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Posted 1/29/2008 6:23 AM (GMT 0)
I've been missing you guys so much and wondering how you are doing. Carol, you were very very sick the last time we had contact. Are you doing any better? Have you finally found a doctor? How about you Barb? What's been going on with you? And Hippi? It has been so long since we've had a chat. Please let me know how you and everyone else here are doing. Rosie are you still feeling better? I'll bet you gave away all those precious puppies.

I'll read some of the posts and try to catch up that way but there appears to be a whole group of new folks, which is a good thing. This always has been such a supportive group.

I've just submerged myself into my knitting and it's been real good for me. There is a wonderful knit shop in town and we hang out and knit there a lot so I've made lots of new friends who are all as addicted to knitting as I am and it really keeps my mind off my health and makes me happy. I'm having my gallbladder removed on Wednesday and everyone, including my doctors promise me that I'll feel much better after the surgery is over. I've caught the winter cold that's going around and though I feel pretty rough I'm actually doing well, all things considered.

I feel bad for having been away for so long and hope all is well with all of you

Lots of hugs,

Pat
Posted 1/29/2008 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Patti!!! YES!! Knitting is great therapy. I love knitting, chrochet, sewing, crafting!! I've been making Barbie clothes for my grands . . . what a fun way to put my fabric stash to great use!! Good for you!! And it really does give you a boost . . . having something to show for our hours at the end of the day. I call it my "recliner sport" . . . LOL!! I take my little bag everywhere I go. I can't stand sitting with nothing to do. . . and its so portable. Good for you!!! Oh dear . . I hope things go well tomorrow. The way they did my three siblings (yes! three in one year!) they were doing great by that evening. Sister was swimming two days later . I'm blessed to have been feeling better most of the year and there is not a day goes by that I'm not grateful for less pain and more mobility!! I lost 40 lbs. over the last year and am trying to do the same again this year. I've been stalled . . . but haven't gained over the holidays so I count that as a success. Puppies are all gone . . . . Last litter and all ar doing well. All went to their homes with a great start in housebreaking and they are getting really big now!! Nice catching up with you Patti!!! Enjoy your new grand!!! Blessings!
Posted 1/29/2008 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
HI Pat, it's so good to hear from you. I'll bet that your knitting has been great therapy and a wonderful thing to focus on. I'm glad to hear that you are doing pretty well overall, but I'm sorry you ended up having to have gallbladder surgery. I'm trying to work my way out of a flare that started around the holidays and the ice storms and I think I'm finally starting to get some relief. I'm still working on finding balance between rest and activity which isn't always easy when trying to keep up with my kids. I think Carol is really sick again and I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. Thanks so much for the update. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. Please let us know how it goes when you are feeling up to it. Love, Hippi
Posted 1/29/2008 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
((((((((Patty))))))))), I'v been trying to reach you but I couldn't find your number or your email address. Please send it to me again. I have a new phone # too I wanted to give ya. I'm glad you will have your surgery tomorrow and get it over with. I thought there was somthing about taking extra predisone before or not taking any before surgery. I can't remember which though. Did they mention it to you?
I'm actually feeling ok right now. I am still fighting the breathing problems especially in the morning. The doctor told me I have to take z paks every day. 3 full doses for 3 weeks than monday wenesday and friday on the forthe week than back to 3 full doeses again. an so on for the rest of my life. They changed my pain meds to 40 mg. of percocet every day and doubled my anxiety meds.
I'm going to be seeing a rheumatologist in presbyterian O/U. if you know where that is than you're doing better than me. I still don't have an appt. My doctors office has to call them for a referrl packet. They were supposed to call me with the info but havn't done that yet. I feel like I'm in the army hurry up and wait! They were supposed to start my home health care this week but they said my paper work isn't back yet errrrrggggggg. It should have been back no later than yesterday.
anyway you wanted to kno how I was doing that's about it from north/central oklahoma.
So I could use a pair of gloves if you feel like knitting me some LOL. just kidding. if it's cold I don't go out. It's snowing here right now and coming your way so be on the look out and bindle up. I'm glad you got some friends that you can share a common interest with. All I could manage to do if I stated to sew is probably stitch my fingers together.
Next time don't stay gone so long. Even if it's just to say Hi I'm still alive You know we WORRY YOUNG LADY!!!!!!!. and you know stress is nt good for us LOL.
I love ya much and let us know when you can how the surgery went
carol
Posted 1/29/2008 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pat!

 

So glad to have you back!  Will be thinking of you on Wednesday during your operation.  I pray it goes smoothly and you feel like a million bucks after!

 

I had a near death experience last June.  Was given a new seizure med that I ended up being severely allergic to.  I was told I came within hours of slipping into a coma.  Had a rash that attacked my insides too.  It was horrible.   So up until that point, I was doing great!  But things have been less than perfect since last June.  Lupus flared, fibro flared, lots of complications.  So I'm still recovering from all that, but things are looking pretty good now.  That's my update!

 

I'm glad you have your knitting to do!  That is a great pastime for sure.  How long are you in the hospital for?  Please keep us posted on how it all goes, okay!

 

Lots of love

Ginny

Posted 1/30/2008 5:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Patti,

I caught you up on me in the other thread. I forgot to wish you luck with your surgery tomorrow. When you can, let us know how it went and how you feel. I'll be thinking of you!

xoxo emmie
Posted 1/30/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pat!
I'm fairly new (actually I confess to being a lurker), but wanted to say hello to you. I crochet and quilt and I love to get so caught up that I forget I hurt!
Take care - hope all goes well for you!
Posted 1/30/2008 6:20 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Patty, praying your surgery went well and you are up bossing the nurses around by now. Please let us know or have somone let us know how things went when you can

love and prayers

carol

Posted 1/30/2008 11:36 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Patty...

