I took my new lungs to barbados. I took my lungs swimming in the ocean. We climbed up and over rocks. We breathed in the hot thick humid air. We went snorkling and breathed through that tiny hole. Me and my lungs went on an airplane sans oxygen. We went walking on the beach. The most beautiful, we didn't feel tired or exhausted from all that breathing. Me and my new lungs make one hell of a pair.
Ten days in barbados, where you used to have to plan only going swimming once a day, maybe once every other day, for fear of walking along the beach and losing your breath. Dreading going for a walk. Getting Prednisone hot flashes because of the high doses, used to be me...10 days in barbados with new lungs, low meds, and swimming swimming swimming. December is a good month.
Showing posts with label barbados. Show all posts
Showing posts with label barbados. Show all posts
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, April 10, 2010
I get by with a little help from my friends....
sooo I have some really really...REALLY great friends. My trip to bdos was cancelled due to a cold that I couldn't kick...until next year! sigh...
I also had to get in ANOTHER picc line yesterday. FYI, it went smoothly. Thank gosh. ( I guess the extra ativan pills I popped, are doin' the trick these days? ha I asked not to have the dr. that always butchers me. I even told the male nurse attending me, (well I think it was the ativan 'happy' drugs doing all the talking at this point) which doctor always screwed up on me and that I always ask not to have, he started laughing, as if he knew that the dr. was bad at them! gesh..
I started IV drugs yesterday, and am already feeling better! (could be the placebo effect, and the bouquet flower effect ha, but I'll take it!)...but my week is already filling up with fun activities to replace barbados...including wearing frilly frocks, big hats, and speaking with british accents for high tea! haha so fun, can't wait NM.
Also I got a call this morning asking where I lived, that they had a delivery for me, a flower arrangement delivery??? Well I'll be!....tickled pink I was! Who could it be from? so exciting! They were from my ghost best friend! Thanks cysta! LOVE YOU! They really truly absolutely made my day! My mom even cried! haha
She sometimes has it harder then me when I get my picc lines in...I've never been on the other side of the waiting room during surgery, but I imagine it's not fun...at least I'm the one on the happy pills, poor mama has to sit there worrying sans drugs. If they take longer, she starts to worry they're butchering my arms again. If she sees the dr. we fear walk out of the room, her heart starts to race, her palms start to sweat, and her tear ducts start to leak....and she didn't get any happy pills...so maybe she has it worse? ha
Anyways we made it through it...I'm on mero and cefapime this time. Every eight hours, so I'll get to stay out later then 9 this time round! haha my friend Brit is glad to here that! lol
Anyways just a little post saying, I'm doing well, so is my mom! ha
Sometimes even though you would think everything should be just awful...there are soo many negative ways I could be looking at this chest infection, but I'll focus on all the positives, heck i just got a kick ass bouquet of flowers this morning!...there are always little smiles, little laughs, little quirks, little happinesses to be found, always. Probably from those so called bad things in one's life, is when the great things in one's life will transpire. So I've had another set back...do you know how many "set ups" I have...tons. I have tons to look forward to in the next few weeks! I'll get on another trip....maybe San Fransisco?? Smile world...I am.
Friday, January 22, 2010
roller coaster ride....
this has by far been such a roller coaster ride. one day i am feeling great, the next day short of breath, the next day back to feeling great....
today is a good day. I was able to work out, and it was much much easier then yesterdays workout, when I could barely get breath down in to my lungs. My oxygen levels were higher while working out and I was able to go for longer without stopping.
I got up and started work this morning, and did all the trivial stuff without getting out of breath (like picking up my fat cat...although lately she has been really slimming down, people have even been commenting on how slim she is getting! we've been working hard on her diet haha)
soooo...who knows if I will get to bdos...it's so hard to tell because it is such a rollar coaster ride. I have to remember that is has only been four days on this drug. I took my fourth one this afternoon..it's not a miracle worker and needs time to work, so by Sunday it should be nice and solid in my system and I should have a good idea of whether I get to slip away to bdos for two weeks.
I keep looking up the weather high of 28 degrees feels like 36...yes please.
I talked to my friend who I'm going with, for half an hour on the phone yesterday, instructing on what to pack, she wondered if she should bring jeans, it's hard to grasp just how hot it is in barbados unless you've been there...but you will never need jeans in bdos. EVER. Even when I wear my floor length maxi dress, I am hot, so I wear it on 'cooler' nights.
Anyways if we dont' get away on Wednesday we'll just post pone it for six weeks, till march..and as my friend said, she's not sick of the winter yet, but by march we'll all be sick of the winter and it will be just that much nicer to get away to a hot place.
I was taking photos of my jewellery all day today. Finally have figured out all the new options on my camera. I'm a pro with aperature speed, shutter speed, and white balance...it only took me three days and 10 hours of trial and error to learn! ha
Anyways here are the positive things so far since being on these new drugs
-insulin dependence is down, meaning infection is down
-mucus is back to yellow and very easy to cough up, meaning bacteria growth is down
-easier to work out today
-not short of breath today when doing little things and exerting myself
-have energy and worked on business today
-no longer feel exhausted
here are things that need to change before i feel comfertable going away to bdos
-need to stop falling asleep at night at 9 oclock on the couch, while watching tv...means i am still tired and fighting an infection when i can't keep my eyes open
-need lung function to improve
-need white blood cell count to decrease
keep sending out those positive vibes, they're working!
today is a good day. I was able to work out, and it was much much easier then yesterdays workout, when I could barely get breath down in to my lungs. My oxygen levels were higher while working out and I was able to go for longer without stopping.
