After taking iron for 2 weeks, my Hemoglobin numbers have climbed from a low of 8.3 to 10.8 - woot! I really started to tell the difference last week. Prob. the reason is that I have tolerated iron very easily, so while I was supposed to be on 1 pill a day for a week, increase to 2 the following week, then 3 until whenever, I was able to up the the doseage every 5 or 6 days when I could see that there was no problem with how I was handling it.

( I'm still a bit draggy, )

The weeks been crap, don't know the results of my camera pill thing I had to swallow, but am exhausted. Good that the iron supplements aren't really bothering me, but haven't been on them long enough to work either.

Rick was released to go back to work, but they're still threatening him w/ abandoment (b'cuz they wouldn't change his assignment from medical to triage the day he was in excruiating pain!) and suspended him w/o pay before he could even go back. WTF!!! I think that bridge is burned, yeah?

The good news is that we are going to a private party/ bash / concert at our favorite singer, Cathy Richardson's house/block party thing in an hour - and when I told them our story - well, Rick's (we've met Cathy at quite a few concerts and she and Rick went to same high school, only 15 yrs. apart) they gave us discounted tickets. Yay!

It's our birthday present to each other (both ours are in June) and so...we may be broke and jobless, but goddamn it, not going to stop living altogether - and we so deserve this!

The results from the tests (gastroscopy & colonoscopy) came back pretty much as the preliminary results. Think I'd said I had ulcerative gastritis - that was wrong, it was gastritis w/ erosions, so sort of pre-ulcer. So, since they really didn't find any reason I am losing blood (besides the invisible vampire living in my digestive tract, as my daughter suggested *g*) I have to swallow a camera pill on Tuesday so they can take a look at my small intestine. I really don't expect them to find anything there either, but they gotta do it to rule anything else out.

Haven't taken any Naproxen (active ingredient in Aleve, only Rx strength) since then...but I really, really miss it. Tylenol is just a piss poor substitute for pain, esp. inflammation, but well, I burned that bridge for now, so what are ya gonna do?

( More under the cut: )

Sort of a mixed bag of an update.

OTOH, I think I'm feeling slightly better, although, seriously, my stomach wasn't bothering me at all before the procedures, so what's up with that? Guess it can happen from what I hear. Not running a fever or anything, so guess he didn't puncture anything, but still...ow!

Getting another blood test today to see where my anemia numbers are, then will talk to the gastroguy on Friday about the results of the procedures and the blood work.

One good thing is that I'm starting my series of knee injections tomorrow so I won't be so damn stiff. Unfortunately, w/o anti-inflammatories, I can really feel every achy. Tylenol just barely cuts it. Ironic that I'm wobbling like a duck, but am getting injections of rooster comb in my knees to correct the duckiness. lol

Rick's 12 week family leave will end May 15th, and he's doing P/T multiple times a week - the last week will be 5 days a week. He's feeling better, but did need another spinal / epidural injection last week b'cuz the sciatica returned. He's been applying for less stressful and less physically and emotionally demanding nursing jobs within the organization (and his old hospital, too) so hopefully, that will pan out and he'll be out of the freaking ER finally.

If he doesn't get hired for those before the 12 weeks is up, I don't know if they'll allow him to come back to the ER or accommodate him in some other way. So, we'll see.

April started a job selling vacation pkgs. to places where they try to sell the peeps time-shares, but it sort of sucks, since her boss wants her to be agressive and rude in accosting customers, so she's looking for something else.

Well, yesterday was the big scoping day. So glad that's over with, although the event itself much less traumatic and trying than the prepping for it. Ug!

( So results thus far: )

Saw the gastroenterologist on Monday. Tomorrow is the big scoping (top & bottom) day. Fun! He figures my problems are from the too much Naproxen I was taking, given that I really haven't had any stomach discomfort. I don't know if I should be worried about something else or not, given that I haven't had any typical ulcer-like feelings at all.

I'm taking a gazzillion pills today for the um...hmm...desired effect. Told the doc I was NO WAY taking this liquid gallon of stuff that Rick took that tasted like salty-ass (although I used the word, butt). I took a tiny taste when Rick had to drink that and it was beyond awful. I had something 5 yrs. ago, that wasn't nearly that horrible, but it's off the market now.

