Check Up and Test Results

I had my appointment with my pulmonologist yesterday, a follow up to or first meeting in November, and to go over my test results.

First, we discussed my sleep study and subsequent placement on a bi-pap machine. She said The test revealed 58 apnea/hypopnea episodes per hour, and with the machine, my average is now 1.8 episodes an hours, which she called excellent.

She said that my lung function test showed no signs of asthma, no signs of COPD. The only thing it reflected were shrunken lungs, which is due to my weight.

She said that she was extremely pleased with my progress. The only thing that she mentioned was my weight, with the shrunken lungs remark and one other time. To me, I took it as a sign that its time to regroup and refocus on losing. I have been happy to maintain, but I need to drop more.

I was so happy with the news that losing weight is actually starting to excite me again. I plan to regroup over the next few days and set the wheels in motion on Monday. I am so looking forward to feeling even better, now that I am somewhat used to feeling this much better from being so ill last year.

I go back to her in April, and she said there is a chance I might be able to discontinue the blood thinners then. She will just want to check my legs to make certain I have no clots in them, and also wants to do a new electrocardiogram to see how much pressure I have on my heart and lungs now. She said she suspects it will have definitely improved, especially with the bi-pap and my other improvements.

I am so thankful to God for all of the healing I have done and for the additional healing that is to come, as I know He will continue to heal me. I need to lean heavily on Him for the weight loss to assure my success. God needs to be in the center so I can make it.

Here's to Monday and the skinniness to come!!

Best Day Ever

If anyone were to ask....

"What has been your best day since you have been home from the hospital?"

Many would think I'd say

"Thanksgiving."

or "My Birthday."

Maybe "Christmas" or "New Years."

While all of these days were celebrated and enjoyed, I would have to say up to this point, my best day has been Friday.

What was so special about Friday you ask?

I got up and the dehumidifier went off because the tank was full. Hubs has to empty it because I have not had the strength to carry a fully bucket of water all the way down the hall to the bathroom to pour the water down the bathtub drain. It went off about 30 minutes after he left for work. I thought about it being off all day and decided to see what I could do.

I pulled the bucket out and picked it up. To my surprise, it didn't seem all that heavy and gave me the courage to keep going. I went down the hall, emptied the reservoir and clicked it back into place. I was so happy with myself, I decided to fold the laundry.

Two huge basketfuls later, I was so excited I went into the kitchen and started something I hadn't done since I had been home from the hospital. In fact, something I hadn't done for months before I went in the hospital. I washed dishes. I took a few breaks - my back would begin to throb, standing up for so long was something I wasn't used to - but I got a huge pile of bowls, plates and utensils washed.

I haven't felt so normal in so long. I was finally able to do some of the duties that I should be doing as a woman in my position of homemaker. Its all I have been wanting for oh so long. God blessed me with a loving family and I've had such a yearning to nurture them and help them flourish. Today just proved to me that I am inching ever closer to being that person. I have God to thank for restoring my health and allowing my strength to grow.

Here's to many more best days, each a step closer to the dream my heart. God is so good!