I got up and started work this morning, and did all the trivial stuff without getting out of breath (like picking up my fat cat...although lately she has been really slimming down, people have even been commenting on how slim she is getting! we've been working hard on her diet haha)
soooo...who knows if I will get to bdos...it's so hard to tell because it is such a rollar coaster ride. I have to remember that is has only been four days on this drug. I took my fourth one this afternoon..it's not a miracle worker and needs time to work, so by Sunday it should be nice and solid in my system and I should have a good idea of whether I get to slip away to bdos for two weeks.
I keep looking up the weather high of 28 degrees feels like 36...yes please.
I talked to my friend who I'm going with, for half an hour on the phone yesterday, instructing on what to pack, she wondered if she should bring jeans, it's hard to grasp just how hot it is in barbados unless you've been there...but you will never need jeans in bdos. EVER. Even when I wear my floor length maxi dress, I am hot, so I wear it on 'cooler' nights.
Anyways if we dont' get away on Wednesday we'll just post pone it for six weeks, till march..and as my friend said, she's not sick of the winter yet, but by march we'll all be sick of the winter and it will be just that much nicer to get away to a hot place.
I was taking photos of my jewellery all day today. Finally have figured out all the new options on my camera. I'm a pro with aperature speed, shutter speed, and white balance...it only took me three days and 10 hours of trial and error to learn! ha
Anyways here are the positive things so far since being on these new drugs
-insulin dependence is down, meaning infection is down
-mucus is back to yellow and very easy to cough up, meaning bacteria growth is down
-easier to work out today
-not short of breath today when doing little things and exerting myself
-have energy and worked on business today
-no longer feel exhausted
here are things that need to change before i feel comfertable going away to bdos
-need to stop falling asleep at night at 9 oclock on the couch, while watching tv...means i am still tired and fighting an infection when i can't keep my eyes open
-need lung function to improve
-need white blood cell count to decrease
keep sending out those positive vibes, they're working!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
two weeks baby!
In two weeks time I will be sitting on an airplane flying to my beloved home of barbados! I cannot wait. I totally think it was my asthma and inflammation acting up that made me so SOB (short of breath), because since uping my pulmicort on sunday, my SOB has decreased incredibly. Working out today was way easier then Sunday and Monday, I could actually get breath down in to my lungs, instead of struggling to breathe. Maybe it has helped that it has also warmed up a bit outside!
Also I started lemon fish oil the liquid last week, it's suppose to do wonders for inflammation, here's hoping. Also the liquid is suppose to be more effective then the tablets apparently. I also started prim rose oil tablets yesterday. They are good for insulin absorption, acne, and inflammation! Hopefully these will help!
All in all a good day! (and i'm not just saying that because endorphins from the treadmill are running through me! ha)
Also I started lemon fish oil the liquid last week, it's suppose to do wonders for inflammation, here's hoping. Also the liquid is suppose to be more effective then the tablets apparently. I also started prim rose oil tablets yesterday. They are good for insulin absorption, acne, and inflammation! Hopefully these will help!
All in all a good day! (and i'm not just saying that because endorphins from the treadmill are running through me! ha)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
finally some good news!
lung function is up!!!
I'm back up to .79, from .74 last week...it's not .83 like I was at the end of November, but it's a start! This cold air is really takin' a hit on my lungs. I have upt my pulmicourt puffer to try to combat my asthma cough. My white blood cell count last week was 17, this week it's 16, going in the right direction! (under 11 is normal, but since I'm on a steriod, prednisone, I hover at around 13) I lost a little bit of weight, I'm now down to 113, from my original 116....but I like sitting at 113, I don't feel heavy or bloated or water retention from the prednisone, like I used to. I am going to try to gain back a pound for clinic next week though, just as some insurance weight, bring on the ice cream maple syrup and chocolate chips. mmmh.
You have no idea what a relief it was today, when I blew that .79 liters of my lung function. I've had a pretty rough two months, on and off orals, and with personal things happening, and I just really needed that number to increase, without going on IV's. I was not ready yet to commit to another 3-6 weeks of IV's. I'd better knock on wood just in case something happens in the next week or so...although I will admit, I was, looking forward to getting some adavant, this drug they give me to calm me down before I get my picc line put in...it just makes "everything okay" haha...today is a turning point, boy am I glad I kept working out every day even though I felt really sick this past week. Working out has been the best thing I could have ever invested my time in.
Also another great news, my blood pressure is FINALLY down. 120/80 back to it's normal. phew. That was totally so weird, how for the past two months it was super high every time at clinic.
