Calendar Poodle SAL

Friday, August 23, 2013

Blech! (⊙﹏⊙✿)

Hi friends! I hope you are well. I am still not. sigh. I mean, at least I am NOT laying around sloth-like still. My stomach was "feeling bad" so I started taking the over-the-counter acid reducer my doctor told me to take when it acts up. After a week, and sudden majorly increased pain, I called and he told me to double it and take extra strength Gaviscon at the maximum dose as well. After 4 days with no improvement I was seen by him. He gave me Nexium samples. I have been on those at the high dose of twice daily and the maximum dose of Gaviscon  for 4 days also now. I had an abdominal ultrasound done yesterday morning. This ruled out problems with any of my other organs. So my doctor believes I have one or two significant ulcers. These medications should heal my stomach  up, it is just taking a long time because of the severity? I am still a burnin' here folks.  Let me tell ya, a bland diet is not much fun at all. =(

Say! I have good great news!! The Neurontin I told you I was approved for, to take care of my chronic SI joint pain, is working!!!!!!! WaaaaaaaHooooooo! It is keeping my pain levels at a 2 or 3 all the time people. Isn't that great?! I think so. I could be angry that so many different insurance companies we had over the years refused to cover Neurontin for me. They insisted I use the generic, even though not one of the four generics I tried  brought the pain down.  Well, I won't lie. I was quite angry about that. But I do NOT want to be bitter. Soooo, I am grateful that I may be on brand name Neurontin NOW,again after 9 years.

On Wednesday night we went to Marquette University's New Student Convocation. What an experience. The keynote address was given by Chitra Divakaruni. She is the author of One Amazing Thing, the book I read along with Jacob and all of the incoming freshman this year. There are exactly 2013 freshmen this year, the year of 2013. Strange huh? They had 23,000 applications!! We are very proud of Jacob.Well, it is really happening folks. Our oldest has begun college now.Twenty-five additional nursing students were added because Milwaukee's VA Hospital has paid for the additional teachers and classrooms required to increase from 100 to 125 students. The VA prefers Marquette trained nursing staff. There are now 6 young men and 119 young ladies. Oh boy!! ;)

I did hear from our dear friend Carol over a week ago, that she received my gift right before she fell ill. Like a dummy, I forgot to take a picture of the beaded angel needle threader I made her. I made her in blue, Carol's favorite color. It was my first time making a needle threader. I also sent Carol this:

Yes, that is right. I actually gave her some of my Chocolate Swirl irises. These are the ones that smell of chocolate.♥ Carol commented on my blog over a year ago that she wished she had some. =) Now she does! And her DH even planted them while sweet Carol was ill .

I did NOT take a picture of the counting pins and two patterns I sent off to Vicki either. But she has received them and likes them. =) Here, I borrowed her picture of my gift.


And I also sent gifts to Angela P, which she has received and likes too! And you guessed it!!! I did not take a picture of pattern and counting pins either. But here is a picture Angela took and said I could show here.
I sent all three of these ladies gifts because they guessed the correct color of fuchsia for my purse.

Emerson and Madeleine have begun classes again as of Thursday. Jacob's first classes begin Monday. He has been to orientation things every day since Wednesday now.

I did not stitch one time while I was ill for the first week. Too weak and exhausted and nauseous.I am currently stitching up another freebie. I did get a lot of reading done. I finished The Last Runaway. That was good, but I felt very badly about the handful of swear words. I then read Evidence Unseen by Darlene Deibler Rose. THIS was an excellent, true story. She was a POW in WWII. She and her pastor husband were missionaries in New Guinea when WWII broke out.

That is it for today. I continue to take my "little purple pills" and hope to be all better very soon. Just wanted you to know I am still alive. ;)

Stitching and praying,
Vickie

34 comments:

CalamityJr said...

So glad you're starting to feel better. I'll pray that the little purple pills continue to help :). No wonder you're so proud of Jacob. He's going to be an amazing nurse! Your gifts all sound wonderful - and to think you did all this while feeling awful. Kudos to you!

Margaret said...

I was wondering if you had ulcers. I sure hope the medicine regime cures them for you and you are feeling all better soon. So glad the pain at least is down. Hooray! What fun about the student convocation and Jacob starting orientation and all. I hope all goes well for him his first year. So lovely that you sent gifts as well!

Annie said...

Health insurance companies can drive us all crazy. Glad to hear you are getting meds that help with your pain and hopefully your ulcer meds will kick in soon too. You are so sweet to send all the gifts when you aren't feeling well yourself.

marly said...

