This diary is my sanity as my husband has been in the hospital for approximately 25 days and was just diagnosed with cirrhosis. We have been through hell and back and I do mean we as the caregiver is just exhausted as the patient. Any way....today is the day he should go home. Truthfully, he probably is not strong enough to be home, but I do not think he'll get much better until he is at home. ... http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:19:37 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/free-therapy <p>What this site means to me. &nbsp;When we receive good news, can&#39;t wait to post it. &nbsp;When the news is not so good, gotta post and see if anyone else has experienced it. &nbsp;Time to rant.....writing is a great way to vent. &nbsp;The times that seem to mean the most are when I feel my knowledge and experience may help someone else. &nbsp;It&#39;s so easy to get caught up in oneself (orfamily) and forget the rest of the world. &nbsp; We all were born with a purpose in this life. &nbsp [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/been-awhile-178510 <p>since I felt like writing in my diary. &nbsp;Jazz and I did go on the cruise. &nbsp;It was fun but I worried how things were at home. &nbsp;Jim was fine. &nbsp;His sister came by and spent a night. &nbsp;Our son was with him often. &nbsp;He complained too many people called or checked in on him. &nbsp;Never got a break. &nbsp;He&#39;s trying to stop the fentanyl patch &nbsp;which to me is ridiculous. &nbsp;We are cleaning out the garage, scrapping unwanted metal, and packing for a move. &nbsp [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/new-week-176586 <p>Our baby girl has graduated summa cum laude and as a Highland scholar. &nbsp;(with honors) &nbsp;Weather wasn&#39;t great but it was held outside. &nbsp;I arranged in advance for disability services for Jim so we parked in the nearest parking lot and a golf cart met us to take us to special setting. &nbsp;Not too much a stress on him though after a week wore him out. &nbsp;All day Sunday, he slept. &nbsp;He drove longer &nbsp;home yesterday than in the past but slept when I drove and went to [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/still-annoyed <p>Been five days since our huge argument and I am still in a funk. &nbsp;Exercise is helping. &nbsp;It would be so easy to blame things on HE but in truth, I do know it&#39;s just personality that I normal tolerate but when in such mood, tend to lash out. &nbsp;Yesterday shopping, he mentioned the shorts we bought last summer. &nbsp;Mind you, he lost 60 pounds. &nbsp;We bought possible ten pairs of shorts including compression shorts he wanted to exercise, boxer shorts, bathing suits, and decen [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/good-mood-cant-last-long <p>Having online tests results is a blessing and a curse. &nbsp;Yet another set of results posted this morning. &nbsp;Fibrosure &nbsp;91%. &nbsp;Guess cirrhosis is for sure. &nbsp;Minimum score on necroinflammatory. &nbsp;GGT is high. &nbsp;Alpha 2-macroglobulins is high and haptoglobin is low. &nbsp;That one is indicative of hemolytic anemia. &nbsp;Surprisingly is bilirubin is normal. &nbsp;It&#39;s been just over normal for the past four months. &nbsp;Hep A, Hep B, and his ANA are all negative [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/me-175299 <p>What do you know......Jim&#39;s in a good place and I finally went to the doctor with some long standing problems. &nbsp;Funny for me to stop and take the time and effort. &nbsp;It is difficult as he has medicare now. &nbsp;(age 65 in November) &nbsp;I still do not have insurance. &nbsp;Fortunately our state has a program for women 50 and older to have pelvic exam and mammogram done. &nbsp;Had to wait two months to get in and felt horrible going to the health department but the doctor was so [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/you-have-an-angel <p>The hepatologist&#39;s words yesterday. &nbsp;Guess at first he thought I was the daughter or something. &nbsp;He eventually asked Jim if he lived alone. &nbsp;That is when we realized he did not know I was the wife. &nbsp;Jim said he had one &quot;hot mama&quot; and then the doc said he had an angel. &nbsp;I thought it was sweet. &nbsp;So many things to write about and this laptop has a funky keyboard. &nbsp;We had no internet yesterday at my sister&#39;s. &nbsp;Not used to no contact nor im [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/evaluation-day <p>Up early and cannot sleep. &nbsp;Still gathering documents and writing questions to ask the doctor. &nbsp;Guess I just want to be prepared for anything. &nbsp;My best hope is to say he is eligible for a transplant however he&#39;s way to healthy at present to even list. &nbsp;Of course you can&#39;t always get what you want. &nbsp;Jillie is worried about him surviving a transplant and the recovery process. &nbsp;Lots of prodding by my sister so we are staying at her home tonight. &nbsp;Really [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/normal-liver-2007-08-09 <p>So how does a liver go from normal to cirrhotic in three years? &nbsp;I was hoping for something in all the early testing to find out if Jim had internal bleeding as the cause of his anemia. &nbsp;Even the liver scan in 2008 said NORMAL. &nbsp;No fat! &nbsp;No thickening. &nbsp;I remember Dr. K&#39;s words....&quot;the only definitive test would be biopsy but he&#39;s a bleeding risk and all the tests indicate his liver is fine.