I'm having a hard time getting to sleep...

I'm stopping by for a quick request. I'm scheduled to take yet another "fricken" test tomorrow. This one is called an "Exercise Pulmonary Function Stress Test.

Now I've done the treadmill stress test before.




I've also taken a pulmonary function test before.




It's just that I've never taken an "Excercise Pulmonary Function stress test."



I honestly feel that I'm being a wimp and have no reason to be nervous about this test. It's just that I'm a bit tired of doing uncomfortable tests, with results that come in with no answers. I'm worried (irrationally worried I should add) that I'm going to take yet another test, and learn that the only thing wrong with me is that I'm an old woman who is overweight and out of shape.




So, if I may be selfish, would you please pray that this test is not too difficult, I'm able to push myself hard enough so that the doctors can analyze the information and get some answers, AND that the results do not include any of the following words, "Mrs. Markin, these results show that you have turned into a lazy lump. Your biggest problems are that you are just really overweight, really out of shape and lazy."



I will also be getting my blood drawn to see if I'm still anemic.

OK, that's all for now. I really need to be trying harder to clear my head and get some sleep.

Thank you so much for checking in.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog
And, thanks for caring.

Annette

I said I'd try to post a bit more.....

But, this is going to be short and sweet. I went to the dentist today (6 month cleaning....soooo exciting, aren't I?) AND I went to a movie this afternoon with my dear daughter-in-law's mother, Jeane. I tell you, we really hit the jackpot when Nick married Kara! Her entire family is incredibly wonderful! Anyway, Jeane and I went to see "The Social Network" which is the movie about how "Facebook" came into being.



It was a really interesting and well made movie. I do have to admit though, there were many discussions about computers and algorithms that were way above my head!
I give this movie 8 puppy paws up!



When I got home from the movie, I fell asleep on the couch until about an hour ago. Now I need to go take care of my medicine and get to bed. I sure hope these iron pills kick in soon. Sleeping away my life is not my idea of a good time. (Sorry. I told myself I wasn't going to do any whining in this posting.)

Thanks for checking in.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Annette

Excuse me while I rev up my engine..vroom...vroom..vr...

Thank you for continuing to come back to "AnnettesexcitingBlog" to see if there is anything exciting being posted, or at least to see if anything NEW has been posted.

It has been a lo-o-o-o-o-ong summer and proving to be a lo-o-o-o-ng fall. And NOW it looks like I was given incorrect information that, in turn, makes me look like a LIAR! LIAR! PANTS ON FIRE!

After my last post I had an appointment with my "GP." I soon discovered that I misunderstood the results of the procedures done in the hospital. They did find an AVM, but, it wasn't actively bleeding. The good thing is that with all of these tests, we were able to rule out really bad reasons for being anemic. But, we're left with no explanation for the anemia. The "game plan" is still the same, though. Keep taking the iron and....wait! That is the worse 4-letter word in the world! I'm so sick and tired of WAITING to find out what's going on. I know that I need to be thrilled with the fact that the doctor's were able to rule out really bad reasons for the anemia and tiredness. I have never been a patient individual. Having PH and Addison's have forced me to become a very patient woman, or I would go crazy. I've felt, ever since I was diagnosed, that knowledge is power. The more I know and understand what is happening with my body, the less afraid and more confident I become in fighting these illnesses.

OK, that's all of the whining for now. I'm going to walk down to the street and grab the mail and the newspaper. I'll be back soon, maybe even tonight, and write a bit more.

Thanks for staying with me.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for your support.

Annette

A Quick Update

First, thanks so much for all of the posts, emails, cards, calls and prayers. I'm home and really tired. I wanted to let you know what we learned and I'll fill in more later. But, the basic info is that they discovered the source of the bleeding. I have a AVM, which is an arteriovenous malformation in my colon. I have an artery and a vein that have grown together, causing some slight bleeding or leaking.Usually it wouldn't be a big enough deal to cause anemia, but, because I'm on blood thinners, it is bleeding a bit too much. I'm going to see the doctor next week, but, the general thought is I'll just continue to take iron pills.
OK, I need to take a nap.

Thanks again for everything.
Annette

A Quick "Hello."

I'm heading into the hospital tomorrow. I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy and endoscopy on Thursday morning. The plan is to find a cause for this anemia I'm been dealing with for a couple of months now. It's crazy how we "hurry up to wait" and "hurry up to wait" again in our society, getting no further than where we were before we started that insane dance!

So, today I prepared for being on a liquid diet for tonight and tomorrow before being admitted into the hospital. I've also had one of two Lovinox shots just for today that will help thicken my blood that I try to to thin on a regular basis with blood thinners.
I thought about going on a food binge...but I kept hearing the song, "Spinning Wheels" by Blood, Sweat and Tears...."What goes up, must come down..."....only in my head, the words changed a bit..."What goes in, must come out!" So, I decided that a "food binge" wasn't such a good move (so to speak).

Going to the hospital and, especially having to spend the night, is a big mess when you have Pulmonary Hypertension and Addison's disease which both require lots of drugs, ice bags and cassette's of mixed medicine.

I would love to ask you all to send a prayer my way and some good thoughts that things go well and that we finally get some answers and I can get back some energy.

Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for checking in.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for listening.

Annette