tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-173069592011-12-13T12:12:03.401-08:00This page is my online journal of my victories and challenges that are part of the day to day life of an active, thriving adult with CF. It is also a place where I will post articles, information and links of particular interest on the topics of CF, air quality and related health news. I believe firmly that God is my constant source of strength and hope; I have come this far by faith.Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.comBlogger4301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-46124462836412719742010-04-02T16:35:00.000-07:002010-04-02T16:37:35.759-07:00

If anybody's still checking this page, I wanted to point you to a post I wrote on my own blog about an award that was presented recently in Lauren's memory:Remembering Lauren-Brad

augmentedfourthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250821027566637334noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-8588679512665116712009-11-04T15:25:00.001-08:002009-11-04T17:41:22.840-08:00

After 29 years of battling CF, Lauren passed away yesterday afternoon (November 3).She was a strong woman who, unfortunately, lived in a weak body.-BradP.S. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in her name:http://www.cff.org/great_strides/LaurenBeyenhof

augmentedfourthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250821027566637334noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-6429046034413906882009-10-28T10:34:00.000-07:002009-10-28T10:36:21.584-07:00

Lauren got a quick sedation break this morning, so I was able to say "hi" and feel her squeeze my hand. She's getting better slowly but surely, though the c.diff is still present and she's still on the vent. We still have a long way to go...-Brad

augmentedfourthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250821027566637334noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-16282126422894043152009-10-26T17:37:00.000-07:002009-10-26T17:38:19.882-07:00

Hi all,Lauren has been in the ICU for a week now, and this morning her blood CO2 levels were so bad that she had to be intubated. It's definitely helping, but of course such a drastic step is evidence that she's not doing well.She's also got c.diff, and (though the UCSD center has accepted her) she's not yet on the transplant list because there are too many other things going on right now.Please

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-52631688947820031572009-08-29T09:05:00.001-07:002009-08-29T09:05:59.737-07:00

Quick update... Lauren is doing much better now. She's still in the hospital and on 4LPM with an oxymizer, but the last several days she's been wide awake, lucid and pretty normal (as opposed to the major confusion and disorientation brought on by lack of oxygen and beginning-of-antibiotics medicine head at first).Unfortunately her port got infected and they had to take it out. They weren't able

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-61980431257493212692009-08-22T09:53:00.000-07:002009-08-22T09:54:32.964-07:00

Hi all,I just wanted to let you know that Lauren ended up in the hospital again. We were actually in the process of transplant evaluation (for double-lung), and during our meeting with one of the nurse coordinators of the transplant program Lauren de-saturated pretty badly; we stopped the meeting and rushed her downstairs to the ER.That was a really scary day. She's doing a lot better now, but

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-16563245026806247062009-07-14T21:26:00.001-07:002009-07-14T21:49:25.927-07:00

It's been nearly 3 weeks since I was admitted to the hospital. It's been quite a ride. I've had some really great nurses and one or two duds. Thankfully I've been getting all my meds on time, with the exception of some forgotten insulin one afternoon. (But that's another story completely.)By the way, Hi Kelly, it's Tuesday!I saw my CF doc today and he said he's going to change up my antibiotics a

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-32214624804553985212009-07-05T14:52:00.000-07:002009-07-05T15:13:10.391-07:00

Six years ago today Brad and I embarked on our marital journey together. Hand in hand we spoke our vows to one another, our hearts beating wildly at the anticipation of married life. We trembled with joy at the gift that God had given us--the gift of our relationship. We couldn't imagine then how fulfilling and wonderful that would truly be.Six years ago the day was a flourished frenzy of photos

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-81533972260309145492009-07-04T18:59:00.000-07:002009-07-04T19:18:56.543-07:00

Just because I'm in the hospital doesn't mean I can't have my very own little celebration for the 4th. Tonight I ordered cheeseburgers and ice cream for dinner, topped it off with a cold ginger ale and half a pint of milk. Mmmmm, tasty. I don't know if I'll be able to see any good fireworks from my window, but that's okay. I usually associate this holiday with fun family time, and since I got

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-64926720090109609962009-07-03T19:44:00.000-07:002009-07-03T20:09:45.260-07:00

Over the last couple years that I've been in and out of the hospital, I've struggled to make use of their limited Internet connection. Imagine the scene: hooked up to oxygen and an IV pole, I precariously balance my lap top on any surface that seems sturdy and attempt to browse the web. Sometimes I would have tremendous luck and would be able to send and retrieve emails, do some work, and maybe

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-85273759390067497532009-06-19T10:15:00.000-07:002009-06-19T10:23:51.802-07:00

The last couple days I've been sleeping on and off as the pain medication takes hold. I didn't know I could hurt this much and NOT have it be post-surgical pain. Every movement I make somehow manages to concentrate itself around my sore rib. It's so bad that I'm not doing my vest right now, which is a bummer because that's such a critical part of my health care. Fortunately I do have a hand-held

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-86340945698779955362009-06-15T20:22:00.000-07:002009-06-15T20:46:50.429-07:00

This weekend, Saturday actually, was quite a busy one. Every five years for my grandparents' anniversary, our whole family gets together to take a portrait. This year the designated "call time" was 8:00 am. Brad and I had driven up the night before and stayed at a Holiday Inn. It turned out my cousin and her family were staying there too. It was fun to see them for a few minutes before all the

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-5515280365464811352009-06-11T13:01:00.000-07:002009-06-11T13:45:52.326-07:00