So game plan is to stay on these drugs, go back to clinic next week, and figure things out...yay it looks like I might get to Barbados after all! My lungs need a break from this cold air, my legs are itchin' to start Caribbean dancin' and my pallate is thirsty for some rum punches! cannot wait. also it's suppose to start warming up tomorrow, so hopefully the harsh crispness air will dissipate and my lungs can breathe a little easier, 15 more days!!! ah.
I'm back up to .79, from .74 last week...it's not .83 like I was at the end of November, but it's a start! This cold air is really takin' a hit on my lungs. I have upt my pulmicourt puffer to try to combat my asthma cough. My white blood cell count last week was 17, this week it's 16, going in the right direction! (under 11 is normal, but since I'm on a steriod, prednisone, I hover at around 13) I lost a little bit of weight, I'm now down to 113, from my original 116....but I like sitting at 113, I don't feel heavy or bloated or water retention from the prednisone, like I used to. I am going to try to gain back a pound for clinic next week though, just as some insurance weight, bring on the ice cream maple syrup and chocolate chips. mmmh.
You have no idea what a relief it was today, when I blew that .79 liters of my lung function. I've had a pretty rough two months, on and off orals, and with personal things happening, and I just really needed that number to increase, without going on IV's. I was not ready yet to commit to another 3-6 weeks of IV's. I'd better knock on wood just in case something happens in the next week or so...although I will admit, I was, looking forward to getting some adavant, this drug they give me to calm me down before I get my picc line put in...it just makes "everything okay" haha...today is a turning point, boy am I glad I kept working out every day even though I felt really sick this past week. Working out has been the best thing I could have ever invested my time in.
Also another great news, my blood pressure is FINALLY down. 120/80 back to it's normal. phew. That was totally so weird, how for the past two months it was super high every time at clinic.
So game plan is to stay on these drugs, go back to clinic next week, and figure things out...yay it looks like I might get to Barbados after all! My lungs need a break from this cold air, my legs are itchin' to start Caribbean dancin' and my pallate is thirsty for some rum punches! cannot wait. also it's suppose to start warming up tomorrow, so hopefully the harsh crispness air will dissipate and my lungs can breathe a little easier, 15 more days!!! ah.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
work out three times this week thus far! woo
alright...it's time for me to go back to barbados....today my oxygen levels at rest are bouncing around between 87-92...what the heck! I don't even get it.
I took respiractin (this natural anti inflammation stuff I've been trying, and after I took it, my oxygen went up to 93 and stayed there resting) but now it is back to being wonky...I think I am obessing over my oximeter wayy to much. Plus I'm exhausted, maybe that has to do with the oxygen levels? I was out with a friend till 1 last night and up at 8 today...me and these late nights...I am going to have to curb it in! haha
Last night though while reading before bed, I was 94 resting oxygen with a heart rate in the 80's woo. normally in the 100's from all the ventolin and puffers, so to be in the 80's means no infection, normally my heart rate is racing...and not just around jake gyllenhal who is tres hot, and was in the movie we saw last night, if you have not seen brothers, definitely take a gander at it. it's a really good movie. I was surprised. The movie selection has been quite disappointing lately though at the theatres. Although I will admit I do want to see the new princess movie out haha. I'll wait till next Cheap Tuesday night though. I'm a sucker for Disney, what can I say.
I've been able to keep up my running program 1 minute 45 seconds times 4 with walking at 3.4mph for three minutes in between each run. My oxygen when running has improved as well. I'm so proud of myself that I have been able to start running..even if it is with oxygen and for only 1 minute 45 seconds...believe me this is a HUGE deal with someone who has these poop lungs in them!...in the new year I'm going to increase it up to 2 minutes...wow so scary. I never even was able to do that when my lung function was up in the 50's! power to working out! what a difference.
I am so busy this weekend as well. It's a good thing I'm taking vitamin C every day, twice a day, like its candy so that so far I have been fortunate enough not to get sick with a cold! Thanks to everyone for staying away from me when you have the sniffles!
Counting down the days till I'm in bdo's again.....49 days. yay! Please hold on lungs, 49 more days and then you can crash and burn....not literally I just mean, then we can go in for a tune up, if we need to. It's almost that time where I need a tune up on IV's. Even though I just got my picc line out, it's been since July since I had any IV's. I just hope these little girls can last 49 days till I'm in that salty air and heat again!
So far this week I've worked out every day since Monday. I was talking to a fellow who had 16% lung function two years ago and had a pager and was on the transplant list for new lungs, today he has 40%. He wanted to spend his life with his wife...he wanted to be around for her. So he got motivated and started working out, and low and behold, he got off the transplant list, and now works out 2-3 hours every day. The power of Love eh? Inspiration for the CF community, yes. EXERCISE like your life depends on it...cause quite frankly... your life does.
My goal this week. Work out Monday-Friday. Friday night I'm going out dancing, so perhaps that will count as a double work out day? Saturday night there also might be dancing involved...so I'd like to put that down as a work out as well! haha anyways I have to get going for some dinner...or ice cream...whichever one is more readily available ha!
