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Posted 5/5/2005 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. Other thread is at 75 posts so I guess it is time to start another one. I love the time I spend talking with all of you. Makes my world seem so much bigger than just me. Thanks to all of you for making this forum so supportive and friendly. Keep up the great work.
Oreo
Posted 5/5/2005 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Oreo! Long time no talk! I missed you yesterday! Glad you're back... Looks like you've been catching up on all the posts too... Today is a crappy weather day.. raining all day... and I think it is going to be that way tomorrow too... yippee for me! Oh well... It is supposed to be sunny Saturday though... I am supposed to take my kids to a picnic for my work, but my daughter has so much homework to do before Monday, I don't know if we should go... we may go for a little bit... we'll see... I know one thing is for sure though, if it is rainy and crappy, we're not going! Got my hair cut, and I look like a different person... went to my Esthetician and got waxed, so now I'm not a hairy beast anymore... my hubby isn't gonna recognize me... shorter hair with highlights and a lot less furry... I feel like a new woman! If I could only give this extra 35 lbs I've been carrying around to someone, I'd be good to go.. so if you know anyone that is interested, let me know! hee hee hee You know what's funny? The girl that did my hair the other day and the girl I go to to get waxed are sisters... isn't that nuts? When I saw Leah (my esthetician) she said "Wow, you're hair looks great! Where did you get it done?" I said, "Bella, Bella". She said, "Oh yeah, who at Bella Bella? I know all the girls that work there." I said, "Erica, she's the younger one in the shop." She said, "No way! That's my sister!" I thought that was so weird! Charleston is a big town, what are the odds huh? Anyways - I've got to go and check all the other posts... Hope all are doing well, I feel like someone bulldozed my bed with me in it, but other than that, I'm GREAT! Happy Weather, Warm Hugs and as always - Best Wishes - Ducky
Posted 5/5/2005 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
hi ducky! hi oreo! happy cinco de mayo! can't wait for the week to be over. sooooo exhausted, but i am happy i did everything. only one more clinical day at the hospital and i am done for the year! weeeeeeeeeeeee. feels good that i completed it...looking back, i don't know how i did it, willpower i suppose. i just pray for next year that i'm more able. don't want to have those days where i come home in tears anymore! thank god it's over for now, couldn't take much more....too much pain. never thought the day would come where i couldn't lift my arm over my head...but can't seem to get my R arm further than half way....knees are throbbong too. hope it goes away for tomorrow. going to see my honey friday nite! so happy, haven't taken a saturday off in over a year. he'll be my reward at the end of the day. we're celebrating the kentucky derby saturday! it's like christmas to us...we cook...wear derby t shirts and have a good ole time. then we're celebrating my new position that nite out somewhere with a few drinks and some dining. feels good to do something special. gotta study hard tomorrow...big exam coming up. then finals. Ducky, i'm glad your hair came nice, i'm sure your hubby will be knocked off his socks! oh, Oreo i feel your voice pain. used to sing vocals with an acoustic set at a few inns and clubs late nites when i was younger...2 hours is killer. i used to do salt water gargles...but only time makes it better really. good for you though, it sounds very nice! till later....erin (doing better emotionally)
Posted 5/6/2005 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Flopsie you're great! thanks for the nice words. i don't know about all of you guys, but boy...i don't think my joints have EVER been this bad. throbbong! it's never been this persistant. going on 5 days now. was thinking last nite on calling the rheumy for those steroid knee injections again...but i really want to do something nice tonite to celebrate. don't get to go out too often, and even though the pain is terrible, perhaps a few glasses of chianti will do the trick :)
it feels so good to be finished with school/clinical. recieved a fantastic final evaluation...my supervisor thought i ecxeeded duties and expectations and mentioned in particular the way i handle patients with special needs. i too hope for that wonder drug flopsie! it would be so much better to do all this stuff without agony. the place where i will be working deals with children and adults with arthritic diseases, so as bad as my case is...it goes to show that one CAN accomplish something that seems impossible. i really thought i'de never make it this far, and almost came close to being in real trouble too. it is amazing what drive and determination can do! so i will sign off now for a while to rest my hands...hard to type...i feel very at peace and feel that all of this garbage this week with hurt, pain, emotions and insurance problems are in the past. going to enjoy living in the moment for a bit. god bless all of you....believe it or not, i don't think i would be this sane if not for each and every one of you. everyone have a nice weekend and lets hope for some warm dry weather. sincerely, erin
