Happy New Year!!!

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Wednesday 04 January 2012 - 12:03:46

Happy New Year everyone! I have not posted in quite sometime, I do want everyone to know that I am doing so much better. I spent the first 7 months of 2011 with extremely low Vitamin A,E,D and K vitamin levels and was also hospitalized in March for malnutition and pain. I went home with a Picc line so I could continue to do the tube feeding to help my nutrition levels. I had to do that for about 2 weeks after coming home. Thank Goodness for my Dear sweet friend Cheri and My Daughter Ashley, they would come over and help each time it needed to be set up. I was on Home health care while I had the PICC line so I could be medically monitored. Once I was done with the IV Feedings I was able to get back to more of a normal state.
 The exciting news is Dr. Lamont physically went down to the health food store and spoke to them about a natural enzyme. I have had zero luck with the perscription enzymes the more I take the more I vomit, the less I take the more I have the malabsorption issue and everything just goes right through me. I have been so very thin, huvvering just over 100lbs if I was lucky 102 Lbs. He spoke to them at length and then gave me a call and told me to try Wholezyme Ultra. It comes from the Whole Foods Store the bottle has 100 tablets and they are 325 mg each they have 81,250 protease, 81,250 Amylase and 6500 Lipase. They are my miracle! The bottle cost 12.99 each I go in and buy 8 to 10 bottles at a time. I started out slow I learned my body has to be treated just like and infant. I started with 2 each meal and 1 with each snack (no matter how small) I now take 3 with each meal and 2 with a snack. I weigh 110 lbs and my vitamin levels are just shy of being normal. I also take my Juice Plus Gummies for added nutrition and a chewable ADEK tablet. I finally am not vomiting and everything is not just running through me. I am excited about this and wanted to share this with you, I am sure there are several people out there that have issues with the enzymes. I am trying to continue to gain weight and see if I can get myself to 118 lbs I would be thrilled, even though that is still low I would be pleased to accomplish that!
 My Granddaughter Sydney will be 3 in February and I have a new Grandbaby that is 7 months old Her name is Lyla. I am working a lot of hours and still selling Real Estate. I promise to post more now I had probelms with the site for awhile with hackers. I am now very protected, they keep trying but can't get in. I would Love to hear from all of you. I hope you are still checking the site. Happy New Year to all, wishing you as many pain free days as possible. Love Lorie


Test Results

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Wednesday 08 December 2010 - 05:39:45
Hi everyone: I am posting to let you know I have received my test results back. Informally with the Physicians assistant, I will however see Dr. Lamont on the 2oth. My Blood work was poor. I had the 2nd set of Labwork done because of my low pre-albium which is the nutrition panel. Dr. Lamont ran the vitamin series to test for deficiency and my Vitamin A, D and K1 was very low. I am realizing why I feel the way I do. It is not an everyday thing to be deficient in A and K1 especially. Society is starting to be more deficient in D because of our education on to much sun and using sunblock etc.. so everyone should see about taking extra Vitamin D if needed. The A and K1 is scary because it is not a normal occurrance to be deficient in these. I know it is from the malabsorption problem I am having. I urge all that are post transplant to look into this. I am waiting on a Nutritionist to call from Baylor Dallas's Landry center. I will hopefully be able to figure out the best way to get these nutrients. It is not as simple as just saying take the extra supplements if my body is not going to absorb them. Dr. Lamont went to the Whole foods store and spoke with them and he is saying I need to take a product called wholezyme so I am going to discuss this with the nutritionist. I am also told by the physicians assistant that my Ultrasound of the Liver turned out Ok- I am really happy about this and when I see Dr. Lamont I will go over it with him to confirm. She said it was very Fatty so I want to talk to him about that. I think this is a more normal occurrence because of the transplant but I want to ask. I am on the go this morning I am taking a contract class. I will post again very soon with more information and follow up. I hope all of you are enjoting the Holiday Season and staying strong! Happy Holidays! Lorie