I took respiractin (this natural anti inflammation stuff I've been trying, and after I took it, my oxygen went up to 93 and stayed there resting) but now it is back to being wonky...I think I am obessing over my oximeter wayy to much. Plus I'm exhausted, maybe that has to do with the oxygen levels? I was out with a friend till 1 last night and up at 8 today...me and these late nights...I am going to have to curb it in! haha
Last night though while reading before bed, I was 94 resting oxygen with a heart rate in the 80's woo. normally in the 100's from all the ventolin and puffers, so to be in the 80's means no infection, normally my heart rate is racing...and not just around jake gyllenhal who is tres hot, and was in the movie we saw last night, if you have not seen brothers, definitely take a gander at it. it's a really good movie. I was surprised. The movie selection has been quite disappointing lately though at the theatres. Although I will admit I do want to see the new princess movie out haha. I'll wait till next Cheap Tuesday night though. I'm a sucker for Disney, what can I say.
I've been able to keep up my running program 1 minute 45 seconds times 4 with walking at 3.4mph for three minutes in between each run. My oxygen when running has improved as well. I'm so proud of myself that I have been able to start running..even if it is with oxygen and for only 1 minute 45 seconds...believe me this is a HUGE deal with someone who has these poop lungs in them!...in the new year I'm going to increase it up to 2 minutes...wow so scary. I never even was able to do that when my lung function was up in the 50's! power to working out! what a difference.
I am so busy this weekend as well. It's a good thing I'm taking vitamin C every day, twice a day, like its candy so that so far I have been fortunate enough not to get sick with a cold! Thanks to everyone for staying away from me when you have the sniffles!
Counting down the days till I'm in bdo's again.....49 days. yay! Please hold on lungs, 49 more days and then you can crash and burn....not literally I just mean, then we can go in for a tune up, if we need to. It's almost that time where I need a tune up on IV's. Even though I just got my picc line out, it's been since July since I had any IV's. I just hope these little girls can last 49 days till I'm in that salty air and heat again!
So far this week I've worked out every day since Monday. I was talking to a fellow who had 16% lung function two years ago and had a pager and was on the transplant list for new lungs, today he has 40%. He wanted to spend his life with his wife...he wanted to be around for her. So he got motivated and started working out, and low and behold, he got off the transplant list, and now works out 2-3 hours every day. The power of Love eh? Inspiration for the CF community, yes. EXERCISE like your life depends on it...cause quite frankly... your life does.
My goal this week. Work out Monday-Friday. Friday night I'm going out dancing, so perhaps that will count as a double work out day? Saturday night there also might be dancing involved...so I'd like to put that down as a work out as well! haha anyways I have to get going for some dinner...or ice cream...whichever one is more readily available ha!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
breathe a sigh of relief!
alright I worked out yesterday and i can breathe a sigh of relief! I was still able to do my normal work out regime. This week i hope to increase and push myself to one minute and 45 seconds instead of the usual one minute thirty second interval running spurts that i've been doing.
Bad news is, inflammation city is back with a vengence. I've been back two days from Barbados adn my lungs are tight and short of breath...no infection because my blood sugars are doing miraculously well. I even ate maple syrup and french toast this morning, without insulin! ladies and gentlemen sugar central and no insulin was needed. good news to no infection. but i am still having hempotisis every now and then...old stuff though...not sure what it is. Will ask the docs on Tuesday.
Tomorrow is a Hattitude photo shoot with new Christmas gifts for the website. Thursday I am going to a concert to see Rae Spoon click the name to listen to some of his tunes. Bah love them! "Come on forest fire...burn the disco down" very very good. Check him out if you haven't...and yes it is a male, even though it is hard to grasp because it sounds so much like a woman. Anyways good news on the exercise front! bad news on the asthma and inflammation front...maybe they will have something else for me to try some other puffer on Tuesday...I really do not want to increase my prednisone, but it seems to be the only thing to combat a tight chest....sigh.
Also another poo thing, my oxygen levels down in bdos were sitting at 96, 97 resting by the end of the trip, unheard of for me! (normal people sit at 98 oxygen and when you go below 88, that is when you require oxygen through nasal prongs) and now today they are bouncing around from 90-93....I am sitting here being cold with lower oxygen, tight chest...is it silly that I'm not moving to barbados? okay, okay, okay.... I'll move if EVERY single promises to come visit me....deal?
Bad news is, inflammation city is back with a vengence. I've been back two days from Barbados adn my lungs are tight and short of breath...no infection because my blood sugars are doing miraculously well. I even ate maple syrup and french toast this morning, without insulin! ladies and gentlemen sugar central and no insulin was needed. good news to no infection. but i am still having hempotisis every now and then...old stuff though...not sure what it is. Will ask the docs on Tuesday.
Tomorrow is a Hattitude photo shoot with new Christmas gifts for the website. Thursday I am going to a concert to see Rae Spoon click the name to listen to some of his tunes. Bah love them! "Come on forest fire...burn the disco down" very very good. Check him out if you haven't...and yes it is a male, even though it is hard to grasp because it sounds so much like a woman. Anyways good news on the exercise front! bad news on the asthma and inflammation front...maybe they will have something else for me to try some other puffer on Tuesday...I really do not want to increase my prednisone, but it seems to be the only thing to combat a tight chest....sigh.
