Where is the sunshine??

Here we are at the middle of March and it still feels like winter most of the time around here. It is warmer today but the rain wants to fall still. I've spent the last few days watching the horror in Japan unfold and I should not in any way be complaining about our weather. I hope they get some warmth there too. So many people without homes and the weather is still so cold there too.

I went to the hospital in Vancouver last Thursday and saw one of the study doctors. My regular study guy was out sick and I had a new fellow. He didn't have the ultra sound results from November in the file with him. He didn't know about the ascites either so got all the info from me and said they would call my family doctor and get them to send a copy of the ultra sound. I told him the request for the ultra sound came from them not from my doctor. He was confused as my guy wasn't there and this wasn't his gig but he was very nice and sent me off for blood work and then followed me downstairs as he had forgotten to get me to sign stuff and asked me to come back up after the blood.

We had a chat then and he said he thought I should be seeing the specialist (Dr. E) there more often that I am. It seems like that when Dr. E saw me last time and told me there were no drug trials and no new drugs right now and so there was nothing they could do for me at that time that my doctor (Dr. C) at that point stopped forwarding on any test results etc. The fellow on Thursday said I should be coming in at least every 6 months to see the specialist etc. so to follow up with my doctor (Dr. C) and ask to go back to the specialist (Dr. E) and in the mean time Thursday's doc would let him (Dr. E) and the other drug follow up doc know what was going on. Ok well that sounds totally confusing but there ya go. That's how it happened and that's what he said.

I have heard from Disability to say they have received my application and so far it has been accepted and now it goes to the medical team to decide if I fit the criteria. That could take another 60 days. I have also had to apply for social assistance which I totally dreaded and felt horrible about having to do. As it turns out it is mostly done online. You then get a phone call and an interview on the phone. She then tells you what documents you need to have to show them and gives you five days to get into the office and give to girl who photocopies it all and gives it back. Then you go home and within a few days they call and let you know if you have been deemed eligible. I did what was asked and was deemed eligible. Then they called and wanted me to fill out a disability form for the province as well. If I am deemed eligible for everything it will give me just barely enough to live but I'll have to give up my car. I am not stressing yet and still trying to take all this one day at a time.

My grandson is a gorgeous little bundle of snuggles. He has chubby kissable cheeks and they get kissed lots. I get to see him a couple of times a week and am loving it. Taking tons of pictures. I'll include one or two before I close off.

I'm tired and all of this worry and trying to keep paperwork together and separate for different claims or offices is tiring. The diuretics are still working and that makes me happy. I have a hard time now keeping weight on and am eating several small meals or snacks a day. Lots of fresh veggies and fruit too. Grapes were on sale this week along with California strawberries and oranges so I have stocked up on all three. I've been making lots of homemade soup and it works out well for me. I can throw it all in a pot and snack at it for a day or two and then freeze what is left for a soup dinner one night. No fast food and I am trying to stay away from all processed foods. Cereal in the mornings to take my pills. Brain power is cloudy on some days and some days are better. I worry some days that I am losing it. I have started taking a Spanish beginners course and am enjoying that although the concentration is iffy some days.

Well that's me somewhat up to date. Pray for the people of Japan.

Maintaining

Isn't that a glorious word!! It is to me today. I am down to one a day of both of the diuretics and it is holding. No weight gain and my kidneys are much happier :)



According to my doctor as long as we can maintain then all is good for now. My counts aren't great but not horrendous either. The only one I worry about these days is my platelets and that is for drug trials and it is at 85 still. So all good for now.



I phoned a couple of weeks ago to the health unit here to see if they have a dietician on site and they don't. They gave me a number and the nurse told me that with my cirrhosis I can access the dietician at the hospital for free, I just need a referal from my doctor. I got that today as well. They fax through the paperwork and then the hospital calls and sets up the appointment. We have that big, beautiful hospital a few blocks away so I'll be going there.



Outside there are big snowflakes drifting down. They don't seem to be sticking but they look pretty going by. We've had some weird weather around here lately. Sunshine but cold, warm but raining. Usually by this time of the month we are edging on towards Spring and already we have bulbs coming up. But on the other hand we've had some of our big snowstorms in February too. The garden stores are starting to bring in the primula's. My friend Lynnie bought me a pretty yellow one and I brought it home and put it on the desk for a minute. I came back and Nemo was eating it as fast as he could. NO plants are safe in our house. Buying a plant or flowers and then having to keep them up on the highest surface sort of takes away from having them in the house!




My brand new baby grandson is doing great! Gaining weight and sleeping well. I can't wait for the warmer weather when we can get out and walk more. He'll love the park and the stroller I'm sure.