I saw Dr. Lamont yesterday

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Friday 12 November 2010 - 07:37:42
I had my appointment with Doctor Lamont yesterday and had a really good visit with him. I talked with him for quite sometime and we have developed a plan! Finally a plan... I will get to that in a moment but I will start with the rest of my blood work that came in. My liver enzymes are high, my hemoglobin was high and my glucose was high. I already was told that by the nurse but was waiting on my prealbium which is basically my nutrition panel. The results came back pretty low. The other factors of hair loss, really dry skin, more bruising and really sore muscles has prompted him to go ahead and run more blood work. Dr. Lamont said he wanted to look at my Vitamin A, D, K, B12, Folic acid, E, and then my Thyroid as well. In regards to the Liver enzymes he is not overly concerned but is proceeding cautiously and going to do an ultrasound of my liver just to make sure it is ok. Because I have more of a fatty liver and a transplant patient my enzymes are going to be slightly elevated in my case anyway. The factors of the other blood work and some increase in pain is just warranting him to be on the cautious side of things.This is the other part of my visit that has me excited . I continue to have issues with my digestive enzymes as we all know I have stated many times it can be a vicious cycle. The more enzymes I take the more nausea and vomiting, the less I take the more problems I have with not absorbing fats and end up in bathroom all the time. The Zen-pep has worked better for me then the Creon and Viokase I could not take at all. Sooo He told me out of the 22 Islet Cell Transplants he has done since me  they have studied this situation and he is hearing the exact same thing from 90% of his patients. He has had 2 or 3 patients just stop taking the enzymes all together and made their own decision to take the route of adding to their daily diet Organic whole foods that increase digestion rapidly. These patients are doing much better. Dr. Lamont said one takes zero enzymes and one or 2 take VERY minimal enzymes basically next to none. The great part is Dr. Lamont said when he left the office last night he was going to make a trip to the whole foods store and speak to them about all of this and also purchase some items and test a few theories out. His office is also part of Texas Oncology so they have a nutritionist on staff & he is going to have them call me. I know this will be a trial and error situation and will take some time but I am thrilled to know that I have possibly other options. In the mean time I will get my blood work done see were I am deficient and work with the nutrionist on this as well. I am crossing my fingers they can schedule the ultrasound soon and just make sure my Liver is ok.  I am thinking positive and really think it will be ok. In regards to the increased pain I am just dealing with it hoping it will pass and remaining positive. I also had the opportunity to meet a patient that is getting ready to have a total pancreatectomy and possible Islet cell transplant. Their are a lot of factors involved for her on the Islet cell part. I have spoken to her a few times on the phone and it was actually a fluke that we were there at the same time. I always would like to think I am able to help others with some answers to some questions or at least just be a sounding board if needed. I hope her appointment went well and if you need anything Rebecca feel free to call me or please post anytime. I hope everyone out there is staying strong, having faith and know that you are not alone! Love to All, Lorie  


Blood work came back

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Wednesday 10 November 2010 - 14:20:48
Tomorrow I will be going in to see Dr. Lamont. Some of my Labwork came back and I am a bit concerned. My Liver Enzymes are elevated, my Hemoglobin is elevated and my glucose was elevated. I am still waiting to find out the results of the metobolic panel - Nutrition levels. I am hoping this is nothing serious, I know I have not been feeling great so I am a bit scared but I am not going to freak out until I see how elevated and what exactly Dr. Lamont thinks. I will post and let you know what he has to say. I posted a couple pictures of my Grandaughter Sydney. I need to post more pictures just have to get some free time. Touch base back soon! Lorie


Hi

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Monday 08 November 2010 - 06:34:03
Hi: I hope this finds everyone doing as good as possible. I am not even able to believe we are running up against the Holidays again soon. I do not know were the time goes. I have stayed busy even in the slump of the Real Estate market I have been blessed and managed to stay busy. I have been enjoying my family and absolutely adore my little Granddaughter Sydney. It amazes me how very smart and fast she is growing. I know this Christmas she will be especially fun. I am waiting on blood work to come back today, I have been pretty fatigued and have some concerns about the non absorption of fats. I worry it eventually will cause problems with nutrients my body has to have. I have more pain lately but I am dealing with it. I also will be seeing my specialist that did my Islet Cell Transplant on Thursday. Cross your fingers that blood work comes back ok and that I am staying on the right course. My weight is still around 105 Lbs so this is good. I wish everyone well and hope that you are staying as pain free as possible! I tried adding some pictures of Sydney but I was having trouble so I asked Robert to give me a hand. Check back ina day or two and hopefully they will be up! Love to all... Lorie 


