As part of my lead up to lung transplant I have to get re-vaccinated. You see after you get a bone marrow transplant you get reset to square one in terms of immunity to virus and other infectious jive. So even if you had your measles shots as a baby or caught chicken pox in grade three you're sporting the immunity of a newborn again. So I had to go down to the community health center yesterday and get myself poked. And when I say poked I actually mean SIX BLOODY SHOTS! Yeah six, that means that they didn't have enough room on my arms to do them all and had to put the last one into my leg! The whole time I'm thinking 'well at least its the baby clinic and I have a delightful sponge bob band-aid coming to me', but no. No cartoon band-aid, no sucker for being brave and not crying, just a "be sure to book your follow up appointment when you leave". LIFE IS BULLCRAP.
I am rather tired today from not sleeping well, and the injection sites are sore, but this will hopefully not slow me down for more than a day. There isn't much happening medical wise for the next few weeks so its just stay the course with the exercise, and possibly burning a bag of dog poo outside the community health center for their ageist policies.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Sunday, 22 January 2012
The good, the bad, and the Updates.
The other doctors appointments that took place on the Thursday and Friday after my last update went fine. My lung doctor apologized to me for all the running around that I had to do that week, and that they would try to coordinate with Edmonton next time so I'm only seeing one of them. He also told me that I should consider this the official kick in the butt to get on the treadmill EVERYDAY and do the work out they gave me in Edmonton COMPLETELY.
So I have been on the treadmill everyday since then for a full 30 minutes, and in the last few days I have been increasing the incline for more and more time at the end on those 30 minutes. That alone has help the lungs. I have been clearing out all the junk that built up over the month of low activity. The workouts are still rough, and on more than one occasion it takes me all day to complete it. The walking is much easier to do now that I have a few audio books to listen to while I'm on the treadmill. With the TV shows they tended to end too soon, or the pacing didn't distract me enough not watch the clock(a problem that often leads me to saying screw it and getting off the machine early). The books last well beyond the 30 minutes I need to walk so there isn't a feeling of "oh the end is getting near, I could just get off now". That and the iPad covers up the timer on the treadmill, so time seems to go by faster.
I was also gripping to the doctor about being bored and wanting to get messed up, he came back with the trump card of what do want more: lungs or that? I just felt that I was stuck in a rather boring routine lately, but I wasn't allowed to go out and do stuff. He said I don't have to live life like a hermit, just avoid obvious venues and people where I am going to get sick. He also reassured me (and my mother) that even if I was sick that it would not automatically stop them from doing the transplant. There has to be a LOT wrong for them not to do it when your number comes up. That being said anything acting against you when you do the transplant will make your recovery that much harder, to where you might die. So being out of shape, flu-ish, and having a negative attitude won't keep your out of the OR, but it sure as shit won't keep you out of the morgue either. I am going to get my self in the best shape I can, eat well, and still go out and do what i can to live my life. Hiding like a scared turtle will not help me be ready for the big show, playing three games of D&D a week might...what? it could.
So I have been on the treadmill everyday since then for a full 30 minutes, and in the last few days I have been increasing the incline for more and more time at the end on those 30 minutes. That alone has help the lungs. I have been clearing out all the junk that built up over the month of low activity. The workouts are still rough, and on more than one occasion it takes me all day to complete it. The walking is much easier to do now that I have a few audio books to listen to while I'm on the treadmill. With the TV shows they tended to end too soon, or the pacing didn't distract me enough not watch the clock(a problem that often leads me to saying screw it and getting off the machine early). The books last well beyond the 30 minutes I need to walk so there isn't a feeling of "oh the end is getting near, I could just get off now". That and the iPad covers up the timer on the treadmill, so time seems to go by faster.
I was also gripping to the doctor about being bored and wanting to get messed up, he came back with the trump card of what do want more: lungs or that? I just felt that I was stuck in a rather boring routine lately, but I wasn't allowed to go out and do stuff. He said I don't have to live life like a hermit, just avoid obvious venues and people where I am going to get sick. He also reassured me (and my mother) that even if I was sick that it would not automatically stop them from doing the transplant. There has to be a LOT wrong for them not to do it when your number comes up. That being said anything acting against you when you do the transplant will make your recovery that much harder, to where you might die. So being out of shape, flu-ish, and having a negative attitude won't keep your out of the OR, but it sure as shit won't keep you out of the morgue either. I am going to get my self in the best shape I can, eat well, and still go out and do what i can to live my life. Hiding like a scared turtle will not help me be ready for the big show, playing three games of D&D a week might...what? it could.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Wow, did I really do that. (Don't read this at work, you might cry)
So I was just sitting around reading a comic, takin'er easy after a nine hour day and a catheter at the hospital yesterday(it still hurts to pee, but everything went well, don't even need a follow up appointment, probably cause I have a super awesome wang to begin with). Somewhere along the line the comic reminded me of a quick back and forth I was having with my family over the holiday. At one point in the conversation I responded with "No I'm peter, ya know, the one thats dying". It just struck me now how off putting it would be to hear that.