Last night I had my first CF Clinic visit since my hospitalization in April. I have been feeling so good lately that I wasn't too worried about it. Mostly I was curious about how my lung function test would turn out. I was so glad to see my FEV1 up over 1.8L. The last time my LFTs were done I only got 1.54L. For those of you who keep track of percentages and not volume, that means my lungs had

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-21623476825391930182009-06-08T14:23:00.001-07:002009-06-08T14:35:25.816-07:00

A few weeks ago I returned to the gym for the first time in months. I was a little apprehensive about how well I'd be able to keep up, not to mention what sort of routine I'd be able to keep. When I started my FEV1 was holding steady at 1.6. Not bad, but not good either. My trainer devised a series of exercises that would open up my chest muscles and strengthen my back so that I could breathe

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-86405907338979593042009-06-01T18:37:00.000-07:002009-06-01T18:52:48.069-07:00

Today was a good day. I began my morning with a trip to the gym to work with my personal trainer. He's aware of my unique needs because of having CF, and he's designed a workout that will really help increase my lung function. I'm already feeling a difference after being stretched out. I tend to hunch my shoulders because I'm a bit barrel-chested. The exercises I did today opened me up and really

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-59110991340599029392009-05-30T20:06:00.000-07:002009-05-30T20:22:12.672-07:00

Today was definitely a "May Gray" day. (hehehe, that rhymed.) I slept in this morning for a change, probably due to the medication we restarted to help me sleep. Outside it wasn't quite drizzling, but it wasn't dry either. The air was a cool 65 degrees and droplets condensed on the car windows as I drove to the grocery store.SIDE BARI love going to the grocery store. Unfortunately, I forgot to

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-84902874224457335782009-05-29T19:41:00.001-07:002009-05-29T19:58:07.862-07:00

I'm very much out of the habit of writing. The last major writing project I did was to write nearly a month's worth of devotionals for "Anchor" before being hospitalized. I haven't worked on my book, my other blogs or written any articles since then. I used to challenge myself to write an essay (or article) each day. Perhaps that's the sort of thing I need to get me back to where I'm used to

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-66400366457114300202009-05-27T09:16:00.000-07:002009-05-27T09:26:14.729-07:00

People have been calling and emailing me worried that my lack of blogging was an indication that I wasn't doing well. The reality is quite the opposite. I'm happy to report that I've been feeling pretty good lately and have been doing things other than blogging. I've been sewing sundresses for Kelly's twins for starters. Over the long weekend Brad and I spent time with family relaxing in Palm

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-44404907420296561712009-04-12T12:21:00.000-07:002009-04-12T12:24:24.627-07:00

Matthew 28 (NIV)The Resurrection 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-78937346084651004302009-04-11T14:50:00.001-07:002009-04-11T14:50:47.745-07:00

Okay, so I've gained about 25 pounds on prednisone, and of course 80% of it in on my belly and the rest is on my face. Most of my clothes are uncomfortable and as I've mentioned before, people keep asking me when I'm due.A couple weeks ago I bought 2 pairs of maternity pants. Yes, you heard me. Maternity pants. God bless whomever invented these things. They're soft, comfortable and best of all

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-28811930885863510632009-04-08T15:00:00.000-07:002009-04-08T15:09:17.269-07:00

Yesterday my PFTs were as good as I had hoped they'd be. I was hoping for a 1.6 on my FEV1 and I got a 1.6L! YAY! My improvement on my FVC (the total amount of air I can take in and breathe out) was WAY up too and the doctors were pleased. Yesterday they told me that if I made enough improvement they'd dishcharge me. I'm happy to report that I am blogging from the comfort of my own home. It's so

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-24543888504433370932009-04-06T21:57:00.000-07:002009-04-06T22:07:34.362-07:00

Today went fairly well. I had more energy than I've had in awhile. Good energy too, not the nervous, restless prednisone weirdness. More than the energy, I had a HUGE appetite. I think I ate too much today, but my blood sugars all stayed pretty normal. All that is except the one test I took after eating a bag full of yogurt covered pretzels. (mmmmmm!)Brad surprised me with a lunchtime visit. I

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-23910454675942235952009-04-05T17:37:00.001-07:002009-04-05T17:44:30.779-07:00

I think I'm at the point where the prednisone is really making me stir crazy! I'm "wired and tired" as my cf pal Katrina would say. I feel like resting, but I can't really sit still when I do. It's annoying. Mom and Dad came for a nice visit today. We went for a fairly decent walk and sat downstairs in the lobby for awhile. I had a chance to stretch out on one of the couches down there. Too bad

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-64003378377166011842009-04-04T09:52:00.000-07:002009-04-04T09:57:15.061-07:00

It hasn't yet been a week, but since I've been here so much lately it feels like so much more time has passed. I'm so sick of being here. I'm lonely, tired, and bummed out a lot of the time. The days are slow and the nights are long. I just want to be at home with Brad doing normal things like making dinner and feeding the rabbits.I am making some progress though. My PFTs yesterday show some

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-52389485289185203432009-04-02T09:38:00.000-07:002009-04-02T09:53:14.618-07:00

When I visited yesterday, Lauren looked the best she had in at least a week. (In no small part due to her previous visitor, I'll wager.)She's on IV Tobramycin and Meropenem, as well as inhaled Colistin. We've been trying to avoid Tobra for the longest time because of the effect it has on her hearing, but it's worth trying given how crappy she feels. They'll just need to be really careful with the

augmentedfourthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250821027566637334noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-17907747286790510952009-03-30T21:36:00.000-07:002009-03-30T21:39:05.865-07:00

