I am so sorry it's been so long since I've written. This past month has probably been one of the hardest times I've ever had physically. It's a very long story, so I'll try to keep the many details out (since my son and daughter say I always give too many details) and just give you the basics.

As some of you know, I've had high blood pressure for a very long time. Well, about a month ago, I was in bed watching tv about 12:30 at night, and all of a sudden my left arm and left side of my face was tingly. I felt my blood pressure was up, and I was right. It was something like 225/102. I didn't want to go by squad (since I knew I was "fine"), so I called my brother next door and he took me to the emergency room. They wanted to keep me, but as soon as it got down to 178/80 (around 3:30 am), I signed myself out AMA (dumb thing to do, but I had to make sure my dogs were taken care of).

I actually felt really good when I got home and was wide awake. Around 2:00 that afternoon, it started again. Again, I took my pressure.. and again, it was wayyyyy up there. I called Karol to see if she could sit with the dogs. She said she could stay that night, but she had another dog sitting job the next day. Well, when I called Joanne that morning to let her know I wasn't going to work and the reason for it, she told me if I needed any help with the dogs to let her know, so I did. I called her and told her I was going to go back to the hospital, that Karol would be there that night, but I needed help for anytime after that as long as I had to stay in there. THANK GOD for Karol and Joanne. Without them, I probably wouldn't have gone to the hospital and would have stroked out. While I was in there, Joanne came over four or five times a day to let them out, feed them, give Mike his meds and play with them. I am so very blessed and grateful for these two beautiful people.

It was almost two hours after I had taken my blood pressure again that I finally called a squad (I had to make sure everything was as it should be before I left... stupid, I know, but it took a lot of stress off me). In the squad, my pressure was 233/103, and for the next three days, (except for a couple of 198's or 186's) that top number just wouldn't go down below 200, even with all the pills and iv's they were giving me. I "think" I came home on the fourth day. I don't remember much of my time there except getting there because of all the drugs they pumped in to me. I don't remember Debs calling me or talking to my Son. I don't remember a lot. They think I had a TIA (mini-stroke) which by itself isn't dangerous but could be a warning of things yet to come.

What I do remember, is that when I finally was allowed to come home, they gave me 5 pills to take in the morning (all at one time) and the same 5 to take at night (again all at once). For the next 2 1/2 weeks I was so lightheaded that I couldn't get up to walk more than a few feet without feeling like the floor was going to come up and meet me. The doctors all said it would take time for my body to get use to a lower pressure... but the problem was, my pressure was getting "too" low. At one point, I took it, and it was 85/40. I was too weak to even call the doctor at that point. I remember sitting in the lazy boy thinking, "if it gets low enough, I could just fall asleep and never wake up... what a wonderful way to go." I wasn't being negative, but I've just nevergone through anything like that, and I was more relaxed than I had ever been in my life.

Well... after, I don't know how many, adjustments in the medication, we (me first and then the doctor) agreed that I should continue taking the Clonidine in the morning and drop one of the pills at night (leaving four to take every night). If I get lightheaded at night, it doesn't matter. So far it's working quite well... but for almost 2 weeks after we made that change, I was so tired and weak, I could hardly move. When I was lightheaded, I couldn't even sit up straight in a chair, and after the change in meds, I could sit up straight but had no energy at all.

Poor Mike and Gidget... especially Gidget because she requires more attention than Mike. I had to put kitchen chairs about every 7 feet from my chair to the laundry room door so I could let them out (remember I couldn't go far without that feeling), and while I was holding the leashes by the door so they could go, I had to sit on a chair and lean my head against the window so I wouldn't fall off of it.

I'll tell ya what... it was horrible. I've said this to others, and it's true... going through all this was actually worse than having cancer and taking chemo. At least I knew what to expect with that. This just stressed me out so bad that I, literally, aged at least five years in that short amount of time. The color on my face was almost grey (doctor said I looked "sallow").. I saw wrinkles in my cheeks that had never been there before, I was losing a little hair in the brush, and it was almost impossible to take a shower if I waited until after I took my pills in the morning. I wouldn't start feeling right until sometimes as late as 6:00 pm.

