My leukemia's back.

[Ol Grey Mare]

Hey, all, been a bit absent of late - but wanted to pop my head in today and wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas. I hope that today was a day filled with joy and peace for you and your's.

 

[sourland]

Good morning, OGM - hope that you had a great Christmas.

 

[Bunnylady]

I hope all of you had a wonderful and memorable Christmas, and pray blessings on you all in the new year.

Rachel, I hope you are feeling better; flu is no picnic even for the hale and hearty!

 

[donrae]

I hope everyone had a Christmas that made you happy and peaceful!

Honey's out playing with a guy friend today, they're going to go shoot something. Live or target, not sure. I just know he needed to get out of the house-----he's been working a lot, and picking up the slack from what I can't do. He needs a day of playing some!

I'm holding out hope the lung Dr will have some good things for me. I see him Wednesday. I"m willing to do pretty much anything at this point, including going up on the prednisone. I've been resistant to that, but something's got to give. I'm starting to consider going on O2 also, for when I'm out and about. My O2 sat has been dropping under 90%, just when I'm out with the animals. Not carrying hay, or anything, just walking back and forth. Not good. It's kind of hard trying to think about moving forward on this house and all the work that's going to need to be done, when I don't know how much I'll be able to do do. Up til now, I've been able to do pretty much what I need to, as long as I take a rest. Well, I've had to bow out of even feeding the hay critters the last few weeks. I'm sure I could, and I probably will after the Locusts go back to school, but it takes a lot out of me. Cleaning stalls is beyond my abilities, I think. I'm going to have to ask him how much is recovery from the flu, and how much is just the lungs. I wasn't doing so well before the flu, I'd gone downhill quite a bit.

Thinking about downsizing the flock a bit also. God has been working on my heart about trusting Him, especially financially. That's been an ongoing challenge for me, especially since I got sick and can't work. He was pretty plain over the weekend that He's taking care of us, and I need to live my faith a bit more. I get so worried about money, but we've never gone hungry or missed a house payment. He's providing for us quite well, and I need to trust He's going to continue to do that.

 

[lazy gardener]

I hope everyone had a Christmas that made you happy and peaceful!

Honey's out playing with a guy friend today, they're going to go shoot something. Live or target, not sure. I just know he needed to get out of the house-----he's been working a lot, and picking up the slack from what I can't do. He needs a day of playing some!

I'm holding out hope the lung Dr will have some good things for me. I see him Wednesday. I"m willing to do pretty much anything at this point, including going up on the prednisone. I've been resistant to that, but something's got to give. I'm starting to consider going on O2 also, for when I'm out and about. My O2 sat has been dropping under 90%, just when I'm out with the animals. Not carrying hay, or anything, just walking back and forth. Not good. It's kind of hard trying to think about moving forward on this house and all the work that's going to need to be done, when I don't know how much I'll be able to do do. Up til now, I've been able to do pretty much what I need to, as long as I take a rest. Well, I've had to bow out of even feeding the hay critters the last few weeks. I'm sure I could, and I probably will after the Locusts go back to school, but it takes a lot out of me. Cleaning stalls is beyond my abilities, I think. I'm going to have to ask him how much is recovery from the flu, and how much is just the lungs. I wasn't doing so well before the flu, I'd gone downhill quite a bit.

Thinking about downsizing the flock a bit also. God has been working on my heart about trusting Him, especially financially. That's been an ongoing challenge for me, especially since I got sick and can't work. He was pretty plain over the weekend that He's taking care of us, and I need to live my faith a bit more. I get so worried about money, but we've never gone hungry or missed a house payment. He's providing for us quite well, and I need to trust He's going to continue to do that.

Rachel, downsizing would both be an aid to the budget, as well as cutting down your work load, not to mention making it easier for you when you do move. You're a nurse. You know what those low O2 sats do to the body! Listen to your body, and stop being stubborn. (Love ya!!!!) A little O2 will do you good!

 

[Blooie]

And remember, Rachel, that you and I are "house twins." I also live in an older mobile home and I know there are things in here - from both construction techniques/materials back then and plain old age - that can aggravate lung issues. I was told that point blank when I got my diagnosis of congestive heart failure. So getting yourself back to feeling better and breathing better so you can focus on making a new home for your family might actually help you in the long run.

The Good Lord has this....and don't forget the prayer power of Team Rachel when we get going, either!!

 

[N F C]

Rachel, you do whatever you need to do in order to make things easier. We've told you before...you can always get more chickens but we can't get another Rachel.

 

[donrae]

Saw the lung doctor today. I had very high hopes for him to change things up and have something to help.

Not so much.

He's okay with me trying the Pulmicort nebulizer again. Just watch the mouth and see if the blisters come back/worsen.

Other than that, he's going to talk to the Hematologist about changing my antirejection meds. This is what he tried doing a few months ago, the Hematologist didn't want to.

I've got a call out to schedule an appointment with the Hematologist. I hadn't gone into my breathing issues a lot with him, cause I was thinking....he's not the lung guy. But apparently he's in charge. I have an appt on the 13th, but I'm not going to sit and wait that long. I sat and waited weeks for this lung appointment, and have nothing to show for it.

He (lung dr) couldn't get my SaO2 to drop in the office. So no supplemental O2 for me. Yet, anyway.

I think I'm going to put out a distress call to OHSU also. I was supposed to see them this month, but they couldn't make it down due to weather. But I can send an e-mail and appeal for help.

Lung guy did do a few things. One----no feeding hay or chickens for a month. He thinks that may be worsening things.

He's going to refer me to pulmonary rehab. Basically an exercise program. He was asking me what I do for exercise. I said basically taking care of the animals.....and I can't even do that anymore. I don't know, I've been on antidepressants before and don't want to go that route again, but the no animals thing is really hard. Plus, we heard back about my earning too much money during a trial return to work period back in 2014, and what it comes down to is they're not going to pay me for 4 months. I know I said God had been working on me about finances, but this is so hard. I know in my head I'm not the sum of my income, but my heard says otherwise I guess. We'll be okay financially, I think, but it's a lot to deal with.

 

[Blooie]

You know, sometimes I just want to beat someone up until they feel as bad as I do. Won't change anything, and would probably hurt a person who has nothing to do with my situation, but just to relieve the stress and tension would almost be worth the court appearance, you know? Right now I'd like to pummel every single entity who is making things harder for you after all you've already endured.

Hugs, Rachel....that's about all I can do for you but I hope you feel the sincerity!!

 

[N F C]

How very frustrating Rachel, a lot to deal with for sure. Hate to say it but the doc might be right about the hay and animals...they do stir up a lot of dander and dust. Doesn't make it easier to know it though.

All I can do is send you