After Lauren went in today to get blood drawn, the doctor didn't like the results and called her in. Specifically, he didn't like what was going on with her kidneys, and he told her to immediately stop all the home IVs and head to the hospital. She got a room right away, which is good, but ARGH! Hospitalization again is really frustrating.

augmentedfourthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250821027566637334noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-74597317019105717902009-03-28T12:18:00.000-07:002009-03-28T12:24:30.533-07:00

On Thursday afternoon. I could hardly cross the room without requiring oxygen, so I ended up in the emergency room YET AGAIN. Here's the good news: I get to do the IVs at home and not in the hospital. The bad news? It's a really rough schedule of meds. Brad is being so great about it even though I know he and I are going to end up a bit sleep deprived from this whole mess.I've pretty much not

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-83379441087287285572009-03-22T17:51:00.000-07:002009-03-22T20:28:58.010-07:00

They let Lauren come home today! The doctors have been treating herfor so long (nearly six weeks of constant IV therapy), and they'refrustrated as well, so they've just decided to let her come home andrest with no more IVs. If she's still doing poorly after a few weeksat home they might admit her again, but at least she's out of thehospital for a bit.She also did her home lung-function tester (

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-58436618208115008642009-03-21T18:20:00.000-07:002009-03-21T18:24:31.485-07:00

It's been 19 days now that I've been in the hospital. Things aren't progressing as easily or quickly as we'd like. Today I was back on oxygen for a bit. Also, the results of yesterday's PFTs was quite disappointing. I got the exact same volume I had on Tuesday--a mere 1.56 liters.Today my CF doc finally came to see me. He's a bit baffled by this whole thing too. He's going to discontinue some of

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-85376409486806706422009-03-14T16:12:00.000-07:002009-03-14T16:21:18.877-07:00

Yesterday was a rough day followed by an even rougher night. I started getting really short of breath around 7, so I had the nurse page respiratory. By the time the RT got to my room my chest hurt like crazy and I was starting to hyperventilate. I just couldn't get enough air in. I'll spare you the majority of the scary details but the ultimate result was that I ended up spending the night in the

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-78538018295329336082009-03-13T14:55:00.001-07:002009-03-13T14:57:16.780-07:00

I woke up this morning thinking today was going to be good. I had some visitors lined up, my mom was planning to stop by, and all was well.All wasn't well. I had my PFTs and my FEV1 was lower than when I came in. A lot lower. I'm bitterly disappointed and can't understand what happened. I hope that things turn around quickly quite soon. I have a feeling this is going to be a lengthy stay here at

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-51716296267028135012009-03-12T16:13:00.000-07:002009-03-12T16:27:23.733-07:00

Today I've been bored enough to be creative. I wrote some CF lyrics to the tune of "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything""The Patient Who Will Do Anything"I'm the patient who will do anythihngexcept stay at home and lie aroundand if you ask me to do aanythingI'll just tell you"I can do anything!"Well I'll give aa sputum sample and I'll put it in that small cup and then take it to the lab where

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-19589874722692193822009-03-10T20:15:00.001-07:002009-03-10T20:21:34.101-07:00

I haven't blogged in awhile since I've been hospitalized yet again. Cystic fibrosis really sucks in my opinion. Fortunately I have good doctors who are working hard to get me back into tip-top condition.I ended up here a week ago. I had extreme shortness of breath and my oxygen saturation was pretty low. I ended up having to call an ambulance for myself. Joy. Ambulance rides are not fun. You have

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-35855142417450135982009-02-27T13:02:00.000-08:002009-02-27T13:32:17.758-08:00

Forget the old addage "red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in morning, sailor's warning!" I wish there was some sort of compass that could help me navigate through the choppy waters of arthritis. For me the pain doesn't just "come and go." It comes and stays. Granted, the doctors wrote me some pretty great prescriptions when they discharged me. You should have seen the size of the bag

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-43344087438735649752009-02-26T16:44:00.000-08:002009-02-26T17:02:41.909-08:00

I can't believe it's Thursday already. On the one hand I feel like I just got home from the hospital (which was Monday) but then on the other hand it feels like more than 4 days have passed. I think part of what's going on is that everything really "clicked" together well for us on Monday. Usually getting released from the hospital is an all-day event. True to form my nurse woke me up at the

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-59478612373025239682009-02-21T18:54:00.000-08:002009-02-21T18:59:41.253-08:00

Today has been a nice restful day, even though I'm in a unit where they take my vital signs every 4 hours. (Even throughout the night! Gah!) I slept better last night than I had in a couple days, and was able to take a couple of cat naps during the day too. The best part of all this is that I actually feel pretty darn good. Yesterday I had my pulmonary function test and amazingly I got 2.02L on

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-32049237676717508052009-02-17T21:31:00.000-08:002009-02-17T21:41:55.784-08:00

Today was an interesting day for me here at the hospital. I underwent a procedure called "antibiotic desensitization." What it does is trick the body into thinking that it's no longer allergic to an antibiotic. In my case, the antibiotic is Septra.Here's how the day unfolded:10 a.m. I was told that they found a bed for me down in the Intermediate Medical Unit (IMU) down on the second floor.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-56674093273746329592009-02-12T20:12:00.000-08:002009-02-12T20:20:51.970-08:00