Also another poo thing, my oxygen levels down in bdos were sitting at 96, 97 resting by the end of the trip, unheard of for me! (normal people sit at 98 oxygen and when you go below 88, that is when you require oxygen through nasal prongs) and now today they are bouncing around from 90-93....I am sitting here being cold with lower oxygen, tight chest...is it silly that I'm not moving to barbados? okay, okay, okay.... I'll move if EVERY single promises to come visit me....deal?
Saturday, December 5, 2009
great vacation!
Well I'd like the title of this blog to be home sweet home...but definitely that is not fitting, since it is not sweet, not sweet at all to be home from Barbados and the sun and the sea!
There are a ton of memories here. He is everywhere, yuck. It is hard to forget someone, when stuff reminds you of them, and is always in your face.
My dear friend K left a "Hattitude" dollie print thing on my desk! so cute when I got home!
Man best vacation ever though. I don't know, there is just something about Barbados that is just...great. 12 days is not long enough...it never is down there though eh? Already planning next trip back...that always seems to be the case. Once you get home, your always scheming on how to get back. Have a little more cash flow now that no trip to New Zealand is needed! Always trying to find a positive out of the negative, or I would go crazy. You should see the list I have compiled of positive things so far...some of them are teeny tiny, but hey anything helps right? Also planning my trip to Washington for January with my cousin to visit my other cousin...cannot find any cheap flights though! erg!
While I was away my cat totally had abandoned me and taken up residence with my younger brother. She was lonely. This is not any old cat...more like a dog. She follows me around, and knows her name, comes when she is called. Always has to be where I am....so she definitely was hurting while I was away...or so I would imagine...but alas when I got home last night, she totally snubbed me for the first hour, and continued to sit on my brothers lap. Thankfully today she has forgiven me, and is back to sitting on my arms as I type, purring her motor boat.
I'm terrified to get back on the treadmill today, as I have not "worked out" in 12 days! We are always walking in bdos though, so hopefully I will surprise myself and not be totally out of shape! One great thing about Barbados is that I don't constantly see people's backs. Usually when your lung function gets so low with CF a lot of us find we are always staring at people's backs. When I go out with a group, I can probably tell you which friend has the best butt, the nicest back, and roundest shoulders...etc since I am so slow at walking I tend to see this view the most ha, but down in Barbados...I don't see their backs...they see mine! Sometimes I would be walking faster then my mom, who hikes a pretty mean walk! I even carried the groceries on my backpack one day...Normally I find it difficult to carry anything, let alone walk a couple blocks with groceries on my back. Hopefully with keeping up with this running/walking program on the treadmill, I'll continue to increase my lung function and maybe back here in Canada when we go for walks people will start to get a nice view of my butt instead of the other way around! haha
I got another awesome horoscope today!
"With mind planet Mercury moving into your sign today you will find it easier to make sense of some of the things that have happened in recent weeks. As for the things that still confuse you are they really worth worrying about?"
Sometimes you just have to read it to reinforce it...is it really worth worrying about?? bigger fish to fry... like maybe some flying fish? (barbados specialty fish haha)
Tomorrow board games and wine night with some girlfriends. So looking forward to it. If you didn't know I'm a board games fanatic. Favourite past time. I have three shelves filled with just board games.
Christmas is coming. Feels weird when I was just wearing my summer dress and drinking a rum punch from a fancy glass yesterday afternoon? Although I did buy one Christmas present while I was down there. Still on the hunt for a baby Christmas tree for my apartment!
Also for the last seven months, I had a picc line...and for the past two weeks I have been picc line free! Feels great! FREEDOM
There are a ton of memories here. He is everywhere, yuck. It is hard to forget someone, when stuff reminds you of them, and is always in your face.
My dear friend K left a "Hattitude" dollie print thing on my desk! so cute when I got home!
Man best vacation ever though. I don't know, there is just something about Barbados that is just...great. 12 days is not long enough...it never is down there though eh? Already planning next trip back...that always seems to be the case. Once you get home, your always scheming on how to get back. Have a little more cash flow now that no trip to New Zealand is needed! Always trying to find a positive out of the negative, or I would go crazy. You should see the list I have compiled of positive things so far...some of them are teeny tiny, but hey anything helps right? Also planning my trip to Washington for January with my cousin to visit my other cousin...cannot find any cheap flights though! erg!
While I was away my cat totally had abandoned me and taken up residence with my younger brother. She was lonely. This is not any old cat...more like a dog. She follows me around, and knows her name, comes when she is called. Always has to be where I am....so she definitely was hurting while I was away...or so I would imagine...but alas when I got home last night, she totally snubbed me for the first hour, and continued to sit on my brothers lap. Thankfully today she has forgiven me, and is back to sitting on my arms as I type, purring her motor boat.
