INSOMNIACS place to talk in the wee hours

Loveroflife

Oh no Mags. Hope they figure it out soon. Make sure they rule out Gemzar-associated vasculitis. It presents itself as fever of unknown origin. Will try to send you message through messenger.

Blue, oh my what a story! Scary indeed. We fostered to adopt a beautiful female white shepherd a few years ago. Her name was Star. Walked really well on leash. Wanted to be by my side all the time. Also had severe separation anxiety. We went out to dinner one day and came back less than two hours to find our laundry room looking like a tornado went through it. Unfortunately, we had to return her because she tried to snap at my younger daughter who was around 7-8 years old at the time . DD was just trying to pet her. Star had great potential. Hope they found a loving home for her.

Beatmon

Mags, hope you are doing better now and have made progress figuring out what the cause of the infection is.

You are in my prayers. Brenda

TaRenee

Oh goodness Mags! I hope they get the infection figured out quickly and you recover quickly. Hang in there

CeliaC

Mags - Hope you are on the mend (and into that beautiful new house) soon.

sas-schatzi

5:22 pm Sunday just talked with Mags. Congratulations Loverly, WHooohoohoooooooo. Loverly called me about the potential on vasculitis on Friday night.The primary treatment for vasculitis is prednisone. Friday 9:15 pm, I called the ICU and talked with Mags' nurse Max and talked his ear off. Max let the Hospitalist know.. Hospitalist studied it enough to call in a Rheumatologist who studied gemzar and Mags enough that she was put on prednisone 60 mg. She says she's feeling better. They would not have done this if her presentation didn't fit the clinical picture of vasculitus more than undiagnosed infection.. The risk with that high of a dose with an infection can be a system overpowered by the infection if one were present. SOOOOOO, keep praying

She's still in the ICU, I'm guessing it will be a few more days. Vasculitis is a nasty bugger and takes time to respond to treatment. Vascultis affects all organs and vessels when it's present. All systems will have to be stable before they ship her out to the floor.

Eeyore07

Praying for Mags! Thanks for Loverly’s knowledge and Sassy‘s insistence; and how wonderful to have this site to get everyone together and caring for each other. 💗💗.

JunieB

Oh my! Mags. So sorry to hear you're in the hospital. I hope you are on the road to recovery and ready to sign the paperwork for the house on Tuesday. Do you have enough help from your church family and others to get the move done?

I saw the neurosurgeon last Tuesday and he said he'd do a kyphoplasty on my L3, plus after seeing my x-ray he had his assistant call and tell me he could also do a fusion at L5-S1 as well. I am having a new MRI this coming Tuesday, so another trip to Portland. Ahh, more surgery. Always a bunch of fun. NOT!!!

The case for the bus accident has gotten rather complicated and I am so glad to have an attorney to deal with it all.

Loverly - It is good to hear that your Dad is doing well.

Kirby has a grooming appt. on Thursday and it's a good thing, because he is looking a bit shaggy at the moment.

Loveroflife

Thank you Ms. Sas for making that important phone call. I am so happy they call in the rheumatologist. I thank you for your persistence and determination. Delayed diagnosis can negatively influence the prognosis. I hope the prednisone is able to rescue the vital organ functions. Forgot to tell you that I got a PM from Mag. She is still with shortness of breath and will call you to talk when she is able. You are right that she is still not out of the woods yet until the nasty inflammation is tamed. BTW, I can’t take credit for this as it is not my doing. It’s God’s hands in this. I was praying for Mag and was prompted to look into Gemzar possible side effects that can mimic FUO. I am continue to be amazed with what He is doing. His mind is not our mind. Glory is His.

Eeyore .....I always knew that you are around.

Kath, may the surgeon’s hands be guided during your cataract surgery tomorrow. May you have uncomplicated and speedy healing.

sas-schatzi

Loverly, in all the trial periods of my life, only once did I pray to die. Within moments of that prayer, I was inspired/prompted with something to do. The action, the inspiration caused, SOLVED the situation that was occurring within about 15 minutes from the moment of prayer.. Kind of a record for prayer response.

