Funny how we spend many of our early to middle years accepting changes in our lives when they really did not appear as "change". Sometimes, in glancing backward I know there were constant changes, and I know there were huge changes........they just seemed like part of my life to accept at that time. You know what I mean: Career, Career changes, Career moves, financial acquisitions, ( home, cars, major purchases and debts) pregnancies, babies, rearing the children........and the list goes on. Aware, but unaware!
At this stage of my life, the changes seem more profound and significant. The adjustments to the changes are intense and require major perseverence. Those adjustments are not only mentally challenging, but physically challenging. Maybe that is the difference......the physical challenge is there, and the results can be temporary, only to return again.
By now you are wondering why this particular blog and what in the world am I trying to say! I suppose this is the direct result of my having to adjust to the thyroid medication! Let me explain:
After I had been on the synthroid two weeks, I began experiencing all the symptoms of overdose. I had it all............night sweats, no tolerance to heat or cold, heart palpatations, ringing in the ears (amplified), enormous sensations of anxiety, extreme sensations of "feeling faint", nausea, etc. Textbook picture of someone on too much synthroid. Recognizing that, I stopped the meds, called the doctor on Monday, had labs that afternoon to check hormone level. Could not believe the lab tests came back with level EXACTLY where it should be!
Fortunately for me, my doctor believed my story and lowered the dose. ( That was after I had emphasized to him that I had become a "Lizzie Bordon", and if the medication were not lowered, I would have my husband deliver me to his house and let him deal with me in that state!) So now I am on a very low dose that I will gradually increase over the next 3 weeks until more labs.
Lee is dealing with a very bad cold, and as I write, he is en route to his family physician to make sure his lung is o.k. We will also notify Duke and pay close attention to how this progresses. We are both disappointed that this has happened because we were looking forward to a few days at the beach over Memorial Day with some of the family.
He also has another problem. The biopsy that was removed two weeks ago on his face in front of his ear is squamous cell ca. We are waiting for a call for him to have the Moe's technique for removal. That will be done in Gastonia.
His tendonitis in the achilles tendon is much better. He has been faithful to wearing the brace and with the elevation of leg and exercises to strengthen the tendon, is walking without a noticeable limp. Unfortunately he has had to cancel his PT this week because of the cold.
We continue to stay in touch with all our other transplant friends we met at Duke. Two very close friends have both been in rejection these past few months and have had to have the RATG. We have two other friends we recently met last month who are now @ Duke waiting to hear if he will be a candidate for a transplant. His Pulmonary Fibrosis is progressing rapidly. He is only 62, and she is 50. ( To us, that is young for a transplant.) We are praying his young age and good physical fitness will move him through the procedure swiftly. I gave his wife one of my books to read, all the while advising that she would be reading about Lee and not to think her husband would be the same. Lee had many immediate complications!
Lately we have been blessed to be able to spend some quality time with many of our grandchildren and great grandchildren. We had a good visit last Saturday to Radford, Va. and saw the boys play baseball. Several weeks prior to that, we were in Charlotte for a LaCross game. Lee was able to see grandson, John's Confirmation on Sunday. We wanted to see Lillie's dance last night, but neither of us could attend. There are so many activities we want to attend, just can't get around to all of them. We cherish those we do see and hope our children understand.
A long blog......................so will close for now and catch-up with you another time.
More Later.....................................Brenda
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
Mother's Day 2013
This Mother's Day was a bit different and yet the same this year. The bees did not swarm, and the weather was a bit cooler even with the sunshine. I was able to enjoy visits from Greg, Julia and three of my six grandchildren. Things were the same though for the red roses on the white arbor in the backyard, which make sure they always bloom on Mother's Day! They were in full bloom and everyone gathered around it in taking pictures. As usual, our shared dog, Bella delighted in being part of the photos. She is a mixed golden retriever, lab, who officially belongs to son, Lee Jr. next door, but has staked claim to us and the neighbor across the road. She is a real ham and seems to always know when to appear for photos! I will try to get my daughter to add some of the pictures for me. Unfortunately, have not mastered that and all the pictures are on her phone!
Once again, the younger grandkids, (now teens) stayed together riding the golf cart through the meadows or as usual taking their desserts in the privacy of their domain in the downstairs rec. room. It was good to once again remember stories of Mother's Day's past and those who are no longer here. Most of our remembered stories brought laughter even though the sadness of those memories were momentarily pushed aside. My children remembered special "growing up" stories, to which we each at some times feigned complete innocence.
Hard to believe we are now approaching the third year anniversary of Lee's transplant! I believe that if you did not know his history and you could see him now, you would see him as he was before he became sick! Isn't that amazing?! Of course, he still has to work at staying strong, and the medications are there every day reminding both of us that the journey continues. He never fails to begin his prayers with thanks to the Lord for Yet, Another Day. In fact, he is so pleased with each day that in his thankfulness he describes the day and all that he appreciates in it. He really has developed a personal relationship with God.
