Done and I'm Done

I was able to finish two reports. That feeling of accomplishment again!

Now, I am working on a questionnaire. Not familiar with the subject matter so have to do research.

Last October 31. It was my father's 10th death anniversary. There were few of us - Oyie's family (minus Angie but plus Trina's boyfriend, my family (but my son left early), Nerick's family (his daughter, Nancy tried to explain my collapsed thoracic cage. Absent were kuya's family ( He is in Bangladesh) and Norenz's family (they live in Malaybalay, Bukidnon).

Dennis, Trina's boyfriend, brought mango tort from Cuervo. Nice guy.

Other food were pancit malabon, chichen inasal, chicken salad, fruit salad, rice, mais con hielo, and soft drinks. Usual family fare.

I'm glad for these settogethers. And I am grateful when someone (my sister) drops by to give grilled liempo, and chichiria (Clover chips, Oishi Prawn Crackers, and Jack & Jill Chiz Curls).

Yesterday, was a terrible night of pain. Okay that's it.

Too Much Pain to Sleep

I can barely sleep. My chest and back hurts so much! Sorry for bothering you with these "complaints".

But I can't help it. This blog is not all sugar and spice and everything nice. I have to show my human side, too.

Let me describe my condition...

...since my thoracic cage has collapsed, I feel a stabbing pain in my chest constantly; I find it painful to lie down and get up from bed

...my back (including buttocks) hurts that I have difficulty standing or sitting or walking

...I have to raise my hands slowly when I dress up, that stabbing pain again

Okay, that's enough. I ask only for your prayers. There is a reason for everything. Whatever purpose there is to all these, I trust it is for God's greater glory.

Bye for now.

Relapse

It's confirmed. I do have a relapse but only to a small degree. Since we really can't afford the expensive medicine, we will just continue with my maintenance meds.

I am in great pain so I can hardly do anything in the house - not even to get water or wash the dishes. Poor mom. It's a good thing the pain killer I am taking is strong enough.

Concerned family and friends have been calling and texting and mom and I have updated them. Bless them.

Oh boy, the pain is painful, the hurt is hurtful, the torture is torturous...but the worst part is being a burden to my loved ones.

I just finished two reports. I might have an FGD project but I am thinking of passing on the moderating to a friend and I will just do the analysis.

So somebody has finally won the P300+ million jackpot in the grand lotto who lives in the squatters area. They immediately left the place and went to the province. Wise move!

I gained back some weight but at least I am in the 130's.

Yesterday, I had diarrhea. I took Immodium. Then at 2 am, my tummy ached so mom gave me Buscopan.

Some good news, I have two "fans" in the hospital. My mom is fond of talking to people seated beside her. Two women told her I look pretty. Ha ha.

Another good news, a client insisted that I present the results of a project. They said they liked the way I present.

Oh well, you take the good with the bad, mix them together and things are not all that bad.

Pain to the Nth Degree

I had my bone marrow test today. The doctor whispered to me not to scream because there is another patient in the adjacent cubicle. But it was soooooh painful I had to bear the pain twice.

My doctor suspects a relapse so she is giving me extra doses of velcade.

My other doctor, gave me Recormon, and more doses of Lipanthyl.

All these implies that I have to lie low. I might cancel and/or postpone my activities for the week...starting with attending a wake tonight and a lunch tomorrow.

So that's life.

Pain Notches Higher

The last time I saw my doctor (hematologist), I told her my pain level is tolerable at 6 to 7 out of 10. But yesterday and tonight, the pain upped to 8 to 9. Such that it took me 45 minutes to go to the bathroom to pee. I could barely move my legs! I might actually ask for morphine to be more fine.

Lord, I lift up to You this terrible pain. Remove it or lessen it so that I can be more loving towards others. Should You wish to maintain the level of pain, I offer it up to all those who are suffering all over the world...and to those who might not make it to heaven should they die soon.

I love You so very, very much, Lord! Let me live a long life so that I can love and serve many people. And for my beloved son.

A Lot of "Pathy"

Just a few weeks ago, I sent the following e-mail to many of my friends. Many emailed back saying they admire my sense of humor. So that is what this blogsite is about - making people laugh even at my expense.

Dear friends,

Aside from my usual illnesses (diabetes, renal anemia, bi-polar mood disorder, etc.), I've recently discovered that I have osteoporosis pati (also) radyculopathy pati (also) diabetic neuropathy. Puro (a lot of) "pathy" but I asked for no sympathy, only prayers. Feel free to visit also if you want but I am not bedridden like last year. I just have to walk around with a cane at a speed of 20 hours per mile, as my mom would put it.

I was rushed to the hospital last Thursday because I was having chest pains and difficulty of breathing which comes and goes. I asked my son to look up the symptoms of heart attack sa Internet and kasama mga ito so nagpaambulance na kami (and these were included so we already called an ambulance). Sarap pala sumakay ng ambulansya! (I didn't know it feels great riding an ambulance!) Feeling VIP! (I felt like a VIP!) Thank God they ruled out heart attack after doing an ECG, blood tests, x-ray, etc. The verdict? Cough! I have a terrible cough which I have a hard time expelling because try having a cough and back pains at the same time. Naiiritate daw yung thoracic lining ko and may infection na (They said my thoracic lining got irritated and there is an infection already) so I was given mucolytic, antibiotic, pain reliever, and asked to use a nebulizer as needed. So now, I'm taking 25 medicines a day.

Hay naku (Oh my), at the height of this, my funny son texted his friends to say "my mom is suffering from a mild heart attack". He also said that from head to foot something is wrong with me. Totoo naman (True enough):

1) HEAD - chronic recurrent bi-polar mood disorder (hey, I ain't manic-depressive, I'm bi-polar!)
2) EYES - near sighted with astigmatism
3) HEART - enlarged with a murmur daw - people have always said I'm big-hearted; (I'm also lonely-hearted, he he)
4) BACK - parang (like) coffee - may (with) scoliosis, sciatica and osteoporosis - edi (so) three in one!
5) BLOOD - diabetes
6) KIDNEY - renal anemia
7) NERVES - diabetic neuropathy
8) WEIGHT and HEIGHT - overweight, underheight (138 lbs for my height of 4'10" - I shrank 3 inches because of my sciatica)
9) TUMMY - pregnant looking
10) LEGS - bow-legged
11) FEET - flat footed, with occasional edema
12) WORST SICKNESS OF ALL! - cough with severe back pain

I've always believed that laughter is the best medicine but God is the Supreme Healer. So keep praying and send those jokes.

Take care. I love you all!
Nimia