&quot; &nbsp;Now, we know his anemia is a compressed bone marrow. [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/guilty-and-confused <p>So many people we know need transplants. &nbsp;Not just liver transplants either. &nbsp;Tricia, from Audrey&#39;s church, is in need of a second lung transplant due to complications of cystic fibrosis. &nbsp;Young woman with so much love for Jesus and in love with Nathan she risked her life to have a child. &nbsp;Amazing she made it the first time and now, as she grows so weak, can she even survive another lung transplant? &nbsp;I think of the book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. &nbs [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/so-much-can-change <p>It&#39;s been one year since Jim received his diagnosis of cirrhosis. &nbsp;Unfortunately his was admitted to the hospital, battling a blood infection and sepsis when he got that information. &nbsp;Literally the infection was so bad, they were not worried about his liver; only battling the infection. &nbsp;While doing an endoscopic heart test, a varice had ruptured and he needed a transfusion on top of everything else. &nbsp;Tuesday makes one year since the doctor said emphatically...&quot;he [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/waiting-continues <p>Nothing yet on the transplant evaluation. &nbsp;Nothing yet from medicaid office. &nbsp;Nothing yet on the house we would like to rent. &nbsp;Just sitting and waiting. &nbsp;We were able to look inside the house on Monday. &nbsp;It&#39;s HUGE! &nbsp;From the outside, looks like a small ranch. &nbsp;Inside it looks fine until you realize it&#39;s a full attic with real stairs as opposed to pull out ladder AND a full basement. &nbsp;The basement has a finished game room, separate laundry room w [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/stll-waiting <p>Jim saw Dr. Lawson on Tuesday.&nbsp; He said that his nurse would call by the end of the week with information regarding liver transplant evaluation.&nbsp; It&#39;s Saturday and have not heard a thing!&nbsp; Jim&#39;s new insurance has started a new house call service to his plan.&nbsp; A provider is coming out on Monday to meet him and discuss how this works.&nbsp; Plan to ask transplant questions in so far as what to expect from the insurance company aspect.&nbsp; The thing is, if we move, [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/more-questions-than-answers <p>Feel like our life has been on hold until this week.&nbsp; Thought we&#39;d know so much concerning Jim&#39;s health and then, find a place to move to the mountains. Well we know Jim&#39;s doctor finally is going to make arrangements for a transplant evaluation.&nbsp; No idea wen it will be scheduled or anything concerning his insurance. Social services was supposed to have a final determination letter to me by the 25th.&nbsp; It&#39;s the 6th and no letter.&nbsp; Hate always having to make c [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/seriouslythat-was-my-last-title <p>Things certainly change quickly. &nbsp;I was actually happy for nearly two days? &nbsp;Then life smacks you back in the face. &nbsp;Jim does not qualify for medicaid. &nbsp;Nope......not that he&#39;s not sick enough; he is. &nbsp;Not that is is not considered disabled; he is. &nbsp;Not that we aren&#39;t poor enough; we are. &nbsp;Twenty some years ago when Jim managed a sand plant, two mobilehomes were purchased and registered to him for site delivery. &nbsp;They were no longer considered & [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/my-best-day-in-so-long <p class="MsoNormal">Just had the best day I&rsquo;ve had in months. Perhaps best day in more than a year.&nbsp; I finally spend a day about me.&nbsp; Yes, I know I&rsquo;ve done other things but nothing ever felt like me and a bit self-indulgent.&nbsp; Went to a cooking a cooking class at one of my favorite restaurants and it was fantastic!&nbsp; My knees are paying for it now&hellip;..five hoursstanding on concrete floors but loved every minute of it.&nbsp; Lots of other adults there and every [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/the-hits-keep-coming My federal grant money for school has been stopped. &nbsp;Apparently I have too many credits without receiving my degree. &nbsp;Does not matter that my father or me paid for most of them! &nbsp;Stupid community college rule. &nbsp;I&#39;ll have my certification in EHR but without at least an associates degree, will not matter much. &nbsp;Going to file an appeal but may have to transfer to a four year college. &nbsp;The leftover grant money has been the difference paying bills and not being able [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/wrestling <p>Yep...an odd diary title but that is what brought Jim and I together about 30 years ago. &nbsp;His sons were wrestling in the city tournament and he invited me to come watch. &nbsp;I thought a friendly gesture and ended up dating his brother for a few weeks before I realized his true intentions. &nbsp;(and knew which was the better brother!) &nbsp; &nbsp;We ended up together and even planned our wedding around wrestling matches. &nbsp;Jim and I saw his sons through many, many years of wrestli [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/you-have-to-love-a-good-doctor <p>Jim&#39;s been with his hematologist for more than five years. &nbsp;During most of that time, we had no insurance yet Dr. A never refused to see him or demand up front payment. &nbsp;When trying to find the cause of Jim&#39;s anemia, he arranged for other providers to see Jim and either write off the balance or let us make payments. &nbsp;He&#39;s always allowed time we need for all my questions! &nbsp;And whenever I had a suggestion, he&#39;d always listen ad sometimes, take heed in what I [...] MommaMac http://www.mdjunction.com/diary/my-hunny-bunny/good-weekend-168076 <p>Had my weekend away from Jim. &nbsp;The first 24 hours were great. &nbsp;Much needed rest and relaxation. &nbsp;The second 24 hours, either the bad luck to pick up a stomach virus or the anxiety of worrying about him at home was too much for me. &nbsp;Terrible stomach problems, insomnia the final night and so very happy to be home with him on Sunday. &nbsp;The saying is true....distance makes the heart grow fonder. &nbsp;He had a great weekend. &nbsp;Slept much of the time I think in part, bo [...] MommaMac