Other than that, embracing the pain I usually have tamped down with the anti-inflammatories. I tell ya, Tylenol just isn't the same at all. I did take half of a pain pill Rick had last night. I should've been getting the first of 3 injections in my knees today, but given what else I have to do today, had to move it up until next week.

I had to drop Rick off at his P/T & for a 2nd epidural yesterday, and went to Walmart to get a couple of things. They were on opposite sides of the store, and I felt so wiped after that. Man, given the choice between some so-so pain and feeling wiped out (b'cuz of the anemia) I'll take the pain. Seriously.

How the fuck did I get to be such a mess? Sheesh!

If I don't respond to anybody right now, here's why:

The other day I went for a walk with my hubby - a really short walk and I was really breathless. My pulse was really high, as was my blood pressure. Also, felt a bit of pressure in my chest. Not good. Also, had some other symptoms, plus Rick and April told me I was really pale.

Went to see my Nurse Practioner, she ordered some blood work, STAT, and found out my Hemoglobin is like 8.6. (Normal is in the 12's, which I usually am).

She talked about putting me in hospital today, but they're not going to do anything to me over the weekend (it was debatable she thought if they'd give me any units of blood or not), so she made an appt. for me to see Gastroenterologist on Monday morning, and I'll prob. be getting an upper & lower scoping on Tues or so. If my symptoms worsen, I'll have to go to hospital, but right now it's just take it easy and don't do anything until they find out why & where I'm bleeding from. Fun, fun!

The fact that I take Rx strength Naproxen for joint pain and have for years, I'd guess is the cause of the problem I'm having. Well, better that than something more serious.

Well, Rick's back is not much better - at least not enough to go back to work. He's been off for 6 weeks, and he's only got another 6 weeks where they have to hold his job for him - and that doesn't look likely. Workman's comp in Indiana doesn't pay crap, really. So...the reality - which I'm almost paralyzed to think about, is that we may be without an income in the near future - at least not enough of one which pays all the bills, plus insurance. At least until Rick's back heals up enough for him to return to some sort of light-duty work environment in the medical field.

To say that I'm terrified, is a bit of an understatement.

Rick's thinking about becoming a legal nurse consultant, but I doubt that comes with health insurance. He's too young to retire at 58, and we have 5 yrs. left on our house - if we can keep it (which I'm really hoping) and too young for Medicare. I've got more years than that to even be close.

Besides subbing for the local school system, which I did from the time I graduated college, through the years April was little to the time she graduated, (b'cuz I didn't want to work full-time then) and a stint for temporary full-time stint for a few months helping low-income kids get summer employment, I haven't really worked outside the home.

That's not to say I haven't worked at all, I've sold stuff on eBay for years, and had my own eBay store for about 5 yrs. or so - but that's not even a decent second income, except at Christmas.

Gulp.

So, what to do? I know the only thing I've ever really been good at is writing, but getting an income out of that takes time - and actual, you know, writing.

I'm even considering selling Mary Kay, since going to a party with April the other night (oh, God!)(it's so not my thing) - that's how low it all feels right now.

April is about to get a decent job, and her and her b/f are living here, and will stay a while longer if we need them to, but still...this is a place in life I really never expected to find ourselves.

Really wish Rick had never 'voluntarily retired' from his old job (where he had 19 yrs. seniority and where he was well-respected vs this crap place he found himself at for the past 4 yrs.)

Rick just showed me this from MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46555895/ns/local_news-san_diego_ca/

I have such a warm fuzzy feelings about Julian, since I wrote about it so much...and the last two times we went to CA, we went up there. The first time, Rick found a sign (approx. where I had written they'd be) called, William's Ranch! It was awesome.

Anyway, can't help but think about Buffy there making her annual Snowman Spike.

You know, I keep reading and commenting on other's journals, and then I think, WTF, it's been ages since I posted myself, so thought I ought. lol

( So, life in general..<i>.okay,</i> I guess. Actually, maybe not so much. )