The action was not something that is in a book, internet, or could it have been told to me by a doc. It was an unknown, except by HIM. I agree, when we listen, he will talk to us.

Everyone, Mags is still in a serious way. The presenting of the respiratory symptoms are part of the laundry list of body systems problems that vasculitis can cause. It's an early manifestation. Plus, the tumor site that had progressed is in a particular spot to cause trouble. So with the lungs she has two problems. Plus, with the high dose prednisone any lurking bad guy bacteria, may attempt a take over.

The others are later manifestations. By the time the most late ones occur, there may be no turning back. The importance of early intervention with vasculitis is key to getting through it. On the spectrum of where Mags is with systems being affected is good to this point. She did have some cardiac things occur Saturday, but not on Sunday. That's very good. She hasn't had any renal things, that's huge. Extremities, I didn't ask, but she also, didn't remark that they're was anything unusual, very good. Her head i.e thinking, speech was good. This is also, a very positive thing. Prayers.

sas-schatzi

Junie, glad you are making progress with the back. Oh vey, it's always something. How is he doing the L5- S1 fusion? A kyphoplasty is generally a in and out same day or a in for < 24 hours. (very boring insurance discussion). But a fusion is a different story. I've been out of it for long enough that strides in the surgery may have advanced.

EEyore, Bluebird, Mommie how 's things. I've read your posts, but it been a few days.

Bluebird your story on your first Newfie how sad, but so happy you weren't hurt. Happy that Danny Boy adjusted. Similar stuff with Dini. Dini ;sso happy now and for years actually. In 2013, he scared me allot. There will be a special place in hell for abusers of everything.

I think I will attempt to post some pictures. House is in and incredible disaster. Bathroom still a work in progress. Then I decided to paint(Donnie) some furniture. They had to be emptied. LOT of stuff spread over other rooms. Then before those units were to be refilled. I said welllll, lets paint the walls and doors.

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Window will be covered either with art or with something to make it look like an alcove. l so need to thin how much I have on the surround. I got carried away with the candles. That aluminum scultpure is so overpowering. It will need to go elsewhere. All the glass is collected and collectible. Left to right Fairy candle-Indiana Glass, Badash vase blue speckled with applied collar, three level Candlestick pattern Romance by Fostoria, Votive's on sill-Peppermint by Fostoria, Blue vases/votives- Blenko

Ugly wall thing on right is for a TV.

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Thrifted this SPCA. 45$ High quality construction Teak. Cheaper construction types go for 300-800$. Higher quality go from 1000$ to $1600. Tough call. but 45$ certainly good. Price 120$ on 50% off day which would have been 60$. Bartered down to $45. Love bartering.

M0mmyof3

Things are good here, finally getting Spring weather.

PattyPeppermint

prayers for mags

Sas. Wow when you start a project you go all in huh. ? I am confused. Did you say you painted Donnie or Donnie painted ? I like the first one. I know mags appreciated your expertise. You continue to amaze me with your knowledge.

Hootie hoo all

sas-schatzi

PattyP, Hi Lovey, With the projects I just wish I had emptied the whole house into a PODS thing or maybe two. The house is from 1988. Of course, we did things over time, but it's now time to be totally redone. I'm tired of what I have. It needs "Freshening" Painting Donnie would be a good idea Hahaha. He does so many things excellently. Painting doesn't fall in that category. He doesn't understand drips and drop clothes. He is trying harder as he sees my hurt face when it's on tables, art work, and tables. The hurt face has worked better than yelling Would love to see it all done. My joke last year was I hoped it was done by Thanksgiving. Now I'm say which one. I did finally say I wanted my candles around the walkin tub. WOW it's fun.Pictures don't show how much fun. My little oasis.

The expertise re:Mags was Loverly, I was just the conduit i.e.mouth. then Max, her nurse did his part. Then the Hospitalist called the right specialist. That was the end point that made the change. Mags comment was that none of the docs let their egos get in the way..That is nice. I love docs like that. But this is a thought. A gal from California calls a gal in Florida, who calls a nurse wh is from Tunisia that is the nurse of a patient in Oklahoma. That's America.

