16 sleeps!!!!!!!

Till London! CAN'T WAIT... this week's been pretty horrible in terms of fellow CF lung recipients passing away and almost passing away and just a rollercoaster ride in general. And it's not over yet :-( Hate it when the survivor-guilt thing pops up and I can't understand why things work out for me and not someone else or why people do the things they do.

On a more positive note, Chris's mom sister and neice are coming to visit next week! So we spent the whole weekend getting the house ready for their visit! It's a good excuse to get all the things done that we've been putting off for too long because we were being lazy!

Gym's also been pretty great, DID MY FIRST SPINNING SESSION LAST WEEK! This was a real breakthrough for me as I've always been to scared to try it and thought I'm definitely not fit enough etc etc etc... but last week I went to gym with a friend, and she's also never done it, SO WE DID IT. Was really not as bad as I expected! The 45 mins went really fast, and I could totally keep up! It was really great and we're doing it again this week Thusday and Friday. Today was a public holiday so the gym was quiet and I had more time than usual... Did 50 mins on the treadmill, weights and 10 mins on eliptical trainer. The rest of the day was spend cleaning the house and doing laundry, so all in all a very active day!

Reflux has been behaving, can't say I've had any reflux in the last week that I can recall. Yay... I guess. Thank goodness it's only a 4-day week ahead, hope it goes quickly!

UK Visa... check!

Picked up my UK visa today :-) Very excited for my trip. Going to visit one of my bestest friends in the world Louzanne and also my bestest aunt Annelie. Departing on the evening of the 10th of Oct, and arriving back on the 22nd. So pretty much 10 days of exploring London!!! Will be my third visit to London, LOVE the city. Louzanne will be returning to SA the day after me (she's been working there for the past year), so hopefully I'll get to see a bit more of her once she's back as well. The pic below is one taken of us +- 12 years ago when we were all young and innocent! It's a privilage to have life-long friends like her (we've been friends since we were about 5 year old when stood out as some of the few Afrikaans kids in a Jewish pre-primary school!) in my life!

 

 

On a medical note, did the Barium Swallow test on Tuesday (was supposed to do it later in the month but after my horrible night on Sunday I couldn't wait). Must be the first time that I'm disappointed that a test gave a result that is NORMAL! The radiologist said that she sees no sign of reflux and everything looks normal. She thought since I have the reflux/heartburn at night, maybe when I sleep and everything relaxes and stomach acid moves up where it shouldn't. So waiting to hear what exactly the next step is. Really hope this can be fixed before more rejection happens! It's not the actual heartburn that bothers me so much as the fact that I know it causes rejection :-(

 

Reflux Frustration

Not sure how much I've blogged about my reflux previously, but here's the low-down... my rejection episode in May/June was as a direct result of reflux (and maybe my cold too). The Barium Swallow test didn't really show much from what I can gather. Nexium/Topzole dosage has been doubled. Trying my best to eat small suppers as far as possible from bedtime and have cut out practically all alcohol.

Clearly something is not working though, because even with all those measures in place I STILL get reflux. Last night I woke up at 01:00 am with bad heartburn, after having only a sandwich for supper at 18:00. Only slept for about 30 mins again after that. And it's not the first time it's happened. Going for a follow-up Barium Swallow test in 2/3 weeks time or so. Really hoping this one will have some answers... because this is not a problem I feel like dealing with for the rest of my life. And I know reflux can lead to chronic rejection so want it fixed asap.

Was starving today when I got home after gym and already scared that I might have had too much pasta for supper :-( Tired as hell but have to keep myself awake now because I can't go lie down now. Plus I'm still kind of hungry. HATE this.

On the plus side... in a month this time I'm off to London for a great holiday :-) Have I even blogged about that?? Next time...

28!

I officialy survived the 27 Club :-) Although not being a musician I probably wasn't at much risk of joining the club! My birthday was so-so, at least next year it's on a Saturday. Work wasn't bad, my desk was all festive when I got to work and we had pizza for lunch. In the evening we went out for steak at The Grillhouse in Rosebank with a few friends which was very nice. I even got ice-cream with sparkles on the house! I got a beautiful watch from Chris as well :-D

The rest of the weekend was also good. I helped the Organ Donor Foundation out on Sat morning with a wellness day. Afterwards Chris and I had lunch with another couple at Melrose Arch as it was her birthday on Sat. The evening was just spent chilling at home. On Sunday I went shopping with a friend and to church in the evening. Busy weekend I guess! Here's to many more years of busy weekends!

