Showing posts with label pneumonia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pneumonia. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Writer's Block

"Writer's Block -- A phenomenom involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity.

That's what John says I have. Writer's block. What do I think? Perhaps. But not in the traditional sense, I don't think. I don't lack inspiration or creativity. And I certainly haven't been lacking things to write about.

Yes, I realize I haven't written in about three weeks. And I couldn't figure out why. There has been so much I have wanted to write about, so much I have wanted to tell you all. So many interesting things that have been going on in my life. So much I have learned. And so much that has happened. Some good things, and so many not so good things...

And I think therein lies the problem. The desire to include the not so good things along with the good things. I want to include those things along with the good things that have been going on, and the great things. Because they also are part of the story. My story. Let me digress for a moment.

A lot has gone on in my life since October 2008. Perhaps September 2008. I suppose that is when I had some major changes happen, both in my life and in my mindset. Wow, that's been almost six months now. I've wanted to tell you all about it.

So why haven't I? I sat down for the past few days and asked myself, now why haven't I been writing? I mean really writing? And when I do, why does it appear to be somewhat superficial? The answer finally came to me.

And the answer is pretty simple. John (my husband) has had health issues again. Don't worry, he's still in remmission from the two cancers he had. But he's had lots of complications as of late. From late September 2008 until now, he's been sick. I'm going to be straight forward with you. We almost lost him twice recently. Maybe more than twice.

And since October 2008 John has had pneumonia with fevers. It appears finally, perhaps, it may be clearing up. Maybe. In the past few days, his fever has been normal for the first time since October. It looks like this particular antibiotic is working!

But he's not out of the woods. His kidneys are giving him more trouble than they were previously. I believe he had about 35% kidney function until recently -- now I believe it's about 25%. That means the man is walking around with about 1/4 kidney function. That's both kidneys. Wow.

Don't get me wrong. He's not so disabled he's lying around in bed all day. He does do things every day. His condition doesn't stop him from doing every day things -- he just does them a little slower than the average person. He doesn't lay around in bed all day, however. But he does take naps -- one or two a day.

He also has a weakened immune system, and is going to get something called IVIG, probably in the next week or two . I'll tell you more about that more in the next few days when I know more. I'm a little nervous. The last time he got it, he ended up in the ICU at Hershey Medical Center (his bone marrow transplant center). So I'm somewhat apprehensive. I'll let you all know when that takes place...

So what does all of this have to do with Writer's Block? Everything!

I was told by a couple of bloggers to stop writing about John unless his condition was positive...

That's correct. They told me not to write if I didn't have positive things to say about John and what was going on with him. They said it would be too upsetting to you all if he wasn't in good health, and you just wouldn't want to know if he wasn't...

So to make a long story short, I merely stopped writing.

John is a large part of my life, as is what happens to him, so I just stopped writing rather than choose to leave him out of what I was writing about on a daily basis. It was a subconscious decision really -- I didn't realize what I was doing, and I didn't realize why I couldn't write until a few days ago. At first I was just going to write, not mentioning John, but still mention other areas of my life. But I thought tht would be superficial. I guess writing nothing at all was pretty superficial in and of itself, now that I think about it. But I thought it was what everyone wanted.

Until I talked to John. He said, "Krissy, you write. I believe most want to hear what you have to say. say. Whoever doesn't, doesn't have to read it. Besides, I do think they want to hear about what's going on with me." So tonight I'm coming back to write, and I'm including John in what I have to say. I should have done that all along...

And for that I'm sorry. I will start writing again. The good, the bad, the average, the interesting, the ugly, and the fun! All of it. Stay tuned for an interesting and sometimes bumpy ride!

Have you all missed me? I've missed you very much! Krissy :)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

John's in the hospital for Pneumonia

I'm in Hershey with John. He's been hospitalized here since early Friday, at his bone marrow transplant center. He's got either zoster pneumonia (from the shingles he had in September and October) or he has fungal pneumonia -- the doctors can't ascertain which kind. He has been in and out of the hospital since the end of September.

That is one of the reasons I haven't posted much in the past couple of months. I haven't had time, as I have been taking care of John while he was sick, both in and out of the hospital. I have to be honest with you, I did have time to post some after I got home from his first hospital stay, but I was just having difficulty posting. I felt completely dry. I just couldn't write. I was completely overwhelmed from what I went through with John when he was in the hospital in September and October. He almost passed away about three times while in the hospital, and well, it took a big toll on me.

There were other things that took a toll on me that simply prevented me from writing . For instance, John and I only got home from the hospital after about almost a month, just in time to migrate our AOL blogs over to Blogger. It was horrendous. We literally only had a few days to migrate several blogs. I was sooo frustrated when I was trying to set up my blogs, LOL. I just couldn't get them the way I wanted them. I still can't. Never the less learn how to write in them... Lest you think I am silly, try to remember the first couple of weeks you were on Blogger. Remember how frustrating it was, LOL? A new format! I felt so stupid and couldn't do anything on Blogger. So I just got stifled and didn't write. For days.

After awhile I posted occassional. So now you know why you see occassional posts from me...

Don't be too concerned though. I am back into the swing of things now, and can right again. I'm "unblocked," so to speak, LOL. I am not so sure, but the pressure broke about a week or so ago, and I was able to write again. And then I ended up here. I am frustrated, but will be home soon to continue.

When I get home I am going to continue my series about The Best Way to Read Blogs... I see everybody has different ways, and it is kind of interesting, what I am learning. It has been very helpful to me, learning from all of you! I hope I can help you also! I am refining my method, perhaps you may even want to refine the way you read blogs also...

Finally I want to say that John may be able to come home from the hospital tomorrow (Monday). The doctors are not sure what he has, but they know it is some kind of pneumonia. So they will probably be sending him home on IV meds. What that will mean is this -- if Dr. Claxton says he can come home, then John will leave with a port in his arm (I don't know if it will be temporary -- or more long term like most cancer patients get for fluids and to draw blood). Through the port I will give John his IV meds. I will give him an IV at home for two weeks.

I don't mind doing this. I would rather do home IVs than stay at the hospital. I will be a little nursey at home, LOL. I used to be frightened to do this, when I first started it, a few years ago. I was terrified to do home IV. Now I find it a piece of cake. They will have to review it with me though. But I want to go home!

Okay, I just wanted to let you all know where I was, and where John was, in case we were gone for a few more days. And I wanted you all to know why you haven't heard from us. We haven't tried to do a vanishing act...

Okay, I am going to go get back downstairs to John. I need to get out of this hospital computer room. I am such a computer addict, LOL... John is probably awake now. I just wanted you all to know where we were, as I haven't been able to do an entry in over a week. This is the second time we have been up here at Hershey Hospital in the past week... Okay, back to John.

Bye you all, krissy :)
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