Who did you gift that beautiful pre- war plate too? I think of it on and off Particularly since that was the last time we talked on the phone. Hint, hint.

Hope you are feeling better. Glad to see you here, bigly. Did I catch that there is a new guy in your life? How are the boys? It's beaautiful that you have so many real and virtual friends caring for you.

sas-schatzi

Mags called with an update. She's confirmed large vessel Vasculitis. Sed rate 129(0-30), C-Reactive Protein 400(0-8). Both indicate inflammation. Cultures are back and are negative for infection. She's on a blood thinner (an abdomen shot bot sure which one they're several). She's been moved to the ICU step down unit YAY Very good sign Extremities all look good, normal checks on everything. upper and lowers. Has the scd's on (the pumping devices). States she still feels like she's gasping, the positive she doesn't sound gasping. That's an improvement, i,e,she can feel it, but it's less b/c it can't be audibly heard and she's talking in full sentences. Degree of shortness of breath can be evaluated as to how the SOB interrupts speaking and sentences. No further cardiac event since Saturday. Very good. She's starting to work on a discharge plan. She's been able to get out of bed with assistance.

Specific prayer plan. Sheez I forget. Thanking everyone for their prayers.

Closing delayed today b/c of paper work snafu by her financial guy.

M0mmyof3

Kwwping busy here. Working on another latch hook rug. One more to go after this one and then I am going to get one that has wolves on it.

Anonymous

I am so glad Mag is on the mend. What a team you all were.

Have been sleeping from midnight to noon and not wanting to get out of bed for hours. But I do get up. When my hip is better I will be a lot happier. Xrays were done yesterday, looking for what is the cause. Will know more Thursday at oncologist appt.

kathindc

Lover and Sas, you two are amazing!!!! What would we do without you!? Mags, I'm so elated that Lover and Sas tag teamed your health care team to get you on the mend. Hope the infection is on its way out of your system.

Junie, hope you are getting better from the bus accident. How did it go with the neurologist? Hope he has an answer for you and a plan of action to take care of it.

Shep, Miss Ellie is growing so fast.

Mommy, love your spring meme. I reminds me of a t-shirt I got last summer. I says "I don't give a -visual here- picture of a 🐀's with a rein to an 🐴 (male donkey without the jack in front of it).

Well the cataract surgery was let's say "interesting." I was fully aware of what was going on. Could hear the doctor talk particularly when he said "almost done here." Felt the blood pressure cuff inflate three times. And here's the kicker, was fully aware of the instrument in my eye moving around. Felt the pressure but no pain. Saw the surgeon today and I let him know about my experience. Told him I was canceling my left eye which was to be in a month as I don't think I can shake the memory of the operation any time soon and unless he could get me under a little it was definitely a no go. I felt like he was just shrugging it off. This is where I think doctors need to experience some of the things they put us through! How come all my friends who have had this surgery have all been in a light sleep and had to be wakened. What ever I had had little affect on me as I was fully capable of walking out on my own at my regular pace almost immediately after the procedure. Knew exactly what the discharge person was saying to me. I actually felt like I could have driven I was so in control afterward. Makes me wonder if it was just the numbing drops that I was given. It took me two years to build the courage up to do this because of the very thought that I would be aware of things. Even had to have a shot for the retinopathy which was NOT a pleasant experience. I did speak to one of his techs before seeing him about having to use one of the drops for six weeks when the literature gives a shorter time frame and asked if that wasn't overkill on the drops. He did reluctantly agree (guess not many question this) but gave the caveat of better safe than sorry, what if something happens during those extra weeks. Well shouldn't that be in the literature? Then how come the next visit is a month away and basically that's to decide what my new prescription for reading needs to be. This whole experience has me almost in tears.

sas-schatzi

Kathy, Just going to go with WTF all your thoughts and observations are so valid. Just real tired of care that isn't good

M0mmyof3

Thanks Kath. A cousin of mine sent me that one. She was getting sick of the winter weather.