Posted 5/8/2005 6:35 AM (GMT 0)
Congrats, erin. What an accomplishment. That's something I've always wanted to do. Wanted to go back to college but when I had to quit being a lab assistant 4 years ago, I knew that dream would never pan out. You go girl!
It's good to be back on here. Can't sleep for the pain. Is there something in the air? This has been the worst year for me so far. It's easier to cry and be upset about everything when you hurt. Hubby wanted me to come watch him rope last night but I had to go to bed. Couldn't sit out in the night air. I get so sick of this. Got to make appointment for another eppy. That will help some.
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms . Luv, Boo
Posted 5/8/2005 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
happy mother's day BOO! i am sending all of the hurt free places on me to you right now! although there are not many...the few spots of good i'll telepathically send your way! no charge! free shipping and handling too . a lab tech! so neat! was it pathology? or micro? and blood and stuff? i started as a phlebotomist but they would stick me in the lab at times to run blood and urine and prep the slides in the micro lab. i love bacteria, tee hee hee . i tell you one thing....i don't know how i got through school this year. PAINFUL! mostly everynite i would be home in tears. what got me through was the fact that someone elses life was in my hands and the adrenaline kept me going...kinda like an outer body experience. what i can do is not much at all....very minimal, but i hope and pray each summer that the following year will be 10% better than the past one....so far, it hasn't been working; but i will not gice up. my nursing instructors always ask what willit take for me to stop and i always say "when i drop dead!" and i mean it too, sometimes i feel if i push on, this won't disable me completely. so i'm doing as much as i can while i can and when i can. my new job is something very special and i'll keep you all in mind when i care for and educate the patients with rheumatic diseases. whatever i have to give back to this world that will help in any little way to someone else will be the best thing i'll ever do. thanks for all the support as always. it is terrible to keep awake through pain. many of nites myself too! do you have any opioids for severe pain? they help knock ya out too. i'll be praying for relief for you BOO. sincerely,
erin
Posted 5/8/2005 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there Flopsie! oh yea, i have to make sure i'm a good nurse now that i have a slew of them keepin tabs on me here at Healing Well! i will be reporting any dilemmas i may encounter! the awards ceremony is tomorrow at 4. it stincks though...i have a final exam at 1000a ....so that means i'de have to hang around 5 hours. yuck. it wouldn't be so bad...but when i don't feel so swell and it hurts to sit and be out, it doesn't make the event so attractive. so i'll play it by ear and see how i'm doing at 12. going to be studying tonite and i think i'm taking my mom for mexican food tonite too. she hasn't been anywhere nice in a long time. happy mother's day! oh, i didn't hit the derby either! so sad. my honey really thought he had it...very disappointing. but the horse that came 3rd raised 40,000 for pediatric cancer research! we like him. had him for first place. so perhaps he'll win 1st at the preskness in 2 weeks! (i sure do hope so...i've some mean tuition to pay) LOL
erin...soon to be RN if pass board exams
Posted 5/8/2005 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
Ducky! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO YOU! hope all was well this weekend. has your hubby arrived yet? hang in there! how's the hair commin along? since you're in with the spa folks, what have you heard them say about Brazilian Bikini waxing? i guessit depends on the person performong it as well. want to get one for the summer time (all expenses paid by the honey!) i've waxed my upper lip once and it was a mess. i pulled off the skin of half my mouth and had to go to the dr to get the rest removed! talk about embarrasing . they used this industrial strength adhesive remover!
speak to you soon!
erin