Now everyone needs to listen carefully right now, so pick up your frickin ears, I in no way indorse or condone Peter dying. In fact I have been on the record several times in the past as opposed to Peter dying. I am aware that I make jokes that have a little too much slap with their tickle, and even worse is that this awareness in no way transfers over to any kind of inner censor. As a result some stuff I say scares people.
I am very ill right now(when compared to other people, I'm totally okay right now compared to me). The things that my doctors want to do to make me well again could kill me in the process. This is likely not what people want to hear, but that is the truth. Some poor bastard is going to die, I will go to Edmonton, get split open like a deer in hunting season, and get a dead man's organs stuffed inside me. Is it bad that the travel to Edmonton is that part of that sentence that is the most off putting to me? Seriously, that drive is so boring I hate it. The number and stats make this whole thing look grim, but I have been getting grim news from people in white coats for eleven years now, I'm iron hardened against it. But I forget that everyone around me isn't.
My bad health should not be an elephant in the room that people are afraid to talk about. There maybe times when I am going to put myself first and say I don't want to talk about, other times I will have no problem doing it. If you need clarification on something, or more info that I didn't post up here, please don't be scared to ask/comment. Don't be worried about being a downer (I mean if it is all you talk about thats a downer move), or a pest. Chances are that someone else wants to know the same stuff.
This post was not meant to be this long or an emotional gut-check. Sorry if I made anyone cry, but just remember what butt-head says "Its okay to cry Beavis, crying is how you get the sad out of you".
Now everyone needs to listen carefully right now, so pick up your frickin ears, I in no way indorse or condone Peter dying. In fact I have been on the record several times in the past as opposed to Peter dying. I am aware that I make jokes that have a little too much slap with their tickle, and even worse is that this awareness in no way transfers over to any kind of inner censor. As a result some stuff I say scares people.
I am very ill right now(when compared to other people, I'm totally okay right now compared to me). The things that my doctors want to do to make me well again could kill me in the process. This is likely not what people want to hear, but that is the truth. Some poor bastard is going to die, I will go to Edmonton, get split open like a deer in hunting season, and get a dead man's organs stuffed inside me. Is it bad that the travel to Edmonton is that part of that sentence that is the most off putting to me? Seriously, that drive is so boring I hate it. The number and stats make this whole thing look grim, but I have been getting grim news from people in white coats for eleven years now, I'm iron hardened against it. But I forget that everyone around me isn't.
My bad health should not be an elephant in the room that people are afraid to talk about. There maybe times when I am going to put myself first and say I don't want to talk about, other times I will have no problem doing it. If you need clarification on something, or more info that I didn't post up here, please don't be scared to ask/comment. Don't be worried about being a downer (I mean if it is all you talk about thats a downer move), or a pest. Chances are that someone else wants to know the same stuff.
This post was not meant to be this long or an emotional gut-check. Sorry if I made anyone cry, but just remember what butt-head says "Its okay to cry Beavis, crying is how you get the sad out of you".
Monday, 2 January 2012
A few updates more.
Well I am not here with news, more of a post Yule/Christmas summary. Both my Christmas and Yule celebrations went well, and the lungs didn't keep me from most of it. I have noticed however that I am quiet out of shape. Given that December tends to be a month long eating contest I am not shocked by this. I am however rather annoyed by how slow I have been to bounce back from a minor cold I had a few weeks ago. The stairs I use every day are still giving me trouble(it is taking me longer to catch my breath after going up them), and I am coughing more than I would like. I don't think it is a problem, just an annoyance. So I have been very diligent about getting on the bloody hamster wheel and walking. I have had to reduce the speed I am walking at, because it just takes too much out of me and I can't do the rest of the work out.
I know that the holiday weight gain would not be a problem if I could keep on a daily workout program. I am not concerned about being over the line for the ideal transplant weight/BMI, but I would have a much easier time of things if I didn't have to tow around 15 unneeded pounds of fat. That and I would feel much prettier. The baking and other holiday food is gone from the house now, so if I stick with my plan of renewed work out awesomeness it should all fall back into place in a month or so.
This week is a bit of a rest up before the medical whirlwind that next week promise to be. I go up to Edmonton Sunday night so that I can go see the transplant team up there Monday morning. Tuesday I have my re-scheduled surgery. Wednesday, relax and complain about potential penis soreness. Thursday IVIG appointment at BMT clinic. Friday see Calgary transplant doctors, and write a horribly bitter blog entry about how difficult my week was.
I know that the holiday weight gain would not be a problem if I could keep on a daily workout program. I am not concerned about being over the line for the ideal transplant weight/BMI, but I would have a much easier time of things if I didn't have to tow around 15 unneeded pounds of fat. That and I would feel much prettier. The baking and other holiday food is gone from the house now, so if I stick with my plan of renewed work out awesomeness it should all fall back into place in a month or so.
This week is a bit of a rest up before the medical whirlwind that next week promise to be. I go up to Edmonton Sunday night so that I can go see the transplant team up there Monday morning. Tuesday I have my re-scheduled surgery. Wednesday, relax and complain about potential penis soreness. Thursday IVIG appointment at BMT clinic. Friday see Calgary transplant doctors, and write a horribly bitter blog entry about how difficult my week was.
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