You Would Think 4 Days in New Orleans Would Be Awesome

Well, girls, I finally did it and Ellie made it happen. I have real blog complete with a nav bar and everything! I highly recommend her to anyone who likes a clean, classic yet modern look on their pages. If you followed me over from Cardiocandyography, you have probably read what happened over there. Let's just say beware of free templates, you might not be able to remove it...EVER. I love me some Ellie - four stars for Rainy Day Templates! Out of this one blog I have created a few more so that I can place more than one post on each nav link. Also, each page may have a different sidebar so be sure to check them out for different links!

Many of you have only gotten bits and pieces of my transplant story, so some of my current let's say "adventures" for lack of a better word are a bit mystifying. GOOD NEWS: I have finally transferred all of my Caring Bridge entries over here for you to read when you get curious. Since I couldn't back-date them, they are all separate posts posted yesterday. I have created a table of contents on that page with the dates of each entry starting at the beginning.

Over the past six months I have received many, many emails expressing emotion over going back and reading my story from the beginning. So, it should much easier to read it here the way it is organized as opposed to on Caring Bridge. Please, still feel free to hop over there and check out the pics from my stay as well.

What did I say? SIX MONTHS? SIX MONTHS! Yes, this past Monday I celebrated the six month marker with my new heart. The first six months can very volatile, tricky, and has a lot of restrictions; however, I made it! As many of you already know, it was not without a few bumps.
Several of you sent me Twitter messages and Facebook messages worried about what was going on this week, so here is the explanation you've been waiting for...

I left Mobile on Sunday afternoon for New Orleans; I had my typical monthly labs, biopsy, echo, and clinic visit. However, upon the receipt of my blood work; it was discovered that white blood cell count had dropped drastically. FYI: White blood cells are what fight infection. The less of them you have, the more likely you are to get an infection, virus, etc. This is doubly as vital to the life of transplant patient because we are on so many immunosuppressants to prevent our body from rejecting the new organ, that it nearly demolishes our immune system, hence the mask, no buffets, raw food, etc. Therefore, if we contract anything we have to be immediately hospitalized to prevent it from progressing any further. Mono, flu, etc. are deadly to a transplant patient.

Headed to NOLA, completely unprepared for four days!

By the time I was through with my biopsy, Dr. Patel told me that this was a cause for major concern and that I would need to hang around for a few days to see what was going on. By the time I was finished with all four appointments, I had two more: one to get blood drawn to test for the viruses, and the second to get a neupogen shot in the hepatology-oncology clinic. Thankfully, the virus results came back clear. They stopped two of my meds that can cause the loss of WBC and gave me my first shot.The worst news was hearing that I would have to stay in New Orleans (two hours from home) until Thursday.
On Tuesday, I got up, worked on my blog a bit and went to get my second shot, which feels like a wasp sting with an encore. I decided to hit-up a few book stores, stroll down Magazine Street, browse through Whole Foods, and have lunch at great little pizza spot named Slice. I took a trip down to the water, explored Urban Outfitters and French Connection. Then I made the most beautiful discovery of all: the construction of a new Anthropologie! My summer check-ups may not be such a chore after all! The walk through the French Market wasn't too bad either, not to mention that I went in four book stores in in two days.

Spinach, Sun-dried Tomato, and Artichoke Pizza @ Slice

Wednesday morning I slept in until my lab appointment at 11:00. Which was great considering that I couldn't go to sleep until at least 4:30 (that was the last time I remember looking at the clock). When Tara, my post-transplant coordinator/nurse, called to inform me that after two shots of nupogen and stopping the potentially offending meds, my WBC had DROPPED! I cried nearly the rest of the day because I was ready to home and see my baby and hubs. I waited almost an hour before I called anyone because I could not get it together. Well, hubs called before I was ready, and I just broke down. Well, hunny, if he didn't just jump in his truck and giddy-up all the way to NOLA. Before he got there I had myself some lunch at Pazza Gelato for the second time in two days. It is so yummy! I had a different panini each day and different gelato. When he arrived around 5:00, it was so wonderful to see him. We had a delicious dinner, and enjoyed a great date night.

Gelato: the blue variety tasted like birthday cake icing!

Wednesday morning we went to Dr. Molina, a hemotologist & oncologist, to see if maybe he could narrow-down what was wrong. He too believed it was the combination of meds and asked to see me back Tuesday. If the meds alteration and injections do not work, then he will have to do a bone marrow biopsy. Shriek! he sounded very optimistic, just a bit confused as to why my numbers would plummet in a month's time. I guess we will see on Tuesday.
Upon returning home on Thursday evening, went to my in-law's house to pick Baby Finn. It was soooooooo good to see his sweet cheeks. I didn't want to put him down! Zac's grandparents are also in town for the week, so we will be happily busy once again. Finn and I both are going to the doctor this week! He has his nine month check-up this week...tear. :*( Here's one more reason to shed a tear.