Posted 5/8/2005 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Erin - Thank you! No, my hubby isn't home yet . And to top it off, I found out a member of my family has commited suicide... Just really hasn't been a good week/weekend... that's why I haven't been posting much... too busy on the phone dealing with relatives... Anyways - on a lighter note... Gotta think happier thoughts... don't want to get stuck in this rut... The hair is ok, doesn't look as bad as I thought it would when it is curly... so that's a good thing, but if I don't put some mousse or gel in it, I look like Cruella DeVille from 101 Dalmations! I straightened it again today, and it looks good that way... I need to get another flat iron, mine has just about crapped the bed. Brazilian Bikini Waxing... I know alot about it actually, I get it done every 3 to 4 weeks. I get my lip, chin and eyebrows waxed as well as the brazilian... That's why I was saying that when my husband left I was a sasquatch, 'cause I went and had everything waxed this past Wednesday and now I no longer look like a chia pet in certain PRIVATE places! Funny thing is, getting my lip waxed hurts more than anything. The brazilian doesn't feel good, believe me, but the lip is the absolute WORST! You're right, you've got to go to someone that knows what they are doing. The girl I go to is licensed in that area, so she's not someone that just got a quick OJT training and got turned loose on the general public. When the hair does grow back, it is thinner and doesn't itch like shaving does. I love having it done... Let me know what you decide and if you have any questions about it, let me know... It's well worth the money spent ! Gotta go, phone is ringing again.... hope all is well with everyone! I'll post more this week I promise, just gotta get over this hump... Take care and for all of you mother's out there, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Happy Weather, Warm Hugs and as always - Best Wishes - Ducky
Posted 5/8/2005 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Happy Mother's Day to all you women. It's been a great day. Sunny, warm, family, yehaw!!! Hope you all had a great day. Will catch up on all the posting tomorrow once the kids are in school. Do not like to type much when they are home. Too hard to concentrate. See ya all tomorrow.
Oreo
Posted 5/9/2005 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
i'm so sorry about your loss Ducky. suicide is a terrible event to have happen to a family. it is so strange isn't it? like creepy almost. my godfather had hung himself in january of 2002. he's my father's brother and they were also partners (electricians). he actually did it in the tool garage and my father found him. can't imagine what that was like. then again, i was not at all close with him...my father neither at that, so i really wasn't bothered by it. the sad thing is that a week before he hung himself, he had told his mother he wanted to and a priest as well!!! no one intervened. the whole situation was weird. my prayers are with you and your family and those who were effected most. it is sad when young children are left behind too. Better weeks to come Duck! I'm lonely too tonite. no honey for me. i usually stay with him until monday morning because he works in the same city where i live, but my mom REALLY needed to get out for mother's day. she had a ball too. mexican restaurant, it was fabulous. but i feel out of place here now without my significant other! we had a lovely derby day though! he really digs horses and has a partnership owning about 5 horses, all 2 year olds. my cats miss me though i think on a sunday nite because they're all hanging around like they're saying "what are you doin here?" i wish you a good nite and a smooth pain free monday! i'm sure things will calm down soon. again, sorry about the poor news. take good care and talk to you soon.
Erin
Posted 5/9/2005 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Happy Mother's Day Oreo! have a peaceful nite and a good rest!
erin
Posted 5/10/2005 10:15 AM (GMT 0)
oh flopsie, i did not make it to awards ceremony last nite. this is a time where i hate hate hate having all of these interfering conditions. i was there for my exam at 900a and hung in there till 0230p and i HAD to leave....couldn't sit anymore, and when i exhaust myself i do run a low grade fever and i could feel it. everything was painful. i gave it my best go. so hopefully everyone had a nice time. if i did receive special recognition...i hope they will still let me have it although i did not attend, smile i guess i'll find out tomorrow when i check my mailbox. they usually give a theory and clinical award of like 200 to 500 dollars to each group who has 1 exceptional student. but i enjoy watching people receive, it's nice. i'm sad i could not go.
today i'll be hobbling down to my new place of work. i'm thrilled about that! at least i'll have warm weather...makes it nicer on the body. oh, i got my clinical schedule for sptember! it's busy! OB, labor and del., pediatrics and something else i forget. i feel as if i failed my exam yesterday. it was on psych and the nursses had stressed "know the meds! know the meds!" and low and behold...out of 50 questions, only 2 pertained to meds! the rest was silly communication questions that were vague. i was disappointed. holding the highest GPA in the class, but now i feel in trouble. need a 78 to pass the test. there was no interventions, skills, diagnoses, actions or anything on this test! just a whacky whacky exam. i put a complaint in about it tongue . waiting for my bloodwork results to be delivered to me today. i'll post them later on today. hopefully they will be the same as the last batch and not too much off...i don't want to be pulled from my meds.