I'm terrified to get back on the treadmill today, as I have not "worked out" in 12 days! We are always walking in bdos though, so hopefully I will surprise myself and not be totally out of shape! One great thing about Barbados is that I don't constantly see people's backs. Usually when your lung function gets so low with CF a lot of us find we are always staring at people's backs. When I go out with a group, I can probably tell you which friend has the best butt, the nicest back, and roundest shoulders...etc since I am so slow at walking I tend to see this view the most ha, but down in Barbados...I don't see their backs...they see mine! Sometimes I would be walking faster then my mom, who hikes a pretty mean walk! I even carried the groceries on my backpack one day...Normally I find it difficult to carry anything, let alone walk a couple blocks with groceries on my back. Hopefully with keeping up with this running/walking program on the treadmill, I'll continue to increase my lung function and maybe back here in Canada when we go for walks people will start to get a nice view of my butt instead of the other way around! haha
I got another awesome horoscope today!
"With mind planet Mercury moving into your sign today you will find it easier to make sense of some of the things that have happened in recent weeks. As for the things that still confuse you are they really worth worrying about?"
Sometimes you just have to read it to reinforce it...is it really worth worrying about?? bigger fish to fry... like maybe some flying fish? (barbados specialty fish haha)
Tomorrow board games and wine night with some girlfriends. So looking forward to it. If you didn't know I'm a board games fanatic. Favourite past time. I have three shelves filled with just board games.
Christmas is coming. Feels weird when I was just wearing my summer dress and drinking a rum punch from a fancy glass yesterday afternoon? Although I did buy one Christmas present while I was down there. Still on the hunt for a baby Christmas tree for my apartment!
Also for the last seven months, I had a picc line...and for the past two weeks I have been picc line free! Feels great! FREEDOM
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
stick your body in the ocean and shake it all around
"I have been in [barbados] for ten days. My blood is made from the water of this place. I can feel it. How it slides through my body and shapes me."
I love Barbados...what a nice way to heal a broken heart, no? 2 week vacation in the sun?
I found this horoscope while I was down here at the beginning of the holidays, when I was still in a really sad place. It is a nice horoscope and I like it. So I'll write it here to remember it incase I lose the ripped piece of paper.
"Capricorn: This Winter your stellar work and enviable style will make you a frequent topic of conversation. April brings a promotion; romantic adventures are in store come August."
Seems like a pretty good horoscope to me.
It sure is hot down here in bdos. Me and my mom don't quite remember it ever being this hot.
We took a bus into oistins today to the fish market, at 4, when they were gutting and cleaning all the fish for the evening. It was quite an expierence...we didn't feel totally comfy...but not totally threatened either...it was an adventure...haha definitly lots of limin' goin on at the bars at 4 in the afternoon so you can imagine the types. Dad goes home tomorrow. Mac and Grandma left yesterday. I have been trying to avoid the sun, lying in the shade on the beach, yet still i am browning up just walking to the bus stop. I think the medication, cipro and septra are making my skin extra sensative to being tanned...at least I am not burning though...a little red in the face but I feel like that is again just the meds.
Since I've been down here, my acne on my forhead has also cleared up (again acne was caused due to the meds, prednisone!) Also for all you CF'ers out there...my mucus is SOO much thinner down here, it is like I am on pulmuzyme or hypertonic saline (which I guess in away I am on it all the time, breathing in the ocean air 24/7) all the time, it just falls out of you, effortless to cough up. sooo much nicer then back in canada, hacking away to get the awful junk up, which leaves you sooo tired (sorry for all you no CF'ers and too much info. reading this! hah)
Also my leg cramps which were caused I think from symbicourt and other meds, have dissapeared since I've been here, I tell ya...this is the place to be to cure: heart breaks, leg cramps, face bumps, anything that ails ya...stick your body in the salt sea, breathe deep in the air, and let yourself be healed! hah
Update on Natalia, she is in the step down unit (amazing that she is there already after what she has endured! no more ICU, yay!) and almost breathing on her own without the ventillator, Ithink only at night time. There is talk she might even be home for Scarlett's first Christmas. That will be great. I am sending positive thoughts that they have as smooth a ride as she can from here on out!
I love Barbados...what a nice way to heal a broken heart, no? 2 week vacation in the sun?
I found this horoscope while I was down here at the beginning of the holidays, when I was still in a really sad place. It is a nice horoscope and I like it. So I'll write it here to remember it incase I lose the ripped piece of paper.
"Capricorn: This Winter your stellar work and enviable style will make you a frequent topic of conversation. April brings a promotion; romantic adventures are in store come August."
Seems like a pretty good horoscope to me.
It sure is hot down here in bdos. Me and my mom don't quite remember it ever being this hot.
We took a bus into oistins today to the fish market, at 4, when they were gutting and cleaning all the fish for the evening. It was quite an expierence...we didn't feel totally comfy...but not totally threatened either...it was an adventure...haha definitly lots of limin' goin on at the bars at 4 in the afternoon so you can imagine the types. Dad goes home tomorrow. Mac and Grandma left yesterday. I have been trying to avoid the sun, lying in the shade on the beach, yet still i am browning up just walking to the bus stop. I think the medication, cipro and septra are making my skin extra sensative to being tanned...at least I am not burning though...a little red in the face but I feel like that is again just the meds.