On my last blog, I announced my upcoming procedure of Thyroidectomy. I had that done on May 1st. and came home the next morning. All my pathology reports were benign and now the goiter that was growing is gone. My thyroid gland had only a small percentage of function, so I am hoping that now the Synthroid medication will elevate my level and give me some more energy. It is a relief not to have to continue to monitor the five other nodules that could have at anytime changed to cancer. My only follow-up is to increase calcium intake and to take the synthroid the rest of my life. So far am doing amazingly well except for a very weak and tired voice and the fatigue that hits every evening. I am sure that will diminish more with each passing day.
Lee is doing very well except for two things:
1. He continues to have many precancerous lesion on his head, face and neck due to the very strong anti-rejection drugs. Last week 22 were burned with liquid nitrogen, and one sent for biopsy.
2. He has been complaining of pain on weight-bearing for his left heel. Finally saw the orthopedic doctor @ Ortho Carolina last Friday. He now wears an ankle brace to walk, ices it down when resting, and there was some evidence of a heeling fracture on the heel bone! He is now in a PT program for recovery and we are hoping to see good results.
How I enjoyed yesterday! I received calls from daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, my sister, Bonnie and my neice, Elle, all with wishes for a Happy Mother's Day! We were showered with many desserts made by Cathy and Julia.......I now have another good book to read, and some lovely poems and pictures to enjoy! We walked next door, later in the evening for another offering of dessert and ice cream, some more children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a present of beautiful flowers to plant and enjoy. As we were leaving, our adorable two-year-old G.grandchild, Easton, was waiting by the door. He looked at us and said, " I leaving too!" With that, we put him into the golfcart, along with his Mom, Laura who patiently explained to her son that he could ride home with us but must return with her.
We count our blessings of familly and the wonderful memories we make with each of them. My wish is the same for you.
More Later........................................................Brenda
Once again, the younger grandkids, (now teens) stayed together riding the golf cart through the meadows or as usual taking their desserts in the privacy of their domain in the downstairs rec. room. It was good to once again remember stories of Mother's Day's past and those who are no longer here. Most of our remembered stories brought laughter even though the sadness of those memories were momentarily pushed aside. My children remembered special "growing up" stories, to which we each at some times feigned complete innocence.
Hard to believe we are now approaching the third year anniversary of Lee's transplant! I believe that if you did not know his history and you could see him now, you would see him as he was before he became sick! Isn't that amazing?! Of course, he still has to work at staying strong, and the medications are there every day reminding both of us that the journey continues. He never fails to begin his prayers with thanks to the Lord for Yet, Another Day. In fact, he is so pleased with each day that in his thankfulness he describes the day and all that he appreciates in it. He really has developed a personal relationship with God.
On my last blog, I announced my upcoming procedure of Thyroidectomy. I had that done on May 1st. and came home the next morning. All my pathology reports were benign and now the goiter that was growing is gone. My thyroid gland had only a small percentage of function, so I am hoping that now the Synthroid medication will elevate my level and give me some more energy. It is a relief not to have to continue to monitor the five other nodules that could have at anytime changed to cancer. My only follow-up is to increase calcium intake and to take the synthroid the rest of my life. So far am doing amazingly well except for a very weak and tired voice and the fatigue that hits every evening. I am sure that will diminish more with each passing day.
Lee is doing very well except for two things:
1. He continues to have many precancerous lesion on his head, face and neck due to the very strong anti-rejection drugs. Last week 22 were burned with liquid nitrogen, and one sent for biopsy.
2. He has been complaining of pain on weight-bearing for his left heel. Finally saw the orthopedic doctor @ Ortho Carolina last Friday. He now wears an ankle brace to walk, ices it down when resting, and there was some evidence of a heeling fracture on the heel bone! He is now in a PT program for recovery and we are hoping to see good results.
How I enjoyed yesterday! I received calls from daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, my sister, Bonnie and my neice, Elle, all with wishes for a Happy Mother's Day! We were showered with many desserts made by Cathy and Julia.......I now have another good book to read, and some lovely poems and pictures to enjoy! We walked next door, later in the evening for another offering of dessert and ice cream, some more children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a present of beautiful flowers to plant and enjoy. As we were leaving, our adorable two-year-old G.grandchild, Easton, was waiting by the door. He looked at us and said, " I leaving too!" With that, we put him into the golfcart, along with his Mom, Laura who patiently explained to her son that he could ride home with us but must return with her.
We count our blessings of familly and the wonderful memories we make with each of them. My wish is the same for you.
More Later........................................................Brenda
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