All in all things are looking brighter. Haven't heard from disability yet................ One day at a time. :)

Endoscopy

I saw the doctor on Friday and have an appointment for the endoscopy for the 31st of March. He cut the diuretics back more and hopefully it will be enough to maintain a balance. He seemed quite nice and I liked him and he is at the Abbotsford Hospital which will be much nicer.

Counts

December 24, 2009

ALT 120
AST 89
Platelets 85

April 30, 2010

ALT 122
AST 107
Platelets 79

December 14, 2010

Platelets 109

January 14, 2011

Platelets 85

So, where are we at?

Well, where to start.....

I guess I'll start in June. No treatment for me, nothing available so need to maintain is basically what doctor told me. I was contacted by the hospital in Vancouver about the last drug trial I started and couldn't finish. They wanted me to be part of the follow-up from the drug trial. So for 3 years they want to see me every six months to do bloodwork and ultra sounds. They are following progression of the disease as well as checking to see if the virus has mutated. They are also keeping me in mind if any further trials become available that I could fit into.

I started struggling more as the summer wound down and was really unable to go for very long without a rest to recoup and then I could go again. I was very worried about job hunting and my memory and cognative abilities. I was getting very forgetful, losing words in mid conversation so you sit there with a total blank in your head, couldn't concentrate on things, I was easily distracted and had a really hard time staying on task. I am a bookkeeper and payroll person. That requires concentration and being forgetful just doesn't cut it.

I also knew I was not capable of working at a physical type job or even one that required standing for long periods like a cashier. The worry was setting in and I was getting more and more stressed. At Christmas 2009, Mom and I had talked about another cruise in the future and she called and wanted to take us both on a cruise from Vancouver to LA as the ship made it's transition from the Alaska run to other runs. It was a one way cruise and then fly home to Vancouver. I started trying to lose weight for the trip as my stomach seemed to be pretty fat. Nothing worked and I just kept getting bigger.

We went on the cruise in September and as much as I enjoyed it I was exhausted by the time I got home and it took me a week to recoup. We had been on a cruise two years earlier to Alaska and I could really tell the difference in my energy level. I had to go for the hospital ultra sound and it took a few months to get in for the appointment out here in the valley. By then my stomach was huge and I was not feeling great. I went to my family doctor and he said my abdomen was full of fluid and he wanted to send me off to the hospital and have it drained. That pretty much freaked me out and I was not a happy camper. I asked if we could try diuretics first.

He agreed to let me try the diuretics for one week and see if it was helping. He gave me a prescription for 2 different ones. Aldactone 100 mg 3 times a day and Teva-Furosemide 40 mg once a day. He weighed me and I was 152 lbs. He gave me an appointment for the following Friday. After taking the drugs all weekend I was down to 137 lbs so I had lost 15 lbs (Doc said that was equal to about a gallon and a half of fluid). When I saw the doctor he said I could stay on the diuretics as long as they worked and there weren't other side affects from them He said I could cut back on the one I take 3 times a day if I felt crappy. So I did and was taking two a day along with the other one. The last bloodwork is now showing that my kidneys are struggling from the diuretics and the extra work they are being forced to do. Also my platelets are falling again. They are back down to 85 now. So for now he has me cut down to one of each of the diuretics a day and I go back in two weeks to get the bloodwork checked again. In March I head back to the drug trial people for the next 6 month appointment.

I am tired and don't really recoup anymore if I do too much. I battle nausea most days. I am trying to not eat anything pre-packaged or any fast food and am being very careful of salt content when I shop. I've been making homemade soups and using fresh veggies as much as I can. I'm still losing weight gradually. Down to between 130 to 133 most days but have seen 129 and that scared me into eating all day off and on.

My EI has run out and I applied for early CPP which we can do in Canada at 60. It is a miniscule amount but I am hoping combined with other sources it will help. I have also applied for Disability from the Federal Government. I am going to have to go to Social Services and see where I'm at with this all and when I get the final amount of what I am going to have to live on each month I will have a better idea of where I stand.

So that pretty much brings this up to date on the important stuff. Life still goes on and I have my family and some very good friends that I love like family. I have a brand new 4 day old grandson who is absolutely precious. I made my peace with Al quite some time ago and we touch base about the kids frequently. I have my dog and my kitty who brighten my days so much. I am still hoping to get this all under control and just maintain. I am going to see if I can see a dietician at the hospital or health unit and get some advice on diet. Lacey (my little dog) and I are waiting for some warmer weather so we can get back to our daily walks.

I'll try and be a better blogger and start using this blog more often. I am going to try and gather all my counts and numbers and might just post them here so they are quick to find in future when I am comparing.