Oh, and on SPRING being here!!! Yay!

Nationals Pics

4 years 7 months!

So check-up ended taking place AFTER Nationals only, so let me start with Nationals...

We arrived in Durban at about 11:30 on Thursday morning. It's a 6 hour drive and we did the trip with Shaun and Alet (Shaun is my transplant buddy). The weather down there, although not sunny, was quite a but warmer, which was great. Our hotel was VERY nice and practically on the beach. Perfect setting!

On Friday morning we watched the swimming, and in the afternoon was squash. The squash went well... because we're only 2 girls we had to play against guys as well. It was tough and I lost, but played well (which is what they look at, not the scores because that would be pretty unfair!!!). Played 6 games in total and was pretty tired after that! The umpire told me afterwards that he thought I played great especially considering I received LUNGS and all the other guys I played against "only" kidneys or livers. Was really nice of him. Went to Suncoast Casino for some fish for supper and early to bed.

Saturday was athletics. I did 100m and long jump (didn't train very hard for this, more of a fun event), enjoyed it A LOT but came last (we were 3 athletes and I was by far the oldest... realising that being 28 in the 20-29 age group is not so cool, but not going to complain about getting old!) Afterwards we rode the Skycar to the top of the Moses Mabhida soccer stadium which was very cool. The gala dinner was on Sat night... it could have been planned a bit better (way more people attending than previous years!) but nice setting in the harbour and food was yummy.

Sunday the weather was amazing, so before we left we swam in the sea :-) It's been years since I've done that and it was really great. Perfect end to the trip! The 2 guys on the pic below are Shaun and Brian, who both had double lung transplants too.

Had check-up this afternoon, lung function 98% (same as before the rejection story started), bloods were all fine. Reflux still a concern, will be doing another Barium Swallow test in about 6 weeks time. Will probably go back for check-up again in just over 2 months time (unless I feel like going for lung function earlier).

Check Up and Nationals

Tomorrow is my first check-up after the last biopsy. And on Thursday we leave for the Nationals in Durban (where the World Games will be next year). So hoping check-up goes well, been feeling a tad paranoid and anxious about it because it's so close to our trip. Eeeekkkk... definitely taking half a sleeping pill tonight.

2 years of being Mrs Vogt

Tomorrow is our 2 year wedding anniversary! The last 2 years have been great and I hope there will by MANY more years together for us. Love you Chris!

August!!!!

Yay it's August! I've been looking forward to it for the following reasons:

• It's our 2 year wedding anniversary on the 7th... time flies!
• Nationals is in 2 weeks time, taking 2 days leave so will have a nice looong weekend at the coast. Also excited for seeing good transplant friends again, it's been a year since Sweden when I last saw most of them.
• It's my birthday on the 31st!
• Weather will be getting warmer... tired of winter so yay!

Going for a Dr check-up again on the 15th. Looking forward to it because still feeling a bit anxious after the past 2 months. Gymming and training going REALLY well though so hopefully lungfunction all good!

You Tube video of Official Launch - WTG 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A574Ui_oBV8&feature=player_detailpage

My Dr Mol show appearance on You Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRXNqodvPnY

Results!

So I did get a call later on Thursday evening and the preliminary results were no rejection :-) Praise the Lord! Dr said it was unlikely to change, and I haven't heard anything since so I'm assuming nothing changed. Have to see the surgeon for follow up on Tuesday so so will definitely get the full report then. Hopefully everything can return to normal after that.

It's been great having my sis here. On Friday evening we went to see the movie Fly Fishing in Yemen, very cute love story!!!! Yesterday morning we went shopping in Sandton and got some awesome sale specials! Had lunch at my parents house and in the afternoon my sis and I chilled at our house for a bit. Last night we went to see a comedy show called Mass-Hysteria at Montecasino and went for burgers before the show. The show consisted of 8 comediants each doing their set. Was pretty funny and made for good evening out.

This weekend has also been FREEZING. Right now it's 9:29am and 2 degrees C outside! (and not much warmer inside cos we don't have central heating). Having lunch at parents house again today. Was also planning on going to gym this afternoon, but with the weather being so crap (freezing AND windy) what are the chances of me actually going? I'll just pretend like it's for my health's sake (sweaty body plus freezing wind when you get out of the gym = bad combination) and not like I'm just lazy!!!