Since I've been down here, my acne on my forhead has also cleared up (again acne was caused due to the meds, prednisone!) Also for all you CF'ers out there...my mucus is SOO much thinner down here, it is like I am on pulmuzyme or hypertonic saline (which I guess in away I am on it all the time, breathing in the ocean air 24/7) all the time, it just falls out of you, effortless to cough up. sooo much nicer then back in canada, hacking away to get the awful junk up, which leaves you sooo tired (sorry for all you no CF'ers and too much info. reading this! hah)
Also my leg cramps which were caused I think from symbicourt and other meds, have dissapeared since I've been here, I tell ya...this is the place to be to cure: heart breaks, leg cramps, face bumps, anything that ails ya...stick your body in the salt sea, breathe deep in the air, and let yourself be healed! hah
Update on Natalia, she is in the step down unit (amazing that she is there already after what she has endured! no more ICU, yay!) and almost breathing on her own without the ventillator, Ithink only at night time. There is talk she might even be home for Scarlett's first Christmas. That will be great. I am sending positive thoughts that they have as smooth a ride as she can from here on out!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
is it snowing in canada yet?
i have a craving for ice cream maple syrup and chocolate chips.
sun is fab. going to basheba tomorrow to watch a surfing competition.
saw mr. impact tonight. sigh. fabulous as always.
sun is fab. going to basheba tomorrow to watch a surfing competition.
saw mr. impact tonight. sigh. fabulous as always.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
barbados
well we're here in lovely barbados. its' very hot and humid this time. been swimming every day, looove tasting the salt water. i am such a salt phene. i am waiting for my little brother to wake up and to start my tobi mask then to get out on the beach again. i've been hiding in the shade though not wanting to get burned since i'm on cipro. so far so good. i went out in the sun for a walk on the beach yesterday, but then quickly put my big hat back on and sat back under the palm tree. so far no burns. phew.
at the airport we ran in to some trouble with all my meds of course...one woman had the galls to come up to me and say "your holding up the line" i was so shocked i had to actually ask her "are you talking to me" i thought she was talking to the security people, telling htem to hurry up, i had to ask her again "are you kidding me, are you actually talking to me right now?" "oh my god are you kidding me" i was in shock, i had never had someone come up to me and say to me, you are holding up the line, you should not have done this, and blah blah. well...i lost it on the lady. i have never lost it on anyone. i just said those things to her after i realized she actually was talking to me "and i said...i have cystic fibrosis so i need all these things etc etc" basically saying...get outta my face lady haha my little brother saw this going on and thought i was yelling at the security guards.
also on the plane i had to use oxygen the whole time! i probably have needed to use oxygen on planes for years and just never knew it. thats why as soon as i used to get on a plane i would fall right to sleep maybe cause my oxygen was always so low, well i tested it on the plane with my oximeter adn it was in the 80's the whole time, so i put the oxygen on the whole trip until we got below 28,000 feet, then i didn't need it anymore. man though it really sucked wearing nasal prongs for 4 plus hours. i have only ever worn them for an hour max while working out...but they really suck for longer then that.
I'm slowly beginning to heal my heart that has been shattered into a million tiny little pieces., then stepped on, and poured acid on, and then burned again...and again...and then again? haha... each day gets a little bit easier. it comes in waves, but it's always a constant there. it's weird to think that he is no longer part of my life...weird that when i go home, he won't be there...i hope it's not true that it takes half the time you dated someone to get over them...cause i sure do not want to keep feeling like this for that long...it is exhausting feeling like this. at least the sun and of course the infamous rum punches are helping! sigh....
anyways it's just about time to start my tobi mask. pancakes are in the process of being cooked, the beach is calling! dissapointment though we went to our old favourite ice cream place yesterday and they closed down! they had the best ice cream on the island...little brother was majorly dissapointed! sending everyone some sun rays back home!
oh also natalia is stable with her new lungs! a new battle has begun but she has her new lungs and they are breathing! yay. go natalia. what a fighter!
at the airport we ran in to some trouble with all my meds of course...one woman had the galls to come up to me and say "your holding up the line" i was so shocked i had to actually ask her "are you talking to me" i thought she was talking to the security people, telling htem to hurry up, i had to ask her again "are you kidding me, are you actually talking to me right now?" "oh my god are you kidding me" i was in shock, i had never had someone come up to me and say to me, you are holding up the line, you should not have done this, and blah blah. well...i lost it on the lady. i have never lost it on anyone. i just said those things to her after i realized she actually was talking to me "and i said...i have cystic fibrosis so i need all these things etc etc" basically saying...get outta my face lady haha my little brother saw this going on and thought i was yelling at the security guards.
also on the plane i had to use oxygen the whole time! i probably have needed to use oxygen on planes for years and just never knew it. thats why as soon as i used to get on a plane i would fall right to sleep maybe cause my oxygen was always so low, well i tested it on the plane with my oximeter adn it was in the 80's the whole time, so i put the oxygen on the whole trip until we got below 28,000 feet, then i didn't need it anymore. man though it really sucked wearing nasal prongs for 4 plus hours. i have only ever worn them for an hour max while working out...but they really suck for longer then that.