New Day

Well today is a much brighter day for me. Now that I don't have to worry about treatment etc I can just get on with things. I need to find a job for starters. I am signed up for a week long cruise in the fall so any job I get will have to be aware of that and agree or I won't be working there.

One thing that came up yesterday was that my spleen is quite enlarged at 17cm he said. I don't know what the norm is so not sure how big that is but nothing I can do about that anyway.

Last blood work taken about two weeks ago:

ALT - 122
AST - 107
Platelets - 79

Back to the doc

June 7, 2010 - Appointment today withe the HepC doc. I need to find out if my low platelet count has taken away any chance of treatment. If it has then I need to know what next? If not, then I need to remind him I am still here and see if any drug trials are coming up any time soon.

I hate going there and it stresses me out for days before hand. Being alone with this is a lot harder than having a partner to share it with. I have family and friends and they are concerned and helpful but it's not the same as having a partner that loves you and stresses along with you. Besides who wants to go and get a bad report from the doc and not have anyone to lean on. It sucks. :) and I'm being a big baby. :(

My platelets had fallen to 68 and then last blood work that was done they were back up to 79. Supposedly the cutoff for treatment is 90 so that is a concern. If I am not able to do treatment then what? I guess I wait till I get bad enough for a transplant.

Update:

I saw the doctor and as I suspected the low platelet count pushes me out of any drug trials. He said it didn't mean I couldn't have treatment just that I couldn't do drug trials but also for me right now there is no treatment. He said if he did have a treatment my platelet count wouldn't stop me being treated. So all I can do is live as healthy as possible and hang in there. He said treatment is probably about 5 years away. I asked if I would still be here in 5 years when treatment was available he said that was the plan! Maintain and eat right, exercise, don't drink which I don't anyway so no hardship there.

All my other counts were ok. My glucose and thyroid are both good. My lft's are elevated but not excessively so. In a way it was a relief to not have to worry about treatment right now. I felt torn and stressed about it all but now I can just relax, do what I can do and hope to hang in there for now.

Holy Cow!!

OK it is obviously time I get back to blogging. I didn't realize all these months had gone by. I'll get it together this weekend and get a post done!

Long time no blog............

Wow it's been a long time since I blogged. I guess I just needed a break. So hmm well I guess I should talk about the cruise. It was fabulous and we enjoyed it immensely but I will say that we learned some things being a first cruise and if we ever do a cruise again there are a few things that we would do differently.

For starters we booked an inside room with the reasoning of how much time do you spend in your room anyway. It's mainly just for sleeping. Well once you get into your room, with no lights on you are in the pitch black and have no idea as to time or anything. So next time I would get an outside room and a balcony. The scenery was gorgeous of course and the weather for Alaska was considered good as it wasn't raining for the most part but let me tell you it was bloody cold. We did have a great time and I'll post some pictures soon to add to this post.

Then in August my brother and neice came out from Quebec and stayed for two weeks. That was a good to see them and good for Gabrielle to make the trip out now that she's older. She and Steve had a really good time and are going to try and make it back this year too. I don't know if Steve would ever move back to BC but as Gabrielle gets older (she's 13 now) and she loves it out here, she may decide to do University out here and if she did I am pretty sure Steve would come home to live.

The girls and I took a weekend away this fall and went just an hour up the highway to a little town called Hope. It is surrounded by mountains and beside the Fraser River and is a pretty little place. We found a motel along the highway and went in and asked the guy what he had and would he take our little dogs too and he took us and showed us this cabin with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a full kitchen and dining room and living room plus a front door and back door that led to our own little driveway and the crowning glory was a woodburning fireplace. All for the grand price of $119.00 including the two dogs and unlimited wood for the fireplace. We had a blast! We went and walked the Othello Tunnels and took a ton of pictures. We are planning on staying there again for a few more days and doing a bit more of the touristy thing.

Work has been busy and when last I left you, the office was being moved while I was on holidays. Well they did manage to break my computer so I came back to a new office and a brand new computer. Then due to "unexpected circumstances" I had to spend three months driving my boss around and so was very very busy at work but that has ended now and I am now back to a more slowed down work week.

I went in November and got my flu shot and my doc was not happy with me because I haven't been in for a year for bloodwork and counts and I told him I would come in and get it done. I haven't yet but will in the New Year. I've not been feeling great the last few weeks but I have not been eating properly and eating lots of junk food which is never good. So I guess that is my New Years resolution, to eat better and take better care of myself.

