2 steps forward . . . . 1 step back. . . (or the post asking for more prayer please)

its been a few days of moving forward and stepping back. . . of course thats still progress!

Sunday was the best day ever... I walked a full mile early in the morning before the heat hit. . .we were blessed to share a meal with friends that we miss so much. . .So encouraging! BUT THEN.

I woke monday morning before 5a.m. just "sick". . cold sweat, chills, pain in chest. .then came lots and lots of coughing. . which of course is excruciating with an unhealed sternum. I hadnt needed to take the Heavy Pain Stuff for a few days. . but it was needful for the coughing and to bring the fever down. . . Later morning was more bearable. . a wonderful visit from my dear Heather. A home care visit from someone who had no idea why they were there nor what they were doing. . . confirmed the low grade temp. Through the day and into the night the temp increased into a full on fever. and coughing increased.

ANOTHER home care nurse had to come this morning to do do what the other one didnt and draw some blood. Blood is too thin. she reported to the surgeons office who set a full 5- 6 hours of events in motion. Stat orders of Xray's to rule out pneumonia, blood work to check for infections. . a visit to the primary care physician for a good "once over". . . (who then also ordered more labwork) eventually some prescriptions were ordered although we're still waiting on test results. .

So much is frustrating and hard about health care sometimes. . How someone in pain, and feverish must endure such a confusing system - what deepening empathy for chronically ill and elderly we have. One doctor sent us to another doctor and faxed lab orders. . however, the one doctor doesnt use the lab thats next door, or closest but only 2 in the whole county. The one doctor wrote a prescription but the pharmacy wouldnt fill it until they talked to the other doctor because of interactions. . . the patient couldnt take anything for pain, infection, cough, relief until the labwork was done. We arrived at the lab - several miles from the doctor, the house, the pharmacy at 11:50 only to learn that they are closed for lunch from 11:30 - 1 pm. so we went back to pharmacy to find we still cant pick up meds. . . The other doctor had added some additional lab tests so 2 doctors several lab orders at a lab i'd never been. . . and had to wait an hour and a half to get to meant filling out the same form 3 times, and then registering for the x ray with 3 people who hadnt figured out the new computer system and cursed, and talked about your tests and you in front of you. . . all while you are feeling weaker by the minute. . . It took us another hour and a half just to get blood drawn (2 sticks) and an xray. . . We drove the several miles back to the pharmacy to finally pick up the antibiotic ordered by one doc and approved by another. . . We may not have all the lab results back until tomorrow at this point. but they went ahead and ordered meds to treat as if pneumonia. Just to keep things interesting I already had scheduled an appointment with yet another doctor tomorrow (cardiologist check in)!

So Now. . I'm home, I've taken the antibiotic, the coughmeds, the pain pills, and all sorts of other things, the PJs are waiting and I've got some resting to do. We'll update when we know more.

Here's my hope. . . I'll be resting. . . You be praying.

James 5:16
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.