Geez I hope the stomach issue resolves. Neurotin causes serious digestive pain and reflux so get that stomach in good shape! So glad it's helping with the pain. Best wishes to Jacob for his studies.

Shirlee said...

Glad you are feeling better : )

Catherine said...

So good to hear your pain is better ~ and hopefully your stomach will heal quickly as well!
Best wishes to Jacob this year ~ exciting times for him!

Myra said...

I am glad to hear you are getting some relief from your pain. I pray your stomach will heal soon and all will be right with you again.

Vicki said...

Yippee! I'm so glad your chronic pain is diminished! And I'm praying for your stomach issues to heal quickly.

Annette-California said...

So it is ulcers. So happy to hear your getting relief from all the pain Vickie. Thank goodness. I too am praying for your stomach to heal.
Your iris is so pretty.
love Annette

butterfly said...

Take care sweet Vickie .
Your son will be loving his new start, but I bet you will be missing him. Big Hugs.

Lillie said...

Hope you will continue to heal, it will take a bit of time but with proper care I am sure you will get well soon.

I hope this will cheer you up, you won my giveaway :D please email me your addie will you?

Take care and hugs

Anonymous said...

I hope your stomach settles soon and I'm glad that your pain levels are reduced.
Sounds like you sent a lot of lovely presents out!
Beautiful iris photo.

Chris said...

Hey Vickie!
I am glad that you are on the mend but saddened that you have been dealing with these health issues.

I have been thinking of you.

Peggy Lee said...

ohh...good news about the new med and the belly pain going away!
You sure did manage to get those gifties out in the mail though...that's the sweet giving heart you have!
Have a great weekend....

Angela said...

I just emailed you a picture that I took of the lovely gift that you sent to me :)

I'm praying that the medication will begin to help you feel better soon.

Penny said...

Oh my goodness, Vickie! You sure seem to be having a rough time lately. I'm so sorry you haven't been well, and hope your medicines kick in soon! I'm so excited for Jacob, and will keep him in my prayers as he begins his new journey.

Janet P said...

You really are going through a rough time at the moment, I hope you can see light at the end of this very long tunnel. Once you know what the problem is, you can deal with it. Thinking and praying for you. When I go to the library next I will look for the book about the lady during WW11 sounds interesting. xx

cucki said...

Glad you are feeling better dear...
You are in my prayers always..
Hugs x

Minnie said...

I'm glad you are getting the pain meds you need and hope you and the Dr are able to straighten out the intestinal problems too.

Maggee said...

I sure hope the Neurontin makes you feel better to the point of cured of those ulcers! Hugs!

Simply Victoria said...

Hooray for less back pain. Boo for stomach ulcers. Prayers for you.
I read Evidence Unseen too. Isn't it a powerful story?
Hope the school year goes well for your 3 children!

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Glad you are feeling better...sending hugs your way and hope you continue to feel better with each passing day.

Blessings always

Brigitte said...

So glad to read that the pain is finally down with the medication that you have now. So glad that your insurance is finally paying for it.
But stomach pains can also be very devastating. I hope the ulcer will heal with the nexium.
Good luck to your son on college!

Julie said...

Lovely counting pins and goodies you sent off as gifts.
I hope the meds continue to work and you feel slightly better with each passing day.
Good luck to your family members in their new ventures.

Giovanna said...

Great to hear that the pain meds are working :-) Hope you get rid of the ulcers too.

Nicky said...

So good to hear that you now have the ulcers on the mend, and what wonderful news about your pain meds. Things can only get better now!
Thinking of you, Nicky xx

Mii Stitch said...

Glad you're feeling better :) Love the goodies you sent out & I'm sure will have a great time at college too :)

Melanie said...

Good news, bad news. So glad you got approved for the right pain meds - hope the rest of it clears up soon too. :(
*hugs*

Kaisievic said...

Hi Vickie, so sorry to hear that you are unwell. I hope that you all improves really quickly now that your medication is right.

Lovely gifts that you gave away and I love the idea of the chocolate Iris!

Kaisievic said...

P.S. Good luck to Jacob, too.

moreofhim said...

Praying for you, Vickie! May God touch your body with healing, comfort and peace.

Many blessings - Julie

Topcho said...

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well :( But still a good thing that the med for the joint pains is working! Wishing you all the best :)

Sally said...

I hope you are feeling so much better dear Vickie.

What lovely gifts you sent. Those pins are so pretty.

Good luck to Jacob!

Meari said...

Beautiful gifties. And I love that iris. Preety :)