February 17, 2017
10:08 p.m.

Well, Valentine's Day has come and gone, and I hope you still have plenty of chocolate left.

I haven't spoken about it much, but I had an interesting few days.

Last week I started to feel really ill again. Ill as in the really uncomfortable stomach pain and nausea that I experienced a while back that resulted in an Emergency room visit followed by months of tests that have so far told me nothing much. And I really, really didn't want to deal with it, because I'm not home and my insurance won't cover regular doctors visits in Wyoming.

Go figure.

I spent some time--a good deal of it, actually--ascertaining that there was no way to change my coverage with my present plan because--surprise, surprise--my plan is not available in Wyoming. Wyoming is one of those states that has practically zero choices when it comes to insurance.

So I set out to self-diagnose and hopefully get myself better, because I had a couple of important things I absolutely had to do.

A childhood friend had moved on to the next plane, and I wanted to honor her memory by attending her rosary service and the funeral service the following day.

So I started to eat really carefully, the less the better. I drank lots of water, ginger tea, and ginger ale.

When the pain got worse and started to radiate through to my back, I started to worry that I might be dealing with an inflammatory process that would need treatment.

I worried about pancreatitis.

Yeah, it's a risk for my still not definitively diagnosed condition. Crap.

I messaged a friend who has dealt with pancreatitis and scared him. He told me to get myself to a doctor, but I delayed.

Things to do. Important things.

So Thursday night my parents, my sister and I attended the rosary.

I have to say, it was well attended by many people who knew and loved her. I was happy to see that turn-out; she deserved nothing less. But oh, how I wish none of us had need to be there. No one there was ready to say good-bye to such a lovely woman.

There were beautiful tributes by her sister and grandchildren, family and friends. She was clearly much loved.

Stupid cancer.

The next morning we went to the funeral service. Again, very well attended. Wonderful tribute by the parish priest. Beautiful eulogy by her oldest daughter.

I wanted to stick around and see everyone, but the time had come, and instead we went back to the house and changed clothes and went to the danged emergency room.

Vital signs and pain checks and the nurse tells me I have a pretty high pain threshold based on I-don't-know-what results. I guess there are ways to know if someone goes in pretending to be in pain.

They put me in a room and put me in a gown. My parents got to sit around and wait and watch while a nurse TRIED to start an IV line and instead blew out a vein. Fun.

Finally got an IV in place, ran blood tests and then dosed me up with anti-inflammatory drugs and good old morphine.

A while later a somewhat alarmed nurse rushed in to get me started on oxygen, because my saturations had dropped a lot.

Well, the C-Pap user--aka Paula--was not all that surprised. It happens to me all the time.

Can I just say that I really like oxygen? Perks me right up.

Well, after a few hours test results showed gastroenteritis--an inflamed stomach--and thankfully no pancreatic involvement. I got a prescription for some anti-nausea and anti-vomiting drugs and was told to stay on clear liquids for awhile and follow up with my doctor. Because it was all probably due to gastroparesis.

Yeah, we know how well that's worked out so far. We've heard this all before, right?

I wish someone would just come right out and say: "Yep, that's what you've got. There's a name for the condition, and this is it." But no. They just give me this drug and that, and a list of things NOT to eat, and say more testing will be required.

I'm not rich enough for all those tests, so I'll be more careful of my eating.

Anyway, I am eating again, and sometimes it works out okay, and sometimes it doesn't. It's been a week, and my favorites to date are baked potato, jello and Popsicles. I can sort of get away with cottage cheese. I've had a little meat, but that's iffy.

I really want a big, sloppy hamburger with tomatoes and onions, but I guess I'll take what I can get!

I have so far not taken any of the medication; I filled the prescription and read the warnings and possible side effects. I do not feel the need to take something that can possibly cause heart palpitations, difficulty breathing and hallucinations. I'd rather vomit, if it comes to that.

So that was my week: drinking lots of clear liquids and eating jello and Popsicles and wishing for a salad.

Oh, I also got ragged on for not loving an ugly dress, and I stressed out about politics because we're all screwed.

I've had better weeks, I'll tell you that.

Okay, now here comes the plus side.

Nurses and doctor at Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County were kind, courteous and I received excellent care. (Vein blow-puts are just a poopy part of my life.) I just want to say that I really thank them all for taking care of me.
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February 18, 2017
12:21 a.m.

Yeah, yeah, I'm still up.

I've been busy writing my new book, and it's in the final stretch, which means I'm slowing down because I get antsy at this point. Dialogue is constantly zooming through my addled brain.

And big time editing is coming...

No wonder I diss ugly dresses online!
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Okay, it is time to say goodnight for now and go catch up on "Jane the Virgin". I would really, really love to dish on the show, but if I fave anything away to those who are not caught up, I would never forgive myself.

So...have a great night!