tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80798640309324215332024-03-13T00:49:58.857-04:00Climbing the Pill-alayasLiving Life with New Lungs....One. Pill. At. A. Time.Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-35014769060837980512010-04-22T00:58:00.006-04:002010-04-22T01:27:46.355-04:00I'm back y'all. 10 months and counting! Happy Lungiversary to meee...WEeeeeeeeeeeeee!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up bitches?<br/><br/>Happy 10 month Lungviversary to meee...Happy 10 month lungiversary to Meeee, Happy 10 months to meeee, Happy 10 months to me! :) Yay! "It's a celebration, bitches!" as Dave Chapelle would say! let's see, what all has happened lately that I need to give y'all an update on....<br/><br/>Well, first of all, while staying over at Lori Beth's a week or so ago...I played basketball for the first time in 17 years. I mean it wasn't like a real game of basketball complete with dribbling and blocking, and fouls, etc. We just played a game of P.I.G. But, I played and actually made my very first basket on my first try. I made a few more along the way but ultimately lost the game. LOL oh well, it's the participation that counts right. Unfortunately, we played at like 10 pm. I was so sore by the time I laid down to go to sleep that night, I couldn't sleep all night. I guess I wasn't used to using those muscles since I hadn't in a long time. I had to get up at 5:30 am and take tylenol before i could fall asleep! But, it was worth it!<br/><br/>This past Friday, I had clinic again. B/c they wanted to keep an eye on this fever that I had the week before. Clinic went well. The fluid in my lung was gone. YAY. And my chest x ray looked the best yet. YAY! AND, my PFT's were the best yet. MY FEV1 finally went past 60%% I know its not a lot, but it's another milestone for me. I'm proud of that 1% extra! :) <br/><br/>Jenn had her 2nd wedding shower this past Saturday at her parent's house in Thomasville. It was good, and she got a lot more of nice stuff from her registry! I'm so jealous, I want new stuff! :) Hehe. Just kidding, couldn't be more happier for her. She's going to look so beautiful on her special day! Hmmm, what else...<br/><br/>Last night around 6:30 I had another milestone. I drove up to Greensboro to meet up with Monica and Mike's good friend Cheryl at the RUSH gym as her guest. And...I SWAM! I mean for REAL swam. Not the kind I used to do before my transplant (walking around in the pool attached to an 02 tank), but actually SWAM. For the first time in 17 years. It was so freeing. And awesome. And a little difficult. LOL I realized that I'm going to have to relearn how to breathe in the water before I can do Freestyle or Butterfly again. But, I did like 4 laps of Breaststroke. It was so wonderful. But, like playing basketball, those muscles used to swim haven't been used like that in a long time, so I was super sore last night when I went to sleep. And I'm still sore today, just not as bad. Also, I ended up joining the gym so I can go and swim whenever I want. And work out there too, if I grow the balls to work out in front of people :) I figure, if I'm able to make it up there 2 days a week, plus still going to P.T. here in town 2 days a week. That will be a good start with 4 days a week working out. Hopefully I'll lose some weight and get into shape! Plus it will be fun to have someone to work out with. We both like to whine and complain! lol<br/><br/>Today, they called me from the hardware store (where I got my shirt made) and told me it was ready to be picked up. (FINALLY) So, my brother and I went up there and I picked it up. Then we went by the joblink center and looked at some jobs. I was thinking about maybe getting a part time job, but I'm not sure yet.<br/><br/>I go back to Chapel Hill for clinic again on Friday. I hope my FEV1 is even higher! *fingers and toes crossed*<br/><br/>Anyway, I have to pee (thanks lasix) and I'm going to sleepies. Been a great, wonderful but long day! Thank you Ms. Donor, (and family) for my precious gift. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a8f50906-b404-83b9-a8bf-0a41431adbe5' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk09TPkDsDyXspcDnsjNndkkHHJhqtEnN9xlTK_2h25XjWiQ4z-8teMv5Ft9j0W8sEA5R5ovDPder9sfIEI4iyyhzUX75w_XB1x4RyHZJgjGwwWHkkbS6NnEODdUBwQdLrS7n9fMeOqcs/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk09TPkDsDyXspcDnsjNndkkHHJhqtEnN9xlTK_2h25XjWiQ4z-8teMv5Ft9j0W8sEA5R5ovDPder9sfIEI4iyyhzUX75w_XB1x4RyHZJgjGwwWHkkbS6NnEODdUBwQdLrS7n9fMeOqcs/s320/011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462827394038431986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg7Lrc0KkeAPExiWnRgTvxCJYYPacv2zhPEnQS5pMcuNIo6ad4CzKQxDW0mZSrtFfBBnchNEsl1OJqPoMO7qYbffQ_vg9fBhyphenhyphenVfKDknYRojSi4XDq74hyphenhyphen784zSzSYeKfCCA5WW9NFZ8g/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg7Lrc0KkeAPExiWnRgTvxCJYYPacv2zhPEnQS5pMcuNIo6ad4CzKQxDW0mZSrtFfBBnchNEsl1OJqPoMO7qYbffQ_vg9fBhyphenhyphenVfKDknYRojSi4XDq74hyphenhyphen784zSzSYeKfCCA5WW9NFZ8g/s320/010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462827388760851666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2jQb9fd35wlLjJtLpYmPw2ootPhCcNp1CNFOKfvj4RY5yJXrK0p5VbORTP3mllHIoQCcfPaE_pXwUBOreT8RDb1CJ9QL2Jp9RQbMiQIJgWPOrWHuL3kUh7F9eThp2yVRS4K3NLHLsWM/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2jQb9fd35wlLjJtLpYmPw2ootPhCcNp1CNFOKfvj4RY5yJXrK0p5VbORTP3mllHIoQCcfPaE_pXwUBOreT8RDb1CJ9QL2Jp9RQbMiQIJgWPOrWHuL3kUh7F9eThp2yVRS4K3NLHLsWM/s320/008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462827381675638962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4MgF5BDu8E2koesKSfA1sfNTk1t1updpDawaNBvvCBE_FZYZ8U_XW41H6B6EFRGw90U33CwRNM8xf_S8EoPhr9D6K5J439sOYDvxOXEsFOxWQG_kJTKOG2-ejG74A9UNGb6rk7YAWuM/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4MgF5BDu8E2koesKSfA1sfNTk1t1updpDawaNBvvCBE_FZYZ8U_XW41H6B6EFRGw90U33CwRNM8xf_S8EoPhr9D6K5J439sOYDvxOXEsFOxWQG_kJTKOG2-ejG74A9UNGb6rk7YAWuM/s320/004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462827375862443138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZHsYIPgJH1__K7wNoisTW30_a1UcKP0N5d535_uYJGoiKq9rlxTTHtfglJqdudWHVvFEZB9EPLcrdEtzpkiF6jxl4KHnQ5raJWnNpgaqZI_dhey4t5E0THuOAOe8DP93D8_FdxwMLAo/s1600/001.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZHsYIPgJH1__K7wNoisTW30_a1UcKP0N5d535_uYJGoiKq9rlxTTHtfglJqdudWHVvFEZB9EPLcrdEtzpkiF6jxl4KHnQ5raJWnNpgaqZI_dhey4t5E0THuOAOe8DP93D8_FdxwMLAo/s320/001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462826663237191410" /></a>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-24339951219964836002010-04-09T21:21:00.001-04:002010-04-09T21:21:26.043-04:00Joint Pain, Oh how I despise thee!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Okay, so I've been on the 30 mg of Prednisone every day now for 3 days. Tomorrow is my 4th. The joint (ankle/knee) pain is not getting any better. I go back to Chapel Hill to clinic next friday. So hopefully they can figure something out. I'm tired of not being able to walk 10 feet without hurting. Its seriously affecting my life and everyday activities. I got new lungs so I could go out and do things and be active again. Not so I can sit on the couch or lay in my bed with my feet propped up. And to make it worse, my family basically just thinks I'm being lazy more than anything. I wish they had been through what I've been through and were feeling what I'm feeling right now, then maybe they would keep their pieholes shut. <br/><br/>Tomorrow is the Donate Life walk in Winston-salem. I had planned on walking this year, but with the joint pain problem, it's not possible. But, I'm going anyway and going to be volunteering. Not sure what I'll be doing yet, but it will be something at least. I'm just glad to be participating in some way. Then next Friday in Chapel Hill is the Donate Life concert on campus at UNC. I'll be volunteering there as well. Helping people at the registration table, to sign up to be organ donors. It will be convenient for me to go since I have clinic that day anyway!