ProfessorTomoe

Mrs. Prof with two of our cats, Baker (sleeping) and Pretty Girl (we didn't pick the name, bugging Baker). The phone doesn't have a name.

"Somen would say no. Put us back in for another minute."

The doctor who saw me on Tuesday just called to check up on me. Not his nurse, mind you - the doctor himself. I filled him in on the details and told him I'm still feeling rough, although the diarrhea is backing off (thanks to the Lomotil). He sounded relieved. I had an appointment with my pain management doctor at 10:30 a.m. today. He sounded very concerned when I told him about the whole situation. He even waived the monthly urine test when I asked him to do so, due to the possibility of residual diarrhea. Man, the walk from the parking garage to his office really took a lot out of me. I was wiped out for a good hour afterwards.

I was drinking that prior to the Wednesday Morning Panic Call. Still wasn't enough to feed the poodle. The stuff they've got me on is measured in mEq, not mg. I don't know how they compare, but I'm thinking the former is more. It would help if I liked the damned things. Believe it or not, avocados have more, and I'll voluntarily eat one of those.

Here we go again. Wednesday morning, I got a panicked phone call from the doctor's office, telling me to get my ass to the ER ASAP. The reason? My blood tests came back showing that my potassium level was 2.6, in the very critical range. The absolute low end of normal is 3.6, so I'm a whole point low, probably thanks to all the electrolyte loss from my diarrhea over the (then) past seven days. So, without further ado, we head on out to the ER of the hospital where I had my knee surgery. I get there and get put in Triage, no waiting, then get moved to a room soon after. They start an IV and pull blood, then give me an oral dose of potassium, just to get me started. They then come back with an IV drip of potassium and saline (did you know there's a national shortage of IV fluids at the moment? One of the hurricanes knocked out the place where almost all of the country's IV fluids are made). By this time, my potassium level is 2.5 - low enough to stop my heart. I almost died. The IV commences. A few minutes in, my right arm where the drip is located starts to burn like Vesuvius is erupting on it. For the first time in my life, I pick up the nurse call button, punch it, and when they answer, I yell but one word: "HELP!!!" They come running in seconds and adjust the potassium-to-saline mixture. It helps. Unfortunately, it happens again, when the saline runs out. This time, the potassium is done, there's just residue dripping through and killing me. They get rid of it. They wanted to do another drip, but I talked them out of it, since my potassium had been raised back into the safe zone with what I'd had (albeit the low end). They agreed as long as I took two 20meq packets dissolved in liquid before bedtime last night, and again tonight. They also gave me something for the diarrhea - Lomotil. I guess the doctor on Wednesday didn't want to give it to me because it's a controlled substance (it's got atropine, according to the ER doctor). They pulled my IV and let us go. After a stop at CVS, we got home at around 5:45 pm. Just over 8 hours in the ER, which saved my life. The Lomotil is working, BTW, so it's saving my ass as well.

THE LAPTOP IS BACK HOME. It didn't arrive until almost 6pm, of course. Mrs. Prof was doing some cat work outside when the UPS driver pulled up. She signed for it and brought it in, then proclaimed she was too sweaty and tired to help me put it together for testing. I unboxed 93% of it (minus the power bricks), sat down, and promptly fell asleep. I woke back up around 8pm and finally got her to help (i.e., do most of the work hooking up the power subsystem). Once everything was connected, I booted the system, crossed my fingers, and waited for my login PIN prompt. SUCCESS!!! The system booted up to my old, familiar desktop upon entry of my PIN. I have yet to try out Dorico Pro, because I first need to apply an upgrade, and I first really need to backup my system in the event this new video card isn't stable. I'm not in the greatest of physical shape at the moment, though, or else I'd get right on that. Give me a few minutes to recover from the stress of opening up and restarting the system first, and *then* I'll get the backup rolling. Sigh. Hurry up and wait. Motto of the Longhorn Band, as well as certain other organizations, or so I'm told.

Am not in need of butt plugs, thank you very much for the suggestion. One might cause a backblast. Calls around... Just got back a little while ago from the doctor and from CVS. The diagnosis is Infectious Colitis, although he did not say what kind of Infectious Colitis. Whatever it is, it's the kind that is preferably treated with Levaquin, but since I'm allergic to Levaquin, he prescribed a Z-Pack (Azithromycin), the next best thing. Good lord, I hope it works. He couldn't give me anything stronger than Imodium, since as he put it, there is nothing stronger than Imodium (short of butt plugs). On the way from the doctor's to CVS, we stopped at a Smoothie King. I got a "Gut Health" smoothie, which consists of pineapple, papaya, Greek yogurt, and a blend of their "gut health" enhancer mix. I also had them toss in shots of their "immune boost" and "energy boost" enhancer mixes. I ordered the 32oz. size, and I'm still slowly polishing it off. Here's hoping it does some good.

It's Tuesday, and things are still out of control. I'm off to see the doctor this afternoon at 3:30pm, right at the tail end of the delivery window of my laptop. If it hasn't arrived by the time I need to leave, I'll need to wake up my son and get him to listen for the door. No way am I signing for this online in advance of my departure.

Strike that delivery date - UPS actually got their shit together (appropriate, considering). It's out for delivery today (Tuesday) between Noon15 and 3:15pm. Can't wait to see what Sager did to it.

Erm...strike that. Things might be getting out of control again. Urgh.

It was not as close as it sounded. Texas handed OU a right thrashing. If Texas had got things together a bit better, they'd have scored at least 45 or so.

Almost. I haven't had non-stop diarrhea during this time. Also, things seem to have finally calmed down, so I don't really have the need to go anymore. If anyone has the need to go, it'd be Baker, my big male cat. He's been barfing and pooping throughout the house today.

It gets said at random times throughout the year, just for grins, as a Longhorn Band tradition. Personally, I stop saying it when the game starts.

I'm keeping hydrated, but there's no one to talk to on a weekend. If it gets worse, I'll go see someone.

'Tis Longhorn Band tradition. Someone usually asks, "What time is it?", to which the response is, "It's x:yy z.m., and OU STILL SUCKS!!!" Fill in the current time and am/pm for the xyz variables.

It's 7:26 a.m., and OU STILL SUCKS!

I've finally resorted to taking a 500mg dose of simethicone. Got tired of trying to determine what was a fart and what...wasn't.

I've lost count. This has officially gone from a stomach bug to a stomach illness.

Just got the tracking number. It'll be back this coming Wednesday.

Essentially, what you've got there is BOA or Drum Corps International.

Make it 3 doses now. Urgh.

Yep, back in '97. I'd had "pigment stones" instead of the big "cholesterol stones." Made me sick as a fecking dog. My guts have run the gamut from one end to the other since then.

No technically about it. I've had to take two doses of Imodium today, in addition to the two I took yesterday.

True dat. They just emailed the punch to the gut.

I've still technically got diarrhea. No sharts, though. Those are under control.