Busy day

Lots of visitors today - Lori, Moira, Pru and Maureen. Diverted my attention away from lackluster Lion's game. Walked up the hall a couple of times with my walker. Tumour in my groin acting up. Might need some Tylenol tonight.

Stormy weather

Had two visitors today. Louise brought the newspaper and Jane came with tea, homemade scones with butter and jam, some tea and a Mandarin orange. Enjoyed it all.

Waiting game

There are 12 ahead of me on the waiting list so I'll be here for a few more days. Had a shower this morning and then fell asleep. The physio had me walk down the hall and up 10 stairs. Every meal was the opposite of what I ordered. Ate little of the dinner. Good thing I'm not hungry.

Waiting

Don't know when I'm moving or where it will be. They think I should have the gall bladder out when I'm stronger. Walked a bit and went up one landing of stairs. Sat up but got really tired.

Discharge

Weird night. Nurses woke me twice to look at my port. They aren't used to them on the spinal ward. The old man across the hall refused a blood test at 6. He's bee complaining about his catheter for days. A nurse walked by at 7:30 and had a fit. He had pulled it out and there was blood everywhere. They've been arguing and cajoling all day to get a new one in. My student came today and said they were thinking of a liver biopsy. A while later he said I was being discharged. I'm going to a Transition Unit and it will take a few days for a bed to come open.

Day of visitors

Lots of company today - Mae (who did Therapeutic Touch), Pam & Lori, Louise, Matt & Maureen. Walked down the hall. They want more tests now.

Dull Monday

Blood was drawn at 5am but they came back this afternoon for more. Had a hard time filling the tubes. I'm all tapped out! My liver numbers are climbing again so we're stopping the Sjogren medication. Louise came and we went for a little walk down the hall.

Phone woes

I've almost reached the limit of my iPhone plan. I'm leaving it off most of the time. Moira brought me a book and a tea tumbler. Pam came a bit later and discovered where to get hot water. Took a little walk with my nurse. Just eating tires me out!

Weekend lull

No blood work this morning so could sleep until about 7. Only testing every 2nd day. Saw a med student and the lung test hasn't been analyzed yet. 3 of the Status of Women arrived with treats - newspaper, chocolate, crib game, a stuffed reindeer... They even went for a cup of tea for me after I took a walk with them. Louise arrived as my lunch did and brought another paper. Quiet afternoon. I fell asleep for a bit.

Lungs

Andrea brought in a bunch of stuff Matt retrieved from my apartment. There is still one library book on my KOBO that doesn't expire until the 15th. Can't load new stuff as there is no WiFi. Can't even read my newspapers on my iPad. The physio took me for a walk and I did 3 stairs. My nurse took for a shower and I couldn't walk it. They got me a wheelchair and my breathing settled down. Loved the shower!! Louise brought me Province just as Andrea arrived with tea. Eating lunch seemed a lot of work. Went to have a lung capacity test. Don't know how I did but blowing out was hard. Tired tonight. Enjoying my PD James mystery.

Heart test

Busy morning. Matt and Andrea came, 4 Status of Women friends, Lori & Pam, and Louise. Spent the last couple of hours having a test on my heart. Tomorrow there is a lung capacity test at 3. Finally got switched to regular diet and had meat sauce on pasta for lunch. Came back to the room to find a hot cup of tea from Andrea. Matt braved my messy apartment and hasdumped the moldy teapot and gathered stuff for me. Will be nice to have something to read. A nurse just changed the line into my port. It has been there over a week. My nurse wrote a date on it so we can keep track. My heart is fine so lungs tomorrow.

Four more years

Managed to stay awake until it was clear Obama was going to win. Whew! My liver numbers are still up and they don't know why I'm anaemic. Yesterday's X-ray show I still have some fluid in my lungs. I've started using a puffer (Novo-Salbutamol HFA). Andrea brought me a great cup of tea this morning. The Resident is going to get me back on regular food. Heart test at 1:30 Thursday.

New team leader

Dr. Iain McCormick is the new head of my team. He spent a lot of time with me this morning. He hopes the liver is because of the Tamoxifen and will get better now. I am anaemic and the original chemo might have damaged my heart so I'm having an eco test. My breathing isn't great so add another chest X-ray and lung capacity test. I'll start a puffer right away. Also being tested for a bunch of other stuff like Hep C and AIDS (no chance).

Quiet day

Didn't do much today. They wake me at 5:30 to draw blood from my port. Vitals are checked around 7. Someone comes to change the bed while I wash in the bathroom. Improvement from early days of bed baths. Meals are 7, 1 and 6. I asked for vegetarian to get smaller selections but asked to go to normal tomorrow. Nothing to drink with dinner. Must have missed it on the form. Pam and Lori have been taking good care of me. Lori brings the Province and a latte when I feel like one. Louise has been bringing in the Sun most days. Their visits always make me feel better. Andrea works here so pops in every day for a visit and to see what I need - toothbrush, TV... Matt usually makes it in. Today he brought a wonderful cup of tea. The old plastic mugs here stink of soup and coffee so the hot water takes on the flavours.

Hi from VGH

This is my longest hospital stay.

They think I've had a gallstone blockage and filled up with infection.  I've been sick for months but kept thinking it was GERD. Even saw gastro specialist.  

My liver enzymes are still up and my gut isn't right yet.  Once I am medically cleared I'm going into Transitional Care until I can look after myself.  My apt is a mess as I haven't been coping for ages. 

Visits are great but I tire easily.  I am in a very small room and you have to use a gown and gloves.

Still sick

I am still in VGH after what was probably a gall stone. Looks like I'll stay until next week and then go to Transitionary Care

Sick

I went out for a bit Thursday morning. Got home at two and started throwing up. I've had attacks like this before and it is probably GERD. The vomiting lasted for 12 hours. Today I am shaky and tired. I just sit and doze and dink lots of water.

New plan

At the Cancer Agency for bloodwork at 9:30. Had a latte and a scone at Waves to kill some time. My appointment with Karen was 9:40. Better than I thought. A lot of my tumours have grown since the last CTScan but the there was nothing in the liver. The bloodtest showed the liver numbers were getting better. Might have been a side effect of the Tamoxifen, just like my GERD. We're going to try something new. Can't remember the name but is has been used for renal cancer. The U.S. has just approved it for breast cancer. Karen is asking Ottawa to give it to me on compassionate grounds. It'll take a while to find out. Picked up groceries at Granville Island on the way home.

Multi caching

Met Pam and Lori and we spent the day getting multis in Vancouver, Burnaby, Port Moody Mnd Coquitlam.  It was cool out but sunny most of the day.  Had lunch at Mr. Mike's.

Stopped at M & M Meats on the way home.

Bad night

Woke up at 3 with the pain in my left leg again (not the one with the tumour sticking out).  Took a pain killer but finally had to move to the Lazy Boy.  Dozed the rest of the night.  Took a few more painkillers.  Didn't hurt this moring.  Had a quiet day.  Caught one mouse!