For all of you that are following my health saga.....

I went and had my Hemoglobin tested this morning and the results are in...drum roll please...quiet everyone....10.2!

Wow..that's pretty amazing. I guess my body need a jump start! It's still not in the 'normal' range but pretty darn close! Normal is 12-14. I'm thoroughly impressed with myself! I was thinking I would be somewhere in the 8 range.

I have something extra special to be thankful this Thanksgiving! You forget how thankful you are for your health, till it's stolen from you for a short time!!!!

better

Feeling much better after the Transfusion. Monday I go to have my Hemoglobin checked to see where I'm at! Slept like a rock....was so tired, I don't even think I was breathing! We were there for 7+ hours....long process!

I'm still probably not in the 'normal' range but much higher than 5.8! They said each unit you get raises it one level....so technically I should be at 7.8. It will be interesting to see where I'm at on Monday!

Maybe the Wendy's Steve brought me while I was tethered to an IV pole helped! Thanks honey for enduring with me....it was quite boring!

Craziness...

Today I got a call back from my family doctor, well actually the nurse, I needed to come in for a CBC blood test. They wanted to see where my Hemoglobin levels were.

So after being up last night till 5am....yes, 5 am......I was up all night long!! I now had to drag my weary body in to the Dr's office to have a lab draw. So, at 3pm I finally got out of my pj's and robe and drove myself to Sparta. They quickly did my draw and I was off the Family Fare for a few groceries.

At about 7:30pm I received a phone call from my Doctor. Ummmmm...how are you feeling..she asked? I've been better I relayed to her. Well, we got your blood work back.....your Hemoglobin is 5.8!!!! Which is extremely low!! Like really really low! Normal is 12-14 they like it to be 10 to do surgery. As you might remember, mine was 8.5 pre-surgery. So it has taken a nose dive. All that Iron I've been pop'n for no avail!

Apparently, when it gets that low your body just can't keep up. This is all new to me..so I don't really understand it all.

Soooooo the real reason for the post, to let you know.....I'm going to have a blood transfusion tomorrow. I've heard that this is a lengthy procedure...like to the tune of 6+ hours. Geeee, It's sounds like a fun time. The whole thought of someone else's blood in my veins seems kind of weird to me! I know I have to have it....but it's just kinda freaky!

So pray that all goes well.....and smoothly. I hope to be feeling like a new woman by tomorrow night!

Having Trouble...

Every night it's the same story...can't sleep! Grrrrr. I love my sleep! I hate being awake while everyone else is sleeping.

Someone suggested I take Melatonin....which has helped. I think there is an 'optimum' time to fall asleep and if I miss that....it's seems....I'm awake.

My other issue is leg cramps...I'm not sure if I have Restless Leg Syndrome or I'm deficient in some vitamin...or what. But It is all driving me NUTS! I have started taking Calcium...and at first that seem to be working...but know I'm back to leg cramps! Another Grrrr!

Last night I didn't fall asleep till 1:30am...and then I slept in till 11am....talk about screwed up!

Am I getting old or what? I'm so hoping after my surgery I can get everything back to normal..I don't want this to be my new normal!

On The Books..

My ablation is scheduled for Tuesday Dec. 8 in the morning. I'm having it done at Spectrum Hospital because they have to do some other procedures in conjunction with it. And so they can make sure my Hemoglobin is okay before I go home. It will be outpatient.

I hope to not have a recovery like my GB surgery! Man, for a girl that's never had surgery, I'm trying hard to squeak some in '09!

Results....

I got the biopsy results back today....everything looks good. So what does that mean? I will have the Ablation procedure done. It will probably be done the beginning of December...waiting to set up the appt.

Thanks you for all your prayers on my behalf. Monday I actually started feeling more 'normal'. What ever normal is!

Thanks again!

Open House...

This is a much safer post! Read on!....

We attended the KCTC open house last night. We got to see where Tyler goes for the first 2+ hours of his morning.

The class he attends is an Aviation program. They do not learn to fly but more like maintenancing a plane. Tyler was able to give us a tour and show us the hanger.

They have about 5+ planes (Cessna size) in the hanger and a retired military helicopter.

They are still doing a fair amount of text and simple hands-on projects.

Here Trent is sitting in one of the planes. Steve was not able to attend, as he had a village meeting he had to attend but we were able to take Dad & Linda. We had a meal at Wendy's and then headed down to the airport....

Tyler is demonstrating how to rivet into metal

Trent is trying his hand at riveting with Tyler's help.

We had a good time visiting Tyler's school. What a great hands on program! He may never go into Aviation but this will never be wasted time.

Sick Ward.....

I know, I know...here I go again writing about personal issues! If you can take it...read on.....

Last Wednesday , as most of you know, I had my Gallbladder removed. I have not been real well since then. Really struggling to recover. I have barely left the house (only yesterday for a Dr appt.) so let me explain why my recovery has been so slow.... If you can take it...read on....

Way back in August I had my period...and it never left! That's right, I have been bleeding for 60+ days! So that had brought my Hemoglobin down to 8.5 (normal being 12-14) 2 weeks before surgery. They really questioned whether they would do surgery or not...but they opted to go forward with it..so here I am. Very Anemic, popping Iron pills...trying to boost my levels.

Basically, I can hardly accomplish any task with out resting/napping. No Laundry has been done since last Wednesday...I hate to even open my laundry shoot! When your levels are that low, you just have a general inability to keep up...you just feel run down all the time. For example, today I took a shower and that was about all I could do..I had to blow dry my hair 3 hours later after I took a nap.

So yesterday, I went to a GYN and she did a biopsy to determine if the cells are normal or pre-cancerous. After she gets the results..we will determine the course of action. The two most likely options are, an ablation or removal of my uterus. I had to muster all the strength I had to get there because I knew this was my only hope of recovery! As it turned out the Dr was out on a delivery of a baby and she couldn't see us till 1:30 (my appt was 11:00) so we hung around the area and returned. It was like torture for me...to have 2 hours to shop at the mall and I didn't have enough strength....torture!!! You know I was sickly!

So in the near future, I am looking at another surgery. I'm assuming around the end of November! WOW..hope I can do it!

Also, one of my incisions, from the GB surgery, broke open, so we are dealing with changing dressings and trying to heal that up....fun fun fun!

I do have to say Steve has been a real trooper through this all! He has been juggling work and home! He has been making lunches, taking Trent to school, picking up Trent, kids to church, dinners, lunches..... The kids have been helping out too! Today he had to take Troy and Trent to the eye doctor...I wasn't sure he even knew where the Dr office was!...Apparently, he did and then he called and said he was going to help Troy pick out frames...WHAT?! I wasn't thinking he was going to do that! As it turns out, they are going to wait till I can go with Troy..WHEW!

So, that is what is going on at the Buckner's house....sorry it has to be so gruesome! Please pray for the Doctor to have wisdom as to the best choice of treatment. Strength for me. Strength for Steve and the boys. Thanks......