<br/><br/>Anyway, I'm going to sign off for now. I have a headache. Keep your fingers crossed that they figure out how to help my joint pain next friday at clinic!!! Talk to you later, my babies!!!!!!!!!!!<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=c42760fe-e187-8c30-81f3-02795d6a9524' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-75625652267262984242010-04-06T20:54:00.001-04:002010-04-06T20:54:39.486-04:00Blue Devils and FEV1, oh my!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up my babies?<br/><br/>It has been around 3 weeks since I last posted. I guess I just sort of lost my "blogging mojo." I can't really remember everything that has been going on since I last wrote, off the top of my head. So, this will probably be a short post and I may end up coming back and adding to it or doing another post later on as I remember more details over the last 3 weeks or so. <br/><br/>The last few days I'd been running a fever, so I called Ken. (coordinator) And he said it would be best for me to go to chapel hill for them to see me. So that's what I did today. Then ironically, today I didn't even have any fever at all. Go figure! But, I'm glad I went b/c it gave me a chance to really talk to the doctor about my joint pain. (knees and ankles) No one seems to be taking me seriously. Or they think that I'm over exaggerating the pain, just being lazy. Which is soooo not the case! It seriously hurts bad with each step. And my feet and ankles swell and get so stiff. Today, I saw Dr. Yankaskas. I love him, he's very thorough. He decided that the pain is probably just inflammation and tomorrow I will start 30 mg of Prednisone every day for 5 days, then go back to my maitenece dose of 15 mg every other day. The idea is to test and see if the higher doses of prednisone helps the pain. If it does, then they will know it's just inflammation and nothing more serious and they will decide how to treat it, with what medicine. I'm not overly excited about them upping my prednisone to 30 mg for 5 days, but hey, if it helps to find out what is going on with my joints, then I guess it will be worth it!<br/><br/>Also, I talked to him (the dr.) about my weight and why I haven't started shedding these extra pounds yet. He agreed that I should have started slimming down by now. And that it's clear that I'm having issues with fluid retention. So, he upped my usual lasix dosage of 40 mg 2 times a day to 80 mg 2 times a day. He said that should help and I should start to slim down. He said that it looked like I could have some fluid in one of my lungs, and if that's the case, then the extra lasix should help that resolve itself as well. *fingers crossed* I have every confidence in Dr. Yank. He's always been very thorough when treating me and getting to the root of my problems. He won't stop until he figures out the problem and has solved it. <br/><br/>Good news - My PFT's were up! My FEV1 last time had dropped back down 3% to 57% from my high of 60%. Well today my FEV1 was back up to 60%!!!!! Yay!!! that made me feel a little better. But, also worries me a bit, b/c I kind of feel like I'm never gonna get past 60%!!!!! *sigh* <br/><br/>Last night was an awesome night. I watched the Duke vs. Butler game. (the NCAA championship) It was such a great game. Very stressful though! Butler definitely gave Duke a challenge. But, in the end, my boys pulled it off, like I knew they would! Go duke! I'm so happy we are finally champs again!!! :)<br/><br/>Well, that's all I can think of for right now. I may post again if i think of anything else going on to share with my loyal followers! :) Peace bitches! lol<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=268e508e-5a17-83ff-aaf5-d6b9e85da533' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-22946392652006218662010-03-15T23:23:00.001-04:002010-03-21T22:46:45.612-04:00Donor Family Letter<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up bitches!<br/><br/>So here's an update. My chest, in the lower lung region, where my ribs are, has been hurting since thurs. baaaad. I tried to wait until Today (monday) to go see the doctors in clinic about it. But, I was getting worried and it was hurting so bad. Everyone kept telling me I needed to go on and get it checked out. So I relented. I went to the ER last night in Chapel Thrill. Luckily, Ken called them ahead of time and told them I was coming. Thanks Ken! So it didn't take near as long as I thought it would. <br/><br/>First of all, the car broke down on the way to the hospital. We were about 20 mins away. BOOOOOO! So, while Bo and Mom waited for my step dad to get there from home, I was transported to the hospital by ambulance. (non emergency, they didn't rush or put the siren on!) I finally got there around 6pm. We left home around 2pm.<br/><br/>So anyway, once there, they put in an IV and took some blood. Then I had a chest xray done. Everything was fine. So, the doctor said that it must just be bruised rib/pulled muscles from coughing so much since my bronch. Whew! I am so relieved that's all it was. She gave me some pain medicine through the IV while I was there and sent me home with a script for Oxycodone. <br/>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Changing the subject: I finally wrote out my donor letter on paper. It is in the envelope and ready to give to the social worker on Friday when I go to clinic. I'm really nervous. I hope they like it and write me back! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>I'm off like a prom dress....for now. :) The picture below is of me in the ER last night. Enjoy!<br/><br/><br/><img width='371' height='278' src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_A2TOaJKFKK0/S575YROESII/AAAAAAAABcE/hhtSZTsWIt8/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=58afb1bb-dc30-8711-8445-1c3ef5e84c7f' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-22498661271854953182010-03-10T23:26:00.001-05:002010-03-10T23:26:57.972-05:00Dear Rejection: EPIC Fail. You can't hold this bitch down!!! I keep on comin' back, harder and stronger each time! In your face, whore!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Helloooo my lil' babies. (I miss you Conan!!! Leno - You can suck it! I used to like you, but now...*sighs in disappointment and shakes head*)<br/><br/>Getting down to bidness: SO - I FINALLY heard back about my bronch results this evening. Ken - My coordinator - called around 5:30 pm. *DRUMROLL* NO REJECTION!!! WOO HOO!!! YAY!!! *dances around wildly* He told me that everything looked great with my bronch. And that the cultures that they took during the bronch, that have come back already are all negative!!! WOOO HOO! And he was super psyched about my awesomely improved PFT's. He said they were the best yet! YAY YAY YAY! *dances around again* AND (wait for it.....wait for it.....) He officially gave me the green light to go swimming!!! YES THANK YOU GOD. I feel so blessed right now and so happy to be alive. And so thankful for my donor and donor family. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!<br/><br/>I'm bout to be backkkk, bitches!!!!!!!! :) :) I think swimming is going to help tremendously with me getting into good shape (and hopefully helping me drop a few 15 lbs) and keeping my lungs strong and healthy. (Hopefully it will help them get even better!) I was already told that I could help with the swim team this summer at the pool! WOo hoo! Wish I wasn't too old to be on the team lol :) Oh well, I already had my day in the sun, it was just cut short and ended way too soon. But, hey that's life! :) There's always the 2012 summer Transplant Games!<br/><br/>So, tonight has ended on a good note, thanks to the good bronch news. I have clinic next Friday and I hope my legs are feeling better by then. I'm tired of moving like a 90 year old woman! Oddly enough, Ken said that my cholesterol was high on my last labs. Hmm that is the first time that has ever happened. I wonder what it could be from. I haven't really changed any of my heating habits that I can think of. *scratches head in confusion* We'll see what the labs next Friday show.