It has been one thing after another since the beginning of December and I am really trying to get back to EX. I have been so sick and so frustrated because the docs don't know what to do...I am using the nebulizer regularly, I am on high doses of prednisone, my arms are covered with skin tears and bruises from the prednisone, and whenever I fall asleep, I have yet another coughing fit. The coughing is so violent and relentless that it is causing all kinds of associated pain. My throat is purple...likely from the coughing. I am taking antibiotics, using inhalers as instructed, drinking literally gallons of juices and TRYING to get some energy back. I think the Holidays just about took me out this year. My computer started acting up first and then our modem needed to be replaced and set up and activated and then all of the upper respiratory symptoms started hitting...or else maybe they started first. I really don't even KNOW any more, it's kind of a which came first, the chicken or the egg thing. I have been doing as much as I can to let people here know that I am alive...my family looks so depressed when they ask how I am...I think it's pretty obvious. I did choose to spend Christmas Day at home, in my pajamas. That might have been one of my smarter decisions. Today is my oldest daughter's birthday...she is in NY, our youngest is here visiting so we are having a birthday party for her sister...homemade lasagna and garlic bread and cream puffs for dessert. She wanted to learn to make cream puffs last night so we did them and she is taking some back with her when she leaves on Saturday.
Unless I completely fall apart, I am planning to work Saturday. I have an echocardiogram tomorrow and then an appointment with my rheumatologist on Monday and my pulmonologist the FOLLOWING Monday. You KNOW you are getting old when your calendar is filled with reminders for medical appointments. I am going to take a shower and then we will eat dinner. I am hoping the shower helps my coughing. My oxygen saturations are in the mid to high 90's and I have listened to my chest, it is clear, just tight feeling when I cough.
I love you all and I thank you so much for all of the prayers and the messages, I will get back here as soon as I possibly can. I will feel a thousand times better just doing THAT. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
Love,
Ellen