have a happy day! how are you? anything new? wishing you a pain free comfy day (or just enough to be comfortable!) talk to you soon nurse flopsie!

erin
Posted 5/10/2005 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
TURP: transurethral resection of the prostate!!!! what the heck is a CBI?
erin.
Posted 5/11/2005 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
hee hee, i was pretty sharp there with the TURPS! keep the quizes coming! i just went down to the school to get my exam grade: i did fail i got a 74; needed a 78 for a pass. but tomorrow is the exam review, and most of the time there are 4 or 5 questions that have 2 correct answers, so i might have a pass after all. if not... my GPA is so high that i can fail this one and do pretty crappy in the final....and still pass! i think a lot had to do with not feeling well, the whole problem with my being thrown off my health insurance, $, a little depression and alot of joint pain and alot of doctor appt's last week. my mind wasn't organized to sit for a long test. BUT I WILL ROCK THIS FINAL EXAM! starting to prep now...it's monday at 0900a.
had a wonderful day at the new place of work....very enjoyable and the people are super. i'm beat now. legs a throbbin'! still can't figure out CBI? cardiac? is it a lab? B=bowel? C=chronic,cystic? I=inflammation? infiltration? AM I CLOSE? gimme a hint!
hugs
erin
Posted 5/11/2005 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
eeeww, in the elevator! so it's like an enema! we had to set them up and hang them in skills test off, but i never saw one on the floor yet. good info though! thanx. we were lucky if we got to see a chest tube! 1 in 2 years ! was pretty cool! thank you for your support, it's nice to correspond with someone who's been there done that. i'm looking into maybe some light nite shift work for late summer so i don't get rusty on my skills...taking the boards in the fall, and i'm not going directly to unit work either, i'll be working with rheumatic nurse educating. a field i LOVE, and what to pursue, but i can't do shift work on the floor due to my legs and all. calling the SSI office now.
Posted 5/11/2005 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
oh,i love narrative notes too. i feel more complete in doing so. i put a complete H to T assessment. right now they put into effect DAR charting....it's ok. but i hate that many people just fly through the flow sheets with all of the assessments now! i found some to be very inaccurate!
never made it to call SSI today...had to rush my moms cat to the vet at 2:00. so i'll make it a priority for the morning. yea, i flunked my test for sure! we had the exam review and there were no mistakes made in the grading. but i'm still in good standing. 74, 84, 88, 95, 98 so i need at least a 78 on the final to pass well....i can do this. feeling a bit better than last week (mentally) so as long as i keep my joint pain under control, i should have enough gusto to prepare. oh flopsie...you're cardio, give me some questions; my weak area is labs (pt ptt inr...) i'm ok with meds, great with interventions and assessment but i lose it on labs and ABG's too (at least i have good self awareness!) how are you feeling nowadays?
erin
Posted 5/12/2005 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
OK here we go:
O2 i know all the cellular lung stuff in the alveoli;O2 rich blood is in the arteries going away from the heart, to the rest of the body. Hemoglobin carries o2 from lungs to tissue (12-16g/100ml) we also need iron to prevent iron dficiency anemia. check H&H and iron TIBC and B12 . cardiac tamponade is life threatening,cause can be from trauma, TB,central line insertion,pericarditis,effusion ummmm...oh, from rheumatic inflammatory disease(run xray,ct,ekg,echo) Tx:want to relieve pressure. i'll check for JVD,dyspnea,restlessness,a week rapid pulse,narrow PP,assess heart sounds. MVP(i have that!) leaflet failure, regurgitation: teach prophylactic antibiotic for surgery and dental work! oh, my clinical instructor who's a psych NP showed us a cool write up on how panic attacks can be organic in nature:those with panic attacks typically have MVP! assess dizziness, S3 S4 sounds, dyspnea, pulmonary HTN.monitor for angina.may need a beta blocker. NEXT, dysrhythmias etiology from acidosis (lowerthan 7.35),hypoxia,heart disease. Premature ventricular contraction is a dys.(most common):CAD, stress,drugs,MI,acidosis. Supraventricular rhythms: rapid rhythm? 100 to 250? i'm not sure? i need help with this one!
flat line needs to be shocked, no rhythm. don't know white wolf?
i just finished reviewing respiratory. going to start cardiac review now! gotta now my meds! i'm pretty good with meds!
oh, i called SSI this morning and got my appt next friday; i hope i get some help, at least medicaid i hope. thank you for your support with my test questions! keep em comin! it's a good day to have joint pain...will keep me in bed with my text books! sad right? LOL My aunt was a cardiology nurse too! she's great and a good mentor as well, like you! she doesn't work anymore since she had kids (age 6 and 10) but she's still sharp as a tac! if i do poorly on this exam, i give you full permission to scold me ..tee hee hee! no, i feel i'll do very well! talk to you later! have a happy day!
Posted 5/13/2005 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
oh no, i hope your daughter will be alright. thoughts are with you! wishing your daughter well and to be home soon. so sorry to hear that. take good care.
erin
Posted 5/16/2005 9:33 AM (GMT 0)
I'll be praying that your newest little one hangs on there. I knew a lady once who had her first at 28 weeks. He was such a cutie. He was healthy just a little on the small side for his age but when you figured out his adjusted age he was bang on. I hope all goes well.
Erin, hope that the next test goes well. I will be praying for you. Keep it up girl.
Ducky, so, so sorry. Had a friend that decided that was the only option too. Hard on everyone. Makes people feel guilty because they either missed the symptoms or didn't do enough to prevent it. Hope things get better for you. Is your hubby back yet? I hope so. You need the love right now.
my prayers are with all of you.
Oreo
Posted 5/16/2005 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
Nic, Boo, diana and janie, where are you guys? Is everything going okay? How is the siatica nic? I've been thinking about you. Boo, is the pain getting better? Diana, how goes the teaching? Has the family stayed healthy for you?
Oreo
Posted 5/16/2005 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Flopsie, any news yet? i'll be praying for your daughter and everyone's well being. i know she must be in good hands