<br/><br/>I have a lot of cool things to look forward to in the next few months. Such as, Jenn's wedding shower in a couple weeks, seeing Cat again for the first time in FOREVER and first time post-transplant. On St. Patrick's day I'm going to Antoinette's..um party...and then we're going out after to live like my ancestors did! At the bar!!! :) In April, there's Hunter's engagement party that I will be attending! (Thanks for saying I can borrow your cowgirl boots, Em!!) PLUS, Jenn's WEDDING!!! I'm super psyched. She's one of my oldest most cherished friends. I have a feeling my makeup is going to run!! lol PLEASE lord let me catch the bouquet!!<br/><br/>THEN - In June, June 21st to be exact - I will have reached the ridonkulously important date of my <big><b><font color='#33cc00'>1 Year Lungiversary! </font></b><font color='#33cc00'><small><font color='#333333'>It's going to be so awesome!!! I can't wait. I know I am going to have a party. I'm just not sure what kind specifically (formal, semi-formal, cocktail, bbq, pool party, etc etc?) or where it will be. SO - if anyone has any party suggestions (type of party, venue, cake ideas, themes, etc etc) please let me know. Help me brain storm!! :) I've only got a lil over 3 months to figure it all out!<br/><br/>Okay, I'm gonna go watch a movie with my brother. (Congrats on becoming the new Wii bowling champ Bo! but don't get cocky) But, before I bounce, I would like to ask everyone to please keep Rachael Wakefield in your thoughts and prayers. She just got her double lung transplant after being told she had 12 months or less to live!! Congrats Rachy! <br/></font></small></font></big><br/><br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=5eff5770-cb00-8f10-a1ee-7ba73e696e78' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-44271677209947128882010-03-07T01:43:00.002-05:002010-03-07T10:48:42.301-05:00Epic FAIL Tardheels! Final Score = 82 to 49. DUKE! Finally, something to smile about!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up y'all?<br/><br/>So- The bronch on Thurs. went well. As far as I know. Usually, the doctor (at least one of the two) stick around long enough for me to wake up and tell me how it went and if I have any questions or concerns about it or if there's something I want to tell them about that's been bothering me, I can talk to them then. That way I don't necessarily have to go to clinic the next day. But, thursday when I woke up. They had bounced!!! So, I didn't get to talk to them. And last time, they called me on Saturday with the results. (Rejection) So, I figured I'd hear from them today. But, I didn't. I'm hoping that no news yet, means good news. Maybe they just called me back so quick and over the weekend last time, b/c it was positive for rejection. So, maybe them not calling yet, is a sign that I'm rejection free. *fingers crossed* Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers!<br/><br/>*sigh* It's been a pretty uneventful weekend. But rest is always good. I actually ended up going to the movies this afternoon. We saw Cop Out. It was soooo funny!!!!! It looked funny on the previews but I figured it wouldn't be as funny as it looked. I'm glad I was wrong!!!<br/><br/>My legs (knees down to ankles) have been hurting so bad and bothering me. It was all I could do to walk in and out of the movie theater. And then we had to walk up steps to get to the seats. And then back down. My knees almost gave out! It's crazy. I'm tired of this. I don't understand why my legs are bothering me so bad. :-( At first I thought it was just because I was weak from being sick with the stomach virus and starting to get out and be active again was making me sore and that I just need to build up my strength again. Or maybe I was just hurting more and its harder to walk b/c of hurting my back. But, now I don't know b/c it doesn't seem to be going away in a timely manner. Which is one reason why I hoped the doctor would have stuck around after my bronch, so I could tell him about the legs. It always seems to be one thing after another! Ughh i'm getting so tired of this crap!<br/><br/>Tonight was the BIG GAME. Duke vs. UNC. the last game of the regular season. It fucking rocked. Duke made UNC their bitches. It was wonderful. I am giddy with joy! So now, Duke is going into the ACC tourney as number 1. WOOO HOOO! AND my former lover, Christian Laettner was at the game. Still looking sexy as hell. Just older. <br/><br/>Anywhoo's..I'm gonna get some Pepsi. I'll be sure to update when I get the results from the bronch. *fingers crossed* <br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=955349c0-f8e7-8de3-a07b-e334e32f4a4b' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-34213549272308909672010-03-03T23:15:00.001-05:002010-03-03T23:15:17.062-05:00Worried and Nervous<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up y'all?<br/><br/>Today I had a Dr. appointment with the obgyn. It had been over a year and half since I'd been, so I was overdue for my yearly visit. I love my dr. She's so awesome. I didn't realize that they knew that I had had my transplant though. And I was surprised when they were all (dr. nurses, receptionist, etc) so excited to see me breathing without my O2. My doctor gave me a big hug and told me how great I looked and how happy she was for me that I'd gotten my new lungs.<br/><br/>She also explained to me that my stretch marks were so big and red right now b/c of the steroids I've been on since transplant. She said that they will eventually turn silver/white. But that the steroids make them red and more angry looking. I'd never heard that before, so that makes me feel a little better. There were some white blood cells and blood in my urine test, which could indicate a UTI, so she went on and gave me an antibiotic to take for 3 days. Better safe than sorry with my immune system!<br/><br/>Tomorrow is my repeat bronch to check to see if the rejection is gone. *fingers crossed* I'm not nervous about the procedure at all, I've gotten so used to them now. But, I'm very nervous about the results of the biopsies. I'm worried - what if the rejection isn't gone? What would that mean? And why wouldn't it have gone away with all the steroid treatment? And what would the next treatment be? God, I pray that it is gone. And that it never comes back. I've heard that there is some theory that the more times you have acute rejection, the more likely you are to go into Chronic Rejection. Although that theory hasn't been proven. They believe that there could be a link. That is scary. B/c this is the 3rd time I've had acute rejection and I'm only 8 months post transplant. And it seems lately that I've been finding out about more and more lung transplant recipients who have gotten Chronic Rejection and are less than 2 or 3 years post transplant. I can't imagine what it feels like to hear that diagnosis. I pray that I never have to hear it. It is such a heart breaking outcome, especially when someone has gone through so much and gotten so far.<br/><br/>On a happy note - I found out today that Garran's bronch results were negative for rejection! YAY! So happy! No rejection for G-man! :)<br/>Oh, and I'm not sure if i reported it or not, but Bree's (my lung-transplant twin) bronch results were negative too! YAY! No rejection for Bree!!! WOO HOO!<br/><br/>Fuck. Duke just lost to Maryland. Sonnabitch. Man and I have to be in Chapel Hill tomorrow. They are going to be talking so much shit to me tomorrow. <br/><br/>Anyways, I'm signing off for now. Going to watch the DVR til' I fall asleep. Please say a prayer for me tomorrow that everything goes well and the results say NO REJECTION!!!! Love you guys. <br/><br/>P.S. Please say a prayer for Jordan Ulrich, Miranda Sheppard and Eva Markvoort. They are all very ill right now and need your prayers and positive thoughts sent their way!<br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=8307cc34-e224-8e74-abe7-697cf1afeda3' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-1543568994513407552010-03-02T16:31:00.001-05:002010-03-02T16:31:16.307-05:00SNOW?! Agaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain???