The week that was and Tanglewood Farm

This week I was overwhelmed with more doctor visits and tests. Monday I went in for a stress test, echo cardiogram and to get a 24-hour halter monitor. When I arrived though I was surprised and less than trilled to find out that it was to be a nuclear stress test which entailed having an IV inserted into needle phobic me, talk about stress right off the bat. Also with the nuclear stress test I had to spend about 20 minutes before the treadmill having pictures taken by a gamma camera, then the treadmill, then the echo and then another 15 minutes of gamma pictures. Finally I was fitted with the halter monitor but it was a long day. By that evening I had a wicked headache which probably was just a side affect of the chemicals they injected but not fun.

Tuesday early afternoon I returned the halter monitor and then headed off to have an MRI where I spent just shy of an hour keeping myself calm inside a what seemed like a very closed-in tube. Funny thing is, I've never considered myself to be claustrophobic and I really don't think that I am but it took a good amount of effort on my part to not push that panic button, I can't even imagine how a claustrophobic person could handle a MRI. After having to keep my shoulder immobilized for almost an hour, two days running, when I awoke Wednesday it was just screaming in pain and it's taken three days for the pain to subside to a now tolerable level.

Thursday was my long awaited appointment with the hematologist for look at my wonky blood. This of course involved another needle and Maisie, who watched with great interest while I laid there trying not to pass-out, said that they drew 19 tubes of blood. I don't know that they took quite that many but it was a very long draw with many, many tube changes. No answers, just new concerns and more questions so this visit has now led to the scheduling of more and unfortunately, much more invasive tests. At this point I am so physically and emotionally drained and stressed beyond belief that I just really wanted to get out and do something fun with Maisie so today we headed to Tanglewood farm. About two years ago Maisie and I met up with friends at the farm and at that time Maisie wanted nothing to do with the animals but today she really enjoyed petting and feeding them all so it was a fun day.

I'm hoping that the weather cooperates tomorrow and Monday and that the daily rain storms hold off until evening so that we can relax and play at the pool during the day. I feel the need for some quiet and easy days so that I can get myself ready for another busy week of Maisie activities and more doctor visits and tests.