I'm back y'all. 10 months and counting! Happy Lungiversary to meee...WEeeeeeeeeeeeee!

What's up bitches?

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....

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!

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! :)

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...

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

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.

I go back to Chapel Hill for clinic again on Friday. I hope my FEV1 is even higher! *fingers and toes crossed*

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!

Joint Pain, Oh how I despise thee!

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.

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!

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!!!!!!!!!!!

Blue Devils and FEV1, oh my!

What's up my babies?

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.

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!

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.

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*

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!!! :)

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

Donor Family Letter

What's up bitches!

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.

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.

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.
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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! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm off like a prom dress....for now. :) The picture below is of me in the ER last night. Enjoy!

Dear Rejection: EPIC Fail. You can't hold this bitch down!!! I keep on comin' back, harder and stronger each time! In your face, whore!

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*)

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!!!!!!!!!

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!

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.

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!!

THEN - In June, June 21st to be exact - I will have reached the ridonkulously important date of my 1 Year Lungiversary! 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!

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!