I'm slowly beginning to heal my heart that has been shattered into a million tiny little pieces., then stepped on, and poured acid on, and then burned again...and again...and then again? haha... each day gets a little bit easier. it comes in waves, but it's always a constant there. it's weird to think that he is no longer part of my life...weird that when i go home, he won't be there...i hope it's not true that it takes half the time you dated someone to get over them...cause i sure do not want to keep feeling like this for that long...it is exhausting feeling like this. at least the sun and of course the infamous rum punches are helping! sigh....
anyways it's just about time to start my tobi mask. pancakes are in the process of being cooked, the beach is calling! dissapointment though we went to our old favourite ice cream place yesterday and they closed down! they had the best ice cream on the island...little brother was majorly dissapointed! sending everyone some sun rays back home!
oh also natalia is stable with her new lungs! a new battle has begun but she has her new lungs and they are breathing! yay. go natalia. what a fighter!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The handshake...a neanderthal idea
In this day and age, you think someone would have invented something other then the handshake when greeting someone. It seems so cave manish. With swin flu, colds, bird flu, chicken pox, e-coli, regular flu, other diseases, etc, etc, etc...why shake someones hand to say hello? and what is with the greetings of kissing people on the lips? Who invented these ridiculous rituals? and why have we held on to them until the 21st century...seriously we need to adapt and change. The rest of our society has, why have our greetings not caught up with the 21st century? Why is the wave not more common? I do the wave. I LOVE the wave. The wave is great. haha I try all the time to do just the wave...or try to have my hands busy when I am being introduced to someone, like a drink in hand, and paper in the other or something of similar effect, but you always get those people who insist you shake their hand, even if your hands are completey full, even if you use this line "oh i just washed my hands, their wet, sorry" you always get the one guy who is like "oh thats okay i don't mind, wet handshake me" or the one guy who holds the paper or glass for you so your right hand is free to shake theirs...sigh. take a hint. It is so Neanderthal like...
Today I was listening to my boyfriends ipod and a song came on by a rapper saying how he'll shake your hand but keeps the purrell close by...come on world get with it. stop with the hand shakes, stop spreading these diseases around to everyone...
Perhaps the worst is healthcare workers shaking my hands. Everytime we meet a new respirologist, nurse, tech, or anyone else, they want to shake my hand. I would expect shaking of the hand from a regular joe but from a health care worker, in a hospital where the place is just filling with germs, where they tell you not to even put your purse on the ground for fear of whats on the floor...and then they have the galls to try to shake my hand! I don't think so ladies and gentlemen...I use the ol "oh i dont' shake hands in hospitals...germs, sorry (insert gianormous smile here, so they don't feel offended)"...you'd think health care workers would know...I guess they missed that memo. well that's my Wednesday rant for you!
Also side note, I am going to Barbados. Good warm, glorious, salty air for 12 whole days, with my grandmama, little brother (not so little, he just had his 19th birthday two days ago, BIRTHDAY shout out to him!) and mom. sigh...I cannot wait. Countdown is on kids. Countdown is on lungs. Few more weeks till your breathin' easy old girls. Lungs please just don't get sick on me in the mean time!
For all you friends and family out there, if your sick at all, please please don't come visit our household! It would really really majorly be a bummer to get sick before this vacation...I need a vacation after this 6 month stint of sickness...did you know I've had my picc in for five months...hoy boy. hopefully that comes out in two weeks! but more importantly this vacation is a vacation for my lungs. these girls do way better in warm salty air! so sick people, please stay away! thank you kindly in advance, sincerely H and her lovely lovable lungs.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
COLD
oh also...how cold is it today? Way to cold, right? Fall and Winter are coming, and I am dreading it. I went to the thrift store today and bought a wool coat today in preparation. brr.
I hope I get to jet off to Barbados in November. I was talking to a woman at CF clinic yesterday who does triathlons for a living! Crazy eh. Turns out she lives right near me and even bikes past our house. She even swam at the same pool as me, when I used to be on the swim team. Crazy small world eh. She and her husband go to Florida every year she says, simply because the cold air is just so much worse on her airways, so she needs the warm air for three months of the year. It's just a life style choice they have chosen. She also thrives off of the heat and the salt air, which is what we have found with Barbados. I just seem to do so much better down there. I guess it's just less harsh, the warm air on my lungs, then the cold, and the salt air helps me cough up all the junk.
I hope it warms up again...we barely had a summer, and now fall is upon us, and my little body is freezing already...as my boyfriend says though...at least the leaves are lovely! haha
I hope I get to jet off to Barbados in November. I was talking to a woman at CF clinic yesterday who does triathlons for a living! Crazy eh. Turns out she lives right near me and even bikes past our house. She even swam at the same pool as me, when I used to be on the swim team. Crazy small world eh. She and her husband go to Florida every year she says, simply because the cold air is just so much worse on her airways, so she needs the warm air for three months of the year. It's just a life style choice they have chosen. She also thrives off of the heat and the salt air, which is what we have found with Barbados. I just seem to do so much better down there. I guess it's just less harsh, the warm air on my lungs, then the cold, and the salt air helps me cough up all the junk.
I hope it warms up again...we barely had a summer, and now fall is upon us, and my little body is freezing already...as my boyfriend says though...at least the leaves are lovely! haha
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