A light at the end of the tunnel?

By golly, it just might be!

ONE of the advantages to moving back to Michigan (and there haven't been many), is that I qualified for Medicaid.  For some reason, I qualify here, but not in Indiana.  Whatever.  So my first order of business was going to be to schedule an appointment with a family practitioner, who could refer me to a surgeon, who would schedule an appointment, a ton of tests, and then...maybe....surgery.

I landed in the E.R. before that could happen.  I was in so much pain, I couldn't hardly breathe.  I hate when it gets like this.  I've been battling gall stones for almost 4 years now, and I shiver every time I think of the pain, as it's something I've experienced far more than any human being should have to.

It turns out, landing in the E.R. is probably the best thing that could have happened for me.  They gave me a few doses of morphine, and ran an ultrasound, along with many other tests.  When I got there, my blood pressure was 180/140.  I'm guessing from the pain.  By the time I left, it was back down, and I had prescriptions for pain at home.  I also left with a referral for a surgeon.  Totally cut out my middle man, and tests already done.

So I called the surgeon and made an appointment for February 4th.  I'm hoping that it will be a quick visit, and I will walk out with a date for surgery.  I'm nervous, but I am SOOOOO excited this is FINALLY happening.  I won't have to deal with that pain ever again!

So, yes, despite all the other "stuff" going on, I have this thing to look forward to.  It's removal can't happen soon enough.

Wonder if they will let me keep a stone....just because.

A case of the yuckies....

I’m sick.  I’m knockdown, drag out sick.  I’m good with pain.  While I don’t welcome it, I can usually meditate my way through the worst of it, only seeking medical attention after days and days of suffering.  But you mess with my sinuses and I’m a like 2 year old not wanting to take a nap.  I cry, I whine, I beg for sympathy.  I do NOT like the feeling of not being able to breathe.  Even someone jokingly putting something over my face makes me freak out.  I’m not even a fan of Halloween masks.  I just don’t like it. 

And so I've been bed ridden for 3 days.  Today I finally got a tiny bit of relief, as my nose is no longer running; now it’s congested.  But at least I’m not blowing it every 3 seconds.  The tender flesh around it can now begin its painful healing process.  I feel things beginning to build in my chest.  Tomorrow should be quite the adventure, as I’m sure it will bring forth the coughing.  But at least my nose isn't running.  Must remember to stay grateful for that.

I took this most pathetic picture of myself last night.  It’s not staged, I didn't pose, I didn't use make up to make things seem worse that they are.  I’m not sure you could even fake how pathetic I look.  It was bad.  But I find such humor in just how pathetic I look, that I am sharing it with all of you, in hopes that you, too, can get a laugh out of it. 

I’m tired of being locked in the house, and I need to get back to job searching A.S.A.P., so I hope this ends soon.  And if anyone else is suffering through this, you have sympathy from me, because I am all too aware of just how bad this sucks!