Battle of the Book Nooks + a Self-Portrait

    
     Supah's All About MEme Monday assignment is to post a self portrait created by yourself. Since I haven't turned the camera on myself for a couple of years, I sifted through all of my iPhoto files and found this one taken on Memorial Day 2007 after finishing my student teaching, pre-married life, pre-baby Foo, pre-heart failure, and pre-transplant. Plus, Shell's post inspired me to post a "look how nice and defined things used to be" photo. ;) By the way, no I wasn't naked! I had untied the strings of my navy and white stripped sundress and plopped down on the hotel bed. As a matter of fact, I wish you could see the dress: it was perfect resort wear. I will wear it again, I will wear it again, I will wear it again... (mantra-like) It was the cutest little sundress. We were at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear, about an hour's drive from where I live. 

Maybe this pic will better help you understand how irate I was this day (10/24).

*~*Next Topic*~* 

     As I promised a few days ago, here's how the trip to NOLA went: I got there relatively early for a change. I was so excited to chill-out, browse some blogs, order a movie, and pizza. By the way, the pizza is doctor's orders: I have a tendency not to drink enough fluids and that can make biopsies very difficult for me and the cardiologist, so by eating my more than average amount of sodium I retain water and thus making the vein in my neck easier to push the catheter through. Those of you that know about heart caths have typically heard of them going through the groin, but going through the neck is apparently much easier and you are up and out of there as soon as they are done. Anyway, back on topic, there is a hotel attached to the hospital that makes everything much easier. When I stepped up to the front desk and asked for a single room for one night, I got, "We do not have anything available for tonight." Oops. This place is NEVER booked, and I have NEVER had to have a reservation. Who wants to stay at a hotel adjoined to a hospital unless they are a patient or family? Well, apparently there was some sort of conference going on that day. I felt sort of lost there all by my lonesome. So, I dragged all my junk into the atrium and pulled out Baby Mac and hit up Expedia and Priceline for the closest hotels with the lowest rates and WiFi: yes, I had to have it. God bless technology. 


     I rang the Marriott Courtyard down the road and they had plenty of "room at the inn." I ventured back out into the torrential NOLA rains, and scooted on down the river highway to the Marriott. I timed it, only six minutes down the road! My room was very neat and quaint with a little balcony over-looking the pool. Too bad it was nearly a monsoon outside. I fell back on to the bed and...hello, memory foam. This night was going to be just fine. 


     I ordered a Papa John's Tuscan Cheese pizza and watched Law & Order then Couple's Retreat, and in case you were wondering the pizza was by far best of the three. Maybe it was because I had not so much as tasted a pizza in at least six months, but the movie wasn't so great either. I ♥ Vince, but this was a bomb. It was very tough to keep my eyes open. 


     The next morning I went on to lab as usual, picked up a scone, and strolled on over to the cath lab, were they took me right on back. Dr. Fisher was there to biopsy rather than my regular doc, Dr. Mandras. I was good to him again. He was the cardiologist on-call in the days surrounding my transplant, so it was great to see him again since that was the last time that I saw him. This was the first time I was attempting a heart cath/biopsy without taking any anti-anxiety or pain meds ahead of time. The needle and numbing of the neck wasn't was tough as usual, but apparently I have developed a lot of scar tissue in my chest that made the introduction of the catheter extremely painful. They continued to give me something, what it was I do not know. It did not help the pain, and when I sat up to leave, I was exhausted. I was even little wobbly walking back over to meet with Moriah for my clinic check-up. After chatting with her and checking all of my numbers, I moseyed on over to the MRI building, which I didn't realize was a little walk outside then to a mobile MRI trailer building. I guess they are remodeling or something because this is a nice hospital. Anyway, it was a regular MRI so my nose nearly touched the top of the thing, and I guess that they made some adjustments for momma hips. I fell right to sleep for however long it took.


     After I emerged from the pod-thing, I went straight to the coffee shop in the Atrium to get a White Gold (compare to a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha). I called hubs and told him I fell a little "slow" and that I was just going to relax in the atrium for a little bit. He got all nervous and said that he didn't want me driving. I didn't exactly feel like it either so we agreed it would be best for me to stay another night. Luckily, my regular hotel now had rooms available, but not until 3:00 p.m. It was noon. 

     To kill the time until I could check in, I went to fill a prescription for an antibiotic that I had to have to treat a little splinter infection, and pick up a few snacks. On my way, I decided to stop by Border's Books. I had never been in one before. We have a couple of Books-A-Millions and a couple of Barnes & Nobles, but no Borders. I loved it. Of course, Barnes & Noble will always be my true love and I cannot stand Books-A-Million simply because it lacks that aesthetic that encourages reading. I walk into a Barnes & Noble and you just want to read. You walk in a Books-A-Million and I want de-clutter and start cleaning. I will go to Books-A-Million for little random funny gifts, i.e. magnets, pens, stationery, gift books, stickers, etc., and I will escape as quickly as I can. 

Borders is the happy medium. 

It has the delightful reading aesthetic, plus the large gift and knick-knack/impulsive shopper section. 

Did I mention the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves? I felt like Belle!

