Fiercely Independent Pam

Category: Health

  • Home and Almost Reset! Just Missing a Whole Lot of Strength- But My Heart Is Ready!

    Well I made it home! All safe in my little corner of the world. I even had a wonderful lunch catching up with an old friend, who will hopefully help me find some tutoring gigs too! Even managed to open some packages and get a little organized. Needed the help of lift and assist from the fire department, and they were more than wonderful!

    I was NOT prepared for how weak I actually am now that In am home. I really can’t stand on my own, and terrified of falling. So, it’s back to my “roots” using an old fashioned sliding board to transfer out of bed and into my wheelchair or arm chair. I need to get stronger, but for now, this is going to have to be how it is to be done.

    A huge thanks to my caregiver who with our thoughts together managed a small little shower last night and it made all the difference. I am so bruised up that I hope I heal well.

    Thank goodness I can self catherize anywhere because I really can’t get on or off the toilet right now- TMI sorry-

    It doesn’t help that we are supposed to get a winter storm of sorts, but I guess being stuck in my apartment isn’t the end of the world at all since I am not in the hospital anymore. Unfortunately, I had to cancel facials with my niece because I am not up to it, but I will make it up to her for sure and it will feel even better knowing I did it on my own.

    Today, begins appointments- nurse for resumption of care and hopefully the ENT as well. I ordered an Instacart order and looking forward to some new things to drink. Hopefully, I will also be able to get some organization done too. I also have a newsletter floating out there somewhere too!

    So, I move forward, carefully and intently. Looking forward to working with PT/OT again and being able to transfer without the board and being more independent again. I too will rise again, I have been down before and know what needs to happen. My biggest issue right now is to stay off the floor and in my bed or chair. I have enough new “toys” to play with to keep me busy and not exploring and going places I shouldn’t be going down.

    Other than being just so happy to be home, I am sore- especially where they put my shiny new picc line- its more tunneled than I expected, but it got me home and its able to be used for the necessary IV antibiotics that I need each day to get rid of these major infections- all at the tune of over $3000. No one ever said that chronic illness is cheap!

  • It’s Beyond Time to Get Home and Reset…

    So, I finally got a new picc line– a little different than imagined, but it’s in and I am able to get my IV antibiotics through it as well as my IVIG infusions. I am so thankful for the team in IR this morning that “just made it happen.” Then I got back to my room and my breakfast was waiting for me! All good signs of things to come.

    If I haven’t said it before, chronic illness is expensive. My 3 weeks of IV antibiotics is going to run over $3000 and that’s with excellent insurance. Told them that I was just going to have to make small payments towards that expense.

    My first priority in getting home today is having an amazing lunch with an old friend who we have been playing phone tag for a long time. It will be great to catch up with her. My apartment is going to be a little bit of a mess as I organize my new mobility devices, like my ZEEN. I am hoping the Zeen is really the change I require to gain some strength and independence.

    Tonight will be about showering and organizing a little with one of my caregivers. Hopefully, after a shower tonight and moving around today, I will gain some more strength. I won’t lie, I am very nervous about getting “stuck” on the toilet due to low strength, but it will be what it will be!

    Then it’s back to my regular schedule- newsletter this weekend after taking my niece for facials for her birthday! I have a lot going on at times, and other times, nothing but crickets!

    I have a ton of follow up appointments, and eager to find out what is next for this giant kidney stone. Apparently it needs to get “blasted.”

    All of this will pass as well and then it’s back to getting ready to welcome my service dog. I am hoping the committee meets soon and I am able to schedule a community visit. I really want to see some progress in bringing this game changer to life. My 25 year reunion is in October of 2026 and I am eager to travel back to Baltimore with my new service dog and flying for the first time in 5+ years. BIG things are happening!

    Also on the agenda, is getting back into tutoring- specifically dyslexia tutoring. I have always enjoyed tutoring 1-1 with students. I use the Wilson Reading System and have a lot of materials. Please reach out to me if you have any leads in this direction.

  • Still Stuck: Needing an SOS To Get Home, Just Not a “Ride or Die!”…But Maybe a Zeen too!

    SO, I’m still stuck at the hospital awaiting a new picc line, everything else is all set to go home. I wish I was stronger and felt more confident about getting up and about, but it is beyond time to leave here and just “make it happen.”After all, my Zeen is awaiting me, along with my comfy bed.

    My Zeen is awaiting me and I am eager to try it out and use it for meals and getting around. It will be a big game changer for me in terms of using my legs and not always being “stuck” in my awesome wheelchair. I will be sure to post some videos once I get the hang of it and such. Decorating the Zeen is of high priority as well!

    I am glad too to not being taking the foley catheter with me, of course this means I have to be able to manage the toilet and self-cathing again. The foley causes so many problems including kinks and what I call “floods” meaning I feel like I have to pee but its happens too quickly to do anything with. So, I make a mess. Hopefully, once I get home and back on my regular meds and without a foley, I’ll stay dryer.

    In other worlds, I found this image and it too fits me like a “T” Mostly about needing to stop and get some food. I miss my friend who is in rehab from shoulder surgery and looking forward to reconnecting with her again. She is working hard at rehab and hopefully all the hard work will pay off. We are not necessarily “a ride and die” type of people, but I do trust her with my life and count on her as part of my “Tribe.”