I'm new here...I, too, lurked for a while and then jumped in with both feet!  So much knowledge and compassion here!

Prayers for you tomorrow that the surgery goes smoothly and you recover quickly.

I have my IVP tomorrow.  Be glad to get it over with.  Maybe in Feburary I can actually go a whole week without a doctor appointment!  woo-hoo

My best friend is heading for a cruise on Saturday and will be visiting Grand Cayman.  Gotta say - I'm a little jealous - always wanted to visit there.  Seems kinda pointless now, tho, since the sun is my enemy!  Anyway, we were chatting about it and I had something tickle my funny bone:  I said I was going to invent sunscreen for people with lupus.  It is going to be SPF 1000 and I'm going to call it "Lather for Lupies".  It is going to be a single use cartridge that attaches to your shower head (this way, then you don't have to irritate your joints by rubbing it in!).  You just stand in the shower, then you can put your bathing suit on and away you go!

I think I need to go back to doing the sudoku puzzles!  lol

~Kim

Posted 1/31/2008 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
The surgery went fine yesterday. I did get real mad at the surgeon though. There he was, in my tummy, and he didn't bother to lipo out any fat or do a tummy tuck or anything. I really let him have it.

I was home by 1:30 in the afternoon. It was wonderful. Other than the pain from the incisions, I feel fine. Just a bit tired from the pain meds. Don't you love modern medicine.

It's so good to hear from all of you. Rosie, I'm so proud of your weight loss and know how hard you've been working on it.

Hippi, sorry about your flare. You seem to be in one long flare all the time and I wish there was something someone could do to help you feel better!!!!

Ginny, I had no idea you'd been through so much! I'm glad things are looking a little better now.

Emmi, thanks.

Carol, what nurses? I'm home with no one to boss around but myself. I'm so glad they do so much outpatient surgery now.

Nice to meet you guys, Fran and Kim. Don't you just love it here. Fran, I took up knitting because my hands hurt so much that I needed something to do with them to distract me from the pain. You're right....I get into it so much that I forget that my hands are hurting. And it takes my mind off myself and how I'm feeling, and oh well, I'll admit it, I'm addicted. Kim, Put me on your list as your first customer when you start marketing Lather for Lupies!

Nice to hear from all of you!!!

Love and tight hugs,

Pat
Posted 1/31/2008 5:09 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Patty, that's great I hope the pain doesn't last to long. You're right you'd think for what the surgeons charged he could of done a little extra for ya!

Oh about when was I going to Presb, welll..........I'm not! My doctors office faxs everything to them and they got ahold of my doctor and said they couldn't take me on as a patient! Apperently they have an office there that is strickly for medicaid patients. Since I have medicaid and champva I didn't qualify. They said they had another office I could go to that would take me but it was a 8 month waiting list.

So now I have another rheumy in stillwater. but it's not until may 13th! and that was with the doctors office calling them to try to get me in. These small towns are unbeleivable. Darn It would have been cool to meet your daughter.

thanks for letting us know how things went and make sure you keep getting rest rest and more rest.

love ya

carol

Posted 1/31/2008 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Pat, just remember seriously limit your fat intake until the incisions are healed and the pain is gone because for some reason having just a smidge too much fat will cause you to have horrible diarrhea and often times really bad cramps. This is coming from my aunt, my 2 uncles, and my own experience. The gallbladder is all about fat digestion so it makes sense. For me, even now around 2 years out I still can't have much fat in one sitting. My aunt and uncles are all a decade or more out with the same problem. Though the amount of fat that is too much will gradually increase over time. I just want you to heal well before you experience the one bad side effect of gallbladder removal. I hope all goes well in your recovery. Watch out for signs that your cold is turning into something more, with the stress surgery causes the body it is entirely possible you could have some small negative side effects.

That said welcome to the end of the horrible pain a bad gallbladder causes!
Posted 1/31/2008 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Pat,

   Sorry I missed this topic before. I'm glad to hear your surgery went well. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

   I use to cross-stitch alot. I haven't done it in a few years but, really enjoyed it. The only thing is it was bad on the eyes.

   You rest and take care. Keep us updated. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

                                                          Babs

Posted 2/1/2008 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
You have to check out how your own body reacts...but don't test it till you've healed! They told me the same thing about fat, and I have a friend who has a problem with it. But I haven't changed my eating at all, and have never had any problems since my gallbladder has been removed! (No, I'm not a vegetarian and have never gone out of my way to avoid fat or fried foods...) "Your mileage may vary" -- that disclaimer seems to apply everywhere!
Posted 2/1/2008 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Great Patti!! *phewwww!!* Always good to be back home. I hope you feel even less pain tomorrow . . . and NO flare!! YES! The Lupie Lather . . . I'd like to order a case myself!!! Actually I will be vacationing in a warm climate soon and I am ordering a lycra body skin. It is like a "wet suit" (think scuba diving) only it is made out of lycra, like a bathing suit. It will cover my arms and legs all the way up to my neck. I've ordered a man's size so I can pull it right over my hands. I plan to go snorkeling in the morning and evening (no early or mid-day sun for me!). I still use my umbrella and hat. What a picture !!! I'll be the weirdo on the beach!! But, I can't be shy or I'll miss the snorkeling! Patti . . . let us know how you do over the next couple weeks! Blessings!
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