On the Road Again!!!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Who is it that sings that song "On the road again...I just can't wait to get on the road again?"  Except I am going to change the words to, Off the road and home again... I just can't wait to be able to stay home again"

I went to my moms a week ago Monday to pick up Jack.... as I was traveling there I got a phone call from the nurse... you know the dreaded "how are you feeling phone call?' Thankfully that was last weeks disaster and scare.. my blood work that they are monitoring to check for infection was drastically high... Not a good way to start a Monday.. Thank God this week it is better...

However, Monday night as I got to my moms I felt very sick and lightheaded, we took my blood pressure and pulse.. They were extremely high.. I had to go to the ER in Hilton Head .. I was put on two blood pressure medications that are supposed to make my heart rate go down.. but so far they only go down a little bit to the 130s.. so it basically feels like I am trapped running on a tread mill, even when I am laying down in bed... I go as high as 170 so.. I guess 130 is better but still.

I brought Jack home on Wed.. He is doing SUPER Great.. you would never know I left him for eight weeks.. He just picked right up where we left off... He is eating, playing and doing great.. He seems well adjusted.... He had an ear infection but that is better... I am so happy to have him home.. for us to be together.

The doctors here are not sure what to do with me.. They are too afraid to do further invasive testing because of my airways.. I was told today that even the surgeons at the big university did not want to touch my case.. well good thing for me I didn't want them to either..

I against everything I want to do, made contact with Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. After much research and  phone calls I found that the Cleveland Clinic is rated the number one Heart Hospital in the USA for over 17 years. They have better then excepted outcomes for high risk surgical cases...

We don't know that I need to have the surgery.. but no one but me seems impressed that my blood cultures are negative... I am happy about it, they think it is not a big deal that it is negative because well I am on Daptomycin.... and they want to see what happens when I come off the IV antibiotics... We can't explain the high heart rate or the chest pain I am having..

I regret immensely getting this device in my heart and even more that the doctors put it in when I had a fever... UGGG so careless.

So I am going on the road again... This time it is just for a one day consult I think. I am so happy that my dear dear friend is going with me Susan of Susan and Sasha is going with me... We will have fun just being together, we always do. She has been a major support person in my life for over 16 years now and we always have fun....

We are leaving either June 6th of June 7th I have a June 8th appointment... They are supposedly going to do all the testing I need in the same day.. I don't see how but they say they can...

Once I am established there, they can follow me and dictate to my doctors here what to do. I hate that no one here is sure, I understand and appreciate their apprehension but that sure the heck is not going to save my life......

It is very hard not to be scared... The worst part is just waiting and waiting and waiting.. My stop date for the antibiotics is June 15th... Then the waiting begins, the weekly blood cultures, it will go on for at least a year.... if they remain negative, if they turn positive, I will have no choice but to have surgery....

Waiting sucks... pardon the french..... but I don't feel horrible minus my pounding heart..

I hope one day I can say I am NOT ON THE ROAD any more and that I get to stay home and not leave my boy.. He will go back to my moms on Tuesday the 5th.....

Thankfully he loves it there and he seems to not mind being home either.....

If you ordered a magnet from my fund raiser you should have it in the next week or so.. They are so cute I saw a picture of them .. They look great on the cars.....if anyone wants one let me know.. Sorry that it is exclusive to Goldendoodles.. My breeder is the one who did the fund raiser for me.

It says Life is Better with a Golden Doodle. It is one of the oval white magnet bumper stickers...

Please keep praying and sending good thoughts...for the chest pain and heart rate to go down and for all infection every ounce of it to be gone from my body....... My family is so worn out from this it is so sad to me.... I would love to give them good news, and I personally would like some too..

I  read on here daily but I have not posted a lot because I am pretty anxious and trying to remain calm and just enjoy Jack...

xoxooxox

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

Jenn, I have not been on alot lately -- was busy with my son's graduation and then got a foster pup for DRC -- but I have been thinking of you and have wondered how you were doing.  I'm so sorry that you still are having problems...ugh...

Please know that you will be in my prayers!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

One worry over with.... Jack is just happy as can be to be back with you.  Cleveland Clinic is supposed to be topnotch.  Just keep strong.  Glad you don't feel too awful.  Prayers on wings and doodle feet to you.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

So happy that you and Jack are back together and it is going well.  We continue to watch and hope and pray that things continue to go in the right direction for you.  It is so great that you have friends in your life who are willing to travel on these journeys with you.  That shows what a truly amazing friend you are! 

[Doris]

The Cleveland Clinic is a fantastic hospital.  My son had MANY surgeries there.  They don't mess around - if they say they can do all of the tests in one day, they will schedule them and complete them.  I'm sorry that you are having health problems but I pray that the Cleveland Clinic will give you some answers! 

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks Doris... I am glad to hear that they are so good. I have researched them like crazy, all their stats on survival, surgeries done, etc. They out rank everyone by far.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jen, I am glad you updated us and sorry you are still having problems. Hopefully, this will be the answer. Meanwhile, I will continue to keep you in my prayers. Susan is wonderful to go with you and I bet that part, at least, will be great fun.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh no, hopefully Cleveland will bring you the answers you need.  Good luck, Jen.

[Margaret & Pebbles]

I hope the Cleveland Clinic can help you.  It is an amazing hospital, and they take on cases that other places won't touch.  I did my pediatric rotation at the Clinic many years ago when I was in nursing school.  Also had my hysterectomy there 7 years ago, and was treated so nice.  Keeping you in my prayers.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I think of you daily and am hoping and praying always to hear some good news.  You will enjoy the trip with Susan.  I have met with her daughter Bethany here in Dublin and if her Mom is anything like her then she's a very special person, have fun if   you can on your travels.  I'm glad you are on your way to a terrific hospital.  In the meantime Jennifer's heart.....be calm, Jennifer's infections be gone.....

[Jennifer and Jack]

Bethany is a lot like her mom, both are very gracious and loving and strong women. I think it is so great that you get to see Bethany....I have always loved Bethany and of course now that she is in Dublin, seeing her is out. The thing about going with Susan is I will barely know I am heading to a major hospital... We always have fun together... always...especially road trips. 

If we make it there without any wrong turns because we were talking it will be the first time in 16 years! LOL.

[Pam & Trixie]

Sending Positive Good thoughts your way Jennifer!

Im glad Jack is back with you.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks everyone so much for your kind words.... I love this community on here and the support for both humans and dogs is amazing. Step by Step... moving forward....with each of my loved ones by my side!