<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Hello my babies!<br/><br/>I trust you all had a good weekend. Or at least I hope you did! My weekend was pretty good! I think I did a little too much though a little too soon after the stomach virus. I don't think I had my strength back all the way and I over did it a bit this weekend, maybe a little too active. I could barely walk it felt like yesterday, my legs were so sore from the knees down to my feet. P.T. was pathetic!!!! :)<br/><br/>Well, it's snowing outside, AGAIN. *rolls eyes* I'm so tired of snow! It's March now, go away snow!!! GOSH! Although, I must say that it is really pretty right now. The flakes are freakin' HUGE. It looks like goose feathers falling from the sky! I've never seen snowflakes so big. But, thankfully it's not really sticking to the ground. The last thing I need is bad weather again on Thursday and not be able to make it to Chapel Thrill for my Bronch. My brother is off work Thurs. so he will be taking me up there. <br/><br/>On a happy note - I'm finally off the horrible prednisone taper and back to my regular maitanence dose of 15 mg every other day. YAY! I pray that my bronchoscopy results show NO REJECTION. I'm so tired of this shit!!!!<br/><br/>Tomorrow is a busy day. P.T. at 2pm, Dr. appointment at 3pm and then dinner with the girls at 7pm!!! <br/><br/>New Lungs ROCK!!!!! Peace and chicken grease!<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=5333e00f-4615-8013-8e46-6f221eea0f4b' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-28406941977854185842010-02-27T18:09:00.001-05:002010-02-27T18:09:12.829-05:00Pics from Friday Night<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><img width='366' height='274' src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_A2TOaJKFKK0/S4mlQ8T_-nI/AAAAAAAABb0/Jxdmx-_DDAU/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/><br/><img width='366' height='274' src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_A2TOaJKFKK0/S4mlV_8cseI/AAAAAAAABb4/U7A1c7CwkL0/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/><br/><img width='366' height='274' src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_A2TOaJKFKK0/S4mlcIMfI9I/AAAAAAAABb8/20xcUO4sD80/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/><br/><img width='361' height='271' src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_A2TOaJKFKK0/S4mlhCW2abI/AAAAAAAABcA/FYh49EhqaUE/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=e0255c2d-9e68-8aab-af5f-1516bcf01a9c' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-30720000840045131462010-02-27T13:02:00.003-05:002010-02-27T13:30:50.521-05:00Friday Night Out - Downtown at 6th and VineHey my bitches!<br /><br />Hope everyone had a good friday night and the weekend is going well. I had a great night last night!!! But my body is sooo tired. (mostly my legs and feet though) Yesterday, except for going out to P.T. and to the library (Yes, you judgemental whores - I read occassionally and decided to pick it up again for a while), I spent most of the day finishing up my packing to come up here to Winston-Salem and getting ready for the evening. <br /><br />My co-ordinator was supposed to call in another order for Cellcept (diff. mg dose) to my pharmacy and the plan was to pick it up on my way out of Lexington, so I would have it to start taking again last night with my 9:30 pm pills. Well, I get ready and was running a little late, so I hurried to CVS to pick up my meds. They had 2 of them that I needed, but *Gasp* No cellcept. I guess Ken got busy and forgot to call in the prescription. That's okay Ken - Becky to the rescue! So, I immediately called paged Becky and she called me back. She supposedly called it into the pharmacy, so I havent checked yet but I hope it's there. I'm going to stop on my way home b/c I really should have taken it this morning. <br /><br />So, anyway, after that minor setback, I drove on to Winston-Salem (YES ALONE after 6pm - first trip driving out of town (usually I'm the passenger when traveling out of town) since my transplant. I made it! YES! I am so proud of myself. I was a little nervous at first but was able to hold it together. YAY!! So, I met Emily and we parked my car. Jay and Gray were running a bit late so we stayed in the heat of the car for a few minutes before making our 1-2 block trek to 6th and Vine. GOD I LOVE BREATHING. I was so happy to just be walking downtown going out and being normal with my oldest buddy ever, that I wasn't even dwelling on the fact that my feet and ankles were getting tired after doing P.T. earlier as well. Fuck it! I was alive and enjoying it!<br /><br />Anyway- we got to 6th and Vine and went in. 45 min wait. Fuck it who cares. Let's get this evening started. OOPS. Super crowded- no where to sit. That blows. But I was still high from life and ready to live it up. So Jay (our old friend) and Gray (Emily's brother) showed up and the night began. We had to stand around for over an hour until we finally got seated - which definitely took a toll on me from the waist down. I"m sure I annoyed hte hell out of them by complaining a lot but overall, It wasn't the end of the world and it definitely wasn't the first time I'd suffered in that way. :) So finally - two seats opened up at the bar and Emily and I sat down. We had to wait like another 30 minutes before we got our table though, but it was okay b/c I was finally sitting and resting my legs! <br /><br />To sum it all up, we finally got a table. The food was fabulous. Champagne good. Service outstanding. Just really liked the whole enviroment of the place and would definitely love to go back again soon! I had a great night and I think everyone else did too. It was awesome to spend time with Emily again, since we haven't gotten to spend a lot of time together since we lived in Greensboro - and especially with me being healthy, sans o2 tanks! And to see Gray and Jay was super awesome too. We got there about 6:45 and left to go back to Emily's around 12:30 or so. <br /><br />But- of course because i'm ME and live MY life - something had to go wrong in the end. As I was following Emily back to her apartment, Mom's car started acting up again like the dumbass it is. Well techinically I blame the step dad since he never took it to a real mechanic to have it checked last time this happened about a month ago on the way back from Chapel thrill. So it started jerking so I had to pull off the road and cut it off. Emily came back around and met me in the parking lot where I stopped. I started the car and tried again and we took the back roads, so I was able to make it to her apartment without the car fuckin' up anymore but I didn't go over 40 mph. So - it ended well but I should have known that the night wouldn't be perfect! :) <br /><br />So now I'm about to call home and make plans about what to do about driving home, etc. Sorry for such a long post - I'll holler at y'all later. Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!!! TOODLES, bitches!<br /><br />P.S. I'll add pics from last night later when I get home!Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-90195005436724122522010-02-26T00:19:00.001-05:002010-02-26T00:19:12.676-05:00Loving life today. Back to the land of the living!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up my babiesss...!<br/><br/>Hope everyone has had a good week and that y'all are gearing up for a great weekend. I know I am. I'm slowly getting back to myself after the horribly hell ridden last week I've had. I'm back!!! Which means I'm back at P.T. after almost 2 weeks and to back to leaving the house whenever I possibly can. Gone is the puking, the sharting, the emotional rollercoaster of everyone bitching at me and not giving a shit that I felt like warmed over ass on a soggy hamburger bun for over a week. I'm even going to attempt to drive myself to Winston-Salem tomorrow evening! My back is still hurting, but it will be worth it to get away again. I'll be staying the night at Emily's again tomorrow. We're going out to dinner with our old friend Jay and probably going out for a while afterwards too. It's so good to be able to just go out and not worry about breathing or oxygen tanks or anything else that held me back pre-transplant. Life is such a blessing!