[lorigood243]

Hello all...

I am in the hospital and have been since last Thursday. it started with a lung infection from gasteoparisis and having acid reflux about 2 weeks ago...aspirated in my lungs and began a lung infection.

short story is my new wonderful primary care doctor said go to th ER I will have you admitted for the lung problem and while you are there i will get a kidney doctor in to help get some of the fluid off of you. so i have been on heavy diuretics that i couldnt monitor at home. for those of you who dont know my story i have 85lbs of fluid on my abdomen that started with gallbladder surgery 6 years ago. I was just diagnosed with RSD 5 years ago.

so they have gotten about 15lbs of fluid off me but its not coming off the place i need it to and i am getting in the danger zone for kidney problems so they have to take me off the diuretics now.

so the new kidney doctor said i want you to go on the strictest diet you can stand for 2 weeks and lose 20 lbs and lets see if you can lose fluid too. so i explained to him that i have lost 125lbs at one point but i dont lose fluid...but he has only known me 20 minutes and i have dealt with this for 6 years. BUT i said i will do what you have asked since you are new and wed need a starting place for you and i.

then i spoke with the new primary care doctor and told him of the plan. he has made a commitment to me to research RSD and CRPS so he can take the reigns and manage me. he said he really cares and wants to help improve my quality of life. I am so joy filled and have great hope that he has showed this interest in helping me however he can.

So I will be discharged tomorrow and am looking forward to getting back to my hubby and my cat who i am told misses me terribly

a quick word about my spouse Steve. He is my caretaker, my love my best friend of 30 years! He has come up everyday to the hospital and has spent 5 hours each day. he has brought games to entertain me, healthy food to supplement the hospital stuff has brought stuffed animals, flowers and came and shampooed my hair tonight. Some how in this crazy mixed up cruel illness, Steve thrives in caring for me. He misses his old Lori so very much but makes the best he can of the Lori he has to work with because at least I am here and not dead. I am alot to take care of!

It is impossible to pay back our caretakers. I certainly dont want to say that I hope i can take care of you one day like this because I never want to see him in this misery...but 1 month ago I was on my pity pot saying life just sucks! why me why me! 30 days later, my perspective has turned upside down. Life can be better, new days bring new hopes. so i just wanted to share my story for today. you may not have a "Steve" in your life, but I pray you all do! I know many of you have awesome doctors, while up untill this point mine all sucked! So bringing new people in your life friends, doctors, family, can change things...especially all the praying i have been doing for guidance and asking God to help me see a new way to help myself.

Bless you all and thank you for sharing all your stories here too...we all get hope from eachother!
Lori