I am off work until the 5th so have been enjoying that alot. On Sunday night my Mom took us (my brother and his wife, me, my 3 sons and two of their girlfriends) all to the River Rock for dinner as her Christmas gift to us all. It was fun, food was good and we all went down to the casino and gambled for a few hours before heading home. In our group Mom was up $90, one son was up $100 and the other up just under a $100 the rest of us spent $20 0r $30 and we were all happy when we left. Then yesterday my youngest son got a call from them and he had won a thousand dollars in the daily draw contest thingy they have going right now. So he was very happy.

I have been reading alot because I found a good series I hadn't read yet. Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series has been keeping me very interested. I am on book 4 right now and have the other two books lined up just waiting to be read. I've also been sewing again. Lynnie taught us how to quilt so I am making a quilt as well as a few new doggie jackets. My easel is set up at the window and I am going to be using it as well. I got a bike this summer and Lynnie and I have been riding the dikes around the valley. I even have a system rigged up for Lacey so she can come with us. I have a light backpack that I can put on backwards (so in the front) and I put Lacey in there when we come to roads or whatever and then when danger is passed I can take her out and let her run along with us. It worked not too badly but a real doggie carrier was $30 and I refuse to pay that. Then I was in WalMart just before Christmas and found a doggy carrier that will work perfect. So when the weather warms up and the snow goes away we'll give it a try.

We (the girls, Jude and Lynne) are going to be going to the island this spring to stay in Uklulet for a long weekend and my son and his girlfriend and granddaughter have plans for camping on Long Beach this summer. The girls and I are planning our next trip for April of 2010 after the Olympics are over and it will be someplace warm. Right now we are sort of thinking about Costa Rica because Jude has a sister in law that is from there with lots of family to give us hints on where to go and what to see etc. Well that's all I can think of at the moment.

I'm Cruising!!

Well I have been waxed, shaved, dyed, plucked, and cut (hair) and I'm all set to head off on my cruise. The bags are packed, the animals all taken care of and I'm sitting here now waiting to leave to go and pick up Lynnie. We head in and get Jude and her husband is driving us to the cruise ship. My brother is picking up my Mom and we'll meet there.

The guys will be moving the office while I am away so I'll be coming back to a brand new never been used office and desk. New phone systems will be in place. So all is good there.

Back in April when we went and paid off the cruise I took $300 american out of the bank and put it someplace safe for the trip. Well on Friday I went to get the money and I couldn't find it. I've searched every place I could think of and no money. On Saturday I went to the bank and got another $300 american out and I am sure I will find the other money safely tucked away someplace probably round about Christmas but oh well! It will be a nice surprise when I do find it. :)

Spring! Finally…

The sun shone beautifully on Saturday and we got up to 24C out here in the valley. I was wonderful!! That is our first nice sunny warm day and man it seemed like every person that owned a motor bike was out riding it. People were everywhere; walking, biking, working on their yards.

I got my eye test done and got to the glasses place and was out of there as fast as possible so I could get out into the sun. I went home and grabbed Lacey and headed down to my friends place and washed the truck and let Lacey play in the sunshine. Then we headed off and went for a walk along the dike. It was great!

Sunday we were back to normal with cloudy weather all day. I did the inside housework in fits and starts. I am finding I am tired a lot again. Work is all I manage to get done during the week with a walk thrown in for Lacey a couple of evenings if the weather is nice. I save all the housework for the weekends and then I do it in bits with lots of rests in between. That sucks. I would like to just power through and get it all done and then enjoy the rest of the weekend but if I really push myself and get it all done then I am too tired to do anything else anyway.

Also I have a rash. It is kind of worrying. It is spreading right up my back and around the sides of my stomach and breasts. It is a somewhat like the rash I got while on treatment especially the part right up my spine which is where it started both times. I don’t think rashes are normally found with HepC without treatment but I don’t know what else it could be. I haven’t done anything like change detergents or anything like that. Very annoying.

It is down to 13 weeks till we leave on our cruise. This hasn’t been clear sailing so far. My mom almost baled out on us as she was feeling old and tired and really didn’t think she was up to a cruise. We talked her into waiting till Spring and some sunshine before she decided and she has now agreed that it will be fun. Then one of my two friends has not told her husband yet that we are going. I’m not sure why but she keeps saying he won’t care but she just hasn’t found the right time yet to tell him.

The third friend, she just found out last week that her husband has a large tumor in his bowel. We offered to just give up our deposits and cancel so she doesn’t have to be stressed and worried about it all but she is not having any of that! She says if he is very sick when cruise time rolls around then she will just give up her fee and stay home but she does not want to cancel. She feels he will get in fairly quickly for the surgery and then if there is chemo or radiation after then she’ll play it by ear. They are both feeling very optimistic as two of his sisters have already gone through this and come out of it fine so they feel he can beat this too. But all in all it is worrying for them and for all of us that care about them. We’ll do what we have to do and go from there.

