Friday, April 22, 2016

April 22, 2016

The first quarter of the year is gone; I haven't blogged since New Year's Day. I suck.

I guess I could make a ton of excuses, but it boils down to just two. 1. I have been busy completing a series of coding exercises to advance my certification and 2. I have been sick.

Addressing number 1, I completed the coding exercises, and now I have had my apprenticeship status removed from my certification. I am now a full fledged Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and not just an apprectice, which means I have experience in my field! That makes me happy and proud. I complete over a thousand cases, so I have learned a lot. I also passed my ICD-10 proficiency exam in December. Between those two things, I should be more employable now.

Addressing number 2, --It's complicated.

In early February I had an esophagogastroduodonoscopy (EDG) exam, which is done by running a tube with a tiny camera down my throat to look at my esophagus, stomach and upper small intestine. I had to fast for eight hours prior to the test so my stomach would be empty.

It wasn't empty. It was full. And it had been over twelve hours. So the test could not be conducted and I had to reschedule. Paula's out $345.00 and now has to pay that again.

I rescheduled for March and promptly got in trouble with my kids for not scheduling sooner. Like I could have! Money, people?

Well, according to them, the money was mine for the asking. But I'm not good at that--I hate borrowing anything from anyone for anything. (And pride goeth before the fall--I know, I know.)
But also, my daughter was going to give birth around the same time I could have scheduled, and I had no intention of missing that.

And right on schedule, my beautiful granddaughter was born in the wee hours of the morning after the original date I passed on. See? I was right!





I would not have missed this for the world! Grandbaby number nine. I am so blessed.

So for my next EGD, I got to do clear liquids only for three days prior to the test. It was not as hard as I expected it to be. I'm not doing too well with food these days.

The test went fine, but we still don't know for sure what's going on.

I got sent for blood tests, and at this point we have ruled out stomach, liver and pancreatic cancers, heart issues, lung issues and ulcers.

I'm now in the process of scheduling CT scans, and then possibly one more diagnostic test. Right now the doctor is thinking I may have a condition called Gastroparesis. It won't kill me, but it's not comfortable or convenient, and it makes it pretty difficult to enjoy a regular meal. Soft and bland. Cream of Wheat is my friend. Steak is not. Boo. Popsicles and jello, good. Spaghetti, not good. Ugh.

We shall see.

On the plus side, I have lost twenty pounds and a pant size. Or possibly two. Who knows? Sizes are weird.

Anyway, 2016 hasn't been great so far.

For one thing, we have lost so many wonderful people this year. Yesterday it was Prince. It started in January with David Bowie. DAVID BOWIE!! *SOB* Then Alan Rickman less than a week later--goodbye, Snape!  *SOB* Then, boom, boom, boom, every week this year it seems! Glenn Frey, Merle Haggard, Patty Duke, Doris Roberts, James Best. Wow. Over thirty people. I guess I could make a list, but I just can't do it right now. Sad. Musicians, actors, writers.

Stop it, 2016!!

Anyway, it's time for me to get off my behind and start writing again. I know I'll feel better with something to do besides worry about what is or isn't wrong with me and cataloging my daily food intake (and may I add that my diet is BORING?)

I'm excited to be job hunting, and excited that sometime in the future I will go visit my parents, and excited to see my grandchildren--three of the nine, anyway--this weekend. There are good things going on in this, the year of our Lord, 2016.

I just need to remind myself of that from time to time, I guess!

Anyway, it's 4:00 a.m. Guess it's bedtime.

Good ni--er...good morning!


No comments:

Post a Comment