Over the weekend I was feeling lousy enough to call my clinic and leave a message asking to come in for an appointment. Monday they called me back and said that clinic was already over-booked and I should go to the emergency room. So I packed a bag and drove to the hospital. The ER was over-crowded with people. The triage nurse said that this is what a typical Monday looks like around there. They

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-88800028324157581412009-02-08T17:37:00.000-08:002009-02-08T17:45:52.932-08:00

Yesterday was my younger sister's wedding. Despite the rain and the cold, it was a beautiful day! Brad and I drove up on Friday to stay at my parents' house. Dana and Tom got married at Tom's parents' house in Yucaipa. It was a small, simple ceremony, which suited the couple just fine. I don't think it could have been more lovely or meaningful had it been a gigantic wedding like mine and

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-7483504271091598242009-01-24T17:15:00.000-08:002009-01-24T17:20:10.572-08:00

Life with cystic fibrosis is a challenge, and coping with it involves more than just a positive attitude.Read my full article about these four things here.#1 Surround yourself with support and encouragement#2 Be actively involved in your healthcare#3 Focus on the positive#4 Live each day to the fullest

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-65673977340352636782009-01-20T13:38:00.000-08:002009-01-20T13:55:58.263-08:00

Coral (left) and Sandy trying to hide from my camera.Sandy, peeking out from the recliner.Coral still has a slight head tilt and a bit of a droopy ear, but she's doing much better following her stay in the animal hospital.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-31756337558525551822009-01-19T08:00:00.000-08:002009-01-19T14:01:06.300-08:00

Are you the type of person who made New Year's Resolutions? If so you probably made one or two about changing your lifestyle to be healthier or better in some way. Perhaps you're renewing your spiritual life. If you're looking for a little inspiration or maybe a reminder or two about things you already knew, here are a few articles I've written that may be useful to you as you begin afresh in

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-43372266787500669442009-01-18T16:05:00.000-08:002009-01-18T16:14:03.429-08:00

On Friday I finally was able to go back to the gym. I had a valid excuse for not being there in Nov/Dec. I was busy fighting to get better! Now that I am better (and a LOT better to boot!) I was eager for a chance to see what I could do at the gym. I kicked major butt. I had so much energy! I started out with some warm-ups and stretching, then I got on an elliptical for a few cycles just to get

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-41236946582226885792009-01-15T14:05:00.000-08:002009-01-15T14:11:08.236-08:00

Bonding with your RabbitGI Stasis in RabbitsConjunctivitis in RabbitsSnuffles in RabbitsHistory of the House Rabbit Society

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-30656306946646657722009-01-11T14:43:00.000-08:002009-01-11T14:51:13.838-08:00

About 2 years ago Brad and I were flown to San Francisco to be interviewed by CFVoice.com about our relationship and how CF fits into it. The video of the interview was beautifully done. I think the interviewers and video editors did an excellent job of encapsulating the most important aspects of our marriage. I hope and pray that it serves as a testimony of our faith. I also hope that it

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-13181724472866878862009-01-07T11:23:00.001-08:002009-01-07T11:37:23.863-08:00

Yesterday was such a fun day for me. My friend Kelly drove down with her twin girls, Ava and Julia. They have grown so much in a year! Their first birthday is only 20 days away and I can hardly believe it. Brad and I got to hold them when they were just a day old and I've been a huge fan of theirs ever since.I was a little worried that my house wasn't "baby proofed" well enough. I kept thinking

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-57363435084772715042009-01-05T20:49:00.000-08:002009-01-05T20:55:43.732-08:00

Last night around 9:00 I took a trip to the ER. The ANIMAL emergency room. Go figure that I'm finally feeling great and now one of my rabbits is sick. Thankfully I have an open enough schedule that I can take the time to properly care for my little furry friend. Coral has an E. Cuniculi infection. It's a type of protozoan that commonly attacks rabbits. Coral spent last night in the ER, and

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-64630390511178522232009-01-02T22:20:00.001-08:002009-01-02T22:30:27.939-08:00

Yesterday afternoon I was in a bit of a funk. I had zero motivation and just felt sort of blah. I'm going to blame it on the gloomy weather. Today I'm in a much better mood and my motivation and energy level were significantly improved. I got so much done today! Brad suggested that I make a list of things that are good about being at home, including things that I can do (not necessarily a "to-do"

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-82100030074905891592008-12-31T11:41:00.000-08:002008-12-31T11:52:55.976-08:00

If you're one of the people who read my blog on a regular basis, you know that this past year has been a really rough one for me. Too many hospitalizations and complications with medical equipment made 2008 one of the relatively worst years on record for me. Frankly, I'm glad to leave that all behind me and push forward into 2009 with a sense of hope and optimism. My husband and I were talking

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-90949165825267591312008-12-26T17:26:00.000-08:002008-12-26T17:50:48.840-08:00

I can't remember the last time I felt this well at Christmas. Usually I try to summon up all my energy and strength just to get through a party or two. This year was different. Not only was my Christmas enjoyable, but I also felt well for all of the events I attended. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago I was sitting at Thanksgiving dinner sucking oxygen through a nasal canula.Today

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-28259994775314134872008-12-23T16:26:00.001-08:002008-12-23T17:05:49.233-08:00