I am so ready for Spring!! I want to shave my legs, paint my toe nails and wear Capri pants to work with a toe ring and an anklet. No more winter sweatshirts and hoodies and fleece!!

Day light savings

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Well here we are into March already. I just realized that Day Light Savings is next weekend too! Wow and then this year Good Friday and Easter are the weekend of the 21st of March so a nice long weekend. I am really looking forward to that.

End of February is the end of our fiscal year at work so I have been busy with that along with the regular stuff. The guys have bought a new office and shop space. Up until now they have been leasing a place but decided to buy into a new industrial park so we have a brand new space. The shop area is cement walls and cement floor so other than a work bench etc it is fine but the front office area is just framed in so the guys are having to build the office space. It will be great when it’s done. Big windows, air conditioning, a brand new clean bathroom, a new desk and office furniture. Can’t wait!!

Saturday was my son’s 36th birthday. Thirty-six!! Wow, hard to believe. He is the oldest and father of my granddaughter. The next or middle son will be 35 in November and the youngest just turned 29.

19 weeks left till we go on our cruise. Time is just flying along. My mom is having second thoughts about going now too. She’s paid her deposit but she is not feeling great and says she is tired and just doesn’t feel like going. I am of two minds. I think she’ll feel better when the weather gets nicer and she may get some energy and feel like going and I would love her to come but if she really doesn’t feel like going I don’t want to force her to go or make her feel guilty for not wanting to go. If she does back out we have the option of filling her spot with another friend if she leaves us enough time to do that or the rest of us (myself and two girlfriends) can just split her portion between us and pay for it and only have 3 of us in the quad room which might be nice as it will give us more space. As it stands we need to pay the final amounts by the end of April so if she decides by the end of March then it still gives us time to fill her spot and gives the other girl time to make arrangements. So either way the three of us are going, it’s just whether or not it will include Mom, another friend or just the 3 of us.

I’ve been feeling pretty good the last week or two. I got a really bad case of the flu that lasted almost 3 weeks. Felt really cruddy but the silver lining (and there is always a silver lining) is that I lost 8 or 9 pounds while I was sick and now I’m trying to keep it off plus 8 or so more and then I’ll buy a few clothes for the cruise J I absolutely refuse to buy any until I am pretty sure that I’ve managed to lose all the weight I can before hand.

I’ll be glad when day light savings kicks in and it’s lighter for longer in the evenings. Right now when I get home from work there just isn’t enough time to get out for a walk so poor little Lacey waits for the weekends to roll around to get outside and get some exercise. Poor baby. With the longer evenings and the weight loss plan I’m hoping to get out every day after work for a good walk.

Isn't it Ironic

The tune just keeps running through my head.

An old man turned ninety-eight
He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late And isn't it ironic... don't you think

Just over two years ago when my husband left me two weeks before I was to start treatment again, the reason he gave was because I have HepC and he was tired of dealing with it. He wanted to go and party and have fun! He had always thought when the kids grew up and left home we would then do the partying we never did when the kids were young. Where he got this idea and why he never shared it with me I have no idea but there ya go.

So the latest from him that I heard from the kids:

Last week at work where he is a supervisor, one of the guys at work apparently had a stroke. He fell and hit his head on the way down. My ex went and grabbed his medical records and assisted him. His records showed no pre-existing conditions. They were wiping the blood off the guy when he came to and was combative. They were trying to keep him under control until the ambulance arrived and the guy was spitting blood at them and swinging at them. Everyone involved ended up with blood all over them. Ambulance crew arrives and takes over. The ex happens to hear the fellow tell the ambulance crew, "Oh yeah, I have HepC" And isn't it ironic... don't you think

Apparently he has already been to the doctor and been tested but will haveto go every two months for the next year to be tested he says. Chances are slim I'm sure but I guess he'll sweat it for the next year.

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought... it figures

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought"Well isn't this nice..."And isn't it ironic... don't you think

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought... it figures

Well life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
When you think everything's okay and everything's going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out when
You think everything's gone wrong and everything blows upIn your face

A traffic jam when you're already late
A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic...don't you thinkA little too ironic...and, yeah, I really do think...

It's like rain on your wedding day
It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
Who would've thought... it figures
Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you
Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

February 2008

Wow the days move along. We are already into February. July will be here before we know it and I have to lose a few pounds before I get on that ship. I got an email from my mom informing me we are going on a ship and not a boat! I want to lose about 10 - 15 lbs and that is very do-able if I actually get to it. Ah well food is one of my vices along with pot and really the one just makes the other worse!

