So I'm joining the ranks of the mall walkers...

...Actually I'm not. I think I exist only to irritate them as they stride past me as I limp along on my lymphedema(ic?) leg pushing the stroller, waaay too close to my body space for my liking, well practically barging me out of the way, if you like.

I mean, yes, exercise is great, which is why Jamie and I plan to head off to the mall a couple of times a week for a slow crawl around, I need it for my bones as the 'roids lay waste to them (plus I could use trying to get rid of some of this extra 'roid weight). But why do you have to be mean about it? You should see it. These people take it very, very seriously. C'mon people, it's the crappy little local mall, you're taking a walk, not training for the London Marathon!

Still it gives me some amusement, so I shouldn't complain. It's an aggressive sport people! NOT for the fainthearted.



So we started our 'walks' on Monday. I honestly thought it would start making me feel better. I should have known better.

We got home around 11am and I fed Jamie, took my meds and fed myself. Then I spent the rest of the day vomiting.

I have to be honest here, I've been feeling sick for about a month, I guess. I touched on it in my last entry, but it had at that time got to the point where I couldn't take any more. I'd have "good" days and the 'roids caused me to push myself further than I should have. But the swelling just continued to increase and lasted for so long that I thought it was just a permanent side-effect of the drugs.

After my CT scan, the swelling was even worse and I got diarreah that went on for days. I sort of expect that after all the contrast and the enema, so just lived with it. But by Monday, I was so sick that I wasn't able to keep my meds down and that's getting dangerous.

I began to have seizure activity along with the vomiting, just like before when my brain lesions were found. I was so scared. Jim came home from work, took one look at me and called one of the doctors who told him to get me to the ER asap. So off we went.

They did a brain CT, hydrated me, gave me IV Zofran and Decadron (the 'roid) and did bloodwork. I have some sort of gastric infection, which is what was making me swell, causing the diarreah, etc. My Dilantin (the med that controls seizures) levels were very low, hence the siezure activity. So they had me take a double dose that night to be on the safe side.

I had the headache from Hell the next morning, probably from cutting down on the 'roids so drastically because I was too sick to take them. I also had my check up with the doctor scheduled, so Jim took the day off from work and we went to that. He was pretty concerned that the ER hadn't done the CT with contrast, so sent me for another one with contrast (yay) as he was concerned about bleeding in my brain. His nurse said he'd call if there was anything to worry about and I haven't heard, so no news is good news.

Speaking of scans, this is what they did to me last week.





The pictures don't really show the damage as it really is, it looks much worse, but just an idea.

Ho-hum.

So... There we have the latest episode in the saga which shall now be called As The Stomach Churns... Don't touch that dial!

Nothing much else happening aside from vomit, seizures and plenty of naps. I don't think the mall walking will be taking place for a while (probably just as well, I don't think I'm up to contact sports, heh).

Once again I want to thank you all for your comments and e-mails, I don't know how I ever got to 'meet' such amazing people, but there you are! And you put me to shame with your writing skills! Thank you so much for your support and for taking the time to put your feelings into words. It means so much to me...

I'll work on a better entry when I'm feeling a bit better, thanks for sticking with me, guys!