<br/><br/>Also, I sold my engagement ring today to the pawn shop. Of course I didn't get much for it, b/c it's platinum and most places only want gold these days and the diamonds aren't a solitaire, but I was tired of having it around and I can use the extra money for bills. It feels good to be free of it. Also, Jeffrey told me that the police chief at his PD told him they were going to call me soon about doing some volunteer work at the station. Yay! Something to do to occupy my time. Especially while I search for work. I'm still hoping I will get a call from the Sherrif's department about the dispatcher position. *fingers crossed tightly*<br/><br/>On a high note, I *THINK* I might have lost a couple lbs! YAY! My stomach doesn't look to be protruding outward as much as it has been. I've been watching what I eat and the amounts I eat lately, plus I've been pissing like a pregnant racehorse. So, I'm hoping that part of it is fluid/water weight from all the prednisone I've been on lately with the rejection and therefore my face and neck deflate soon.<br/><br/>On a more serious note: Please keep your thoughts and prayers with my friend Christy (Hubbard-Hamilton). She's incarcerated right now in Duke hospital getting treated for chronic rejection. She's doing okay but had a reaction to the first treatment she got today. I know she is in great hands though and they will figure out the best treatment for her and will have her back on her feet in no time!<br/><br/>Also - last but definitely not least - my dear little friend Garran. He and his family are my 2nd family. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow while he undergoes a bronchoscopy (complete with biopsies this time) to check for rejection. He's not been feeling so well lately, plagued all week with unexplained fevers and such. So let's send good positive vibes Garran and Christy's way! They are both under the care of the best transplant teams in the world!<br/><br/>Okay - I'm going to end this post here, b/c I have a date with my DVR before I fall asleep tonight. I love dates with my DVR. No expectations and I don't even have to shave my legs. :) PURE AWESOMENESS! <br/><br/>Have a RI-DONK-ULOUSLY amazing weekend! <br/><br/>P.S. GO DUKE! yet ANOTHER win! March Madness here I come!<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=ce21f6e5-23e7-80cb-acbc-091b255cccfa' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-60428127290172531972010-02-21T22:39:00.001-05:002010-02-21T22:39:20.359-05:008 months and still counting!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up!<br/><br/>Happy 8 month Lungiversary to me! In 4 more months it will be the big 1 year mark!!! I can't believe it. It seems to be going by so fast. Or is it slow. Sometimes I can't really tell. I just know I feel so blessed to still be here and be breathing with these beautiful new lungs that were so graciously donated by my donor and their family! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! From the bottom of my heart and the deepest of my breaths! Thank you!<br/><br/><img width='348' height='260' src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_A2TOaJKFKK0/S4H7iiSIhfI/AAAAAAAABbs/7FVBJSkW5Y8/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/><br/>P.S. Keep sending your thoughts and prayers to Eva, they are helping!! Keep on keepin' on girl! XOXO<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=cc9651e0-cbd6-8c43-bd2c-3c1477e43b52' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-64136114839262972262010-02-20T12:56:00.002-05:002010-02-20T13:06:10.364-05:00Week from HELL<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up my bitches??<br/><br/>Part I:<br/><br/>Hope everyone had a good week and is having a good weekend so far. My week has been one hellacious nightmare. Definitely one for the record books. It all started Tues. morning. I woke up and took my pills around the usual 9:30-10:00 ish time spot. I swallowed them all down (Including the 50 mg of Prednisone for rejection ugh) and then within 5 minutes, promptly projectile vomited all over the floor b/c I couldn't make it to the bathroom in time. And to make it worse, as I was vomiting, my lower back popped painfully. I felt it and heard it. GREAT. Just fuckin' great! I proceeded to puke two more times within that same hour. THEN - about an hour later, the shits set in. I WAS IN UTTER HELL. I called my coordinater and he informed me about a horrible virus that was going around. GREAT-just my luck. I was told to drink lots of clear fluids and call back if got temp. I spent the rest of the whole day feeling nauseous (although I didn't puke but only one more time) and glued to the toilet by my asshole. Then night time set in. I spent the whole night, TRYING to sleep but felt so sick that I couldn't even do that. Not to mention the fact that my ass was still glued to the toilet every hour on the hour. And all I had been able to eat and keep on my stomach the whole day had been a small cup of apple sauce. <br/><br/>After struggling to sleep all night, I finally was able to pull myself out of my bed - nausea, back pain, diaraherra and all - and make it to the den to check my temp. My body was aching all over and I was freezing. YUP - I was right. 100.8. Fuckin' wonderful. I felt even worse than the day before and now I had temp. to go along with it. Paged the coordinator on call and ended up making an appointment to go to clinic that morning to be checked. They felt it was possible that it could be CMV so they wanted to check. By the time we left for Chapel Hill, I felt so shitty that I could barely walk out to the car and was swaddled up in blankets in the passenger seat like a little Eskimo child, whimpering everytime I moved from the back pain. Once at the hospital - I had to use a wheelchair b/c there was no way I could walk around the hospital feeling so utterly shitty.<br/><br/>Once in clinic, (after stopping in Registration and getting blood drawn OF COURSE) I was put in the infusion room where I was IV'd (Yes I've verbbed it lol) and given fluids ASAP for dehydration. More tests were done and I was giving Finnergin (sp??) for the nausea. I hadn't had Finnergin in YEARS. And forgot how fuckin' strong a drug it was. I struggled against it but my eyes kept crossing and in the end gave in and promptly fell asleep in my reclining chair. Then I was woken up to go downstairs to get a chest x ray done. OMG. Woken up from a Finnergin coma to be forced to actually leave my chair and ride downstairs and be x-rayed. I don't recommend it. I thought I was going to die. But, finally I was back upstairs in clinic, in the infusion room, in my chair where I belonged to finish the last half of my fluids. I promptly fell back into my Finnergin coma. <br/><br/>Not sure how long after that, but I was awoken. Was told I could go home and they would let me know the test results tomorrow about the CMV. I still felt like utter shit, but was feeling a tiny bit better from the fluids. And I definitely didn't want to stay over night in the hospital. Mom and I got my shit together and we bounced. Oh and good news. I was told I actually CAN take the Tramadol for my back pain. YAY! By the time we got on the road I was hungry so we stopped at the store and I got some cheesy poofs and some peanut butter crackers and a Sprite.