Stress -
Definition:
In a medical or biological context stress is a physical,
mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can
be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or
internal (illness, or from a medical procedure).
If you have never looked at the full definition of this word, please take a minute to search. The best definition is on MedicineNet.com. I don't know of anyone that isn't under some kind of stress. I think the question would be: how do they handle it? Break down (as a form of release) or stay strong (because if you show weakness, you are weak)?
What a busy week we had!!!!! We so enjoy the days off for the holidays, but it seems it takes longer to keep up. Old age, I suppose. Jim has been staying quite busy at work. A lot of things going on. I'm so happy he is getting stronger. Still working on his appetite.
He has lost near 35 lb. His normal weight is 205 or 200. He is now at 176. His color and skin look great. His BP is staying at 100. I still have him on the Midodrine. I would be concerned he would be back in the 97s if I took him off.
We have a busy week ahead of us. He's wanting to put my truck in the shop, but we both have so much going on at work. I have suggested we wait until next week. I heard a lot of grumbling. We just have too, too much to do. Get wood, doctor's visits, put my truck in the shop, tests on Thursday (PET, two MRIs) and the bone marrow biopsy on Friday. We begin at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday and the last appointment at 5:45 p.m. Yep, it's gonna be a stressful week.
Back to his appetite. We had our biker groups Christmas party last night. There were 15 of us. I was suppose to make chili and apple dumplings. After breakfast yesterday morning our kitchen sinks stopped up. We worked on it all day. Three bottles of Draino later, we knew it was hopeless. So, we took two meat/cheese trays and WalMart bakery cupcakes. Best cupcakes I have eaten in a while. We had so much food and such a variety that Jim went back for three helpings. Not a lot of anything, but a little of everything.
Today I made an apple pie with granny apples and the chili I was suppose to take last night. He ate two bowls of chili and a piece of pie. So, I'm hoping the variety of food brought back his taste buds a little. He told me Friday he really needs to start gaining some weight. He is wearing his pinky ring on his third finger. We have discussed that if his body is not getting nourishment, it cannot heal itself and grow they babies.
I see the changes in his body every day. I know he must see the changes himself when he looks into the mirror. He is Jim inside and out, but his body is changing. But!!!!!! He looks better than he did in June when all his illness began.
I don't know how he handles the stress. I have found myself of late having difficulties I had not realized existed. We take his BP a few times a day. We never check mine. Until Monday when I felt unusual. We checked it at 138/86. I am a true 120/80. Tuesday it rose as high as 169/94. I went to the doctor and they made a cardiologist appointment for Wednesday. Long story/short. BP meds and a script for an anti-depressant. Although, the doc didn't want to use that word. Even though I don't feel stressed, my body is trying to tell me I am.
I quickly discovered after only one pill for the BP that I can't take them. I stayed in bed all day Friday because I kept feeling like I was going to pass out. Even in the shower. My BP yesterday was normal all day without the pills. Doctors!!!!!
Jim really babied me all week. It felt good to have someone waiting on me. He worked late all week, came home and fixed dinner and fed me in bed. I may have to retire and lie around all the time... LOL
I was missing him yesterday and thought maybe he was taking a nap. He fixed bacon, biscuits and scrambled eggs for breakfast. That's when the sink stopped. We were cleaning out the frig. When I began searching I saw smoke out in the dog yard. He was burning the big pile. He burned on it about two hours. He went down today and burned some of the same pile off. He came up and was sitting the garage rubbing his right shoulder. He said it was very sore from splitting word yesterday. I gave him "my look"! I told him he wasn't well enough to do that stuff. I truly hope I didn't hurt his feelings because he said he was well enough to do what he wanted. I looked at him and laughed and said, "Yeah, but you gotta start out slow..." I'm gonna put heat on it tonight. I think he learned his lesson.
We are both sleeping very well. Even with the kids in bed with us. We are taking turns letting them out in the middle of the night if they have to go. I am usually kicking him and telling him it's his turn. :) They didn't get up at all last night, but I think tonight they will be in the sunroom. I need to stretch out sometimes and they don't budge.
Let me apologize for not writing sooner. Getting out last night and doing a lot of laughing was a big help. We almost cancelled. Today we decided to do what we wanted on the spur of the moment. So, he worked outside and I cooked. We gave ourselves choices. Mine was blow leaves, lie around and watch movies, cook or we could go shopping. I did tow of mine and he did two of his.
Good night and Love -- Pepper
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