This is a former funeral home that they have recently turned into a Borders. I couldn't ever got an actual photo to post on here because the traffic wouldn't cooperate, but here is a Google photo. The colors and exterior are the same, but of course it has a Borders banner hanging across the porch and no chain-link fence. Isn't it great?! Apparently, Borders has been doing restorative projects across the country rather than building from the ground up. Cool, huh?

Now it's your turn to VOTE 

In my sidebar, directly under my profile, I have posted a poll. Let's see what true fan favorite is! You can select more than one because if you are like me, you have a favorite local, privately owned store and a favorite chain.

Ahh, the charming Page & Palette

     So, needless to say I had a peaceful night's rest; I slept in, made a few routine stops, did some wishful-window-shopping and headed home to my boys.

To Tweet or Not to Tweet

Yesterday I cruised on over to NOLA for my monthly biopsy, echo, and clinic visit. Rather than staying in the hotel the night before, I decided to drive over early in the morning because I did not feel like the whole packing/unpacking deal. Well, let me tell you. I needed an industrial crane to keep my eyelids open nearly the whole two hours over. 

♦ Two Reminders ♦ 

• The morning of labs you are NPO from midnight the night before until after your labs are drawn: usually around 8:00 a.m. NPO = no food or drink (nothing per oral) 
• Prednisone (steroid) wires you, keeps you awake, prevents any hopes of an early bedtime - Those of you that have kept up with my CB from the beginning know of my sleeping horrors. Even though my dose has been drastically reduced, my sleeping patterns are still completely unpredictable, and I never know when I will fall asleep.

Of course I did not fall asleep until around 1:00 a.m. Monday night and I had to get up at  a little after 4:00 a.m. and be on the road by 5:45 a.m. with no fuel...in my body. i.e. no coffee, no PowerBar. Plus, it was dark for the first hour of the drive. I was really nervous about falling asleep, but my hubby called to check on me a little before seven and that helped wake me up. 

When I got to the lab, it was slammed! I have never seen that many people waiting for labs. I waited for 45 minutes which left me only 30 minutes to find something to eat. Typically this would not be an issue; however, Stacy (Mandras), my main cardiologist, suggested that I eat something heavy and salty the nights before biopsies because the excess water make the vein in which they insert the catheter in my neck much easier to navigate. I also have to have enough time for the anti-anxiety medication to kick in before the procedure. For some reason, my neck is especially sensitive to everything they to do to prep for the procedure. This is very unusual because needles do not bother me, and medical procedures in general do not bother me. Anyway, that is why I have to take an anti-anxiety meds on biopsy days. Immediately after lab, I ran down to Zucchini, the hospital cafe, and had some sausage, bacon, and cheese grits. It was like a little vacation from bland and doctors orders. =) 

The procedure went well and even though I have been feeling some different feelings around my heart everything looked fine on the echo. I will have to wait on the biopsy results for more details if there are any, and if everything looks good then I can come down on the steroids again. Yippee! 

As I was getting was getting my stuff together and chatting with the girls in the cath lab, Dr. Mandras was watching me while I was talking about my blogs and my Go Red group that I am trying to raise money through. They all told me how good I looked, how amazing it is, etc. Then Dr. Mandras looked me square in the eye and said, “I lost sleep over you...I was scared to death.” Then she began to tear up, couldn’t speak, and began wiping her eyes. She just rushed over and hugged me. This was funny because she about a whole head shorter than me; we giggled. How lucky am I to have such an amazing staff holding my heart in their hands? They are amazing from the top down: the attendings, the fellows, the nurses… I also got to see the other members of the transplant team that have worked so closely with me: Patel, Alkadri, Ventura. They are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! They are like family to me now. I never thought that I would feel so comfortable with a bunch of cardiologists. I discuss books, writing, and education with Patel, movies with Alkadri, and hair, journals, and food with Mandras. Oh, and I didn’t to leave out the P.A.s: I ♥ you, Moriah! 

Upon leaving the hospital I decided to hit the quarter and enjoy the weather. Though I didn’t make it far (my boots were pinching), I soaked in every minute of it. I dipped in Peaches, the last true record store; Urban Outfitters, cannot believe I walked out empty-handed, a true sign of increasing self control; and Hard Rock for fajitas. I am usually not a big Hard Rock fan since it is typically food I can get anywhere, but it was by far the cleanest and the cool breeze just blew me right into their open doors. (I still have to be uber careful about germs.) Let me just say, those were the best fajitas that I have ever had! I do not know what they sauteed the onions and meat in, but it was divine and probably loaded with sodium. It’s ok to cheat for a day every once in a while. 

After being in the hospital for three months, careful watched for two, and a few weekend stays, I have begun to relish those moments on my own. It was such an incredible feeling just strolling down the street yesterday in a hat, cute outfit, and boots - not pj’s and slippers. I could have walked for hours. Next time I will have to remember to slip some Dr. Scholl’s in those boots so that I may extend my stay. 


I go back tomorrow for a neurology appointment and hitting up some antique stores and markets for some dirt cheap home decor. I am trying to warm this place up a bit; it’s coming along slowly but surely. 

To tweet or not to tweet? I am thinking of joining the masses. Do you like it or is it all a bunch of hoopla?