Last Thursday night my son and granddaughter and I went and say Walking with Dinosaurs live. I left work at 2pm and picked up C at at about 2:45 in Delta and then had to get into downtown Vancouver. I printed instructions from mytelus and enlarged them to a big font and had them stuck up where I could see them in the car and just followed what it said and was into town in no time. I am not that familiar with the bridges and by-passes that connect Surrey, Delta, Richmond, New Westminster and Vancouver but we did fine. We sang and talked and entertained each other along the way.

Made it into downtown and found a parking garage fairly close to GM Place. It cost me $11 to park from 3:30 until 9:30. But if I had parked at the sky train lot and bought an all day ride pass it would have cost me the same so ............. but still expensive I thought. Anyway it was about a 5 block walk to where my son works in one of the skyscrapers down there. Downtown Vancouver has sure changed from when I was a kid. It's a whole different world down there but we had a good time walking along and talking. People would smile at C and she finally said to me. "You know what Grandma? When ladies go by they smile at me but when men go by they don't" and so I watched and she was correct. The ladies all gave her a smile and the men ignored her. I got to wondering if it was a sign of the times. Men are looked at with suspicion if they pay attention to small children. Kind of sad I think.

Anyway we met D and headed out and found a White Spot and had dinner. I was kind of disappointed though. When I was a kid White Spot was a hamburger drive-in that would bring the food out to your car on long trays that would slide in the window and attach at the other window across the front seat. They have what they call triple-O sauce. When we were kids in high school we had a White Spot just down the street and that is where we would congregate on weekend nights at the end of a date to sit and eat burgers and visit car to car. The burgers were the best! The food on Thursday night just didn't live up to my memories of the deluxe triple O burger and fries but C had a good time.

We got to GM Place just as they were opening the doors so we were able to get in out of the cold. The show was excellent and a bit scary for the little ones to begin with but they soon realized they were fine and enjoyed the show. I can't really explain how big these animatrons were and how loud they were but you really did feel like you were getting a chance to see what a real dinosaur was like. We were all glad we had come.

Rumors at work that we might be moving into a brand new complex and new office space with a nice big shop. That would sure be nice and from the birdie that let slip the news it seems like it will be much easier for me to get to work and I won't have to drive the freeway.

The sun is shining at the moment although it is 2 below but I may venture out for a walk with Lacey this afternoon if it warms up a bit. I'm a big baby with the cold and can't wait from spring and some warmth and sunshine. My babies this morning waiting for me to be done on the comptuer.

January 08

A new year is worth a new outlook I think. Last year was a bit of a bust for me but in a quiet way for the most part. I got into my new job but had the stress of knowing I was going to have to start the drug trial at any time. So I spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out how to do both. Lucky for the me the guys I work for were great and let me set my own schedule with their only comment being they just wanted me to be OK. I just felt I couldn't settle down completely until I had things under control.



Along came the drug trial and it was not for me. I tried and then I beat myself up for failing. The summer was a bust as I spent a good portion of it either throwing up, trying not to throw up and getting better again. A fairly long process considering I only managed 4 weeks of drugs. Still wicked stuff! My hair fell out for months afterwards. I was afraid to have too much done to it right up until November.



Christmas was good and I spent time with my kids and family. Had a very good time and was easy on myself and didn't even attempt to "Do it all" So no baking and no decorating and it worked out fine for us. My mom wanted to take us (my three sons and I - granddaughter with her mom till Boxing Day) out for Christmas dinner so none of us had to worry about cooking. The boys were all for it and I thought it sounded like fun and time to make some new traditions etc. So after much checking around we ended up going to the River Rock Casino in Richmond (which is where my Mom lives). They have a fabulous buffet! It really was delicious. Then we headed down to the casino to play the slots for awhile. I have never been in a casino before and never gambled and I had a really good time. The slogan from the various casino ads kept running through my head - Know your limit and stay within it" and I did. The middle son won 125.00 so he was happy. We only stayed in the casino for an hour as the snow had started falling fast and thick so we thought it best to hit the road. Mom in Richmond and the rest of us out into the valley with the snow falling all the way home but it was good and we had a really nice day. Boxing Day was spent at my brothers with Mom and all my brothers kids and grandkids, my boys and granddaughter and various family friends. Lots of good food and good conversation. Again a very nice time was had.



So now here we are into 2008. I have decided on a few things starting with the Hep C issue. I am going to ignore it as best I can this year and just go for my bloodwork every 3 months and check the lft's. My viral load is low and I feel really good and energetic these days. Maybe I have learned to pace myself better but the last few months have been full and busy. I am up at 5AM and work from 8 - 4:30 and then home. Weekends are full with housework and chores and getting out and walking and visiting with friends. Re-treatment I will deal with in the future as I need to. Not this year though, this year is earmarked for other more fun things!