There's a nip in the air and it's a bit overcast, and that's exactly what makes today such a perfect early Winter day. I think part of what makes today so perfect is that the last couple days and nights have been good on a lot of levels. Last night I had my follow-up appointment with the CF clinic and it went really well. My PFTs were stable (1.8L FEV1) and my weight...ha! My weight was a

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-9664412750996119002008-12-18T18:12:00.000-08:002008-12-18T18:13:41.769-08:00

I've gained a LOT of weight from the prednisone (current weigh-in is 130 lbs) and have developed that characteristic "kangaroo pouch" all CFers have come to know and love. I've made a deliberate decision this time to be content knowing that my lungs are clear and it's a lot to do with the prednisone. The side effects of the steroids are just something to bear.I honestly have a sense of peace

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-70859682943964811592008-12-14T14:02:00.000-08:002008-12-14T14:10:38.224-08:00

Well, it's been 2 weeks since I've been in the hospital. I haven't been able to post many updates this time unfortunately.Things have actually gone really well, which is great! I came in with an FEV1 of 1.41 and now it's all the way up to 1.84L. Hooray! The doctor and the respiratory technicians were excited for me. It's been awhile since I've gotten that high. They're considering releasing me

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-43609641011316788122008-11-28T23:03:00.000-08:002008-11-28T23:18:34.571-08:00

Ever since my little ER event, I've been at home trying to take it easy. I've tried pacing myself so that I don't run out of energy between naps. Of course, anyone who knows me knows that sitting still is not my forte. Thankfully I've got my knitting hobby to keep me entertained and busy without exerting too much energy.Our Thanksgiving was a nice mellow one. We drove up to Brad's parent's home

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-20412816777211664782008-11-21T19:05:00.000-08:002008-11-21T19:06:10.241-08:00

To sum it all up, I'm sick again. I am so incredibly disappointed. My FEV1 dropped all the way down to what it was when I was hospitalized last time.Yesterday I had PFTs done. I was really shaky and wobbly when I did them and the RTs were concerned. They gave me oxygen and called my CF nurse to come over. She recommended I go to the ER. She volunteer to "drive" me over in a wheelchair. While we

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-82134936808035233702008-11-11T11:15:00.000-08:002008-11-11T11:37:11.374-08:00

I finally have enough energy to do the things I want to in addition to the things I need to do. This weekend for example. On Saturday Brad and I straightened up the house together and then we went to the gym. I started out on the elliptical and then moved on to the treadmill. I got up to a pretty good pace on that thing. I was even able to walk a mile without coughing! I was stunned. Tomorrow I

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-84352598648988954622008-11-04T19:18:00.001-08:002008-11-04T19:18:47.100-08:00

This week is going really well. I have been blessed with an abundance of freelance assignments this week and I've had the luxury of picking and choosing just the ones I want. Also, I've had the joy of being the caregiver for a change. Yesterday I drove Brad to the oral surgeon in the morning for a consultation about his wisdom teeth. Later that afternoon I drove him back again for the actual

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-66689292351180968772008-10-29T10:40:00.001-07:002008-10-29T10:46:00.618-07:00

Today is the day we're having the Halloween party over in Second Life. If you haven't had a chance to check out Boomer Island and the CF University there, this is an excellent opportunity to do so. The University has been totally transformed into a carnival-type atmosphere complete with decorations and rides.The party starts at 4:00pm SL time. If you're new to Second Life and would like some help

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-65678109554364394262008-10-27T17:09:00.001-07:002008-10-27T17:10:04.983-07:00

This weekend was pretty decent. Brad and I spent lots of time together just vegetating in front of the TV and enjoying one another's company. It's so nice to have my freedom back. I'm sleeping well considering how long it had been since I'd slept in my own bed. My energy level is great too. The only thing I'm having trouble with is my blood sugars. I haven't really been able to reign that in yet.

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-14669115210905849122008-10-26T19:04:00.000-07:002008-10-26T19:18:39.574-07:00

I'm always surprised by how abnormal and out of place I feel once I'm out of the hospital. I expect to settle right back into a "regular" routine, but so often that's more easily said than done. This weekend I'm mostly just lounging around. Sleeping in my own bed again next to Brad is WONDERFUL. Being able to have access to food at any hour of the day is something of a thrill too. If it weren't

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-8295549608596236892008-10-24T20:15:00.000-07:002008-10-24T20:19:57.409-07:00

Today I finally got to come home. We had a LONG delay at the hospital (as usual) getting the right prescriptions written and filled. I hate checking out on Fridays because no one wants to work all the way until 5pm--they all want to cut out by 2:00 because they have other things to do. We're still waiting for the home health care people (Coram again) to drop of supplies and meds. Let's hope for

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-21723530040570936572008-10-24T13:36:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:40:43.520-07:00

Lauren is coming home today! She's doing really well, but she'll be on IVs at home until next Wednesday so she gets 4 full weeks in.At yesterday's PFTs her FEV1 was up a little bit and her FVC was up by a lot.

augmentedfourthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250821027566637334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-14060267239526555042008-10-21T09:00:00.000-07:002008-10-21T22:49:20.839-07:00

Hi everyone... it's Brad again.I just realized that I've been putting updates on the forums Lauren visits, but I hadn't posted to this blog to let you know how she's doing.She's (finally!) getting sinus surgery today, at 6:10pm (PDT, of course). Her CF doctor is optimistic that, once her sinuses are clear, we'll be able to deal with her lungs in a much more lasting way.My mom is coming down to

augmentedfourthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250821027566637334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-65631928882471292972008-10-13T10:15:00.000-07:002008-10-13T10:24:55.053-07:00

