I have not been feeling well enough to blog lately. I go to the ear, nose and throat doctor tomorrow to get my surgery date for my sinuses. It will probably be mid April before I have the surgery.

Lily has had several ear infections and also went to see an ENT doc last week. She is going to have tubes put in her ears in two weeks. The doctor said with her ear infections there is no way she is hearing at 100% which has in turn contributed to her speech delay. I am sure that correcting this is really going to help her.

More Medical Woes....

More wonderful medical news to report on the blogfront. I went in to see the ENT and doctor last week about my ears, only to be told "your ears are perfect, the best ears I have ever seen!" He also checked my sinuses and told me I was fine. I left the office angry and shaking my head. I know I am not crazy, well, okay maybe a little crazy, everyone is a little crazy right?

Two days later the pain was back worse than ever. My face is swollen up, I look like I have chipmunk cheeks. I have not slept more than 3 hours per night for the past two weeks. I am taking 4 to 6 vicodin a day with no relief. I went to see my primary doctor yesterday for my history and physical for my hernia surgery. She took one look at me and said "You look awful!", well, I feel awful too. I have a raging, and I mean raging IMPACTED sinus infection. They did a CT scan and said it is acute. This has been ongoing since February 5th. I am now on round FOUR of antibiotics and prednisone. My primary doctor said NO hernia surgery. She referred me back to the ENT doc who said I had the great looking ears and sinuses and I have to have sinus surgery in three weeks.

The recovery for sinus surgery is two months. No hernia surgery until after I recover from the sinus surgery, which means sometime in July or August. Unless of course it becomes strangulated, then I have to go in for emergency surgery. This scares the heck out of me. I have to stop lifting and carrying Lily now for sure. I was still doing that hernia and all. I don't want to risk having to have the hernia emergency while recovering from the sinuses. "If it's not one thing it's another!"

In the meantime, I am frustrated, scared, depressed and very ill.....I have been crying day for the past 2 weeks from the pain and have started questioning whether I made a good decision having the gastric bypass done. I was never this sick before...Then I have to pull myself back and remember how much healthier my heart is by having 158 pounds gone from my body, how much more energy I have now, and how much better I will feel once I get all this stuff taken care of.

Thank you for reading my latest medical crisis, vent and whine over and out...

Sunshine, peace and love... Jen

Daily Ramblings....

I really hate to be a whiner and complainer, but, I am in some serious pain here! Last week when I said that "I'm back", I was doing my best at getting back into the routine of things after our family returned back to Canada. Unfortunately, the day after they left I spiked a fever, had the chills and terrible ear pain. My doc put me on strong antibiotics and a steroid. My ears have continued to get worse. I have not been able to sleep longer than 2-3 hours per night because it hurts so badly. I have been taking my prescription pain medication without any sign of relief.

Many years ago while visiting my dear friend Sari in Finland the same thing happened to me. She took me to the doctor and they put a needle into my ears and drew the fluid out so that my ear drum wouldn't burst. It was an uncomfortable procedure, but, instant relief was found.

The same thing is going on now, it feels like my ears are ready to burst! I go to the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor today and am hoping for some relief. I don't think I can take one more day of this pain, it literally has me in tears.

I am getting increasingly frustrated at being sick all of the time! I have been on antibiotics for over a month. I have so much more energy now that I have lost 158 pounds, but, it is hard to use all of my new found energy when I feel like #$*@*~ being nice and leaving out the expletive.

I am hoping to be back and posting very soon. Thanks for reading my rambling rant today...any good healing thoughts you could send my way are always appreciated! Sunshine & Peace, Jen

I'm Baaaaaaaaaaack!

Hello Friends! I am back to blogging. Our wonderful Canadian family left last night, it is always sad to see them leave. We never know when we will see them again. I always get emotional and weepy. I really got lucky this time around, I have fantastic inlaws! I had the motherinlawfromhell during my first marriage.

I didn't eat well while our guests were here. I didn't eat badly, I just didn't eat much and I was not any where close to getting in my required 60b grams of protein a day and I can feel it this week. I am pretty dragged out and am starting to get sick again. My weight loss also slowed down because of it. Protein is the key. I am at 156 pounds lost. 40 pounds to go to reach my surgeon's goal, 60 to 70 pounds away til' I reach my personal goal.

Carl took this "after" picture of me this weekend and also a picture of me with my beautiful niece Celena. I am thinking I need a "retake" on my after picture, it seems I am never happy with pictures of myself! It might have helped if I wasn't wearing jeans that are at least 2 sizes too big for me, they are all bagged out and make my legs look so much bigger than they are. I actually have skinny legs now. I am still carrying the bulk of my weight in my stomach. I am hoping that it will go down somewhat after I have my hernia surgery at the end of this month.

I am so thankful that I had my gastric bypass surgery. I have so much more energy now, no more daily naps, no more sitting on my butt all day. RNY Gastric Bypass saved my life, I am sure of it!