<br/>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/>Part II:<br/><br/>We finally arrived back at home around 5:30pm. I was still feeling shitty of course, but at least I had some fluids in me. My back was still killing me. My brother went to pick up my prescriptions. Then - I couldn't find the Tramadol that I had from the week before. When I was told I couldn't take it, I had thrown it down in my room (Still in the cvs bag). We searched everywhere for it and it was no where to be found. I wanted to die. My back hurt everytime I moved. I laid down in my room and fell asleep quickly from lack of sleep the night before. But - b/c of my no sleep the night before, I had sleep episode after sleep episode the rest of the afternoon. Woke up miserable. To make a long story short - I slept that night but had crazy dreams all night long from the sleep episodes that just wouldn't stop. <br/><br/>Thurs was an emotional rollercoaster. I still felt shitty - and still shitting every hour. But my back was the main problem. I was in so much pain. I had to have something. So, I paged the coordinator on call (Becky) and was able to get another prescription for the Tramadol since I couldn't find the one I had. Although this medicine doesn't take all the pain away, it knocks the edge off enough to be tolerable. even though it still hurts when I get up and move around and use the muscles. But, it doesn't make me high like Percocet. So, that's a plus. While on the phone with Becky, I was told the tests for CMV were negative. YAY!! So, that was a relief. I guess it's just the horrible stomach virus that has been going around! Anyway, aside from the physical sickness/pain, everyone at my house was being mean to me and acting like I was overreacting to feeling sick and in horrible pain. They were yelling at me constantly and I had two breakdowns and ended up calling Emily and begging her to let me come stay the weekend at her apt. in Winston Salem to get away from my house/family. What a great friend!<br/><br/>So...here I am in Winston Salem for the weekend. I arrived about 8:00 pm last night. (Thanks again Nate for the ride, you're such a great friend!) I'm feeling so much better emotionally and better each day physically, although still a bit nauseous and weak. But, getting there. Chris is coming up to hang out and should be here in a bit. It will give me someone to hang out with while Emily is busy with her school work on campus. <br/><br/>I'm signing off for now. Sorry about the long, ranting post. But, it had to be done. :) Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=d0985f99-978f-80a7-aaa9-8dab14812136' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-61918860205034573802010-02-15T23:34:00.002-05:002010-02-15T23:35:42.890-05:00A tiny update.<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Hey All!<br/><br/>Hope everyone had a good start to the week. Mine was okay. Pretty unproductive though. My tummy was upset this morning from the prednisone taper so I didn't end up going to P.T. at 12:30 as planned. SO, I just rested all day and hung out. Then tonight Bo and I went to Nate's to hang out for a little bit and just got home about an hour ago. <br/><br/>I've tried to cut back on as much snacking and eating today and have done fairly well. YAY for me! But, alas, here it is 11:10 pm and I'm eating a few cheesy poofs. Shut up bitches, I deserve it for doing so well today!!! :) Neeko and I have had a bunch of cuddles today. YAY. <br/><br/>The main reason for this post tonight is that I've come to a decision and wanted to let everyone know. I'm taking my Transplant Games Empty Pocket Fund link off of my blog and facebook. And canceling it. (If I can figure out how! lol) No one was really donating, but that's not really the point. lol I've decided to sit out the games this year afterall, due to the on and off issues I've had post transplant with the rejections and all that. Just think it's best not to pressure myself to try and do the games this summer. And that I need to just concentrate on living my life and staying healthy! But, I will definitely be at the next one! <br/><br/>Now, I will leave you with a pic that I took tonight via my phone while I was on the way home from Nate's. Toodles, bitches! <br/><br/><img width='237' height='315' src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_A2TOaJKFKK0/S3ogJQ7mezI/AAAAAAAABbo/qaAXsSqMyvk/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=09bdbe6e-4fb3-8dbf-9249-b2c897a8c5aa' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div><br /><br />Meg the Ninja aka The Unabomber!Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-68417794324629896812010-02-14T17:38:00.001-05:002010-02-14T17:38:26.977-05:00Japanese food, bitches!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up bitches!<br/><br/>Hope everyone is having a glorious Valentine's Day! Chris and I went to eat Japanese in Winston Salem last night. YUM. GET IN MY BELLY! I've eaten 10000000 cheesypoofs this weekend as well. But, actually from this angle, as I stare down at my dodgeball gut, I think it may actually have shrank a bit. POSSIBLY. I'm probably wrong. I usually am. <br/><br/>Okay, I think I'm tired of typing already. lol Talk to you later!!!!<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=f0893c4f-df1a-8180-b191-1b4df8346c38' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-64655345273906810242010-02-12T20:13:00.001-05:002010-02-12T20:13:07.005-05:00Meg the Human Marshmellow Goddess of Cheesey Poofs and all that is Edible.<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>HI Y'all.<br/><br/>Today I went shopping. Trying to find something on this god awful blob of a "figure" of mine. If that's what you want to call it. Not that it wasn't horrible before this week, but now the Solumedrol and tapered prednisone doses are already wreaking havoc on my already marshmellowy goodness. This shopping trip was an horrid EPIC FAIL of a trip. I got some stuff but it still looks like utter and complete crap. My boobs are gigantic (don't even know what size anymore - haven't bought a new bra yet) and jiggly. My tummy reminds me of a big dodge ball and my face looks like it ate itself, regurgitated itself right back up and re-ate itself again for dessert. <br/><br/>And of course, b/c of the prednisone taper again, my ankles are swollen from being up shopping for 3 hours and they are sore. To top it off, my back is still hurting, but the medication that the family doctor here in town gave me for the pain has been shot down by the transplant team. Can't take it. Interacts with the steroids. GREAT. So, now I will be pitied with a bit of pain meds come this week for my back. But i have to wait until Monday and call my coordinator back to get relief from this pain.<br/><br/>Tomorrow evening, Chris is supposed to come into town. We are going to Winston to eat dinner for Valentines. (a day early) But hey, look out the window. It's fucking snowing. Great. I hope that doesn't ruin my weekend plans. If it does, it figures. This has been a fucked week. <br/><br/>I'll end this little post by telling you of a wonderfully gratifying experience I had this afternoon when I got home from shopping. I sat down, kicked my feet up to rest my weary, sore and swollen cankles and proceeded to cough. Well, as this wonderful cough errupted from the depths of my shiny new lungs, I promptly pissed myself a little bit. Right through my pants. For serial, ya'lll. There was like a 2-3 inch patch of pee on the cushion of the couch. How rewarding for a day's worth of depression and self hatred. FML. <br/><br/>I'm going to quit having a pity party now. Like I always, say, It' could ALWAYS be worse. and at least I'm still here and breathing! Peace and chicken grease. <br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=d264fc8f-5613-8260-a700-c5eebf0308b6' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-86332494965808879662010-02-11T20:41:00.001-05:002010-02-11T20:41:39.061-05:00Update - Rejection, no rejection, rejection? YES rejection. Poop.<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Hidey Ho, My little bitches.