I finally found a place in the hospital where I can sort of get a connection to the Internet. It's a very, very slow connection, but it will have to do.I'm going crazy here in the hospital. Part of that I'm sure is because of the prednisone. It makes me want to peel my skin off just to have something to do! The last three nights have been better for sleep though, which is good.Part of what makes

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-56432725572473899292008-10-10T17:49:00.000-07:002008-10-10T17:51:06.821-07:00

I've been in the hospital for just over a week now, which means I've had two sets of lung function tests to measure my progress. Things seem to be heading in the right direction. I'm not thrilled that I'm on prednisone, since it's making my blood sugars go crazy, but it's not as though that's something we haven't dealt with before. I had PFTs today which demonstrated some good progress. Nothing

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-35646192338828506452008-09-29T16:49:00.000-07:002008-09-29T16:57:48.998-07:00

I was scheduled for sinus surgery last Wednesday. Dozens of reasons exist for why that never came to fruition. We rescheduled the surgery for this Wednesday. Today I got a call from the clinic that looks at my blood-work prior to surgery and they said some of my numbers looked abnormal so they want me to come in for a work-up on Thursday. That means surgery is once again canceled.In the meantime

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-50941388754503335122008-09-28T14:08:00.000-07:002008-09-28T14:30:26.728-07:00

When I'm not feeding my face or watching TV with my husband, I'm usually writing. Whether it's writing poetry just for my own enjoyment or drafting an article for a client, I love to write. The world of freelancing can be tough, especially since I have to actually go out and acquire the work I wish to do each day. It doesn't just fall into my lap. The other aspect of being a freelancer is that

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-85348863886884954122008-09-27T18:32:00.000-07:002008-09-27T18:44:46.145-07:00

Yesterday was a bit of a rough day. I was on the phone for hours trying to get a new surgery date scheduled and confirmed, as well as deal with several other CF related paperwork that had cropped up. (Believe me, other than the mucus we cough up, CF is not a "green" disease.) It was all quite exhausting. By the time I was finished I was mentally and physically drained and just wanted to take a

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-40120797658814166972008-09-24T21:22:00.001-07:002008-09-24T21:40:50.139-07:00

Let me start by saying that this week in general has been something of a pain in the rear when it comes to doctors appointments and so forth. For the last few days I have been back and forth on the phone between my CF Clinic and my ENT's office trying to get everything straightened out so that I could have sinus surgery today. I did EVERYTHING I was asked to do. I called every phone number and

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-87345222273157442142008-09-22T03:19:00.000-07:002008-09-22T03:33:58.534-07:00

It's been awhile since I've had a sleepless night. I think tonight my problem is that I napped for far too long this afternoon. Well, that and there's a lot on my mind. It's one of those nights where I can't really fall all the way asleep, so I just pray all night. (With the exception of taking a break to blog for a bit.)Things on my prayer list right now are my grandma. She just had surgery and

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-28816856508342115992008-09-18T18:00:00.000-07:002008-09-18T20:08:36.346-07:00

It's been a few days since I've blogged, but that's because my body has been flat out exhausted. (Hooray hormones.) I had a really nice time with my friend Katie the other night. We had dinner together at my favorite place and then, almost on a whim I said "Do you mind going with me to check out what it costs to join that gym over there?"True friend that she is, she stuck around for moral support

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-61411378956650689222008-09-11T17:14:00.000-07:002008-09-11T18:10:34.228-07:00

The next leg of our trip wasn't exactly harrowing, but we were certainly on an emotional roller coaster the first hour or so of the trip to upstate. We had been informed by Amtrak in a phone call earlier in the week that our train was not going to go all the way to Saratoga like our tickets said. Apparently there was work being done on the track, so we could only go as far as Albany. From there

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-36835386068987392552008-09-09T08:27:00.000-07:002008-09-09T13:46:24.618-07:00

We returned home last night from our trip to New York. We had a wonderful time! Our adventure began bright and early last Thursday morning. I woke up before Brad did and proceeded to finish up our packing. We packed pretty lightly if I do say so myself. One bag each, plus my purse (the BIG purse!) and the portable oxygen concentrator.Air TravelThe first leg of our flight was from San Diego to

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-76656680783211111672008-08-28T15:19:00.000-07:002008-08-28T15:20:01.148-07:00

Yesterday was a busy day for CF-related things. I had the altitude study done at the hospital downtown. Parking was a bit of a nightmare, mostly because it was a parking structure. Those things give me the creeps. I was too creeped out to take the elevator so I took the stairs which were nice and in the sunshine. I was proud of myself for taking a more active route.The altitude study was a lot

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-83965323323132282042008-08-24T15:31:00.000-07:002008-08-24T15:33:38.367-07:00

A Day in the Life of a CF PatientAside from all the medications and airway clearance treatments, a day in my life as a cystic fibrosis patient really isn't that different from anyone else's day. View more »The first thing I do every morning upon waking is cough. I cough because the thick, sticky mucus so characteristic of cystic fibrosis, has lodged itself in my airways during the night. Some

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-11419586771769765162008-08-22T09:49:00.000-07:002008-08-22T10:18:48.757-07:00

