Getting Started

So as I tried to sleep last night I thought that perhaps I should start blogging. I've never blogged before but thought that it would be a good idea to start so I could keep everyone updated with my health since I do not get out much. :) Blogging will also give me something to do. Those of you that know me know that I need to have something to do! I went from going 100 mph down to like 5 mph and it's been hard! I miss working and seeing my co-workers. I also miss photographing the newborns and their first moments of life. I am hopeful that I will be able to get back to work after my transplant, it's just a matter of when and if I will be crazy at that point in time! :)

I don't have much of an update to give health wise. Doug and I will be going back to Cleveland November 1 and 2 and I will complete testing for transplant. I have to re-do one of the gastro tests and I am not looking forward to that one. I had told Doug after doing that test back in April that I hope I never had to re-do that test. Well, guess what? That's the one test (and the only one) that I have to re-do! The Cleveland doctor thinks that the results to this test aren't as bad as what the Dayton doctor thinks so that is why he is re-running it. We will speak with one of the cardiothoracic surgeons on the 2nd and he will go over what we can expect. I am interested to see what my lung function is compared to what it was the beginning of September. September 2010 my lung capacity was only 30%. September 2011 it dropped to being only 20%. I've lost 10% of my lung function in just a year! The doctors will all sit down and discuss my case and then decide if they are going to go ahead and list me or not. I am not sure how long we have to wait to hear that I will be listed. I hope that it won't be too long of a wait, but I do know we will not know anything while we are up there.

Over the last few weeks I've felt pretty achy and really short of breath. I did start getting an upper respiratory infection and called my doctor right away who prescribed me some antibiotics and he increased my prednisone. My chest is still feeling really tight and like I am breathing through a tiny hole made in plastic wrap. The oxygen has helped me quite a bit and I'm glad that I have been able to use that at home and at night. I still get out of breath walking around even with the O2 on, but it would be much worse without it on, so I'm thankful for even the tiniest bit of relief. :)