<br/><br/>I kiiid, I kiiiid. You know I say bitches in the most appreciative loving way. :) I love my bitches! Shit, I'm a bitch! We're all bitches! Let's just be one big happy community of bitches and bitchiness! WOo hoo! Clasp hands and let's dance around in a circle and make a theme song for our Bitch Community. Let me know if you think of some lyrics, I'll write them down. :) lol<br/><br/>Anywho's....So, I went to Chapel Thrill on Monday morning to get my pft's re-tested. As Noted before in my last post, If they had gone back up they maybe would have refrained from treating me with steroids for rejection and just went with the idea that it was a false positive rejection result do to the virus I've had. Well, unfortunately (and just my luck as usual) My FEV1 had NOT gone up ,it had actually like every asshole I've had in my life , did a completely reverse asshole move and dropped dramatically. So it was only 39% on Monday. Greaaaaaaaaaaat. Fuck me. <br/><br/>So, instead of being slapped on my ass and sent on my merry little way, I was slapped into the chair in the infusion room at the clinic and given a painful IV. (But, I give her credit, she did get it on the first stick!!) Then I was giving my first dose of IV Solumedrol. Mmmm. Yumm. Panic/spastic/pyschotic attack city. While that was running, they contacted the home health ppl. and had them call me. After my IV was done, about 30 minutes later, my home health care package (with my 2 IV doses, flushes, and such) arrived and my brother and I promptly took the box and all the crap I'd brought with me and accumulated throughout the day at the hospital, and got the hell out of there. <br/><br/>Now, here it is Thurs. evening. I finished my last dose of IV SOlumedrol yesterday and the nurse pulled the IV. YES! And today I started my rejection treatment prednisone taper. (Starting at 60 mgs a day for 3 days - holy shit) So, my tummy has been hurting today but luckily that means that the Prednisone Monster hasn't attacked me yet and I'm not shoving food down my throat at 75 mph.....YET. I'm going to try and do better this time around. I promise. *fingers crossed* Other than that I'm actually feeling a little better..feel like I have a little more energy already and ready to stop napping so much. <br/><br/>I'm sitting at Lori's hanging out in her bed and typing away and relaxing, while she is cleaning her house. Technically I'm supposed to be keeping Keegan (her 4 year old) company and out of her way, but he's a firecracker. He's hard to control. :) But, he's done well so far. But now I'm alone and he's in there. He couldnt stay away from mommy and daddy for too long! Rob, her man is cooking up a big dinner and it smells fuckin' awesome. <br/><br/>I am going out to one of my favorite Japanese restaurants on Saturday for an early Valentine's Day dinner with Chris. Can't wait! Then we are driving back into town and staying the evening at Lori's house so he won't have to drive all the way back to Lincolnton. Sounds like a good Valentine's Day! Can't remember the last time I had a good Valentine's Day. I think it might have been the last one before I got sick. Which was actually the weekend I got sick in 93. Which ironically, my ex fiance Justin was my boyfriend. ANYWAYS -<br/><br/>I'm going to go I think dinner is almost ready. And then Wii later. I'll Hollllllllaaaaa! <br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=da0e3ddf-1230-8c2a-bdca-44dee0c14b19' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-59911848495485387292010-02-05T16:55:00.001-05:002010-02-05T16:55:39.288-05:00I hate Winter.<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Wassup?<br/><br/>Okay. what the hell. So I was scheduled to go down to chapel thrill today, right. To get repeat PFT's and such. Well, thanks to the fuckin' weather, I couldn't go. So I rescheduled my pft's for Monday morning. But, I couldn't get in touch with my coordinator to ask him if that was okay, or if there was anything he wanted me to do until then, etc. Great. So. I still haven no idea if i have rejection or not. My chest is still tight. And I'm still coughing some stuff up. Great. Just great. Now i have to wait 3 more fuckin' days. It better not snow me out on Monday. I'll be there come hell or high water!<br/><br/>I had a great time with the girls on Wed. night. I took a few pics but I haven't downloaded them yet. I will probably put them on facebook for the world to see. Ha.Ha. Yay Don' Juans! <br/><br/>I'm supposed to go to Emily's birthday party tomorrow evening, granted the weather behaves and the roads are good enough to ride to winston on. Chris is supposed to go with me. Yay. <br/><br/>Okay I'm going to go try and email my coordinator. Have a wonderful weekend!!! Peace and chicken grease!<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=4e69dcef-3d59-817b-97ad-961ac73f1203' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-21556882025639650192010-02-02T16:27:00.001-05:002010-02-02T16:27:57.194-05:00Update: Rejection or No Rejection - that's the question!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up y'all!<br/><br/>So, Ken (tx coordinator) called me back on Monday and said that I have Adenovirus. And that it could have caused a false positive rejection result. SO - Now, I don't know if I have rejection or not. Right now, the plan is for me to go back down to Chapel Thrill on Friday. Get repeat PFT's, and if my FEV1 hasn't gone back up, then they will go ahead and treat me with steroids. So, I guess we'll see what happens. I hope my pft's will go back up. Not only b/c it could mean no rejection, but b/c i worked so hard and waited so long for my FEV1 to hit 60%! and Now it's back down to 55%...so disappointing. I want it to go back up!!! Keep your fingers crossed for me please!<br/><br/>Tomorrow evening, Mary Berk, Julie, Brooke, Amanda and I all going out to Don Juan's to celebrate Mary Berk's birthday. Yay, Don Juans! We haven't been in a few weeks. I'd love to have a few drinks, but I'm not sure how smart that would be right now considering I have that virus and the bronchitis. So, I'll probably refrain. Or just have a beer. Since we are having tacos tonight for dinner, I'll probably just end up eating nachos and dip. Mmmm, liquid crack. My favorite. :)<br/><br/>So, it snowed all afternoon Friday into the night and over night and some Saturday too. We got 8 inches! That's the most we've gotten in a long time at any one time. Bo (my brother) and our friends Nate and Susie and their family all went sledding Friday and Saturday and Sunday. I wanted tog o so bad, but I figured it was best for me to stay in since I've got the bronchitis. :-( But, it's amazing to see all this snow on the ground!!!<br/><br/>I've pulled a muscle in my back and it's hurting like crazy. So i've been using the heating pad all day and I eventually broke down and took some Percocet. It's helped a lot, but now I'm itching like a bitch! <br/><br/>Okay that's all I've got for you right now. I'll holla at cha later!!!<br/><br/>P.S. I'm taking the quote thing off my page b/c it's not working right. <br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=1e9b538c-d10b-809b-b9c9-e7a952bc3c5e' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-87938640891198432282010-01-30T20:02:00.001-05:002010-01-30T20:02:03.785-05:00Fuckin' Shit, Man! Such is my life...<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up y'all.<br/><br/>So, Thursday I went back to Chapel Thrill and had my repeat bronch to check to make sure there was no rejection. After the bronch, Dr. Nueringer told me that my upper airways were inflamed and that I had bronchitis. BOOO. Ken (my coordinator) called me yesterday afternoon and told me they had the biopsy results back. Bad news. Rejection. AGAIN! FUCK! This sucks. They said that it could have been stirred up by the cold/bronchitis that I have. But, this is just very disappointing and worrisome. This is the 3rd time post transplant I've had rejection. (Well the first time was only like 2-3 weeks post transplant while I was still incarcerated-but still) I hope this is not a repeating pattern. It would suck so hardcore to have waited so many years to get new lungs and then end up getting chronic rejection. It's not been a good weekend. :-( Ken is supposed to call me back on Monday and let me know what the plan for treatment is. I'll keep you posted. <br/><br/>P.S. I met a sweet, cute boy. Yay!