Wednesday night my CF doctor came by and told me that I'd be able to go home on Thursday. He did want to check on my lung function and make sure that it was still making positive progress. Thursday afternoon the pulmonary function lab called and asked me to come down for a 6 minute walking test (6mwt) and spirometry.The 6mwt is a test that measures how much ground I can cover in 6 minutes while

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-82828599951963182562008-08-20T15:27:00.000-07:002008-08-20T15:28:15.056-07:00

Today I'm very frustrated. I had a lousy nurse last night. Things just didn't go well, so I want to rant about it.I'm in isolation (thanks cepacia) so nurses who come in contact with me must wear that stupid yellow gown. This nurse I had last night came in my room with the gown still folded, just draped over his arm. Yeah, that'll work. He wore gloves at least. He was a mumbler which, even with

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-38806142474987259332008-08-19T13:52:00.000-07:002008-08-19T13:53:01.485-07:00

Today my mom came for a visit. She brought a Belgian waffle (would you expect anything less?) and another new lounging outfit complete with cushioned socks. After breakfast I was desperate to go for a walk, so we went downstairs. We stopped in the gift shop for a new magazine and a snack, and then just sat on the couch in the lobby for awhile.While we were sitting there, two gals with IV poles

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-23447247085206931472008-08-18T15:49:00.000-07:002008-08-18T15:56:50.980-07:00

It has been quite awhile since I provided my readers with a list of articles I've written. Here are some links for you to check out should you be so inclined.Possible Causes of a Low White Blood Cell CountTreatment Options for a Low White Blood Cell CountHow Marijuana Affects the BrainSymptoms of Chronic Fatigue SyndromeNaturally High Fiber FoodsWhy we Need CarbohydratesThe Dangers of

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-7079299579761310972008-08-18T11:11:00.001-07:002008-08-18T11:24:54.104-07:00

I didn't sleep very well last night, so today I'm a little on the crabby side. I'm trying to focus on the good stuff. For example, being awakened at 5:30 am to have blood drawn meant I got to see the sun rise through my hospital window. Then the crabby part of me kicks in and says "yeah, but it was so bright I couldn't fall back asleep."Sleep has been difficult this time around. I think a lot of

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-42067576375939661782008-08-17T22:03:00.000-07:002008-08-17T22:23:03.157-07:00

Today was the best day I've had in a long time; I feel really good today. I haven't needed a nap, my arthritis is finally under control, and I have more energy than I've had in quite awhile. I'm really eager to see what my lung function test shows on Tuesday. I'm praying that it's a dramatic enough improvement to send me home on IVs. I know that's a long shot, but that's what I'm hoping for. The

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-43806157228089571452008-08-15T20:44:00.000-07:002008-08-15T20:56:38.663-07:00

Today was my first full day back in the hospital. So far everything is proceeding as it does every other time I'm in here. The first day is always a lot of different people asking me to describe why it is I'm here and what medications I'm taking. Since I was just here a couple weeks ago, all my information was still in the computer. All they had to do was pull up my giant list of medications and

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-82098761028199077112008-08-14T13:22:00.000-07:002008-08-14T13:28:40.986-07:00

I've barely had the chance to get used to my own bed again and already I'm heading back to the hospital. My lung function test last night at my doctor appointment revealed that my breathing is just as shallow as it was when I was hospitalized the last time. What's weird though is that I don't feel as dragged out as last time. Could it be that I've just gotten so used to feeling lousy that I

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-49273697274955610602008-08-12T17:24:00.000-07:002008-08-12T17:28:50.877-07:00

Someone mentioned in the CF forums awhile back that at the onset of an exacerbation they experienced aches in their joints. Someone had a really good explanation for why that happens, but I can't find it at the moment. All I know is that I'm sore. My legs are the worst though. I've taken 2 oxycodone today and that didn't do anything to help it.Now that my griping is out of the way I'll focus on

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-70221707524337421552008-08-11T15:27:00.000-07:002008-08-11T15:34:57.093-07:00

I've been knitting lately. I learned how by watching a video on youtube. I love life in the technology age. It seems funny to me to be instructed in such a folksy art by means of an Internet connection.I'm actually pretty good at it. I can't do anything fancy yet, but what I can do I do very evenly and smoothly. I'm not working on anything in particular. Mostly I just like the repetition and how

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-21681348619389548352008-08-07T15:25:00.000-07:002008-08-07T15:31:04.667-07:00

This morning I was greeted with almost simultaneous news from 2 people close to me. The first was from Jon saying he had gotten engaged last night. The second from the administrator of CF site I visit saying that my friend Roschelle passed away yesterday.Today I rejoice in the season of Jon's life that is just beginning, and mourning for the seasons Roschelle no longer has. I'm blessed to have

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-22479567068596944802008-08-03T19:59:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:59:40.912-08:00

I'm putting my thoughts here in my blog rather than in the forums because I'm concerned that the topics I bring up may lead to having the thread locked. I'm not seeking to be contrary, I'm just pointing out the things that stood out in the movie that I didn't like. Some of the things are themes and situations that come out in many other movies these days, not just Jack and Jill.It's rare

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-34607688718408312332008-08-01T16:04:00.000-07:002008-08-01T16:11:18.911-07:00

1. Woke up in my own bed after a wonderful night of sleep next to my husband2. Prepared my own breakfast rather than having to dial 77007 to order it.3. Put on clothes that were acceptable for going out in public. This included shoes, not slippers, and a sweatshirt instead of a robe.4. Put on makeup and styled my hair.5. Picked up my prescriptions (some things you just can't get away from no