3 Year Anniversary

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Tuesday 17 August 2010 - 10:11:56
Today is my 3 year anniversary for my transplant! Wow, how time flys! The days after my transplant would drag day by day and now that I am doing so much better time just flys by. I really wish that each of you could say this. My prayers daily include all my panc buddies to have better health and less pain. I still do not have the stamina that I used to, it is coming back but it has taken so long. I have days were I have to take a nap and there are days I have to take more meds then maybe the day before but all in all I am soooo much better. I am proud to say that work wise I am busier then ever and was just listed in RE/MAX Reporter Magazine. I was in the top 20 agents for production in all of Tarrant County, for the first quarter of 2010. I do still have trouble with absorbing fats and only weigh 105 lbs but seem to maintain this weight. Last year I was struggling to keep above the 100 mark. I do work a lot of hours it is a diversion for me and Real Estate keeps me focused on other people's lives not just my own. I do struggle some days I won't lie. I have not had a visit to Baylor since January That was 8 months ago, my longest run in over probably 6 years :):) That my friends is something I have dreamed of. I can finally say that I do not know every nurse on the floor and there rotating schedule, surely there are some new ones by now. LOL It becomes such a central part of our lives when we are so sick. We know all the Doctor's, The Nurses the Techs everyone that participates in our care. We become so self absorbed in the disease it is truly our day in and day out part of our life. I can remember looking out the window of the hospital all the time watching all the people come and go and the traffic flowing down the streets thinking everything around you keeps on moving and the world keeps on living there daily life but yet I felt stuck in the same time zone forever. I know each of you know exactly how that feels.  So Today is a day of celebration for me. I am proud to say that I have reached the otherside. I have tried to do it with dignity and with respect of others. Some days I am sure the Doctors and nurses really wished they had not had me as a patient that day but I know all in all they did understand. Now there are a few Doctors and Nurses that I will never forget and you have had to endure these types as well, they are the ones that need to move on to another proffession because they caused me a great deal of trauma. I have scars from them and will hopefully be able to release those vivid memories of horrible care both mentally and physically some day. I do not dwell on it but it does come back to haunt me. The one's I choose to remember will always be very special to me. I will never forget several that went above and beyond the call of duty. I was blessed with a whole lot more good then bad at Baylor Dallas. They will hold a very special place in my heart forever. My home health care nurse Nancy I ran into her at Target a couple months ago, it was great to see her. Nancy took care of me for close to a year at home and she had never seen me outside the house or bed so it was great to give her a big hug in the middle of the isle at Target. Nancy weathered a lot of really bad times with me. My Family, My Husband & Friends have also been through so very much with me and they have been so very patient waiting, praying and wishing me well again. I think they still to this day wait for the other shoe to drop, afraid the phone will ring with me saying I am back in the hospital. My Goal is to keep that from happening, it is to stay out of there and home with all of them. I have to get back to work but could not let this day roll by without posting my celebration of this day. I am sending thoughts and prayers out to all of you. Hold tight to your dreams and always remember that it is possible to get to the otherside of this disease. We will never be perfect since it changes us from how God intended our bodies to be and work but it can help immensley. Love to All Lorie I will post again soon! I will also post some new pictures of my Granddaughter soon. She is coming up on 18 months old.


It has been to long had a hacker take down the site

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Wednesday 11 August 2010 - 07:08:52
Hi: I am sorry that things have been so crazy, the site was down for awhile due to a loser hacker. I now have my son in-law Robert handling all my maintenance and updates. I am so excited about this, he is going to set it up so when I journal it will go out to everyone letting you know I have journaled. I was so scared I had lost everything but Robert was able to recapture it for me. Be patient and I will be back to journaling and putting some new stuff on here that I have wanted to do for so long, but the person that was handling my site did not give a rip about it. I found out it was so unprotected to hackers. My Sister started the site for me and had a guy that built it but he moved on to bigger and better things and just left me in the weeds. I just got back from vacation to Oregon and had a great tiem visiting family. I will update everyone more very soon. I am getting ready to walk out to an appointment but to much time had passed since I have posted. I am still alive and kicking, 8 months and NO Hospital, they put me on a new enzyme that has helped. I have no gained much weight but that is the least of my worries if I can stay healthy I will just have to be skinny or petite sounds better I think of everyone one of you all the time and hope you are keeping up the fight to better health and miracles. I will post again VERY SOON! I have a lot to tell.Love to all Lorie  


