Over the slump PFT’s

Hey Everyone~

Today was busy day here in Seattle. Had to be at the hospital by 9:00 am for lab draws. My Tacrolimus (which is one of my rejection medications) levels are not wanting to stabilize. Since I’ve been discharged my levels either keep dropping or rising, so we had to do another blood draw this week to see if we are starting to get on track. After lab draws it was PFT time. Not going to lie I was sweating bullets!! Even though I feel great I really didn’t want to have a bronchoscopy let alone what if I was going through rejection?? Good grief all these different scenarios running through my head! I checked in, took a seat in the waiting area. It wasn’t a very long wait until a respiratory therapist called my name “Dwight!” Yikes!!! It’s go time! No turning back! He asked how my day was going, and I replied “Good, but I’m pretty nervous to do PFT’s!” He said “Don’t be you’ll do great!” Great??? Are you sure?? Oh my!! To help change my train of thought he made a comments on my hot pink & purple shoes. I told him I didn’t want him to miss me! Of course I said I wore them to match my t-shirt! I wore my new shirt Rick hd made for me. “Don’t stare and my mask, stare at my new lungs!” He cracked up laughing, and then asked where I purchased the shirt at. I said I didn’t, my good friend made it for me. I’m suppose to pass this message on to you Rick, “You should go into business selling these shirts, they would sell like “hotcakes” in clinic!!” Just in case you need a side job Rick! Ha ha! After we finished our conversation it was time to begin “the test!” Started out taking some normal deep breathes, then I took in the biggest possible breathe, and blasted it out! Kept squeezing, going and going, and finally took the biggest breathe in possible. The anticipation was over, my numbers flashed up on the screen FEV1 77% FVC 80%!!!! No way! I asked the RT if those were really MY numbers??!! He laughed and said “yes, but let’s repeat the test two more times, for accuratcy.” So I did, and my numbers were spot on each time!!! No bronchoscopy for this girl!!!!! Most of all NO REJECTION!!!!!! Pretty sure I had tears in my eyes, when I was finished!! I asked for a copy of my PFT’s so I could frame them! He then again laughed and said “yes, of course!” When I was finished I walked out to the waiting room, could’t wait to see my mom and Kerry all my hard work! They both were very pleased! My mom’s eyed filled up with tears instantly! Kerry shouted “good job!”

After PFT’s we had an appointment with Dr. Winemiller who is an ENT doctor. He sprayed my nose with lidocaine and stuck the scope up my sinus. Let me tell you even with numbing medication it still hurts. You can see him going up into my frontal sinuses, and out into my cheeks. He did a little suctioning in my passage ways, then pulled out the monster “booger picker” tweezers. Had some major crusty that didn’t want to leave. Both kerry and my mom said the were the size of a fifty center piece. Not sure where they came from! But glad they are gone! He added a new medication to my nasal wash, hoping to kill the staph that is growing. The last place we want it is going down my throat and into my new lungs! As far as surgery goes it’s still on hold. I will follow up with Dr. Winemiller in two weeks and see how things are progressing. So keep your fingers crossed, this new contraption works!!!

Once we finished with Dr. Winemiller we had to make a “quick” stop by the pharmacy to pick my new medications, and refills as well. We waited probably half an hour for our number to be called, to find out nothing was ready. Gggrrrrrr! Oh well, will try again tomorrow. I was 1:00 o’clock and I was getting hungry. So we just headed back to the apartment. We all ate lunch, and I was playing around with my camera again the strangest feeling came over me. I all of a sudden got extremely hot and sweaty, so I opened the slider door. Then my whole body became extremely shaky. I told my mom something wasn’t right. I instantly laid down on the bed, my mom took my blood sugar level and it was 68! Yikes!!!!! I quickly drank a glass of juice, and starting eating bag of chocolates like crazy!! We waited fifteen minutes and rechecked my blood sugar. My body had calmed down, and my sugar level was at 168. So we were good! Not sure what brought that one, before lunch I did check my blood sugar and gave myself the correct amount of insulin. Hoping that NEVER happens again! Crazy!!

Once that little episode was over I curdled up on the couch and feel asleep instantly. I was out HARD!! Both my mom and Kerry said I was snoring, which I don’t believe them! Ha ha! I only slept for an hour but it felt like for several hours! Felt good though!

It was another rainy day here in Seattle. Boohoo! Ready for the sunshine to come out!!! We don’t have anything scheduled for tomorrow. Going to sleep in and see what the day brings! Still feeling very happy about my PFT’S! Couldn’t wait to call my dad and Aunt D tonight!! They were both happy to hear the good news!!! Well it’s 9:00 o’clock Tacrolimus time! Hope everyone had a great Wednesday!

Until next time………..

~Jen~
“Just Breathe”