Trapped in the hospital and knowing you really need to be there, while the rest of the world goes on and your life and responsibilities compound, is not easy. I am awestruck at the support my friends and family offered, beginning with Dona showing up at Lahey as I was being brought from the Urgent Care to Emergency Dept. Without me even telling her where I was. She made the Kohls run for lingerie and then a few days later hit PETSMART for pet food, with a ton of laughs in between. Tim picked up Doggie Night Duty and spoiled them more than I do. Adam (former student and exotic animal enthusiast) came out of nowhere to provide care for the feathers and pups in the morning. Beautiful flowers cheered up the room from my friend Judy, whose kindness knows no bounds. Dear friend Lisa visited even though I slept through most of it, and sister Lisa popped in, too. Kathy J filled in for me at work, keeping the creative balls in the air and a thumb down on any discipline issues with limited guidance from me. I am so grateful for email and Facebook with the ability to keep in touch with work, home, friends, pet caregivers, and even my doctor while in medical prison. Everyone survived, thanks to others. Please know I am so, so grateful for your help. Shout out to Lahey Hospital, too -- miles above Winchester on so many levels. Lahey is an excellent hospital on every front.
Here I sit, almost a week later and another 10lbs lighter (make it a total of at least 20lbs now in just over two weeks.) I am thrilled about the weight loss but know it is not a good thing. Funny that I finally threw out all my clothes from when I used to be this size a couple months ago. Maybe that could be the cause of all this? Because the docs aren't really sure. They are very confident that there is no infection present causing the severe pancolitis that has moved into my gut. It also isn't a virus, even those weird ones that immunosuppressed people get. I've been tested for all things normal and abnormal, with negative results for everything except those tests showing "acute inflammation." The doctor believed that at this point if it was Crohn's Disease, her initial belief, that the tests would have returned with "chronic" markers. It could be that the medication I have been on is interfering here, or that the issue is just beginning and isn't reflected in the biopsies. The docs slapped me on steroids and made sure I could at least eat a little, and said "Happy Trails" for a month to see what happens. Strict orders to call the docs with any upptick in symptoms.
Another inflammatory condition to deal with. Here's the rub - the meds they most often use for this are ones I've already tried and failed on for RA. A lot of pieces to this puzzle that need to be negotiated and renegotiated. As someone who has struggled with weight issues for her whole life, it is so ironic to me that I am now most concerned with not eating enough each day. Life is so unpredictable!
It was great to come in to my filthy house filled with needy pets yesterday, though. I held Tilly and literally cried I was so happy to hug his little warm self again. Kizzy was pissed off and snappy, as if to punish me. Brat. Hapi was unsure of things, and Cai was a bit nippy too. The Quakers literally "squee'd" the high trilling sound they make when I talk softly to them, and they puffed up like little pom poms. Very sweet. Ellie was almost apoplectic in her happiness, and Toby was, well, Toby. Last night was tough as he now screams in his cage and demands to get out several times a night. At one point I left him in the kitchen and went back up to bed, but he barked non-stop (so this isn't an option.) He wants back on the bed, which allows him freedom to roam a bit when I sleep, which can't happen. I do know though that being kept up all night right now can't happen, so this is a problem that needs to be solved. Soon. Still was feeling pretty weak and tired yesterday and know this isn't going to be the easiest thing in the world to bounce back from. Please, Tobes, don't make it harder.
Besides the mountains of domestic stuff that needs doing, I am pressed to get ready for next week's workshop and talk with Quilter's Connection and get going with the fabulous ladies of Create again!! This will be challenging, but it can be done. Making things always makes life better! Cheers.