Sorry to be away for so long again. I've been sick most of this past week, but I'm good now. I just felt bad enough that if I wasn't working or taking care of Maddie, I was sleeping. I felt like I had been run over by a live haul truck. I didn't even begin to feel anywhere near normal until Thursday evening. I also lost 8 pounds this week over this crap. Today was the first day I've been able to eat more normally, although my appetite isn't 100% returned yet though. I've been on a Sprite/Gatorade 'diet' most of the week.
Also found out that one of my friends from Tyson was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have a mastectomy as it was so widespread and she will not know until later this week if the doctors removed all of the cancer and whether or not she will need to undergo treatments. I'm hoping she's given the all clear.
On top of that I found out that a cousin of mine has been diagnosed with Addison's Disease. It's a disease that affects the adrenal glands on the kidneys where they do not produce enough hormones and cortisol and thus the immune system sees these glands as foreign objects that must be rejected. My cousin's BP was 60/40 and her HR was anywhere between 40-50 bpms. She will be at the hospital for the remainder of the week to get all of her hormones and bloodwork back to normal and she will be on medication for the rest of her life. If she doesn't take her medication as directed she could die and she's not one that takes medication very well. What makes this worse is that she just finalized a divorce a month ago and she's now a single parent. It's a good thing her sister, mother, and grandmother are all supportive so she's got a good support system to lean on.
Knowing this - I am more thankful for my health than before and I realize my 'crud' pales in comparison to what these two are going through. I tell myself daily - it could be much worse.