). She said she had just got my labs back and I have a dangerously low amount of iron (
hmmmm maybe why I'm
sooooo tired?!?!) My ulcer is bleeding (could have told you that) and my old
picc bled a pretty good amount. So she called in a huge amount of iron and talked about doing infusions (I think that means in my
picc line, not sure. It cannot go into my "backpack" because of the other stuff in it. I guess it won't absorb).
Anyways, that is where I am at. I went back to the hospital today for them to take a look at my
picc line (thanks Ann for driving me)! I go again Monday. BOTH of my arms are sore. I have been instructed to ice one and put heat on the other. I am exhausted (hospital and soccer all I could do today). I for some reason have a horrible metallic taste in my mouth and flushing saline into my line makes it a million times worse (even the See's candy I snuck today tasted awful)! AND to top it off.... I am getting sick. I have the sorest throat, it is swollen and is making me even more miserable (I thought that wasn't possible, I was wrong.... again)!
The reality is it could be worse, I'm sure it could. Maybe if I spent less time complaining I would feel better. Maybe I should work on that! I really appreciate everyone for their prayers, love support, and all the help we've had! I can not do it by myself anymore, even though I am trying! We feel so blessed to have such fantastic family and friends!! I am taking some
meds and going to bed. Hoping to make it to church for
at least a little while tomorrow! Goodnight!