are they giving her any drugs to prevent labor? hopefully it will turn out to be the best in the long run. is it a good OB hospital?

had my final exam this morning! i ROCKED!!!!!

i really hope i achieved a 90 at least. that will bring my grade up to it's normal GPA. since i failed the last test. everyone keeps saying oh they won't look at your grades when you get your RN...but i'm applying for major scholarships and NEED THAT HIGH GPA! so if i get a lift, i'll swing by the school and see if the grades are posted.
thank you so so much for that nice message you had sent. was very cathartic! cried for a few.

i wish you and your family well...
keep us posted on her status!
hugs.....erin
Posted 5/17/2005 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
Praying for your daughter and her baby this morning. everyday that little one stays in there the better. How long will they wait until they'll allow a delivery? yikes...i can only imagine the anxiety of having a close relative in that position. and this is your daughter! my girlfriend was on bedrest in the hospital for a month ! her husband and father were nuts! her mom had past away the year before....SO IMAGINE ALL THESE MEN GOIN" COOKOO!!!! but still am wishing you and her and the baby well!

mad my grades weren't posted last nite...have to go back tonite that'sonly if i'm not pooped after coming back from work. the reason why i'm freaked out about my grade is because i'm applying for major merit scholarships for graduate studies...and i want my 3.8 average back! more apt to get $$$$$ with a high one.

Please let me know how your daughter makes out this week....i know you're busy....so whenever you get a spare moment during the week.

{{{{{{{{good vibes and strength to the Flopsie Family}}}}}}}

take good care

erin
Posted 5/17/2005 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Flopsie, will continue to pray for you and your daughter and little one.
Erin I hope your marks are excellent. Wow, 3.8, I could only dream. We don't consider GPA's here so can't actually say what mine would be. Graduated the school part with an 85 or 89%. Didn't get a chance to finish the consolidation part (supervised clinical after the schooling) Was only 6 weeks but I ended up pragnant and started spotting and low blood pressure after 2 weeks of the consolidation so I dropped out. I never went back. Can honestly say my Mom was right, I would never be happy as an RPN. They only make about $1.50 /hr more then me so it really is not worth it in my mind.
Good luck on the scholarship. You can do it girl.
Oreo
Posted 5/19/2005 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Oreo, Flopsie, Ducky, Erin and all, Hello!!! Sorry I've been away I really shouldn't do that, but life gets in my way You have been in my thoughts. I checked in on here, but didn't have any brain cells left to post, so just read a bit to catch up. Better tonight, but still tired and all. Running with the kiddies is killing me! I do love them playing soccer, though. My big one scored her first goal tonight -- so proud

So where have the others been? Nic, are you ok? I've looked for you. You're as bad as me (kidding) just hoping you're well. Boo, you too!!!! I've missed you guys.

Well, as for subbing, no one has called (boo-hoo) but that has left me time for volunteering at the school (as always) more than ever. I'll be off for the summer soon, though, and looking forward to sleeping for about a week. Hopefully, they'll call me in to work more next year. We could really use the money and I like it pretty well. Can't think of anything more convenient with the kiddies. No babysitter!

I do have to run. I hope you all are well and I'll get back here soon. Love to everyone.
Diana
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