Hopsital Stay

Well, one week later - I made it through the weekend, but Saturday and Sunday I was so weak that I couldn't walk to the bathroom by myself. I know this stage is so difficult on my family.

I saw my Doctor Monday morning and she felt she needed to admit me to hospital. After several tests, it was determined that my bile duct from my liver was inflamed and I either have or had passed a stone.

I do not have a gallbladder so it's not a gall stone - its a stone (or stones) that have formed from the bile that's excreted from the Liver.

Today, I'm waiting to hear whether I get to go home or if I must stay for a procedure that is like an endoscopy but goes in and searches for and removes any stones.

The big issue for me is staying hydrated so that I have less of a chance of forming more stones. This is a huge concern for me at the moment, because I felt I was doing my best at this. I have a few more ideas to try, but my ANS deals with hydration differently, so I don't feel at ease with this issue.

I know the question in every one's mind - is this same problem I've been having for two years. The answer is NO. It's unrelated and the symptoms were very different this past week. Now, I'm not sure yet about the connection of the ANS dysfunction and the formation of stones. But my normal stomach issues have to do with delayed gastric emptying and this was a stone in the bile duct.

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for me. It's amazing to experience miracles and think - I bet someone prayed for that - and then I find out, sure enough, someone did!

BTW - Yes, I'm writing this from the hospital! They have Internet access for patients right from the room! Pretty cool, huh?

TTFN,
Melanie

Health Update and More About My Music

HEALTH UPDATE:

One week ago I suddenly had a an attack of severe stomach pain. I have spent the past week on liquids - getting in one Boost a day plus a little baby rice cereal. But it hasn't helped. So yesterday I began my three day treatment with nothing going into my stomach (except my necessary meds) and IV fluids to keep me hydrated.

I am so thankful that I can now do this at home instead of sitting in the hospital! On Monday, I see my doctor and by then we will know if this three days has worked or if there is something else we need to explored concerning this pain.

So of course, you're prayers are much appreciated.

*******

MORE ON THE "MUSICAL DESCRIPTION OF MELANIE"

I see my musical kD Duck friend has already been enjoying my musical "Melanie" journey! I thought you might like to know a little more about why I picked these songs. They have specific meanings and are in a specific order (changed a bit since yesterday)

First - is Chris Tomlin's song "The Power of the Cross" - a very meaningful song to me and I listen to it often. But I put it first because one of the first things of significance that happened in my life was my love for God. And when I began to understand what the cross represented, my love for Jesus became the center of my life and has been ever since.

But secondly, this song reminds me of the cross at the top of Mt. Hermon in Santa Cruz, CA. Mt. Hermon is a large conference center with trails roaming through the redwood filled hills in Santa Cruz. They have a camp for youngsters called "Redwood Camp" that I attened from fourth grade on... a camp for High Schoolers called "Ponderosa Lodge" (also attended through HS) and a main conference grounds where I have attended family camps, and as an adult, writer's conferences. I also spent a summer there working as a camp counselor and lifeguard. I always feel like I'm standing at the top of that mountain at sunrise when I listen to this song!

Second - Return to Pooh Corner... Winnie the Pooh was my bestest of friends when I was a little girl. My mom gave me a handmade Pooh Bear one year and he went everywhere with me. He heard all my secrets and he went to the hospital for every operation I had (I had 6 surgeries by the time I was 9). Pooh often had to go off for surgeries himself. Every year or so he would get a "new skin" for Christmas... then he would head off to have his new "skin" put on (wink wink). Currently, he is very floppy and still has my name written in his red shirt (of which there is only half of, now...) from a hospital stay. After many years of living with my son Chris, he now resides in my bedroom again!

Third - Rainbows have always been a favorite of mine. I think I just love color - especially the gorgeous blending of color in a rainbow. But it's also because of it's representation of God's promises. It's so important to me to know that God is good and that he is always true to his nature and keeps all of his promises. I often cling to those promises and sure enough he is always true to what He said! I also had the name "Rainbow" during the summer I was a camp counselor!

Fourth - James Taylor ... oh the wonderful memories James Taylor brings back. Our best friends John and Lieschen, weekends spent at the cabin in Lake Tahoe (eating homemade won tons for dinner and crepes for breakfast), warm summer nights, concerts at the outdoor Greek Theater in Berkley.... ahhhhh....

Fifth - Kenny G has always been one of mine and Bill's favorites for our date nights. But this one esepcially reminds of the little chapel at Mt. Hermon where Bill gave me my engagement ring and where we would have had our wedding if we hadn't had so many friends and family to invite!


Sixth - Orinocco Flow... Enya... a more recent enjoyment for me. I love listening to Enya's music, but Orinocco Flow reminds me the most of dancing - driving Ellen to class, taking Ballet classes myself and teaching dance. In fact I never listen to that song without dancing in my mind!

Seventh - I have just discovered Jack Johnson's music through my kids. It started with his Curious George album (one of my favorite children's book series). It's now my current "playful" music. I often listen to it on my iPod as I work out at the gym or am driving somewhere in the car with my daughter. His music is artistic, fun and touches my heart.

So there you have it.... "A Description of Melanie" in music! Enjoy listening!

WELCOME!

This is the begining of my new personal blog. I am on a journey - as we all are... but mine now includes dysautonomia and quite a few changes in my life.

I hope to share some of my ponderings, thoughts, scriptural encouragement, struggles and prayer requests. I hope you will leave me lots of messages and responses!!!

If you'd like to know more about some the general problems that come with dysautonomia, you can click on the link to the left for DINET. But remember these are are generalities. It's unique and different for each of us with this illness. In fact, it is probably a lot of different illnesses!

I'll share more in the coming days about what life is like for me. But to begin with on this first post... I wanted to share the most current thing in my life - making YouTube art videos!

I've been having a lot of fun working with Chris my son in creating these videos. He writes and records the music and I make a video of my art to go with the music!

Here is our latest video... it is a very calming and relaxing video of my watercolor seascapes and sunsets!




Well, I hope you enjoyed that! My goal for my life - that I continue to try to stay focused on - is to Love God... and to Love Others. These paintings are all love offerings to God... painted as a part of my time of worship. I hope as you watched the video, the music and the paintings ministered to your heart!

~Melanie