<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a5af57dc-0f62-8761-b78f-dd4cf696dec7' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-76218066926996772012010-01-25T19:07:00.003-05:002010-01-25T20:08:29.879-05:00Thanks "Tiffany" the Masseuse for trying your best to cripple me!!!!!!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up bitchesssss?<br/><br/>It has been a while since I've written. Spiacente! ("I'm sorry." - in Italian) So let's see......updates. <br/><br/>Well, I'm single again, again. lol That's right boys....I'm available. Don't hurt yourselves beating a path to my door. :) No drug addicts, alcoholics or overly opinionated (who try to convert me to their way of thinking) or judgmental men need apply!<br/><br/>Let's see..what else...Christmas was awesome. Still going to P.T. 3 days a week. My 6 months Lungiversary (post transplant) was on Dec. 21st!! WOoo hoooo! Forgot to write a post about it. Mom took me out to eat and I put 6 candles on top of my chocolate cake thing at Applebees and blew them out!!! Yay i can blow out candles!!! :) Was supposed to have my post rejection bronch this past thursday but they cancelled it after I went all the way up there. (long story). I stayed the weekend though and went to clinic on Friday and spent the weekend with Vick and Chris and their kids. Always have fun with them! So thanks again Vicki for allowing me to spend time with your family!! Love you guys! Garran (their son)'s 1 year. lungiversary is next Tuesday. YAY!!!!!! Vick and I got massages on Sunday afternoon. I was so looking forward to it. But that bitch tried to cripple me!!! I could barely walk when she was done, my feet and legs hurt so bad! <br/><br/>Clinic went good on Friday. I'm fat still. lol Effin' prednisone and rejection! My pft's were down 5% but I'm hoping it is just b/c I have been a little sick lately. At first it was just my sinuses for like a month (and still is). But now since Friday i've been coughing a lot too. I hate it! I thought I was going to make it through winter without getting sick!! i guess not! The Transplant Gods can be so cruel!!!!!!! *shakes fist annoyingly*<br/><br/>I bought myself Wii Fit Plus on Ebay. So now maybe that in conjuction with P.T. will help me lose some of this horrid weight I've gained. :) Keep your fingers crossed. I don't want to be embarrassed at the pool this summer. HEHE. Also, I am going to compete in the summer NKF transplant Games this summer in Madison, Wisconsin. (Barring any unforseen complications) So, Im going to start training soon. This time for real. lol I can't wait to get back in the pool! I'm not sure what other sport I will do. We'll see I guess. <br/><br/>Since my bronch last week got cancelled, I have to get it done this Thursday. So, off to Chapel Thrill I will go again, tra-la-la-la-la POOP! <br/><br/>ANNOUNCEMENT: In order to be able to afford to attend the summer transplant games, I must raise money for expenses and such. If you love me enough to want to donate to my "Empty Pocket Transplant Games Fund" please do so! All donations are much appreciated!! :) If you want your donations to be tax-deductable you can donate online at http://donate.kidney.org/goto/meghann.murphy by clicking on the Transplant Games link on the right..OR- you can send me a check written out to the National Kidney Foundation. (they are the ones that put on the games every year) If you write it to NKF - PUT MY NAME (Margaret Murphy) IN THE "for" or "memo" section of the check so they will know it is for me. If you don't care about your donation being tax deductible, you can write the check to me personally. (Margaret Murphy) Whichever one floats your boats!!! :)<br/><br/>If you have any fundraising suggestions for me, or know of any companies, agencies, corporations, etc. who may be interested in donating as well, email me and let me know. I can send you info for them. You can find my email on the blog. If not, just leave me a comment about it. <br/><br/>I'm off like my prom dress never went!!!!! :)<br/><br/><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_A2TOaJKFKK0/S14yJruMnvI/AAAAAAAABQM/WZCWYkp1zGE/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax=800' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/>pic from Christmas Eve.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=8cdad54f-cd59-8910-b9a3-1f6febb552db' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-90842230273395025902009-12-24T17:48:00.001-05:002009-12-24T17:48:16.092-05:00Merry Christmas!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Hello my little Christmas Elves!!!<br/>GIMME MY PRESENTS! j/k. :)<br/><br/>Let's see... Like I said before, Clinic was great on Friday. I stayed at Vick and Chris's the rest of the weekend. We went to church on Sunday and then the Christmas party afterward. MMmmm good food. Also, the kids and I took turns wrapping each other up in tree lights and plugging them in. I'll post some pics. Luke wasn't able to come up for Christmas. :-( But hopefully next month when I'm in Chapel Hill for a few days. <br/><br/>Yesterday after P.T. I got interviewed for the local paper. It is supposed to run in tomorrow's paper. Once it's posted online, I'll put a link on here so y'all can read it if you like. Well company is arriving for christmas Eve, so i'm heading out like a fetus!!!!<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=dc4009eb-efde-820e-8315-c373584c810d' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com95tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-76549993081441767422009-12-18T17:45:00.002-05:002009-12-18T17:48:49.329-05:00Short but SOOO sweeeeeeeet!!!What's up Y'all!<br /><br />I had a great day!!!! Today I went to clinic and I FINALLY hit the 60% on my FEV1!!!!! I'm so psyched!!! My labs were good, my xray was better. Everything was awesome! I'm so blessed!!!<br /><br />I'll write more later!!!! :)Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-58228743032766103282009-12-13T23:44:00.001-05:002009-12-13T23:44:59.771-05:00"Today was a good day..."<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>What's up bitches!<br/><br/>In the legendary words of Ice Cube..or was it Dr. Dre? Cube i think..anyways..."Today was a good day." I went over to my friend Stephenie's house and hung out most of the day with her and her hubby. I ate like 10,0000 cheesey poofs though. But oh well. lol Then to make the eating matters worse, when I came home I stopped directly in the kitchen and ate a plate of baked spaghetti and salad. and then embarassingly, a pudding cup. <br/><br/>Tomorrow I'm going to Emily's for the night to hang out. Can't wait!<br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=d5294dfd-5890-85cb-9e3f-c468493b8c0a' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079864030932421533.post-86676849615003979872009-12-11T21:21:00.001-05:002009-12-11T21:21:48.718-05:00Nancy Grace and Tiger Woods sittin' in a tree........<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>RI-DONK-ULOUS!<br/><br/>OMG. I am going to seriously punch Nancy Grace in the face. I love her but she is pissing me off so bad. She has ruined her show by obsessing over this whole Tiger Woods scandal. I'm so tired of hearing about his ass. I don't care if he is a billionare sports figure. I don't care if his wife is beautiful and he's gave away his penis more times than he can probably count. I do not care if he crashed his truck into a tree and his hot Swedish wife beat the shit out of him. And to be honest, I'm not sure that anyone else really cares either, except the Media. <br/><br/>And to top it all off...she had on an effin' fugly necklace tonight. Come on now Nancy, you're slippin'.....<br/><br/>END OF RANT.<br/><br/><br/><br/><div class='zemanta-pixie'><img src='http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=3a9b6992-bf5c-89a0-8d4c-158b84a7c2be' alt='' class='zemanta-pixie-img'/></div></div>Meghann "Former Queen of the O2 People"http://www.blogger.com/profile/00379960597893643322noreply@blogger.com0