I didn't have much food in the house, and it was difficult for me to get up to fix anything to eat anyway, so I lost 6 pounds during that time (actually lost more, but gained some back). That entire time frame was when we were deluged with snow. We had at least 14" in one falling and a few days later another 7" or 8". I didn't have the energy to shovel the patio for the dogs to go potty, so I just took a broom, prayed a lot, and swept enough room for them to go. My patio table had about 20" of snow on it by the time it was all over. And thank God Chuck (my brother who owns the house) had someone plow the drive since the snow was up to my wheel wells. I wasn't allowed to (nor could I if I wanted to) drive, but in case I needed a squad, they needed a clear path.

Oh my gosh... I guess I still went in to a lot of detail (sorry)... I suppose it's the writer in me (can't break the habit LOL). I'm feeling so much better these past five or six days now. I actually got in the car and went to church Sunday (Praise God!), and I've been going back to work a few hours at a time. My pressure is good now, and I'm praying it stays that way.

As far as my puppers..... well... Sir Michael is doing wonderfully. He's had a couple of days where he's not feeling well and crabby with his sister, but she's got to learn that he doesn't "always" want to play. He's eating great, going potty like he should, and I've only seen blood in the diaper a few times (even though I saw it in the snow all the time). The Previcox seems to be working. He had a couple of nights where he woke up panting really hard, but when I stroked him and talked softly to him, he was able to settle down fairly quickly.

Yesterday was Princess Gidget's first Gotchya Day!!! Oh my gosh.. a whole year already. It really went fast, and she's come a long way. There were times I honestly didn't know if we would make it. It was so frustrating that a couple of times I actually considered calling the rescue to send her back. But I'm glad we stuck it out. She's just so damn cute and funny. She makes me laugh (most of the time).



Blogger Alexandra said...

This was just too funny! Does she let you clip her nails?

alex

January 11, 2009 9:02 PM


Hi Alex.... Nope.. are you kidding??? Her feet are "her" property. LOL And trust me, her nails are sharp as a razor. It takes three of us to clip them... she's such a squirmy worm. She doesn't stay still for much of anything. When I brush her, she wants to play with the brush, and if I need to clean her little bottom when she comes in.. she's like a shark... flipping around to stop me from touching her. God help the groomer if I ever took her to one. No, I guess I'm gonna be destined to be her personal groomer for the rest of her life (except the nails of course).

Give those little ones belly rubs and nose kisses from us.


Jennifer and Emma said...

Oh my those little dogs sure dont like to be messed with. My moms chihuahua will take your hand off if you try to trim her nails. Emma will lay there and let you do whatever. That is so funny they sure are a trip arent they. Im glad to hear mike is feeling better. It has been awhile. How are you all doing? It never stops with the furkids, they sure keep us on our toes. Emma is doing great and is loving the cold.. Not I thats for sure. I am ready for some warm or even hot weather. I am ready to pack up the winter coats. We are sending you guys lots of aussie hugs and kisses. Our prayers are always with you.
jennifer and emma

February 16, 2009 9:18 PM

Hey Jen... Boy you've got that right. Gidget can be really nasty sometimes... I think she forgets that "I" am the boss over her... no matter how much I try to remind her, it's something that slips her little mind all the time. They are so different. Except for his nails (which he hates having cut), Mike will let me do anything to him... brushing, grooming, cleaning his "private" areas. I don't think he's too crazy about it all, but he seems to know it has to be done and just lays there nice and still for me. How I wish the young one would learn some lessons from her big brother.
I'm with you on this weather. Winter officially has my permission to leave!!! Gidget loves it out there... even when the snow was deeper than her, she'd leave the area I swept for her and try to jump into the untouched part that went over her head. LOL Mike is more like me... he does his thing and then wants to come in and warm up quick.

Sending lots of hugs and nose kisses to you.


I'm truly sorry everyone that I haven't gotten to IMOM for so long. I promise to get there soon. This post has taken so long that I'm completely drained right now (can't wait to get my energy back in total or more). Everyone.. thank you for being such wonderful friends. We love you all so much. Take Care and God Bless You All.

Love & Blessings,
Joanna, Mike & Gidget

P.S. Editing to let you know something else was going on. In the midst of everything else, someone got hold of my credit card number and tried charging almost $5000 worth of stuff (yea like I have that kind of limit LOL). I think it was from a toll free number I called to order something for Christmas for my son since they had my name but his mailing address. A lot of the people taking calls work from home (like I did when I worked for West), so ya never know who's going to do what with your information.