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Health update

Besides trying to record the story of HPS, and my little life as well, I use this blog to help me keep track of my health things as well – so with that in mind here’s a health update.

The days before Thanksgiving I was not only feeling exhausted, but my joints were killing me. They were beyond the merely annoying stage. They hurt! I have no idea what that’s all about.

Wednesday when Phyllis and Nancy came to pick me up, I was very much hurting. But, by Thanksgiving day the pain was gone. I felt fine! I ate way too much for Thanksgiving and my tummy was just fine. After dinner I went on a walk and didn’t really feel out of breath or tired. It was great!

Friday, however, was a more eventful day. That morning I changed my ostomy, but for some reason this time my stoma bled – and not just a little. I had a roll of paper towels and pretty much used them all trying to apply pressure to the bottom of my stoma to get it to stop bleeding. Had I been home I’d have a magnifying mirror and I could tell you if there was a sore etc. But, since I wasn’t home I really don’t know why it bled so much. It didn’t hurt. Finally I got it to stop and got a pouch on. The rest of the day, however, I was worried it would start up again and cause my pouch to leak.

I ate lunch at grandma’s retirement home and made the fatal error of eating three bites of salad, two pieces of cantaloupe and three grapes with my lunch. (Feeling a little guilty about the gluttony from the day before!) Given the problems of the morning, I should have known better.

We left for the movie, and about half way through the film (about maybe an hour to an hour and a half after eating) I felt a warm whoosh and could tell my pouch was rapidly filling. I stuck it out until the end of the movie (another error) but after the film discovered the restroom line was completely across the lobby and down the hall.

Grandma doesn’t live far from the theater, so I decided my chances were better off hustling home. Phyllis dropped me off at the door, and I ran at full speed for the lobby restroom! About a half hour later my pouch was full again. So much for being good!

By Friday evening I was starting to have some trouble breathing. Not badly, and I don’t think it was apparent to anyone else – but sometimes when I’m having trouble it isn’t so much a gasping for air. It’s a feeling as though you know you’re working hard to take normal breaths. You become very aware of your breathing as opposed to completely not thinking about it as is normally the case.

When I got home Saturday I tried to do some house work, but was still feeling easily winded. I also noticed I was coughing a bit.

Sunday I ran just a few errands to take a break from work and was very, very easily winded. I walked about four blocks and was huffing and puffing and needed my abuderol. I haven’t used it in months.

Monday evening I went to the bank and the same thing – after walking just a few blocks I’m huffing and puffing, where just a few days before I was walking several miles without trouble. Go figure!

Today at work I went for a walk during lunch because the weather was so nice, and the same thing. I returned to my desk panting like a dog! I’m not sure what’s up!

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