Hi An Update

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Saturday 17 April 2010 - 07:03:23
Hi everyone: I have been so bad about posting. I miss visiting with all of you and I am working on setting this up so whoever is a member will get a notification that I have posted so you will know when there is activity on here. I am going to work on posting more.
 Most everything is the same no real change weigh 102 lbs today. I had gained 7 or 8 in the hospital with the feeding tube back in January and managed to keep it on for awhile but well you know how the story goes. cry.png
 Work keeps me entirely to busy and I am working hard on trying to take more time for myself. The weeks just get to long and all start to run together. I posted more pictures last time I was on and I also have been posting a lot on face book so you can always check me out on there it stays up to date. I am still here for those of you that need me so please know that just because I have not posted in awhile doesn't mean I don't worry about you. I really think the E-mail notification will help.  
 I also wanted to tell you I am on a new enzyme called Zen-Pep and it is better then any of the ones I have been on. The make up of it is similiar to creon but it does differ from it and whatever the change, it is better because it does help me more with my digestion.
 I had a horrible scare last week with Eric they admitted him to the Hospital for 2 days, we thought he was having a heart attack because of an abnormal EKG and severe chest pains with more then one episode. They ran the blood gas enzymes to see if it was indeed a heart attack and that showed up ok, so they went one step further and did a stress test. This turned up ok as well. They think possibly it could be his gallbladder with referred pain to the chest. We all know how high the gallbladder sits so this is possible. I don't understand how the pain going down his arms could be associated with the gallbladder though. I am keeping a close eye on him and praying that everything stays ok.
 On top of that during his hospital stay my step daughter Sarah ran away. I had to go through so much all at one time. She is still gone and a very selfish 17 yr. old. We have had a lot of issue's with her. I felt so bad for Eric being in the hospital and feeling so helpless. Just the thought of it makes my blood boil she thought he was having a heart attack and there might be a blockage and she knew stress would be the worst thing for him but she did not care. I know how bad that hurts Eric. Anyway, I don't want to really go into much more detail then that. My life is such an open book to everyone already I don't really know why not but never the less I won't.
 Heck I could probably write a novel about my life it is most certainly a busy and drama filled life, definitely not by choice!
 I have talked to a couple transplant patients lately and they are doing pretty fair. I had a Dr appt. week before last but Dr. Lamont was in emergency surgery so did not get to see him. I was going to ask if he had any transplants on the surgery schedule. I am curious how many he has done to date. I am also curious if they are offering it as much and what they see the success rate as. I will let you know when I find out the answer to those questions.
Well, I will close with telling you all I love you and I hope you are all hanging in there and life is treating you as good as it possibly can! shades.png

Post, post post.... lets get this site rocking again!
Lorie


I am going Home Tomorrow

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Wednesday 27 January 2010 - 18:51:14
 I am going home tomorrow! Yeah after 8 or 9 days that is music to my ears. The medicine Dr. Lamont put me on for Motility works great, maybe a bit to good. We are adjusting it the other way now. I am really trying hard to follow all instructions and be optimistic. I am very tired of being in here.
 I just happened to see Paige up here she is an Iselt Cell Transplant patient as well. She has been up here for a few days. I guess her Islet Cells are not working and she is now Diabetic. I really hate to hear that and wish she were feeling better.
  I hope all of you are good, I know that life can be rough sometimes so everyone hang in there!

(((((HUGS)))))


Day Number 7 in the Hospital

Filed under: Lorie's Journal - Lorie Bledsoe on Tuesday 26 January 2010 - 14:56:18
I am still in the hospital. I had a scope procedure done today that turned out pretty good.. The results are slow mobility which we already knew about. The good news is they are trying a new drug on me to see if it does any good. Dr Lamont sat and talked to me for awhile and we have a new statedgy so I am crossing my fingers it will. I am getting a new med for the motility issue, it is brand new. My other Dr. went ahead and dialated my stomach. I will stay on TPN for awhile, I am trying to gain weight as usual. My Protiens are low and they are working at getting them up to a healthy level. I am sure there is more coming, I am tired and I will post later. I did get to see my little pumpkin this morning before I went in for my surgery/procedure. I tell you what I could be having the most dreadful day ever and little Sydney will put a smile on my face everytime.
cheesey.png



Go to page       >>