Work has changed and I am enjoying my job alot. I am the office person and take care of all office matters including billing, banking and payroll. I also have a company truck and I pick up supplies and take them out to the guys on various job sites all over the lower mainland. I could see myself staying with this company till I retire which isn't all that many years away now. I turned 57 in November so it is only 8 years until I retire.



I am in de-clutter mode at home and am working away at it bit by bit. When my husband and I split up two years ago and I moved into the apartment I just took all the crap with me. Now two years down the road I am going to get rid of a good portion of the stuff and start over. I am starting at one end of the apartment and going through it and either reorganizing it and then getting it into a tub for storage or I am throwing it out. I went through my closet the other day and had a pile of clothes chest high on the floor to give to MCC (charity out here ummm I think it stands for Menonite Central Commitee) Thrift Store. I am going to throw out or get rid of furniture too. Ikea seems to be the way to go!



Yesterday we booked our Alaskan Cruise for July of this year. My two girlfriends and my Mom are going on this trip. We've booked a quad room on the Norwegian Sun and this well be our first cruise for all of us. The girls and I plan on someplace hot next year, we are thinking about Mexico at an all inclusive, or flying to Hawaii and doing the islands cruise or one of the girls has family connections in Costa Rica so we may do it. This is all in prep for our big tour of Europe when we retire. Get used to travelling and be all ready for the big one.



One of the presents I got my son and granddaughter for Christmas was tickets for the three of us to go and see the "Walk with Dinosaurs" production that is travelling the world. It is based on the original BBC series. It looks so interesting and my son loves stuff like this. My granddaughter is almost 5 so I don't think it will scare her, at least I hope not.



So that is the plan for the new year. Work hard, enjoy life and have plans to look forward too.



I'm adding this picture my middle son took of my beautiful Nemo. It really shows his pretty eyes. Lacey is good and got lots of toys and new clothes for Christmas. I make her and my friends dog jackets for the rain and cold and also house jackets. I've given up the sweaters, they sag and the jackets are much nicer. I'll have to get some pics on here of her growing wardrobe but for now enjoy Nemo's beautiful eyes.

Blood tests and sequencing

I got a call a month ago from the drug trial nurse asking me to come back in so they could do another blood test for sequencing. I went this morning and gave my blood and was out of there in 20 minutes. The nurse didn't think I have to go back but she'll call if they need to see me again. I asked her about relapsing after being clear of the virus for over a year (someone on the board has just relapsed after being clear for 18 months I think) and she said the literature says that there is a 5% chance of relapse for up to 3 years after attaining SVR. That pretty much sucks!

Well now, Kim has "tagged" me. I tell you all 8 things about me and then I "tag" 8 more bloggers, they do the same thing. So here goes!

1.) My FORTY!!!! year high school reunion is next year. I just keep thinking OMG!! 40 years!!

2.) I am planning an Alaskan cruise for next September with my mom, my 2 friends and one of their moms. It should be so much fun.

3.) I think I am quickly becoming a vegetarian. I've found that the only meat I've been eating much of lately is chicken and today on my way into the hospital I ended up traveling down the freeway beside a truck full of chickens going to be slaughtered and they just looked so poorly treated and jammed into little cages................it sure turns me off eating them.

4) My favorite soaps are General Hospital and One Life to Live. I tape them both and watch them in the evening or on the weekends.

5.) I love the rain. That's probably a good thing seeing as how I live in a rain forest!

6.) I have 2 brothers and a sister and I am the oldest. 4 nieces and 1 nephew.

7.) My favorite tree is the Japanese Maple and even though I live on the 3rd floor of an apartment I have 6 different Japanese Maples.

8.) My friends think I'm morbid and strange because I follow so many of the Caringbridge pages. It was one of those things where I accidentally stumbled across a little girls page and started following it and one page and one child led to another and another and here I am 3 years later still following the many many children. September is Childhood Cancer month. Just go and search youtube and watch some of the video's. So many of the kids that I started following have died and more and more are diagnosed each day. We really need to channel as much as we can into the cancer fight.

Well Kim that's my 8 and I really don't have 8 people to tag. I am one of those lurker types that read the various blogs but don't make comments so I really don't know that many.

July in Beautiful BC

I've heard nothing from the hospital so I guess I can safely assume the virus is back. No surprise there!

Lynne and I went to Mintner Gardens yesterday. It's out the freeway past Chilliwack almost to Bridal Falls. They have weddings out there as well as being a garden. As it so happened yesterday there was a wedding while we were there and it was such a gorgeous setting! I got one picutre of the bride going by with her dad.