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-39147070838036493472008-07-31T19:32:00.001-07:002008-07-31T19:33:43.562-07:00

I'm HOME!My attending Dr. took pity on me and said that for my mental well-being he was going to send me home. He said that I'll have to do 5 days of home IV therapy, but who cares? I'm THRILLED to be here. Everything happened all at once. It was like all of a sudden everything clicked into place and it was time to go home.Home health care has already been here and there were no problems with

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-70761004742349732752008-07-27T19:16:00.001-07:002008-07-27T19:16:22.161-07:00

After that crazy night with the hemoptysis, I'm happy to report that things are going MUCH better. I'm bored out of my gourd which is a definite sign that I'm ready to be set free. There are just a couple tests left to do.Monday: swallowing studyI've been having trouble swallowing. It's like I can't make my throat do what it's supposed to. No matter what sort of food or drink it is, my throat

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-7465956303900038472008-07-26T16:07:00.000-07:002008-07-26T16:11:13.938-07:00

After such a great day yesterday I had a really rough night. About 8:30 I felt a pop and a gurgle and started coughing up blood. That hasn't happened to me in quite awhile, so it freaked me out. Fortunately the RT was just walking into the room, so we got things squared away pretty quickly. First they put an oxygen mask on me (the kind that looks like the ones in airplanes) just in case I had a

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-74922452896380959502008-07-25T16:36:00.001-07:002008-07-25T16:36:19.847-07:00

Last night I got some really decent sleep. I hardly moved at all during the night. I think part of it was the pain meds, but so what. I've been free of supplemental oxygen for 3 nights in a row now, which is definitely a sign of progress. The nurses said I had a bit of a sparkle back in my eye again today. I still don't feel completely well, but I do feel better than yesterday.I went for

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-39709699595785065052008-07-22T23:05:00.000-07:002008-07-22T23:11:54.635-07:00

Today I'm struggling to keep my emotions under control. The doctor said that I'll be in here for quite awhile yet. I have a long way to go on my FEV1. Emotionally I'm having a lot of trouble staying positive. It's one of those days where I long to be free of what the poet calls the "mortal coil." The following poem is a song I think of often when I'm in this sort of mood. It's one that I think of

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-201367331848448412008-07-21T19:46:00.000-07:002008-07-21T19:47:07.768-07:00

I'm really liking the doctor that I have (this week.) He's very good at answering questions and even lets me see lab results and treatment notes. I like knowing what's going on.Today started on a rough note. They gave me a different medication for pain than they usually do, and it made me throw up. Ugh. The remedied this by giving me an anti-nausea medication. That put me to sleep for about 4

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-22609128942705363782008-07-19T19:45:00.000-07:002008-07-21T19:46:09.100-07:00

I've been on 2L of oxygen since I got here. I can go for short walks without it (like to the bathroom) but that takes a lot of energy out of me. I'm on a massive cocktail of antibiotics--oral and IV. I was needing meds for pain at first, but I've gone nearly a whole day without needing anything like that.My FEV1 is only 1.4L and my weight has dropped below 115. Not what I like to see happen. I

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-88359101611543804522008-07-15T20:37:00.000-07:002008-07-15T20:38:48.819-07:00

Hi Breathing Deeply readers… it's Brad (Lauren’s husband).I just wanted to let you know that she's in the hospital again. The tune-up we started at home wasn’t working as well as we had hoped, and starting a couple of days ago she was having increased shortness of breath. This morning, one of the first things out of her mouth after I woke up this morning was “we need to go to the hospital.”She

augmentedfourthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05250821027566637334noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-30455074082491960012008-07-10T17:37:00.000-07:002008-07-10T17:46:17.698-07:00

Today's one of those days where I feel like the treatment is actually worse than the disease. I'm still itch free, so I'm trying to focus on that and be glad. It's the other side effects that are giving me a rough time. The colistin has made my fingers, toes, mouth and scalp quite numb. I'm having a hard time walking around without stumbling. Every time I stand up I can't see for at least 15

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-81149851169973099682008-07-09T14:17:00.001-07:002008-12-10T07:59:41.282-08:00

Yesterday I called the doctor to ask if there was anything else I could try for the itching. They said to try Tagamet. I thought that was sort of weird, but I was desperate. I bought some of the stuff and gave it a whirl. During dinner last night (corn dogs...mmmmm) a feeling of relief completely washed over me. Brad said that my expression totally changed.Since the itchiness had left, I had a

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-76099859461695429682008-07-08T07:40:00.001-07:002008-12-10T07:59:41.525-08:00

I like that the antibiotics always seem to turn things around for me, but what I don't like are the icky side effects that go along with them. It's almost tearfully frustrating sometimes. Like last night. I am itchy from head to toe, and nothing brings relief. I've tried a hot bath, cold bath, oatmeal bath. I've taken sleeping pills and antihistamines. I've tried sleeping on the couch upstairs,

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17306959.post-45630292312345855712008-07-07T20:06:00.000-07:002008-12-10T07:59:41.734-08:00

We started IVs on Thursday evening when Brad came home from work. The Coram guy was noticeably more professional than the last time, which was good. I'm on 3 meds total. Colistin, Ceftaz and Levaquin.I definitely am feeling the side effects of all these potent drugs. I've reached that "tune-up slump" phase where I'm just really tired. Yesterday was great though. I woke up when Brad did and made

Laurenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10423864880239201930noreply@blogger.com6