I have been working on my drawing and am really enjoying it. I wanted to get some good macro's yesterday of various flowers so I can use them to draw and did get some gorgeous closeups.

bloodwork

Well I went today to give blood again so they can chart how quickly the virus comes back. The last test came back <30.

I have to go back if the virus hasn't come back yet from this bloodwork but not until August 10th. I wonder how long it WILL take to come back.

Weather is hot and gorgeous here the last couple of days and I'm feeling so much better. Work is good so all is good in my world at the moment.

Clearing the virus

I just got a call from the drug study nurse to let me know that the bloodwork they took 2 weeks after I stopped treatment showed that I had cleared the virus. This is what happened last time I was on treatment too. I had cleared by week 4 and stayed that way till the end of treatment and then the virus came right back.

They need me to come in for more bloodwork to see how quickly the virus comes back. I guess they'll do that every few weeks until the virus shows it head again for data collection sake.

Ahh well it's nice to know that i still respond quickly. The nurse said that it is good news and bodes well for any future treatment. She also said they have found that is you have to discontinue treatment at all the virus does come back. Last time I had to stop the ribavirin twice to allow my counts to go back up. Now they can control the anemia much better so by the time I go at this again they may have it all under control.

2 week check up post treatment

I went back to the hospital yesterday for the 2 week checkup after treatment stops. More bloodwork, another ECG and a physical exam from a doctor. I managed to glean from what he said to the nurse that I have an enlarged liver with steatohepatitis (non alcoholic)

(Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH is a common, often “silent” liver disease. It resembles alcoholic liver disease, but occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. The major feature in NASH is fat in the liver, along with inflammation and damage. Most people with NASH feel well and are not aware that they have a liver problem. Nevertheless, NASH can be severe and can lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver is permanently damaged and scarred and no longer able to work properly.
NASH affects 2 to 5 percent of Americans. An additional 10 to 20 percent of Americans have fat in their liver, but no inflammation or liver damage, a condition called “fatty liver.” Although having fat in the liver is not normal, by itself it probably causes little harm or permanent damage. If fat is suspected based on blood test results or scans of the liver, this problem is called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). If a liver biopsy is performed in this case, it will show that some people have NASH while others have simple fatty liver.)

And palmar erythema (Palmar erythema is reddening of the palms at the thenar and hypothenar eminences. It is associated with various physiological as well as pathological changes, the principal one of which is portal hypertension. It is also seen in patients with liver dysfunction. - Wikipedia) non of which I was aware of.

The nausea still comes and goes and with it my appetite. I'm still very fatigued and it is frustrating! I just want to feel like I did before all this drug trial started. I go back in six months for more follow up. As the nurse walked me out she said it was probably just as well that I quit when I did as it was most likely they would have pulled me from the study anyway because of the blurred vision. She said it is something they watch very closely. So I guess either way I would have been done.

I am going to take one more week off work and then head back. I sure hope the energy level increases! After visiting the hospital on Friday I went to Richmond and visited with my Mom as I really don't get into town all that often. I took her out to Steveston and we had a bit of a walk along the water and stopped for fish and chips. It was really nice.

Today I am off with my two sons to go and visit my oldest son and granddaughter for dinner. I don't think I've mentioned it but their marriage has come to an end and they are sharing custody of the baby. It is sad and I love them both and am not taking sides at all. I really don't think there are sides to take, it just slowly came to an end for both of them. My only hope is that they will all be happier this way and that the baby will have all the love and care she requires from both parents as I know she will. They both love her dearly and will work with each other to make sure she is secure and happy.

Our weather here has been on the cool and wet side but I really don't mind. The heat kills me right now and saps what little energy I have as well as making the nausea flair. One day at a time and hopefully life will get back to normal quickly.

Last weekend Josh and Lacey and I went to visit friends in the Shuswap and had a very nice relaxing weekend. It felt good to get away for a bit and just relax.

One last note. A week ago I saw my liver specialist and after examining me for the end of treatment he asked what I thought happened. I said "it was all about the nausea and vomiting and not being able to work, houseclean, feed the animals, clean the litter box, grocery shopping and everything else it takes to run a life on a day to day basis when you are alone. I didn't have the luxury of just lying down and being sick" and he just nodded. He said "what now?" I said, "Well, I plan on regrouping" He looked at the nurse and she said "we just don't have anything else right now" He then mentioned a drug that I missed and looked at the nurse. She said "You like that one don't you?" and smiled and he nodded yes he did. Then he looked at me. I said "Hey I'm always up for a drug trial at least to try it and see" He nodded and said "OK" and that was the end of the conversation.